Book Review: Will Grayson Will Grayson

John Green and David Levithan
Reading level:Ages 14 and up
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher:Speak; Reprint edition (April 5, 2011)

Summary:
One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, Will Grayson crosses paths with . . . Will Grayson. Two teens with the same name, running in two very different circles, suddenly find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, and culminating in epic turns-of-heart and the most fabulous musical ever to grace the high school stage. Told in alternating voices from two YA superstars, this collaborative novel features a double helping of the heart and humor that have won them both legions of fans.

-Amazon.com

So far, this is the third book I’ve read by John Green and my first by David Levithan. I had mixed feelings about this book. Through the actual reading process, I loved both Wills but then I didn’t. As usual these characters are realistically crafted and easy to relate to. There were times throughout the story that I felt myself nodding in sympathy or feeling vindictive hatred for the unfortunately dead-on portrayal of selfishness and angst that's common in most high school teenagers. What I love about these characters is that they are individuals who learn life lessons and cry and hope and dissect situations to ridiculous extremes and hold grudges and appreciate love and friendship. This is the kind of book that reminds you what a coming of age tale is supposed to be.

But then there were the times when I felt like giving up. I don’t get why his is written in all lower case letters, something that actually bugged me quite a bit. “will” was the MOST stereotypical emo character I have ever read. Every cliché "emo kid" idea you could come up with is thrown in his chapters. And I do have a few emo friends, even they do not whine as much as this guy!

However, I trusted John Green as a writer so I continued to read on. After several chapter, there is a clear shift in “will’s” character and then the novel became quite enjoyable. John Green never fails to present a wonderful character who is full and enjoyable.

All in all, this was a pretty great novel. It’s not long before you are pulled into the world of the Will Graysons. You will laugh, cry, have hopes and enjoy the time you spend reading this novel.

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Book Review: Looking for Alaska

John Green

Reading level:Ages 14 and up
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher:Speak (December 28, 2006)

Summary: Before. Miles “Pudge” Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole life has been one big non-event, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave “the Great Perhaps” even more (François Rabelais, poet). He heads off to the sometimes crazy 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. She is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart. Then. . . . After. Nothing is ever the same.

-Amazon.com

I loved this book! Looking for Alaska was not what I thought it was going to be. Honestly, I didn’t even read the summery, but after reading John Green’s, An Abundance of Katharines, I had to read more. And I was not disappointed! I felt as if I was part of the novel rather than reading it. I laughed and cried! Green’s crisp voice transcends all age limits. This book deals with all the big situations that EVERYONE goes through: friendship, suffering, loss, and grief, love, hatred, and philosophy- it does so with such compassion and humor that the net impact is uplifting.

I loved the idea of “last words,” and “escaping the labyrinth of suffering”. throughout the novel I felt that I was seeking the same answers the characters were and through the author’s plot process I was not left feeling that I didn’t understand.

I was sad when the book ended- because I wanted it to go on forever. I did not want to leave this world that was so real!

This is a must read book. Even if you prefer reading paranormal romance or fantasy novels, GIVE THIS BOOK A TRY!

Where you can find John Green and his books:
Kindle  Nook     Author Website    
Youtube: VlogBrothers
Twitter: @realjohngreen
Facebook: John Green Fans
Goodreads: Fan Page

About John Green:
John Green is a New York Times bestselling author who has received numerous awards, including both the Printz Medal and a Printz Honor. John is also the cocreator (with his brother, Hank) of the popular video blog Brotherhood 2.0, which has been watched more than 30 million times by Nerdfighter fans all over the globe. John Green lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.

-Amazon.com

Book Review: An Abundance of Katharines

John Green

★★★★★

Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Dutton Books (Imprint of Penguin Group USA)

An Abundance of Katharines tells the story of noted child prodigy Colin Singleton. Colin had dated 19 girls, all named Katharine- not Katie, or Kat, or Kitty, or Cathy, or Rynn, or Trina, or Kay, or Kate or, God forbid, Catherine. But K-A-T-H-E-R-I-N-E. And now K-19 has broken his heart. One a road trip to nowhere in particular with his Judge Judy loving, overweight best friend, Colin sets out of a mission to prove the Theorem of Underlying Katharine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, average Dumpees everwhere, and finally win him the girl.

An Abundance of Katharines has to one of the funniest, most brilliant stories I have ever read. John Green creates a cast of characters that are funny, smart, and very memorable. There is actually nothing that I didn’t love about this book- it was that good! I loved Colin, and by the end of the book I wish I knew someone like him. I liked the idea that this was not just about him proving a theorem or getting over a girl. This story really explored Colin as a person, who he was and what he wanted- which was, overall, to be remembered, to not be forgotten. Everyone wants that.

I quickly found out while I was reading this book that with it's an original concept, this was a laugh-out-loud funny story, complete with satire, and an American road trip that's unlike any road trip I ever took! I loved Colin’s view on the world and I can very much relate to his ability to not being able to talk with people. Honestly, even that is a skill I have yet to master. I also loved that I actually learned and remembered things from his novel. Some was trivial to the plot and others were bits of information that Green placed in footnotes that I thought was a most brilliant idea ever! These are things I never knew until I read this book:
1) Fetor hepaticus is a symptom of late-stage liver failure where your breath literally smells like a rotting corpse.
2) The junior senator from New Hampshire in 1873 was Bainbridge Wadleigh.
3) There is absolutely no scientific proof that drinking eight glasses of water a day will improve your health.
4) Dingleberries can be anagrammed into see inbred girl; lie breeds grin; leering debris; greed be nil, sir; be idle re. rings; ringside rebel; and residing rebel.
5) Nikola Tesla did a lot for electricity before Thomas Edison came along and stole some of his ideas, and he also loved pigeons.
6) Sitzpinkler is German slang for “wimp” which literally means “a man who sits to pee”.
7) There is a difference between a genius and a prodigy.

I think as a girl, I was hoping for a bit more romance, but being the tomboy that I am, I loved that it never overflowed with icky heartaches and over the top “love at first sight” crap. During the period of reading this book there was never a moment I was not smiling or laughing- which incidentally got me trouble for laughing in class, but who cares? I usually love just reading fantasy fiction novels, but John Green has shown me that sometimes reality is cool too.  

Hassan is the funniest, always the joker, and it was wonderful to see that not only did Colin progress as a character, but so did Hassan, and Lindsey.

Honestly, I can parttle on and on about how amazing this book it, but then I’d be giving away a lot of spoilers. In short: An Abundance of Katharines is funny, smart, and very entertaining. John Green has a very, to say the least, interesting way of writing that defiantly brings a voice to literaturethat is beyond amazing!
I cannot wait to get my hands on all his other books!

Also, click here if you would like to design the new cover for An Abundace of Katharines- ends November 21st, 2011.

DFTBA- Don't Forget To Be Awesome!


Where to find John Green:
Amazon: John Green Author Page
YouTube: The Vlog Brothers
GoodReads: John Green
Twitter: @realjohngreen
Author Website: John Green Books
Contact Info: Stalk John Green