Looking for Alaska by John Green

I have been contemplating reading this book for quite some time now.  A few days ago I finally decided to read the book.  I have to admit the book had a bit of a slow start for me, although by the time I was finished, I found myself reading a profoundly important book.

The story begins with Miles "Pudge" Halter.  Pudge was always known as a social outcast.  He decides that he wants to transfer to Culver Creek boarding school.  One unique thing about Pudge is that he is fascinated by the last words of famous people.  He feels that a persons last words say a lot about who they were in life.

Upon his arrival at the school he meets his roommate, the colonel, as he insists on being called.  A few rooms down from him is the out going and eccentric Alaska Young, Pudge immediately develops a crush on her.

Culver Creek is basically divided by two social classes, the "weekend warrior" who are the wealthy students who attend the school and then everyone else.  Alaska Young has a profound impact on Pudge.  Her drinking and smoking constantly baffles Pudge.  After Pudge was duct taped and thrown in the lake by the weekend warriors Alaska decides that she along with several other students are going to pull a prank in return for what they did to Pudge. He continues to become more enamored with Alaska despite the fact that she has a college boyfriend.

Unfortunately, Alsaska has to live with her vary troubled past.  At the age of 8, her mother died of a brain aneurysm.  Alaska carries the guilt of her mothers death with her because as a child when her mother died she was to shocked to call for help, leaving her mother on the floor seizing.  This pain still haunts Alaska and often is the source of her unpredictable behavior.

As Pudge learns more about Alaska, he begins to learn more about himself as well.  The reason I enjoyed this book is because despite there being a lot of pain and loss there is a lesson to be learned about life and how we choose to live it.  John Green's novel is truly great piece of fiction!