Looking for Alaska by John Green

Friday,October 15,2010

Divided into two sections entitled Before and After, John Green introduces Miles Halter (Pudge), the novel's protagonist- a fifteen year old boy who is liked and respected by his parents and teachers. He's a skinny, chicken-legged boy who is undeniably bright and has a realistic and at times, idealistic outlook on life. His thing is remembering famous people’s last words- found in the countless biographies he reads. He’d rather read a biography of an author, for example, than read any of the author’s actual work. Grappling with the meaning of Francois Rablais’ last words, “I go to seek a Great Perhaps," he leaves his sheltered home in Florida for a boarding school in rural Alabama.