Blog post 4: Book 1 Project: An Ace And Bun of Earthen Ski UFP (An Abundance of Katherines Ultimate Fan Pack)

Just in time for the holidays, we're bringing fans of An Abundance of Katherines an Ultimate Fan Pack. Inside, there are ten items inspired by the book. This is a great gift for anyone who has read the book and wants more. Each package includes the following (all items are listed, but not all are shown):

1. A book of anagram puzzles in honor of Colin's strange obsession with them


2. Season One of "Eureka" in reference to Colin's desire for a "Eureka" moment













3. A T-shirt inspired by the novel; nineteen Katherines (black) and one Lindsey Wells (pink)














4. The Movie "Footnote" (because Green uses them throughout the novel)














5. A poster of Colin's Theorem (note: not accurate at predicting the dumper and dumpee)










6. Nineteen "K" stickers in honor of all 19 Katherines

7. A (pocket) German dictionary, in honor of Hassan and his use of German terms throughout the book













8. The toy car version of Satan's Hearse, Colin's "lengthy gray Oldsmobile"

9. A poster depicting one of the book's more popular quotes: "What is the point of being alive if you don't at least try to do something remarkable?"

 

10. A signed copy of An Abundance of Katherines.


These items connect to some of the most important/central themes and ideas in the book.
Readers enjoy An Abundance of Katherines because they can relate to Colin's desire to matter and to be wanted. In the book, he asks, "How do you just stop being terrified of getting left behind and ending up by yourself forever and not meaning anything to the world?” As his begins to figure out the answer, all of these UFP items come into play, if they haven't already. This package captures the setting (the map of Tennessee), the Katherines (the shirt and stickers), and the idea (the poster). If Colin hadn't gotten into Satan's Hearse with Hassan and made the decision to travel in search of himself, he wouldn't have met Lindsey or had the incredible adventure that he did. Colin knows that "you can never love someone as much as you miss them," but thanks to a split-second decision, he may have found someone who he won't have to miss. Lindsey is a pivotal person in Colin's life; he has only ever loved/dated girls named Katherine, and this girl from Gutshot makes him change his perspective on dating and on life. In one of the final scenes in the book where Colin tells Lindsey about all of his Katherine "experiences," it becomes obvious how much he trusts her. Lindsey tells him that he has finally told a good story and kisses him. This is the turning point; Colin has finally opened his mind to possibilities in love. Though most people aren't as...picky as Colin, they can relate to his emotions and his fears about being loved and remembered. Reading this book could prove to be very important for some people.

 
 

Throughout the book, Colin constantly worries about whether or not he will matter to anyone; particularly, a girl. The items in this UFP are not only fun, but are reminders of this theme, and what Colin realizes at the end of the book: “The moral of the story is that you don’t remember what happened. What you remember becomes what happened. And the second moral of the story, if a story can have multiple morals, is that Dumpers are not inherently worse than Dumpees – breaking up isn’t something that gets done to you; it’s something that happens with you.” This realization is important not just for Colin, but for all readers of An Abundance of Katherines. Hopefully, those who choose to buy the UFP are already fans of John Green, but if they need another reason to love him and receive encouragement to buy and read his other books, this is it. The UFP's diversity proves to be interesting and attention capturing, but the best thing about it is that all of the items are united by the same fears, ambitions, and answers. This UFP is a must-have for any and all fans of John Green's An Abundance of Katherines; if given as a holiday gift, it may very well be the best one received.

Blog post 3: An Abundance of Katherines: A Mid-Novel Reflection

I am halfway through John Green's Katherines and I am still deciding how I feel about the novel. Admittedly, it is probably my least-favorite novel of his; however, my least favorite John Green book still rises above plenty of others, and I hope that's a testament to his talent. The one thing I can say I do really enjoy about the book is the overall theme of wanting to matter and to be loved; that is universal. However, there are two reasons that I have come up with as to why this novel is less inspiring than his more popular (and incredibly amazing) novels:

1. This novel revolves around a character who is obsessed with a Theorem that has plenty of math in it. I love you, John Green, but my hatred for math parallels my fascination with your books. The other thing about the main character, Colin, is that he's slightly annoying (although John Green does manage to make me like him enough to read the book). His obsession with Katherines and the Theorem and the way he clings to anyone who gives him the time of day is a bit obnoxious; but, given his prodigious upbringing, I can't blame him.

2. Unlike, for example, Green's The Fault in Our Stars, this novel doesn't get to the "romance" part until over halfway through the book. I'm exactly halfway now and it is only just becoming apparent that Lindsey likes Colin. I'm not saying a book needs to have the characters professing their love for each other on every page - because that's also obnoxious. However, in TFiOS, Hazel and Augustus meet in the second chapter, and it is their conversations within their relationship that makes it so strong, so envied by others. Even though (SPOILER) their relationship is forced to end, it is so strong throughout the middle of the book that come the final chapters sans-Augustus, readers are left with a heartache they never thought they'd experience through a novel. That kind of relationship doesn't exist in AAoK, and even if it will in the coming pages, it took far too long for it to emerge. Of course, this is in part because Lindsey has a boyfriend; but that issue could have been resolved quickly. And so, John Green, I am predicting that I will be able to say that I liked your novel, but it did not endlessly fascinate me like LFA and TFiOS. You're still my spirit animal, though.

 

 

 

Blog post 2: What is a book?

A book is a flume. For those of you who haven't read The Pendragon series, this metaphor means nothing to you. But let me explain. In the series, Bobby Pendragon must save Halla (the equivalent of the universe) by travelling to different territories (think of them as planets) by way of flume. It's sort of a combination between a time machine and a portal to another dimension. I figured I would use a term from a book to describe what a book is because, really, how much closer can you connect two things? A book, to me, is a flume because it can take you to so many different places. In the same way that Bobby travels from Third Earth (the future) to Cloral (a territory floating on water), a book lets you travel from places that you could actually visit, to ones you can only go to in your mind. The most important thing that happens within a book is an idea. As a writer, I can say with great certainty that one of the best feelings in the world is when someone takes something away from your writing and is affected emotionally. However, this begs the question:

1.       Does it matter whether you read from a kindle or a hard-copy book?

 

In the controversy surrounding technology vs. real books, I am torn. In a world where reading isn’t a first-choice activity, I am simply glad that people are choosing to read anything out of pure enjoyment. If turning pages by swiping a screen is the only way to get some people to dive into a great story, then so be it. As I said earlier, the effects and take-aways are more important than the medium. However, I will always be an advocate for bookstores and the physical copies of a writer’s imagination that they hold. It’s a sentimental thing: loving the feel of a hardcover book or smelling fresh pages as they turn. Seeing how each page is different based on the structure of the writing. Realizing that an entire epiphany rests on a page so thin, you could easily accidentally tear it. I think that the more we allow technology to take the place of what we’ve always known, the less appreciation we have for the beauty of everything. So, do I think it matters which medium of reading you choose? No. But do I think both should still exist? Always.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blog post 1: Why Do I Read?

 

I have always loved reading. According to my mother, I was able to read children’s books on my own before I started kindergarten; and my fascination with books has only continued to grow. Bookstores are some of my favorite places because I love reading back covers and thinking about the endless amount of stories there are, and the smell of unread pages (do they have that scent at Bath and Body Works?). I think one of the reasons I enjoy reading so much is because books are capable of transporting you to another world. When I’m absorbed in a good book, I have no sense of time or awareness of what’s going on around me. It’s incredible how powerful words are, and how they evoke emotion. That’s another thing I love; reading something so well written, so moving, that I am legitimately in tears. I think being able to evoke emotions in strangers through your words is an incredible feat. The only other thing that comes to my mind when I think of reading is writing. I love writing just as much as reading, and I think the two balance each other out. The more I read, the better I write. Books like TFiOS have reminded me why I love reading so much, and have only further inspired me to work towards my goal of being a published and popular author. I'm so glad I found a passion for reading as early as I did; it's only ever made me happy.