An Abundance of Katherines was the third John Green book I have read. (The Fault In Our Stars and Looking For Alaska, being first and second respectively) You could say that I am a fan of his work and you would be right. I enjoy how he captures the feeling of being a teenager. I am not young. I turn 35 in a few weeks and I am probably a little beyond his demographic, but that has never stopped me. After hitting the new release section in any library or book store, you can generally find me in the YA section.
Fair warning I did not actually READ this book. I listened to it. I imagine the book had more visual assistance with all of the graphing and anagramming that went on. Hearing it explained in detail didn't really keep me connected to the story at some points so that did take away a little bit from my enjoyment.
Child prodigy Collin and his only friend Hassan take off on a road trip after Collin is dumped by the 19th Katherine he has dated. Collin is broken hearted and Hassan wants to help him, but also wants to get away for a while, himself.
The two end up in Gutshot, Tennessee, where the meet Lindsey Lee Wells. I'm not big on the spoilers, so I will just say that the build up takes just enough time, you are learning about the 19 Katherines while you are also engulfed in the current story. You are rooting for Collin to pull his head out of his ass and realize that there is something right in front of him that can plug the big hole in his gut that he keeps talking about.
The secret cave scenes are the best. Throwing you back to the butterflies in the stomach feeling of when your hand brushes against your crush's hand. The ending is satisfying and in the style of John Green, it also leaves you with questions about what happens to the characters after the story. But, don't bother trying to ask him. He is known to stick with his assertion that the story belongs to the reader after the writing is done. It is what you make it.
I jumped right in to Paper Towns as soon as I finished An Abundance of Katherines. I'm on a John Green kick, so check back for a review of Paper Towns coming soon.
