Analysis of An Abundance of Katherines
"' Because of the whole genius thing...is nothing. That's just about wanting to be famous'
'No it's not. I want to matter' he said" (Green 11).
I think this is an interesting concept. Being famous and mattering seem like two different things to me but I can't put my finger on why. This is a problem that I (and many other people I presume) face. But is it just a euphemism for simple lust for fame. I think the arguement can go both ways. Collin goes to Gunshot, Tennesee to see the body of Archduke Franz Ferbinard. He meets a nice mother and daughter who give them jobs and housing. But Collin spends most of his time thinking about the most recent Katherine or battling the idea that he might just want to be famous. You can argue that they are the same thing that fame is a result of work that you have done that matters to people. And thats true. Many people revolutionized the world we live in like Albert Einstien or George Washington. But sometimes you either get one or the other. For example many people don't know who Martin Cooper is. But he invented the first version of an invention practically everyone has now (try to guess what he made and don't use google) and I think that mattering means someone who has found a way to positively impact your life or the human experience. The Kardashians are famous but they don't really do anything to positively impact society. From what I know, all they do is walk around, be rich and get divorced every once in a while. But they are well known...somehow.Sometimes the concept of fame confuses me. Should all people that matter be famous or do all famous people matter. What do you think makes someone famous and or matter? Do you think fame builds or destroys human culture and why? These aren't retorical questions and I would like to wrap up with this: fame and mattering is all about perspective. Someone can matter and/or be famous to a lot of people but not everyone.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
New Book!
After reading Looking for Alaska, I grew an apreciation for John Green as not only a youtuber and a human being but now as a writer. So I started reading An Abundance of Katherines, his second novel. Everyone tells me to read The Fault in Our Stars (which I will read once I read this and maybe some of his other books). That got me wondering what made his books so good? As a child I loved the concept of magic, I would always pretend that I was a wizard because it is protrayed that there is a spell for everything in the universe of Harry Potter for example (which again, I still have to read. So contrasts between Green's work and Harry Potter will be based on the movies. Sorry) but I digress. Harry Potter is so imaginative in the universe it creates but I couldn't find the main conflict relatable. But that doesn't mean it isn't a compelling conflict. One of the goals I find in liturature is basically why we look for theme statements. When characters are put in relatable situations, we turn to them to see how they handled it. In An Abundance of Katherines, the main character Collin is a child protegy who has only dated girls named Katherine and has been dumped by a Katherine 19 times. But his main struggle in the beginning of the book is not his relationship problems (as much) but how he wants to matter. I can relate to that. So in conclusion books can serve as guides, warnings or just an escape from this world to enter another.
After reading Looking for Alaska, I grew an apreciation for John Green as not only a youtuber and a human being but now as a writer. So I started reading An Abundance of Katherines, his second novel. Everyone tells me to read The Fault in Our Stars (which I will read once I read this and maybe some of his other books). That got me wondering what made his books so good? As a child I loved the concept of magic, I would always pretend that I was a wizard because it is protrayed that there is a spell for everything in the universe of Harry Potter for example (which again, I still have to read. So contrasts between Green's work and Harry Potter will be based on the movies. Sorry) but I digress. Harry Potter is so imaginative in the universe it creates but I couldn't find the main conflict relatable. But that doesn't mean it isn't a compelling conflict. One of the goals I find in liturature is basically why we look for theme statements. When characters are put in relatable situations, we turn to them to see how they handled it. In An Abundance of Katherines, the main character Collin is a child protegy who has only dated girls named Katherine and has been dumped by a Katherine 19 times. But his main struggle in the beginning of the book is not his relationship problems (as much) but how he wants to matter. I can relate to that. So in conclusion books can serve as guides, warnings or just an escape from this world to enter another.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Wrapping up Looking for Alaska
I have just finished Looking for Alaska and FRENCH THE LLAMA it was awesome! (Comment below if you got the refference). So I will try to keep this as spoiler free as possible. The climax was somewhat predictable but it was still impactful. But what I thought was really well done was how the protagonist didn't have the same reactions to the climax throughout the book. It wasn't just sadness; it was anger, curiousity, happiness and at one point they said they felt pure. It followed the thoughts of the speaker very well and I could relate very much to some of the lines (to the point where I almost wanted to highlight my book). Check it out if you ever get a chance and what book should I read next if you have any suggestions.
A final word to the John Green fans out there (and everyone for that matter)
DFTBA
I have just finished Looking for Alaska and FRENCH THE LLAMA it was awesome! (Comment below if you got the refference). So I will try to keep this as spoiler free as possible. The climax was somewhat predictable but it was still impactful. But what I thought was really well done was how the protagonist didn't have the same reactions to the climax throughout the book. It wasn't just sadness; it was anger, curiousity, happiness and at one point they said they felt pure. It followed the thoughts of the speaker very well and I could relate very much to some of the lines (to the point where I almost wanted to highlight my book). Check it out if you ever get a chance and what book should I read next if you have any suggestions.
A final word to the John Green fans out there (and everyone for that matter)
DFTBA
Theme and Summary of Looking for Alaska
The book Looking for Alaska is about a boy named Miles Halters who loses a dear friend (not saying who, how or why). So Miles and his friends have to cope with their disapearance. For most of the second half, Miles is very sad and at many points angry that his friend was gone mostly because of how he wanted questions answered that could only be answered by the person they could not find. But once Miles came to grips with his friend being gone was when the theme was realized. Even if something is lost to the naked eye, almost nothing is ever completely gone. Miles wrote in his final paper that, "Those awful things are survivalable, because we are as indestructable as we believe ourselves to be" (Green 220). Miles also mentions in the paper that energy is never created or destroyed. It only changes shape, size, etc. People (including myself) that in story telling (but mostly TV) characters never actually stay dead. This is more of a literal sense but in writing that is very true in a deeper meaning. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and Juliet commit suicide which eventually results in the families making up. In conclusion whatever you may have lost, may it be as insignificant as your pencil, or as meaningful as a loved one. Nothing will ever truely be gone.
The book Looking for Alaska is about a boy named Miles Halters who loses a dear friend (not saying who, how or why). So Miles and his friends have to cope with their disapearance. For most of the second half, Miles is very sad and at many points angry that his friend was gone mostly because of how he wanted questions answered that could only be answered by the person they could not find. But once Miles came to grips with his friend being gone was when the theme was realized. Even if something is lost to the naked eye, almost nothing is ever completely gone. Miles wrote in his final paper that, "Those awful things are survivalable, because we are as indestructable as we believe ourselves to be" (Green 220). Miles also mentions in the paper that energy is never created or destroyed. It only changes shape, size, etc. People (including myself) that in story telling (but mostly TV) characters never actually stay dead. This is more of a literal sense but in writing that is very true in a deeper meaning. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and Juliet commit suicide which eventually results in the families making up. In conclusion whatever you may have lost, may it be as insignificant as your pencil, or as meaningful as a loved one. Nothing will ever truely be gone.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Looking for Alaska tone and mood.
The tone of Looking for Alaska changes as does the mood (this isn't necesarily spoilers but Alaska is a pretty moody character). Sometimes the tone is sweet and innocent, like when Alaska and Miles have their first conversation. So the mood is happy and optimistic. Sometimes the tone is for a "more adult pg-13 esc" and that makes the mood uncomfortable. I believe the mood/tone of the book always depends on the mood Alaska is in because she is the main subject/focus of the story. The Colonel convinced Miles to take up smoking unintentionally because he was going to smoke anyway and it is apart of his lifestyle.Miles said, "The Colonel neglected to ask whether 4. I smoked, which 5. I didn't" (Green 14). But since he is trying to fit in and he just met Alaska (who he is obsessed with) it didn't take much to get him to start. He is not a good role model, what makes this absolutely halairous is his justification of his actions was three words, "when in Rome..."(Green 16) the only tone picked up from the Colonel is casual but the mood is awkward because the reader and Miles are trying to adjust to his lifestyle. But as Miles says, "when in Rome..." (Green 16) apparently it is ok going against your personal beliefs.
The tone of Looking for Alaska changes as does the mood (this isn't necesarily spoilers but Alaska is a pretty moody character). Sometimes the tone is sweet and innocent, like when Alaska and Miles have their first conversation. So the mood is happy and optimistic. Sometimes the tone is for a "more adult pg-13 esc" and that makes the mood uncomfortable. I believe the mood/tone of the book always depends on the mood Alaska is in because she is the main subject/focus of the story. The Colonel convinced Miles to take up smoking unintentionally because he was going to smoke anyway and it is apart of his lifestyle.Miles said, "The Colonel neglected to ask whether 4. I smoked, which 5. I didn't" (Green 14). But since he is trying to fit in and he just met Alaska (who he is obsessed with) it didn't take much to get him to start. He is not a good role model, what makes this absolutely halairous is his justification of his actions was three words, "when in Rome..."(Green 16) the only tone picked up from the Colonel is casual but the mood is awkward because the reader and Miles are trying to adjust to his lifestyle. But as Miles says, "when in Rome..." (Green 16) apparently it is ok going against your personal beliefs.
5 links about Looking for Alaska
The Author of Looking for Alaska is a youtuber so here are some of the videos he posted about the book
this link will bring you to a video about the setting of Looking for Alaska and the author's experience at his high school
The book is about a character named Miles who memorizes the last words of many famous people. These are 50 famous people's last words
These are the last words of every (deceased) president.
www.helensbookblog.com
www.npr.org
The Author of Looking for Alaska is a youtuber so here are some of the videos he posted about the book
this link will bring you to a video about the setting of Looking for Alaska and the author's experience at his high schoolThe book is about a character named Miles who memorizes the last words of many famous people. These are 50 famous people's last words
These are the last words of every (deceased) president.
www.helensbookblog.com
www.npr.org
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Looking for Alaska
In Looking for Alaska, Alaska has this large stack of books she wants to read when she is "old and boring" but a bunch of "weekday warriors" (as they are called) ruined them. I can understand someone getting angry if the books were heirlooms but she just found these books at garage sales and such. Not only that but she hasn't even read them. But this also shows people's connection to material items. I've seen people flip out when their Iphones touch the ground. I am no exception. I hate it when people take my stuff (and get extremely frusturated when people ruin my stuff) but why? it's replacable. This can also be related to the friend moving away. When the thought of your stuff possibly being ruined, you would have to adjust to a life without it is very difficult. Continue the conversation in comments.
In Looking for Alaska, Alaska has this large stack of books she wants to read when she is "old and boring" but a bunch of "weekday warriors" (as they are called) ruined them. I can understand someone getting angry if the books were heirlooms but she just found these books at garage sales and such. Not only that but she hasn't even read them. But this also shows people's connection to material items. I've seen people flip out when their Iphones touch the ground. I am no exception. I hate it when people take my stuff (and get extremely frusturated when people ruin my stuff) but why? it's replacable. This can also be related to the friend moving away. When the thought of your stuff possibly being ruined, you would have to adjust to a life without it is very difficult. Continue the conversation in comments.
Reading Skills for Looking for Alaska
Looking for Alaska is about two characters complex relationship between the two main characters: Alaska and Miles. The book discussing how much Miles cares for Alaska will (from what I predict) will show how much Miles can suffer the loss of someone he cares about. That is meerly based on the title, but I wonder: how this will be protrayed? Also how will Green show the suffering Miles goes through to a point where it is real emotions about fictional characters? But I have realized that is easier that I think it is due to all the "team Edward" and "team Jacob" but is that only when there is a relationship on the line or is it when character is fully developed when characters are sympathized for. I can relate this to the TV series Doctor Who when the Doctor loses Rose and is unable to get her back. But in reality it relates to when friends say they are moving away you realize how much they mean to you predicting what life will be like without them.
Looking for Alaska is about two characters complex relationship between the two main characters: Alaska and Miles. The book discussing how much Miles cares for Alaska will (from what I predict) will show how much Miles can suffer the loss of someone he cares about. That is meerly based on the title, but I wonder: how this will be protrayed? Also how will Green show the suffering Miles goes through to a point where it is real emotions about fictional characters? But I have realized that is easier that I think it is due to all the "team Edward" and "team Jacob" but is that only when there is a relationship on the line or is it when character is fully developed when characters are sympathized for. I can relate this to the TV series Doctor Who when the Doctor loses Rose and is unable to get her back. But in reality it relates to when friends say they are moving away you realize how much they mean to you predicting what life will be like without them.
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