An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Colin, newly graduated from high school, has just been dumped for the 19th time by a Katherine.  He’s never dated a girl that wasn’t named Katherine, not Kathy, not Catherine, just Katherine.  After the 19th dumping, he’s a little depressed so his best friend, Hassan, takes him on a road trip.  Somewhere in Tennessee, they are lured off the road by a sign promising a view of Archduke Ferdinand’s final resting place. Once there, they are offered jobs and decide to stay for a while.  Colin, a child prodigy, spends his time working on a mathematical formula that will describe his relationships with the Katherines.

When I reviewed Looking for Alaska, I complained that the characters were too similar to the ones in Green’s other book, Paper Towns.  Well, I didn’t have that problem here.  This book was my favourite of the three.  The characters were more real and more likable.  Colin was endearingly neurotic and Hassan was funny and cute.  And of course the girl, Lindsey, wasn’t actually anything special – which I liked.  She was just a normal girl.  I think that’s why I didn’t like the female characters from Green’s other two books, they were just too out-there.

The thing I love about John Green’s novels is the wit he brings to the story.  If you were to tell the same story without it, it would still be an interesting story, but it just wouldn’t be as fun to read.  I also like the way he tells a story – his writing style.  He doesn’t have any fluff in there.  It’s just a nice simple, flowing style.   I can’t wait to read Will Grayson, Will Grayson.

Also, I just love the cover.