Reading for Intermediate and Advanced Learners, Fall, 2011

Our book club will post every Wednesday and Satuday. We will focus our posts on questions or comments that arose while reading the assigned selection.
August 27: Post after reading pages 1-34.
August 31: Post after reading pages 35-71.
September 3: Post after reading pages 72-100.
September 7: Post after reading pages 101-133.
September 10: Post after reading pages 134-161.
September 14: Post after reading pages 162-191.
September 17: Post after reading pages 192-221.

Wow! This book is really interesting. I had to make myself stop reading. The book makes me think back to my teenage years, starting high school and college. It makes one very uncomfortable to try to start over, make friends, and develop an "identity" for oneself. Although Miles stated that his intentions were to find his "great perhaps",I believe that starting over and creating a new identity was one of the reasons he decided to attend the boarding school. I'm curious to see what Miles discovers is his "great perhaps".

I found it very ironic that Colonel gave Miles the nickname Pudge since Miles doesn't have one pinch of fat on his body. I wasn't surprised when the boys entered his dorm at night to initiate him, but I began to wonder how the story was going to go when they duct taped him. I imagined he might drown. Alaska, Colonel, Miles, and Takumi are planning a great revenge for Kevin and his gang to get back at them because of the initiation. I am curious to read about the plan that they develop. It reminds me of high school- you get mad at somebody and then you get them back. Such drama!

One thing I'm curious about is why the book is written as "before" and "after". What happened to make a "before" and an "after"? Did I miss something??

Pages 1-34:
John Green does a wonderful job of telling this story through Miles’ perspective, with all the anticipation and insecurities of being a teenager. I also appreciate the large doses of humor. I laughed out loud when I read this line, “You can say a lot of bad things about Alabama, but you can’t say that Alabamans as a people are unduly afraid of deep fryers.” So far, it seems like a classic coming-of-age tale, but it is clearly written for teenagers and not their parents. I want Miles to go to boarding school and make “good” decisions- no smoking, sex or pranks. I am interested in seeing how Miles balances his desire to become a risk taker with his new-found freedom.

Looking for Alaska is a very good book. I am enjoying the memories that come to mind as we explore Miles' new life at boarding school.

Miles is looking for his "great perhaps", which leads me to my first question...What is his "great perhaps?" How are his new friends going to help him find it.

How ironic that Miles' roommate is the complete opposite of him. What a good match for him. Although, I think that Colonel and Miles are more alike than what we realize.

I cannot wait to hear the plan that Colonel, Takumi, Alaska and Miles come up with to get back at Kevin and the others that "initiated" Miles. It also makes me wonder - who the real snitch is.

John Green is doing a great job of describing a typical teenage life - worried with drama and getting revenge.

Lisa, I also wondered why the book was divided into two parts- "before" and "after". Obviously there is a life-changing event. Maybe it is part of Miles' "Great Perhaps".

So Lisa and Rhonda, as I am reading more of the book I too am wondering about the two parts "before" and "after". I am just making a prediction here that it is when they figure who "ratted" on Paul and Mayra, or it could be "before" and "after" the revenge. I guess I need to keep reading to figure it all out.

As I was reading the section of them all going to the basketball game, it brought back my high school days. I believe that I went to school with Colonel, although his name was Andy.

I think that I got a little more insight as to who the characters really are...

Another prank, this time Alaska. I understood the guys pranking Miles, although at first I thought it was jus initation. But, why are they now pranking Alaska?

Tara, I agree that we got to know the characters a lot better in this section. I like Alaska's personality- she is very blunt and doesn't worry about the small things. I laughed when Colonel asked her to iron his shirt and she went off on him because he acted like since she was a female, it was her job. I never know what to expect, when it comes to Alaska.

I hate that the three-and-a-half date with Lara didn't go better for Miles. Poor thing, that's probably the first date he's been on. How horrible to vomit all over her! It would be hard to face her after that. She said it was fine, so I'm curious to see if anything will come of Miles and Lara!?

I feel so sorry for Alaska since the Weekday Warriors flooded her room and ruined so many of her books. Why did they do that? I'm curious to see what the revenge for the Weekday Warriors will be.

Now that we are further in the book, I find it hard not to read ahead. I am starting to care about the characters more and find myself rooting for Miles. I personally felt his humiliation when he got hit with the basketball, suffered a concussion and vomited on his date. Unfortunately, it's a sensation we never outgrow. I can begin to see a change in Miles. When he stood up to Kevin and told him there would not be a truce, I was a little surprised.

There is a continuous theme centered around death and it leaves me wondering if one of the main characters is going to die. Alaska frequently jokes that she is going to die young. She is the type of romanticized character that is too big for life.

I didn't want to stop reading on page 100! This was an interesting section. So, Alaska was the snitch! I would have never guessed her.

When Miles decided to stay at Culver Creek with Alaska for Thanksgiving instead of going home to see his family, it brought back memories of the crazy things that teenagers will do for those that they have a crush on. I couldn't help but laugh when Colonel said that according to his calculations, Miles was full of shit because he said that he wasn't staying there just to make out with Alaska. I think that Miles had high expectations for his week alone with Alaska, and to be honest, I thought something more would come of it, too. There were so many moments when I thought, 'This is it. They are going to kiss.' But it never happened. So disappointing to me!

It was nice to catch a glimpse of the Colonel's home, and it helped me understand his hatred for the Weekday Warriors.

Can't wait to read more....

Lisa, I did not want to stop reading on page 100 either, especially since we are down to “three day before”.

Alaska is a very complex character. She seems to be a free spirit who is fearless, but when I found out she snitched on her roommate to keep herself from getting kicked out of school, we were able to see a different side of her. Under the tough exterior, she is vulnerable and insecure. I think we will see more of this side as the book continues.

Green does a good job of capturing the intense feelings of the teenage crush through the lens of a teenage boy. While teenage girls have sexual desires, I do not think they are so free to verbalize them, even to themselves. Even though Miles and Alaska did not kiss, it is clear they are becoming more intimate and comfortable with each other. I am just as interested to see how their relationship with evolve as I am to learn about the prank.

Okay, so my prediction was right on. On page 132 when Miles said "We did not say: Don't drive. You're drunk. We did not say: We aren't letting you in the car when you are upset. We did not say: We insist on going with you. We did not say: This can wait until tomorrow," I knew what was coming and it made my chest hurt. The reason Miles did not say any of this is because teenagers often think they are invincible, so they think their friends are invincible too. I feel sad that Miles will wrestle with regret for the rest of his life. It is interesting that he is obsessed with last words and how they reflect the person who is dead, but has given little thought to what last words mean to the people who are left behind.

Once I got to the part where Alaska is killed, I could not stop reading. I wanted to find out why she left in the middle of the night. One of my best friends lost his father when we were in high school. He was driving home drunk one night and ran into a tree. There was speculation that the crash was not completely accidental because he did not make an attempt to brake. It seemed that it was difficult for the family to let go without knowing the true reason for his death, though I am not sure how it would have changed things if they did.

The white tulips in the car lead me to think that Alaska was going to see Jake.

Miles and Colonel are determined to solve Alaska's death. Is it because they didn't stop her and they feel guilty or is it because they lost a very dear friend. Will they solve it?

I just wanted to let you guys know that John Green will be at AC Reynolds High School (Fairview; outside of Asheville)October 20. Tickets are $10 or $15.

Tara, I also believed that Alaska was going to see Jake because she had the white tulips in the car that he had given her. I think Colonel and Miles are so determined to find out the truth because they do feel guilty- they know that she was too drunk to drive that night and they should have stopped her.

I was so surprised to find out that Takumi had some guilt about her death as well, but he wasn't letting on about it. I didn't put it together about where Alaska was going until the book did it for me. John Green did an excellent job writing this book and he kept me in suspense the entire time. Once Alaska left in the car drunk, I couldn't stop reading- I had to finish!

Well, I guess we figured out what the "before" and "after" was, but it certainly had nothing to do with Miles' "great perhaps." I enjoyed this book and our discussions! :)

Ok... so my question to you guys is this: What is Miles "great perhaps?"

Lisa, I too was suprised by Takumi feeling guilt as well. I was so surprised to read that he saw her that night and he didn't stop her either.

I love the fact that they all worked together to prank the Eagle and that he didn't get upset with them. He chalked it up to celebrating Alaska.