Looking for Alaska Review

Starting this book, I was expecting John Green's usual wisecracks, general yet accurate statements about life, and a lot of feels.

I definitely got his wisecracks and his general but accurate life-is statements, but was utterly low in the feels department. Don't get me wrong, the thing that happens "one hundred and thirty six days" after the start of the book is sad, but not the kind of  dry heaving, pride-swallowing sobs I experienced during The Fault in Our Stars. Perhaps it was the warning on the first page "one hundred and thirty six days before" that tipped me off, or that in high school everyone was asking people as they read the book, or as soon as they finished "Did you cry?" that let me know some shit went down. But I knew exactly what was going to happen and so wasn't too affected by it.

Another thing I didn't like was Miles. That's right, the narrator himself. He is so whiny and so ungrateful and the way he spoke to his parents at the beginning and was just an over-all know-it-all dick. Ugh. I like the transition in the after portion, but didn't actually like the after portion until about 3/4 through the section. I didn't even really like Alaska much. The way she talks to people, uses people, I can't understand how Miles found her attractive at all.

I did like the humor. Despite my loathing for all of the main characters and redundant religious allusions, there were plenty of parts that were hilarious. It just sucks that during the parts where I was supposed to be sad or maybe introspective about some profound philosophical epiphany I just wasn't moved.

3/5 stars because it's John Green, and I know he can do (and has done) much better and for the overall message of the book which I can appreciate. I'd say this book is PG-15 for some pretty graphic stuff.

<3 The Reviewer