An Abundance of Katherines

John Green has been basking in the literature limelight lately. I've encountered many of my friends who have picked up a novel or two of his which further fueled my curiosity. My first novel of his was Looking for Alaska, and I recently read my second John Green book entitled Abundance of Katherines. Given the young adult genre, his novels are an easy read without compromising the depth of its story.

Abundance of Katherines was an enjoyable one, with complex mathematical formulas and random facts being footnoted every once in a while. What captures me first in any story is the depth of the main character and how easily attachable his personality is to actually see the story through. Colin Singleton proved this beyond measure, being dumped 19 times by girls who are all similarly, and coincidentally, named Katherine. Love is such a complex concept, and the reasons behind being dumped is even more perplexing, but Colin Singleton is bent on explaining these abstract concepts in something as definite as a mathematical formula. His journey, along with his bestfriend, Hassan, opens his eyes to a new environment wherein his experiences beg to ask questions that challenge his own views and beliefs. As he meets the people that inhabit Gutshot, he realizes that maybe not all things can be quantifiable. That, maybe the most important feelings a person can feel, are those that are left indescribable to words.

John Green has chosen written this well, capturing my interest from beginning to end. The characters in this novel are just so enjoyable, as you see them transform and grow to fully portray a beautiful ending. I'm determined to read his other novels as well, and I suggest you get around to doing the same!

The Hunger Games Series

Suzanne Collins

Admit it, ever since the worldwide success of the Harry Potter series, readers from across the globe have been on the search for the next best novel to beat it. Sadly, the Hunger Games series just doesn't come close. The Hunger Games centers on the challenging journey of Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a city called Panem, in overthrowing a totalitarian government called the Capitol. The Hunger Games, as portrayed in the book, is an event held by the Capitol every year for each district to present 12 young kids to battle it out to the brink of death, just to remind the citizens of Panem that they can never oppose the government. The novel gets very addicting, and her adventures are so intense that you will find yourself having a hard time letting go of the book. 


Praises aside for such a genius story, I personally saw the weaknesses of how it was written. Time and again, Suzanne Collins has threatened how convincing the story is by the way she writes. She forgets trivial and little details that have great implications to how believable the story actually is. There were times I'd ask myself, "How can that have happened?!" with no answers from the book. It is an enjoyable read, but one far from the masterpiece of J.K. Rowling. If the Hunger Games series were as well written, I'm sure it would be an even greater hit. The most disappointing part is that the second and third books, Catching Fire and Mockingjay, failed to be better than the first book, which should always be the case in book series. I found the ending to be anti-climactic and unbelievably disappointing that when I was finished reading, I felt a sense of annoyance towards Collins. 


Maybe this is the type of story one should watch in the movies, instead, but if you want to know what actually happens, do delight yourself with the copy of the book!