Wednesday, 5 June 2013

Review Response


After finishing this book and reading the opinion of the reviewer as well as my hearing the opinion of my peers who read the book, I think it’s safe to say that there are quite a few differences to be found depending on how you look at things. I loved reading this book. This book kept me on the edge of my seat fort the first three quarters and, in my opinion, did offer a satisfying ending in a way that taught me a lesson in life about questions and answers. The book was unlike many others that wrap up all the loose ends towards the ending of the book by leaving the biggest question dangling in front of us. Due to our natural craving for answers, it is upsetting not to really know what happened or why it happened however, the point of this ending was not only just to contrast Miles and his love of last words (which he would never know for Alaska) but also to show that in life things aren’t always just laid out for you and that you just don’t always get the answers you’re looking for. I find this empty answer for an ending really made me think and more of a good change since it creates so much reflection on your own life and what happens in it. I would definitely recommend the book to my friends.

As for the review by “The Super Librarian”, I think they make some very good points about the story and found myself agreeing to many comments in their review. I found the language in used in the book to be very raw and real. Reactions were real and not given a sort of sugar coding to make them seem more appropriate for a novel, the characters were a bunch of teenagers and he actually let them speak as a bunch of teenagers. The characters definitely were not the perfect examples for how to behave but it was because of this that they were such relatable and enjoyable characters. Miles was not the perfect guy, he barely tried to be, her wanted someone who didn’t want him back, he cursed and smoked and drank with the rest of them, but he was more relatable that way. It’s hard to relate to a cookie cutter character that has everything going for them, if you give us someone who is imperfect then it gives us a chance to connect with how they feel and see things which I did. The reviewer also mentions how chasing the Great Perhaps is unpredictable and while you open yourself up to friends and pranks you also open yourself up to love and disappointment. I really like that point because I feel it is well backed up by the book and by life; if you live closed off nothing exciting will ever happen but when you open yourself up you’re going to get the good and the bad and all the emotions in-between. In conclusion, I feel the review for “Looking for Alaska” was quite well said and think it has become a book I would truly recommend.

-Lauren

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