Book Review: Looking for Alaska by John Green

If any of you have read the Fault in our Stars (a young adult book) and loved it, then I have news for you – this book is BETTER! It will captivate you right from the very first page until the remarkable end. As much as I don’t like quoting extracts from books I review – I couldn’t help myself, for I wouldn’t have been able to justify the Author’s writing capacity without you reading a snippet of his brilliance:

“In the dark beside me, she smelled of sweat and sunshine and vanilla, and on that thin-mooned night I could see little more than her silhouette, but even in the dark, I could see her eyes – fierce emeralds. And not just beautiful, but hot too.” *swooning*

This poignant story revolves around three main characters, Miles Halter (Pudge), Chip Martin (the Colonel) and Alaska Young. It’s written in the first point of view – Pudge’s perspective. Pudge voluntarily leaves his hometown, family and friendless existence to enrol at Culver Creek, a boarding school in Birmingham, Alabama to seek an extraordinary education and find his “Great Perhaps”. This is where he encounters his roommate the “Colonel” and is introduced to Alaska Young. From the moment his eyes fall on Alaska, he is utterly besotted by her.

Alaska is heart-stoppingly attractive, incredibly intelligent, temperamental, enigmatic to the point of being driven by her demons, often resulting in risqué behaviour. The characters compliment each other splendidly – all highly intellectual, seeking bright futures and evasive answers to their life questions. They grow instinctively to know each other, forming a tight-knit bond, hatching grand pranks, whilst indulging their whims without landing in hot water.

When I began my journey into this book, I wanted to savour each word, needing to comprehend where it would lead me for I had a gut feeling it was going to be one of the best books I have EVER read – and I was RIGHT! As I slowly progressed into the book, I felt as if I was best friends with the characters – they were  so AUTHENTIC – John Green has the unique ability of creating magnificent characters whom you cannot help but fall in love with and root for right from the beginning. I smiled, I laughed, I sat back and re-read beautifully written lines (and there were many), I shed tears, I became frustrated because I didn’t like where the story was headed but couldn’t do anything to stop it, only to be saved by the denouement that didn’t leave me hanging:-).

His writing is sharp, witty, honest, emotionally heart-wrenching and according to me – PURE perfection. This book lingers with you long after you’ve read it. You want to tell the entire world how much you revelled in it – and that’s exactly what I’m doing now. I HOPE you read it – and if you do, please share your views with me:-)