Tag book of the year

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.

Here It Is: My Favorite Book of 2023

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If you have been following my reviews, you probably thought The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie, was my favorite book that I read in 2023. It was the only book that, upon reaching the end, I immediately returned to the first chapter and read it again. I loved it the second time around, perhaps even more than the first time. It is an astounding piece of literature. But, after much contemplation, it finished a close second.

The winner? The Camino Club, by Kevin Craig. Maybe the fact that I walked the Camino de Santiago influenced my choice, but I don’t think it was the deciding factor. The Camino Club moved me like no other this year, as I found myself wrapped up in the juvenile-delinquent characters and their journey. Pilgrims who have walked the Camino like to say the experience changed their lives. For these six youths, it went beyond that. Click on the link above to see my review. If you are inclined to read more about the Camino, it is the subject of my first book, Camino Sunrise: Walking With My Shadows. My trekking experiences and my books would not have happened without my wife Sue’s talents and persistence.