Lighter John Green?

[William Chance Jordan Langille]

I recently read Looking for Alaska and The Fault In Our Stars. I enjoyed both immensely (TFIOS's ending had me in tears for the first time in years) the both dealt with heavy subjects. I really enjoy him as an author I wish to keeping reading but LfA and TFIOS have left me just a little of the depressed side. So NFers I was wondering if any John's other books were on the lighter side?

Feel free to suggest other John Green books I should read as well other similar books.

 

[Livi]

Yeah, starting with LfA and TFiOS was probably not the way to go if you're to have any faith in John's books not being depressing, haha. Not a terrible decision, of course, because they're both fantastic books, but you'll be happy to know that his others are not quite like that.

Paper Towns will probably not make you cry, although the last sentence always does something weird to me. I always feel a little sad for the rest of the day. But it's not quite as depressing, just deep and very thought-provoking. It just doesn't deal with such specific, heavy issues (such as cancer) and instead makes you look at yourself and how you view others, which can be slightly startling.

An Abundance of Katherines is still very intelligent but also light and fun. No tears there.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson will also not have you in tears. I would consider it a bit less light than Katherines because of David Levithan's Will; he's not a happy person, and things happen that will probably make you kind of sad. Otherwise, though, it's a hilarious and ultimately uplifting book.

So, to answer your question, yes, I would say his other books are on definitely the lighter side. I think you should read all of them, as they're all very good. And as for similar books? Hm... I would check out Maureen Johnson, maybe, especially The Bermudez Triangle. It's not a John Green book- they're decidedly different writers, I would say- but its quirkiness reminds me of Katherines, and the way it takes a serious (relatively serious, anyway; it's not cancer) and relatable issue and tells a story about it with both honest realism and humor is sort of John-ish to me.