Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. He heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.
After. Nothing is ever the same.
After. Nothing is ever the same.
Looking for Alaska was an intense novel written by John Green. Although many readers feel this novel was boring, I disagree. The romance and new experiences the main character, Pudge, encounters with his new friends gives readers a sense of new beginnings.
*SPOILER ALERT* Readers have a clear understanding of Pudge's many friendships and the adrenaline pushing him towards alcohol and smoking. When Pudge develops a strong friendship with Alaska Young, he falls in love with her personality and easiness. He feels extremely comfortable in her presence and learns to "step out of the box". Although they never develop a relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend, the chemistry between them is unmistakable. And when she dies in a drunken car crash, Pudge and his friends are desperate to know how she died and why. Most readers will think she died as a drunk, and others feel she died of suicide. I personally feel that she gave up her life, because she forgot about her mother's death anniversary. It was a tradition to visit her mother's grave every year, but she had forgotten. Her relationship with her mom was very close and it hurt her to lose such a loving mother. The struggle to put the pieces together of her death brought about issues and controversies among his friends.
Long story short, the novel made me tear up. The plot of the novel was so deep and well written. Although it was not as good as The Fault in Our Stars, John Green managed to strike teenagers across the world with emotions of hurt, understanding, love and grief. His understanding of losing a loved one connects to our reality.
“So I walked back to my room and collapsed on the bottom bunk, thinking that if people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a hurricane.”
*SPOILER ALERT* Readers have a clear understanding of Pudge's many friendships and the adrenaline pushing him towards alcohol and smoking. When Pudge develops a strong friendship with Alaska Young, he falls in love with her personality and easiness. He feels extremely comfortable in her presence and learns to "step out of the box". Although they never develop a relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend, the chemistry between them is unmistakable. And when she dies in a drunken car crash, Pudge and his friends are desperate to know how she died and why. Most readers will think she died as a drunk, and others feel she died of suicide. I personally feel that she gave up her life, because she forgot about her mother's death anniversary. It was a tradition to visit her mother's grave every year, but she had forgotten. Her relationship with her mom was very close and it hurt her to lose such a loving mother. The struggle to put the pieces together of her death brought about issues and controversies among his friends.
Long story short, the novel made me tear up. The plot of the novel was so deep and well written. Although it was not as good as The Fault in Our Stars, John Green managed to strike teenagers across the world with emotions of hurt, understanding, love and grief. His understanding of losing a loved one connects to our reality.
“So I walked back to my room and collapsed on the bottom bunk, thinking that if people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a hurricane.”