Hi Munchworms!
Since I read Turtles All the Way Down by John Green, I really wanted to pick up more of his writing. Imagine my surprise when I discovered Looking for Alaska on my physical TBR-shelf on Goodreads.. Oops..
Anyone need even more proof that my TBR is out of control since I don’t even realize what’s on it anymore?!
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, who will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps.
I have to admit that John Green put my expectations way up there with Turtles All the Way Down. I know that it isn’t quite fair since there’s only older work of his to pick up and we all realize that authors grow over the years. Especially when it comes to their writing style.
That caused me to.. like Looking for Alaska less? I simply couldn’t get it in my head that it’s normal that this feels “less”.
“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.”
When it comes to the characters, I have to say that I loved them. Even when they got on my nerves at times – looking at you Alaska. They each had their very distinct voice, personality and quirks. It added so much depth to this story and I loved it!
As for Green’s writing, I already said it. It simply felt less than Turtles All The Way Down and it was so obvious to me as well. That might be because I read both books very close after one another, it might also be because those were the first two Green-books I ever read. Alas, I did notice it quite often while reading…
“When I look at my room, I see a girl who loves books.”
All in all I loved this book and I kind of hate myself for having focused on his writing so much but I couldn’t help it! I’ll definitely read more of his books though. Only this time I’ll be smart and wait a bit longer before picking up another one.
4 / 5!
And some fried burritos to munch on! I couldn’t convince my boyfriend to try it since we had just cleaned out our fryer.. Ugh.
I paid full-price for this novel. All opinions are entirely my own. I’m not being compensated for this in any way.
Books & Munches 
The only John Green book I’ve read is The Fault in Our Stars, which I liked, but it was predictable to me because I grew up reading basically every Lurlene McDaniel book released, and she mostly wrote about teens with cancer. Hopefully I’ll be reading Turtles soon though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think that the more books you read, the easier you see plot twists and endings unfolding before actually reading to that point. But as long as you still enjoyed it, that’s the main thing!
I’m hoping to pick up some more of his work. I won The Fault in Our Stars in a giveaway, so fingers crossed that I’ll pick it up sooner rather than later. 🙂
LikeLike
There are still many books that surprise me with the ending. It was really just that I read so very many Lurlene McDaniel books that it was fairly obvious what was likely going to happen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve heard some people not as impressed by Looking for Alaska. Did you know that if you look up Turtles All the Way Down it was originally published in 1987?! Wow right. I guess it’s never too late to update an older book and re-release it!
LikeLike
I have yet to read Turtles All the Way Down so Looking for Alaska is one of my favorite John Green books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Curious to see whether you’ll change your opinion or not when you got to read Turtles. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha it’s funny, because i liked his older works more than “turtles all the way down”. but i am happy that you still loved and enjoyed it! 🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe it’s because I didn’t have any expectations and people who read his other work put more pressure on Turtles? :p
I don’t knoooow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
yeah, that is very likely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
One of my blogger friends recommended this book and it has been on my TBR since.
I think it is just his latest book had a big impact on you and as you put it, John Green must have grown exponentially over time in terms of his writing. Despite all the issues you might have had, it’s pretty significant that this book still got 4 stars from you! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, indeed!
I know right? When rating books, I often go with my feeling. Although there were things I didn’t like, it just felt wrong, in a way, to give it less than four stars. It’s weird, and funny, haha. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I can understand this – it’s all about overall feelings. Even though there are things that you didn’t like, but if your gut-instinct speaks that it can’t be less than 4 stars, then it is 4 stars 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed!
LikeLiked by 1 person