As I Lay Reading

Book Reviews & Occasional Author and Book - Fangirling

Looking for Alaska by John Green

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Looking for Alaska by John Green is an emotional coming-of-age tale that centers around a smart but awkward teenager named Miles (“Pudge”), whose claim to fame is in memorizing and spouting off the last words of notable people in history.

When the story begins, we learn that Miles has applied to a prep school in Alabama to finish his schooling. Miles is a smart kid, who doesn’t quite fit in at the public school he attends and what’s more, doesn’t feel the need to fit in. He’s an old soul who knows the world is bigger than the small town he lives in. His parents dote on him as he is the only child.

At prep school, he meets a few kids and they become friends. Most notable is his roommate nicknamed “The Colonel”, who like Miles, is also an old soul. I got the feeling early on, that The Colonel had seen things in his childhood that aged him. Often, he comes across as a cantankerous old man.

Looking for Alaska…

Then, there is Alaska, another notable character and friend to Miles and The Colonel. Alaska is an exhilarating whirlwind of smarts, impulsive, beauty, and energy, with hints of profound sadness sprinkled in. She’s a mystery to everyone she meets.

As expected in a young adult novel, the gang has moments of hilarious shenanigans as well as quietly solemn depth.

Each of the prominent characters in this book are searching for something. During their adventures together, they find truth, happiness, peace, and devastation.

This book reminds me a bit of Jack Kerouac’s On the Road as it is very much a coming-of-age tale. The characters are so well fleshed out and perfectly imperfect. These characters are odd but fascinating. Their experiences, good or bad have shaped their personalities and views of the world.

I highly recommend this one and enthusiastically give it 5 stars!

My Rating on Looking for Alaska by John Green:

5 star rating for The Changelings

Gone With The Wind

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At various moments in my bookish life, I have made strides to read some of the classics.  You know, like George Orwell’s 1984 or Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath.  Somewhere in that exhaustive list, lay Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind.

Now, I think I should mention that I watched the movie first.  In fact, Gone with the Wind is one of my favorite movies of all time!  The movie inspired me to read the book.

Gone with the Wind is a Civil-War era book that chronicles the period (both war and reconstruction) through main character Scarlett O’Hara.  Scarlett O’Hara is the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner in the south.  When the story opens, Scarlett’s life is filled with lavish parties, beaus and the finer things in life.  She is spoiled, pampered and lives a very comfortable life.  Then, in a blink, everything changes and the charmed life she knew is gone forever.

Scarlett O’Hara is my favorite character in a book or movie. Ever.  Though the character is manipulative and at times downright cold-hearted, it is her strength and her love for Tara that always shines through.  Scarlett is tenacious and brave.  She is often blinded by what she wants rather than by what she needs.

In this book, I got swept away by the southern voices, decoration and times and traditions of old.  Mitchell paints the picture so complete, that she makes you feel like you are there.  You get a sense for how life was before the war and then when the war starts, that life is forever gone — with the wind.

Gone With The Wind tells a great story.  It has everything — suspense, romance, history and coming of age.

My Rating for Gone With The Wind:

5 star rating for The Changelings