Retire in Alaska

Looking for Alaska

Description

Before. Miles “Pudge” Halter’s whole life has been one big non-event. Then he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-butboring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into a new life, and steals his heart. After. Nothing is ever the same. The Printz Award–winning modern classic is now available in the successful Premium Edition format with a bonus reading guide and a letter from John Green.

Reviews

Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-08-31
Summary: "Not your run of the mill coming of age story"

This is a book for all ages. Yes, it's characters are teens but the issues in the story are ones that any age can identify with. Feeling left out, social misfits, finding out who you are and who your friends are, feeling accepted, and the BIG one-death and what we believe comes after and how we deal with it. It's characters come alive and time and time again I found myself thinking "I've felt like that, too" You want to become a part of this gang and would be proud to call them your friends. It portrays teens as they really are with smoking, alcohol and sex and how difficult it can be to deal with peer pressure. Most of all it is a story of developing true friendships and how painful losing a friend is.

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-08-30
Summary: "Fantastic!"

This is one of my favorite books for sure. In my opinion no part of the book is boring, its unlike a lot of books that start out very slow and then eventually get interesting. Maybe i'm a baby, but it made me cry, super good book though. I definitely recommend this book, for any ages.

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Rating: 1 / 5
Date: 2010-08-27
Summary: "Pointless Juvenile Drivel"

Our bookclub selected this book for last month. I think some-one confused it with another book of the same title by Peter Jenkins. So, I believe I read it by mistake.

I tried reading it, only to find there were too many words: the thin pointless plot does not justify more than 50. Got halfway through and stopped. Would much rather have that time back. Inane, juvenile story about teenagers going to private school in Florida. Meandering, silly, vapid, pointless, etc.

I also don't think it's particularly suitable for kids.

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-08-26
Summary: "A Decent Book"

The shipping was faster than I thought! The condition was fantastic. Definitely you are a great source to buy from.

I was thinking about writing a review about the actual book, but I would think you would want to know about the condition it was in.

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-08-25
Summary: "My New Favorite Book"

I bought this book after countless recommendations from my friends, who quoted and referenced it often. After only a few "chapters" in, I was kicking myself for not reading it sooner. It is written in a style that gives me the impression that the main character is sitting down with me, a year or two later, and personally telling me the story. It makes a great deal of literary and historical references but always explicity states them as such and never comes off as pretentious. It's simply a joy to read (if joy is the right word, since often it produces emotions that are anything but joy). Above all, it's real. It does not censor itself, but cuts right through the crap and tells it exactly like it happened. Even if the truth is embarrassing.

I say "chapters" because the book is divided up rather unconventionally; instead of following a linear progression (chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 30, etc etc etc), each section is titled as "one hundred twenty-seven days before" or "forty-six days after," and so on. This is because the entire book revolves around one central event that occurs roughly in its center, and as it is told from the perspective of the main character, Miles "Pudge" Halter, time exists only as a distance before or after this event. I won't spoil the story for you, because that would be an incredible disservice, but suffice it to say that you will very likely tear up at some point.

This book was very personal to me because I identified with Miles so much, my high school experience being rather similar to his (being a friendless geek and starting over in a completely new place, learning everything from the ground up). I also had my own Alaska in real life, and although her story isn't quite as dramatic as Alaska's, it still hit rather close to home.

The bottom line is, Looking for Alaska deals with some pretty tough issues, like sex, guilt, death, and the meaning of life. It's very possible that you will view life in a different way after finishing it. But trust me when I say that for all the pain this book puts the reader through, it's worth it. Please do yourself a favor and get it. You might never spend a better ten dollars.