Looking For Alaska, while a cliche answer, was the first book that wasn't manga or directly linked to a TV show that I had read in years, and if it wasn't for that book I wouldn't have gone back to uni to stud creative writing.
I was going to say the same thing! Some of the things John Green wrote in that book really opened my eyes. I still think it is much better than the Fault in Our Stars
way way way better. I didn't enjoy the fault in our stars. I always thought looking for Alaska was so much better but I did read that at 16, and the fault at 22. I think mentally that had a lot to do with it. would have much rather enjoyed seeing looking for alaska as a movie.
Looking For Alaska was my answer. I read it about a month before my college graduation. But it was because when they get to the event that the beginning counts down to, I had a small yet significant overnight emotional epiphany that I didn't have anything going on in my life that I was truly happy about.
Lead me to my break up with my mediocre yet non-offensive boyfriend of the time and really launch into a job hunt in the area I wanted and pursue my goals.
Now I'm 3 years later and I'm in a 2 year relationship with an amazing guy that treats me super well, about twice as far into a career as I would have imagined myself to be, in a secure place financially after growing up lower class, own my dream dog and dream car, and pursuing hobbies I've always wanted to try.
All because a young adult novel that initially seemed to have a really shallow plot line on the surface made me realize I didn't have anything I'd truly miss in a dire circumstance in my life.
I picked up that book in June and when I got to the middle, I had to put it down for a few days because it got me right in my feels when I was having a really bad time. When I finally picked it back up and finished it, I had more insight on my own situation. I'm 22. Even if it's 'cliche' or YA, it's an amazing book with a powerful message.
That book for me was also the first thing I had read in years that wasn't related to manga. I recently read it randomly. It's a very touching story, so surreal. It made me just look at the now more vividly instead of concentrating so much on the possible future.
I was about to say the same more or less because it honestly is also a great coming-of-age story as well as a story on how to deal with life unexpectedly ending around you. That was something I seriously needed, and it speaks perfectly for we at the young age of the characters. Holy shit, it's the book I needed when I read it.
'Course, my answer will change in time to come. Life changes a ton, and we just keep on learning.
Amazing piece by John Green. I read it at a time where I was battling depression and it really hit home for me. It really pushed me to go out and find my own "Great Perhaps".
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u/[deleted] Dec 07 '14
Looking For Alaska, while a cliche answer, was the first book that wasn't manga or directly linked to a TV show that I had read in years, and if it wasn't for that book I wouldn't have gone back to uni to stud creative writing.