Ah, “Looking for Alaska” by John Green. It’s a book that has received a lot of mixed reviews, and I’m here to add one more to the mix. But before I do, let me just say, there are spoilers ahead. So if you’re worried about that, go ahead and hit pause, read the book, and come back. I’ll wait.
Okay, now that’s out of the way, let’s talk about Alaska. Poor Alaska. The troubled, flawed character that so many readers seem to sympathize with. But here’s the thing: just because someone has a troubled past, it doesn’t excuse their behavior.
Alaska is moody, withdrawn, angry, and unpredictable. She drinks too much, takes unnecessary risks, and takes advantage of other people’s kindness. And yet, her friends continue to enable her behavior, making excuses for her and trying to save her from herself. But why? Why should they have to save her?
Many people have had difficult childhoods, but not everyone turns out like Alaska. Using your past as an excuse for destructive behavior is not okay. Being a victim does not justify treating others poorly. It doesn’t give you a free pass to abuse people emotionally, manipulate them, or take advantage of them. It doesn’t excuse drinking too much or partying too hard.
So why does Miles, the protagonist of the book, feel the need to seek Alaska’s forgiveness? He did nothing wrong. He simply failed to recognize her destructive behavior and failed to distance himself from it. But here’s the thing: if someone is treating you poorly, it’s not your job to fix them. It’s not your responsibility to try to solve their problems or figure out why they are the way they are. It’s your responsibility to take care of yourself and to set boundaries.
Now, I know what some of you are thinking. “But maybe that’s the point of the book. Maybe John Green is trying to show us that flawed characters exist and that we should try to understand them.” To which I say, yes, of course flawed characters exist. But simply showing us a flawed character is not enough. We need to see that character grow, change, and learn from their mistakes. We need to see how their flaws affect those around them, and we need to see how those around them respond.
And that brings me to the other problem I have with this book: the lack of resolution. The big “twist” in the book is that Alaska died in a car accident, and Miles and his friends are left to grapple with her death and the unanswered questions surrounding it. But the book never really addresses those questions. We never find out why Alaska did what she did or what her true motivations were. We never see Miles and his friends confront their own flaws and learn from their mistakes.
And don’t even get me started on the “Great Perhaps” nonsense. What does that even mean? It’s like John Green is trying to sound deep and meaningful, but it just comes across as pretentious and vague.
All that being said, there are some things I liked about the book. John Green has a knack for writing witty dialogue and creating memorable characters. And the Alaska Young character, flawed though she may be, is certainly memorable. But overall, I found the book to be frustrating, unsatisfying, and ultimately forgettable.
So there you have it. My review/rant on “Looking for Alaska”. I’m sure there are plenty of people who will disagree with me, and that’s okay. But I stand by what I said earlier: just because someone has a troubled past, it doesn’t excuse their behavior. And just because a book has a flawed character, it doesn’t make it a good book.
