Today on the blog, Teen Press journalist Delia reviews John Green’s latest, The Anthropocene Reviewed! Check out what she has to say about it and pick up your signed copy from BookPeople.
I have always enjoyed reading John Green, so when I saw that he had come out with a new book, I went immediately to buy it. But if you are used to reading other John Green books– typically fictitious novels about high school students finding their way through the world– his latest work, The Anthropocene Reviewed, may be surprising. In an unexpected move away from the genre that has led to his most popular books– The Fault in Our Stars, Paper Towns, and Looking for Alaska, among others– John Green has released his first work of nonfiction.
The Anthropocene Reviewed is a series of short essays, only a few pages long each, that “review” various experiences or objects. The items he reviews? Diet Pepsi, sunsets, and monopoly– among others. Some of the reviews are somewhat surprising (geese– 1 star), while others are expected (sunsets– five stars). But all feature Green’s honest opinions and often tie back in unexpected ways to life’s larger themes, fears, or questions.
Although this was not a “typical” John Green book, I enjoyed reading The Anthropocene Reviewed. As a John Green fan, I found that The Anthropocene Reviewed gave me a closer look at John Green’s personal life, which I found interesting. I also found the reviews entertaining and, although they were nonfiction, they still carried the voice and style of John Green that I have enjoyed in his other works. The Anthropocene Reviewed raised enough thought-provoking questions to remain interesting, but, by relying on short essays and fun subjects, remained a light, summer read.
“…raised enough thought-provoking questions to remain interesting, but, by relying on short essays and fun subjects, remained a light, summer read.”
I would recommend this book to anyone– whether or not you are a fan of John Green. But I would offer one caveat: don’t go into this expecting fiction or any of Green’s typical themes. If you are looking for a traditional John Green book, I would recommend Paper Towns. But if you want a book with some light-hearted and thoughtful observations about life, The Anthropocene Reviewed is perfect!
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