Was this book good? YES! FOR SURE! Its not your typical romance story but it takes you through comical adventures teen romance and belly aching chapters. John Green writes a teen book with many twist and turn. THIS IS FOR SURE A PAGE TURNER!!!!

This this made me think about living in residence while going to University, with all the good and bad times. An excellent read for any road trip or relaxing afternoon.

Looking for Alaska was an amazing book. I really didn't know what to expect when I started it - or when I picked it up. I needed a book with a place name in the title for one of my challenges and John Green's book had good reviews, so I went from there.

The book is about Miles who's life hasn't been anything spectacular. He doesn't have any friends, he's never had a girlfriend, and he's really never experienced anything in life. His favourite thing is reading biographies to find out what a person's last words were and in his reading he finds Francois Rabelais's last words: "I go to seek a Great Perhaps."

For that reason, he decides to leave home to a Preparatory school called Culver Creek. His father also attended the school, knowing that it was famous for always pulling pranks throughout the year. Miles' parents throw him a goodbye party - which only 2 people attend, not showing any interest at all (something Miles figured would happen - no surprise to him) - and then Miles is off.

While at Culver Creek, his world is changed. He immediately becomes friends with Chip 'The Colonel' Martin, who gives Miles the nickname Pudge (an ironic name since Miles sounds to be built like a stick). From there, he meets the beautiful Alaska Young and falls in love with her.

Finally having a life, having friends, even getting a girlfriend, Miles' world seems greater than it ever has. And then something happens that changes it forever.

…

I would not have pegged this to be YA fiction because as I was reading it the characters just seemed so much older than high school kids, but YA or not, this book was amazing. Green has a knack for building something up and this is masterfully done via the layout of the book.

We start with 'Before' and each part in this section is titled by how many days Before. As the reader, I knew something was up but I couldn't pinpoint what it would be until the last few pages of Before.

Next comes 'After', where the mood changes, but not too much. There isn't an anticipation for anything since we're in After, but as the reader I was intrigued the whole way through.

Dealing with sadness, guilt, forgiveness, anger - all with humour sprinkled throughout - Green crafts a book that makes us, the readers, really think about what it means to be alive. Yes, there is drugs, smoking, sex, pranks, drinking, religion, etc. which may not be suitable for some teens (I've heard the book has been challenged due to this) but even with all the "bad stuff" there is plenty good in this book: love, friendship, trust, faith.

Looking for Alaska reads very easily - though the subject matter changes throughout. The dialogue is fresh and funny - nothing seems forced - and the characters are believable and relatable.

This is one book where I don't want to give out any spoilers because it was just so well done. I ended it loving all the characters and am interested to check out more works by Green. Looking for Alaska made me think of Catcher in the Rye meets Into the Wild meets The Virgin Suicides.

It was just a spectacular read!

This was one of those books I just got hooked on right away. The characters are very real, and so interesting. Alaska is such a unique character and I actually felt horrible over some of the things that happened to her and her friends. I also think that the quote that was pretty much the basis of the book was a fantastic way to go about the book.

This book has a permanent placing on my favourite books' shelf. It's an amazing read; as with all of John Green's books, it carries that range of emotion where some parts are heartbreaking, others heart-warming, and some just plain hilarious.
The characters are so in-depth yet at the same time so real. You don't need to know their whole life story to get a feel for who they really are. The great thing about being human is that your personality is forever changing in the eyes of yourself and others, and so you experience the relationships of the characters through realistic ways.
I love all of John Green's books, this one no exception. It's not the best book ever, and it's not my favourite of his, but it makes you think and makes you change perspective. And sometimes that's just enough.

Green, gives us the story of a young outsider who is leaving home to go to a boarding school in search of the Great Beyond. What he finds is new friends, and the girl of his dreams, and many life lessons. This book is great, i read it in only four hours, i could not put it down. I would recommended to anyone from 13-30.

Once in a while you pick up a story... a story that you do not expect to change you or make any impact on your life. Unfortunately that is exactly what this novel does; It changes the way your perceive things from when you first picked up the novel to when you turned the last page. It allows you to fall in love and grow with the characters. You may, like me, cry laugh and experience the wonder that is this story. An amazing, beautiful read.

First of all, let me just start off saying this is an AMAZING book. I read it and from the beginning to about the middle of the book, it's funny and smart and sometimes even awkward (In a funny sort of way). Then you get to the middle of the book and it is so sad (Not going to spoil anything) i'm a guy and I ALMOST cried. I absolutely love this book and would recommend it to almost anyone. (It does have some parts not suitable for younger kids but I'd say if your 13 you should be good to go.) 5/5.

I bought this book having an idea of what would happen. I read a review for it that gave away the major plot aspects...which kind of ruined the suspense for me.

Despite that, I bought the book anyway and I liked it. What I really found original was Mile's love of "famous last words". Throughout the story he mentions a lot famous people's last words...which I thought was great. Apparantly the author John Greene has an interest in "famous last words" so he incorporated it into Miles character.

I think if I didn't read the review that spoiled the book for me I would have found it much more exciting. Unfortunatelyly I had of an idea what what was always around the corner.

The syle of the book was neat. Every chapter is titled with the number of days before. For instance, the first chapter is titled "One-Hundred Thirty-Six Days Before". It keeps it up the suspense and makes you wonder "One-Hundred Thirty-Six Days Before WHAT?!"

It's a good book. Not bad at all. There were a lot of quotes by the caracters that I really made me smile. I might even check out some other books by Green.

John Green's debut novel is destined to become a classic.

His eloquence when he writes is astounding. Each word just seems to fall into place and creates the storytelling masterpiece we all know as ''Looking For Alaska''.

You grow to love the three main characters, Miles ''Pudge'', Alaska and ''The Colonel'' and you can truly connect to them.

This book will honestly leave you longing for more. If you loved this book, I strongly suggest reading ''Paper Towns'', also by John Green which is one of my all-time favorites.

''Thomas Edison's last words were 'It's very beautiful over there.' I don't know where there is, but I believe it's somewhere and I hope it's beautiful.''

http://insubstanial.blogspot.com/2010/09/looking-for-alaska-by-john-green.html

Blog for Book Reviews

As a female, I am always interested in glimpsing into the male pysche. That's was the driving factor as to why I bought this book. There are very few things in life that come on as strongly, but anything that can bring a man to tears is a ringing endorsment to if I've ever heard one..
I'm glad I decided to satisfy my curiousity. This book was funny, irreverent, sweet and , at some points, philosophical. An interesting coming of age story. And although it didn't make me cry, it's still highly recommended.

This was the best, book i've read all year. I couldn't stop reading it. At first i though it was just another stupid book that i was just reading for the heck of it. But this book blew me away. I've never read anything like it.
A MUST READ

WOW! I can not praise this book enough. It left me competely speechless. This book is life changing, inspiring and will make you deeply think. You'll laugh and cry with the characters. I loved the concept of the labyrinth and all the other questions this book raises. This is a must read and is one of the best books I've read. I have great expectations from the talented John Green and can't wait to start on his other novels. Seriously go pick this one up!

this book is amazing, i would call it one of my favourite books i've read so far. I think that the complexity and excitement of the storyline really gets to you, i swear it does. I went back to school the next day after reading this book, complaining about my boring live. Although there is loss, it is a lighthearted book, cleverly written .. and definately taps into the mind of a teenager

You need to read this book. The characters are brilliant, the dialogues are funny, engaged and deep. The storyline is so, so damn complex and it is just a fabulous book. It will definately change your perspective of a lot of things. This book shows that we too often take things for granted and makes you hang on to the things and people you love in life. Go buy this book.

Alaska Young is a lively daring girl, and Miles is , well, the exact opposite. And it isn't long before they become great friends. Together they share laughs and memories that will never be forgotten. But this isn't an average story of friendship. This story contains a twist that will put you on the edge of your seats. Half way through the story you can't help but wonder if Alaska is a bit too daring. . .

I recommend this book to everyone! And if you have already read it do you know any books that have a similar impact as this one? Meaning- realistic stories not like Twilight...I went through a long while thinking that somewhere out there , there was an Edward Cullen :P I just want a good book that you can relate too.
Thanks XD

Looking for Alaska stars Miles, who after being a loner his whole life, decides to go to boarding school for the rest of his high school days. He wants more of an exciting life, and that's exactly what he gets.
Upon meeting his roommate, Colonel, he is given the nickname Pudge. From then on him and Colonel become good friends. Through him, Pudge meets Alaska, who to him, is the most beautiful girl in the world. Together, along with a few other friends, they pull pranks on the rich kids dubbed "weekday warriors." They also get drunk, smoke too much and get into trouble by the Eagle. Everyone in this book has a nickname.
There is a completely unexpected event in this book. I really didn't see it coming at all! Looking for Alaska is a cute story about a boy's crush on a girl, and how he goes on without her.

Independent Reading: Sharing Your Ideas
April 22,2009
Looking for Alaska

If there is one thing this novel taught me was how you discover one's own self-image, your relationships, your values, your fears, you passion and overall, yourself. This novel follows the life of a boy named Miles Halter, a high school student who decides to go to the Alabaman boarding school. Miles is the type of chap who was not use to be being in a "gang" in the past. One he arrives at his new school he is introduced to his roommates, Chip (the colonel) has the charm and the brains. Thankfully for Miles he is soon involved with Chip's group of friends and gets himself into very rebellious acts. Where the teenagers take part in smoking, drinking, and sex leading themselves into a lot of trouble.
This doesn't happen very fast later on they started to accept Miles to be apart of the group of friends. This group is very unique within with Chip the brains; Takumi the Japanese Kid; and Alaska the queen bee the most beautiful girl always in the room. It doesn't take long for Miles to become head over heels with Alaska. Alaska is not only rebellious and beautiful but she is also smart and loves to read. Miles knows this because when sitting in her room Miles observes all the novels surrounding the area. "Her library filled her bookshelves and then overflowed into waist-high stocks of book everywhere, piled haphazardly the walls. If just one of them oved, I thought, the domino effect could engulf the three of us in an asphyxiating mass of literature."
The author though wrote this book in magnificent way because the book is divided into two parts the first part is called "before" and the second part is called "after". This allows the reader to know a something very dramatic is going to happen. Also each chapter begins with a title for example: "eighty-nine days before".
I personally feel the author of this book (John Green) is truly an amazing writer to write a novel being told in first person about a sixteen year old boy and making it sound so touching yet compelling at the time. It is especially poignant to me, as a teenager, because I am able to relate to the trials and delight I face in my own life. Overall this is a great book for any teenager or young adult to read. I strongly recommend this novel because "it deals with what makes us human the problems, the triumphs, the decisions."

Looking For Alaska is one of my all-time favourite books. John Green showed how life can change instantly. I recommend this book to anyone!