Currently Reading: Looking for Alaska

Majority of the books I read, I enjoy. Especially when those books are written by John Green, my chances of enjoying them are vastly increased. (Although for some reason, I just can't seem to get into An Abundance of Katherines.) John's writing is so insightful and enlightening, I sometimes wonder if he's human. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he's some sort of prophet disguised as a thirty-eight year old male author, who's sole purpose is to teach us more about life and how to navigate it.

As you can tell by the post title and picture, I recently read Looking for Alaska by John Green. During the whole beginning of it, or I guess during "Before", I was absolutely in love with it. It was very angst-y, playful, and if I had to relate it to something physical, I'd say it's a mix of dust and dew on a warm summer evening. My favorite part of this book was the "Before" and I'm just in awe of how a human being can create such different and real characters.

Then came the "After", and with that came the pain and tears. You know it's a good book when it's caused you to feel so many different emotions. It wasn't until the end of "After" that I really began to appreciate Green's decision. In fact, I began to feel like I was reading just another YA novel in which bad choices lead to a tragic event. (See how vague I must be in order to avoid spoilers! It's aggravating to write and I'm sure it's irritating for you to read!) But of course, thanks to Dr. Hyde (also known as The Old Man), the book redeems itself turning said event into something much more thought-provoking. There's even a bit of a mystery tied in there and I'm a complete sucker for mysteries!

The characters in Looking for Alaska are incredibly flawed and I think that's what makes them real. There were moments when I'd be irritated with each character and moments when I loved them. Alaska is mysterious and troubled and you're probably rolling your eyes as you read this because mysterious and alluring girls seem to be popular in fiction lately, but she was interesting and annoying and really gave the story spontaneity. Then there's Miles or "Pudge" who's boring and should really adopt his own set of beliefs and not conform to what his friends do so easily, but he's also relatable and curious. He reminds me a bit of Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, but less annoying. Actually, this whole book reminds me of The Catcher in the Rye. There's so many more characters you get to know when reading this, making the tears you'll be shedding worth it.

What I loved most about this book is what you realize in the end. Sometimes, in order to be happy and make the most of life, you just need to let things go and move on. We hold on to things, either because we hope they'll come back or occasionally we get addicted to the dreary, unhealthy feelings. You might not have all of the answers you want or things turned out completely different than you thought or maybe someone left and isn't coming back. No matter what it is that's holding you back, most of the time you won't be happy until you've let it go.

Now I'm not saying you should just let everything slide and never stand up for anything. There's nothing wrong with a good fight and I surly do hope you fight as best you can for what you want, but there comes a time when you're fighting a battle that you've already lost or there's no point in even fighting and THAT'S when it's time to move on. Never settle. But stop beating yourself up over things of the past.

We're all just trying to live this life the best we can. So, now I just have one question to ask you:

How will you ever get out of this labyrinth?

I think the only way out is through death. However, that means you just have to make the most of the labyrinth we're currently stuck in. I, personally, am fine being stuck here for a long while.

"Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. He heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring 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, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.

After. Nothing is ever the same." -Goodreads

Hope this made you want to pick up Looking for Alaska and hopefully it made you think a little bit about life,
Sarahxoxo