“You spend your whole life stuck in the labyrinth, thinking about how you’ll escape one day, and how awesome it will be, and imagining that future keeps you going, but you never do it. You just use the future to escape the present.”
Looking For Alaska is a young adult novel written by John Green which was published in 2005. It’s not a typical YA novel as John Green has shifted from a conventional high school romance to a more meaningful and deep themes which surround a teenager’s life. This also continues to be John Green’s lowest rated novels and also the most controversial one — this was banned in schools across USA for its explicit content and themes of drugs and suicide.
this was banned in schools across USA for its explicit content and themes of drugs and suicide.
Looking For Alaska is not the story of Miles Halter (aka Pudge). Pudge is the main character of the story, who takes admission in Culver Creek high school to search for his “great perhaps”. He has an unusual habit of learning the “last words” of famous people. He’s described as a skinny scared boy — In Pudge you’ll see a boy who wants to escape his loneliness — he falls in love with Alaska Young but is scared to explicitly express it to her. He’s a great admiration for Alaska.
All in all, it’s the story of Alaska Young — a wild, weird, strange, beautiful and caring girl. Alaska Young is what makes this book the best work of John Green in my opinion. Alaska Young radiates a beautiful and gothic vibe. She’s a very sad family story which manifests into her life.
Halter Miles is sent to Culver Creek high school, it’s the same school where his father also studied. His family is annoying as they always treat him like a kid. Pudge, though, is in search of his “great perhaps”. He finds this opportunity to explore. He’s sent to a hostel where he finds Chip Martin (aka Colonel) — a black boy who lives in a trailer park with his mom. They immediately bond, and soon he becomes friends with Takumi. It’s through Colonel, Pudge gets to know Alaska Young. She fascinates Pudge right from the beginning. Her vibe — is strange yet beautiful.
There’s a social divide in Culver Creek — with two groups of students. One group of students are from rich elite families, and the other group is of students who are there on scholarships. It’s a tradition there to pull off pranks. This tradition is a very central element of the story as the major plot is dependent on it.
Alaska Young gets close to Pudge, but in a way that leaves Pudge confused. They talk of life, and escapes. The talk of Labyrinth. — “Damn it, how will I ever get out of this labyrinth”. Alaska has an elder boyfriend who is always there for her but yet she’s always close to Pudge. She helps Pudge to date Lara.
They pull pranks together. Soon, things turn ugly because of pranks, and one day while they are drunk Alaska Young leaves the dorm. And this begins the second part of the story.
This is a book of grief, friendship, escapes and life. It’s dark, and romantic. Thought provoking, character driven tale of Alaska and Miles. The ending will leave you heartbroken. “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”.
“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”.
Rating : 5/5
Hulu adapted this novel into miniseries, which is as amazing as the book. In this lockdown, you can watch the TV series, if you are not really a book person.
