In the book Looking for Alaska, there is a very obvious change in the book, so obvious that the book is actually split into two sections called “Before” and “After”, but it is off of that change that so many other, more subtle, changes occur. In the first half of the novel, we learn to know and love the character of Alaska. The second half, after Alaska’s death, we learn to know and love everyone else. We go through the grieving process with both the protagonist and his friends. Before, Alaska is alive, well, and mostly happy. After, Alaska is dead. There really isn’t much else to it. However, of course, Miles, the Colonel and everyone else are completely torn up about it. In a way, it was good for the relationship between the friends to have that death occur. It brought them closer together.

This book reveals so much about John Green, that some may go as far as to say that it could almost be an autobiographical book. I can just see Green going through the same thing that Miles did in Alaska. Actually, John Green did go to a school in Alabama that is much like the boarding school described and while there, two friends died through accidents similar to Alaska’s. Through the story, Green either shows how he felt during his time of grieving for his friends when he was at school, or he is showing how he should have felt. As the old saying goes, “write what you know”, perhaps Green really did write what he knew. If all he knew was how to grieve for lost friends, wouldn’t it make sense for him to share that with the world?

 I chose this book because, through the wonders of YouTube, I have gotten to know John Green a bit and as a result, found myself thinking him a genius. Of course, I had to read his books as soon as I could get my hands on them. Looking for Alaska was the first book John Green wrote, so I felt it appropriate to read that one first. Alaska went above and beyond my expectations. As highly as I thought of John, I did not think him capable to write such an awe-inspiring story. In addition, not very many books that I have read that star a male protagonist have been, to put it lightly, my favorite. The way that Green described everything was just wonderful. It just makes you think. Each page is filled thought-provoking sentence after thought-provoking sentence. It was just wonderful.

The character I identify with the most, was surprising to me. As I said before, not very often did I enjoy male-based books, mostly because I cannot really relate to them. Nevertheless, the character I identify with the most is Chip, better known as the Colonel. He and I share a thirst for not knowledge, exactly, but obscure things. Such as, the Colonel is the one that heads the Investigation. That is something, I would like to think, that I would do, had someone that close to me died. Another thing that I find myself indentifying with is his thankfulness. The Colonel always seems to be thankful to have his mother and to be going to school. Maybe we are not thankful for the same thing, but still thankful all the same. I would also like to think that, perhaps, I would have headed something along the lines of the Prank, Miles, the Colonel, Takumi and Lara pulled for Alaska. I am big on the remembrance of things. The Colonel and I seem so alike when you think about it, but you would never have guessed if you just glanced at us separately.