Looking for Alaska - A Review

Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words–and tired of his safe life at home. He leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet Francois Rabelais called the “Great Perhaps.” Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek, including Alaska Young. Clever, funny, screwed-up, and dead sexy, Alaska will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps. (from John Green's website) 

Honestly, I thought I might call this post "John Green is a sadist" because I think the man enjoys ripping out people's hearts and displaying them like hunting trophies. I mean, I haven't even read The Fault in Our Stars yet because I know it can't end well…. because stories about teenagers with terminal illnesses are always a barrel of laughs. 

I chose Looking For Alaska to read, because I had heard good things and I thought it would be safe. Be warned, I was wrong about that. John Green now has my mangled heart in a trophy case. Don't get me wrong - the story is great, well written, interesting and the characters are likable, relatable, and I feel like I could have gone to high school with them. It is a coming of age story that will stick with you. But it broke my heart. 

I think one thing really, really killed it for me though. You never forget the day you lose someone you love. Ever. That will make more sense to people who read the book, but it upset me on a deeper level than just reading a book that got sad. 

Read at your own risk folks, it is a really good book, but it might be too much for the sensitive reader.