Connections and Recommendations: Entry 4

I chose to read the Abundance of Katherine's because I enjoy a lot of the work John Green does including on you tube and his writing. From all of his works, after reviewing them, I find that every time I learn something new and I end up benefiting from his work. This had intrigued me to read more of his writing and it had also challenged me to see if I could find the meaning behind his writing. This challenged me to think deeper about the theme or the message being portrayed by John through his writing. Therefore I am glad I continued to read his work because it feels like I have benefit myself and not just like I’m forcing myself to complete a summer assignment.

After reading I realized I was able to make connections with some of the silly teenage relationships. First of all I believe that any relationship I have been in is immature. Plus I always try to find reason behind the reason that they end much like Colin did. But if you don’t reach out to new people or you let those past experiences leave a burden on you, you will prevent yourself from being happy and from moving forward. And this is something I have personally learned as a teenage girl in high school and it’s something almost everyone goes through.

I would recommend this book to teenagers who are curious or having problems with relationships because that is what the book is based around and whoever is reading it will be able to connect to the characters and the conflict. Or I may recommend this to someone who is having trouble letting go of the past, because I feel this book does a good job of showing how that holds you back from moving forward. Therefore this book could benefit the reader because of its ability to be relatable . This is personally what I had experienced from reading this. So although this is a love story there is purpose and meaning behind all parts of the book and it is definitely worth the read. 

Hooking the Reader: Entry 3

Quote: “In that moment, the future containable by any theorem mathematical or otherwise- stretched out before Colin: infinite and unknowable and beautiful.” (Green, 212)

Colin being a child prodigy wants reason behind everything and as he goes through relationships (19 to be specific) so he tries to create an equation or theorem to help explain or determine his future relationships. His goal originally was to create a theorem to preview how long his relationship with Lindsey would last. He comes to find that the future is unpredictable and his past experiences won’t determine is future. He actually takes this lesson into a positive consideration and sees how he can experience more in life and enjoy it when he doesn’t drag his past around with him.

I think that we all have heard the term history repeats itself. It’s commonly used. But I also think we can relate to the fact that what happens in the past can often times control our future. When this happens I have found that it holds you back from taking risks and living life to its full potential. You will find yourself going through tough times in life but those usually will guide you to the good times. Therefore the unknown we find in the future is an “infinite” and “beautiful” thing.

Desires, Themes, and Structure: Entry 2

If you took notice to my last post you would see that the main characters were Collin, Hassan, and Lindsey. If you read the book you would also know they all have unique yet similar wants and desires. Collin is a child prodigy and he has always wanted reason and logic behind everything, but he also wants change from his past love life and experiences. Hassan (Collins best friend) on the other hand likes to go with the flow and does anything and takes risks to make himself happy, and to do better for himself. Lastly, Lindsey acts different around each group of people to fit in, but she hopes to find someone who she can be herself with and doesn’t have to put on an act for. Someone she can trust. I think this relates back to Collins desire to find love because when Lindsey ends up falling in love with Collin she realizes she can be herself around him.

One of the themes that I saw unraveling itself was, happiness is found outside of your comfort zone. Hassan, Collin, and Lindsey all had to take risks in order to be happy or get what they wanted. If Collin and Hassan wouldn’t have fled Chicago they wouldn’t be as happy as they are now with each other. They would’ve never been able to let go of their past. One more theme I have found is, don’t let your past determine your future. Collin tries to let his past relationships determine how long him and Lindsey will be together, which not only wrong but doesn’t help him move forward. Towards the end he finds out this is true and he ends up doing better when he lets go of his past.

Finally, I noticed that the structure of the book is separated by days that they have been away from Chicago and the narrator gives a description of the day and the conflict in the chapter (the day it takes place). The narrator also usually includes all characters thoughts giving the reader a full depiction of what is happening. Lastly when it comes to structure I noticed that the author would leave either a visual or in depth description of the complex thought process behind certain characters thoughts or decisions. For example, when Collin was making an “equation” to see how long he and Lindsey would be together, the author gave a visual of the equation and a description to help the reader understand how he came up with it.

Characters, Predictions, and Connections: Entry 1

The main characters in The Abundance Of Katherine's by John Green consist of Collin (the main character), his 19 ex’s all named Katherine, Hassan (Collins best friend), and Lindsey who plays a big part but doesn’t come in till later. I chose these people as the main characters because they all play a big role, in the message being portrayed or the theme.

The setting takes place in a small town called gunshot. Collin and Hassan originally lived in Chicago but wanted to get away from their old live; therefore wanting to see if life was better elsewhere. I believe that the reason Collin really goes is to understand love better and find reason behind his other failures at love. Collin, being a child prodigy, wants reason behind everything, causing him to find it elsewhere. I predict that Collin won’t go after anymore Kathrine’s, and I also predict that he’s going to let his past influence his future. This in my mind can be good because history does tend to repeat itself, but I feel as if his past experiences will hold him back instead of moving him forward.

I am able to connect this to films such as the notebook and the best of me because they thrive in a small town and have similar love struggles. Such as not understanding love and both running away from love and chasing after it. I am also able to connect it to the newly released film paper towns because it is based around a teenage point of view which is exactly like The Abundance Of Katherine’s. I was also able to connect the idea that in paper towns and The Abundance Of Katherine’s, they run away from their problems, and it ends up changing their lives and perspectives of love forever.  Lastly, the reason most people make love songs such as “we are never getting back together” by Taylor swift is because their past has changed them but they write these songs to prevent these events from taunting them in the future. I believe that is the message that the reader is supposed to understand by the end of the novel.