Comments | calico_reaction: Green, John: Looking for Alaska

calico_reaction

Green, John: Looking for Alaska

Sep 13, 2009 16:55

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blog: reviews, fiction: young adult, ratings: worth reading with reservations, john green,

Comments 4

sunni_sideup September 13 2009, 21:42:26 UTC

John Green is a fantastic author. This is my least favorite of his books for the reasons you mentioned--that some people, including me, are not always comfortable with excessive amounts of vulgarity. It's not that I'm completely opposed to it, though, it's just that I usually would rather there be a point to it. But Alaska seems to be saying that there's no reason for any of it. It's just kids "living" as much as they can.

But anyway, I just had a small, small problem with that. It was just a step or two over the line. That being said, I still bawled halfway through the book. It was really touching and unexpected. And John Green is just all-around amazing.

calico_reaction September 13 2009, 22:29:46 UTC

So what's your favorite of his work?

trainwind September 13 2009, 23:35:35 UTC

Here from teenliterature.

I agree with your assessment: definitely worth the cash.

Okay, a list:

On pranks: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks (E. Lockhart) has pranks as one of the central plot devices as well. There, it really is the structuring element of the book, unlike in Looking for Alaska. So, you might find it interesting as a point of comparison.
Also on pranks: I think that the pranks and the flirtation are Alaska's way of flirting (pardon the repetition!) with risk in a way she can control. This contrasts with the total lack of control she feels about her mother's death. Symbolically, by carrying out Alaska's last prank, the Colonel and Pudge are dealing with their own feelings of helplessness after Alaska's death. In that way, maybe the pranks are meaningful.
Banning books is awful, always!
Maybe it's inevitable that any YA book featuring a strong teen male voice will be compared to Catcher in the Rye.
On your cover commentary: I far prefer the black cover, and think it's much more representative of the novel than the ( ... )

calico_reaction September 14 2009, 02:37:50 UTC

Thanks so much for your comments and insight, especially on the pranks! Looks like we agree on a lot of stuff regarding this book and its covers. :)