Category Book reviews

Book of the Year: Looking for Alaska

Reg Spittle 3 Comments

A little late, isn’t it? You’re right, but I hope you’ll forgive me for focusing on the launch of my third book.

So, here it is, my review (published last March) of my favorite book that I read in 2024:

I glanced at this book’s title; I thought, “Perfect. A travel adventure book. To Alaska!”

But I was wrong. Looking for Alaska is indeed a journey, but the teen-aged protagonist travels through his eventful life in a new boarding school.

This is no ordinary coming-of-age story. Divided into two sections, before and after, John Green tells a tale filled with poignant happenings in the life of Miles “Pudge” Halter. One event is a defining, shocking moment where the “after” story begins. (No spoiler here.)

Obsessed with famous last words, Pudge falls into the world of the Great Perhaps with Alaska Young. She feeds his sense of humor, challenges his tendency to play it safe, and captures his heart. The entertaining story may move you to consider your own journey to self-discovery.

Looking for Alaska is one more in a series of young adult novels that have kept me away from my usual non-fiction leanings. I am drawn to YA books for stories that take me back to my own teen-aged years and my struggle to find myself. Like Pudge, I found a friend in high school who accepted me for who I was, giving me confidence that changed everything. I am thankful every day for that friendship.

Looking for Alaska was Green’s debut novel. He has written many more, including The Fault of Our Stars, selling a total of 50 million copies.

Unplug Your Robot–Now!

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In the age of robotics and artificial intelligence, Karin Kiser wants us to point the finger at ourselves–because we are all robots in more ways than we imagine.

In Unplug Your Robot: The Secret to Lasting Happiness, she says we can break the spell that restricts our enjoyment of life. How? By finding the human in us. How do we do that?

In an easy-going writing style, Kiser guides readers through a series of activities and explorations that are meant to reveal who we are and how we became the person we are. Like robots, our bodies are wired. We are conditioned from birth to conform, to hide our real selves in lives dominated by thoughts that dwell on the past and on the future. Instead of where we actually are–the present.

“I have heard that before,” you say. So have I, many times. But not in words that Karin Kiser offers. Just the term “robot” unlocks my ability to recall and act upon her suggestions. It is a brilliant word choice that resonates.

Click on the cover to find out more. I am confident you’ll be glad you did. Feel free to share your reaction with a comment.