Name: An Abundance of Katherines
Rating: 3.32996632996633 (1188 reviews)
ISBN: 9780525555728

John Green

When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton's type is girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. Now, this washed-up child prodigy is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship and avenge Dumpees everywhere.

Love, friendship, and a dead Austro-Hungarian archduke add up to surprising and heart-changing conclusions in this ingeniously layered comic novel.

An Abundance of Katherines

From the #1 bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars Michael L. Printz Honor Book Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist Katherine V thought boys were gross Katherine X just wanted to be friends Katherine XVIII dumped him in an e-mail K-19 broke his heart When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton's type happens to be girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun--but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl. Love, friendship, and a dead Austro-Hungarian archduke add up to surprising and heart-changing conclusions in this ingeniously layered comic novel about reinventing oneself.

Coming from books that make me question my existential being, I absolutely enjoyed this book. I started reading it during the pandemic and for some uncertain reason I stopped and now that I am riding the train everyday, this really gave me a good laugh despite the knackering commute. I absolutely enjoyed this even though I was able to finish the rest of the story in a week. I do sometimes wish that if Colin is real, I would be able to tell him that from my perspective, he is indeed extraordinary and he doesn't have to be more than whoever he is just to gain proper recognition or appreciation.

azi 蔡

Having been dumped for the nineteenth time by yet another girl named Katherine, recent high school graduate and former child prodigy Colin sets off on a road trip with his best friend to try to find some new direction in life. Printz Honor 2007.

Thought the details for each Katherine were way too specific, knew those were very personal.

Susan

When you live in constant thoughts and worry, it really is nice to have someone to become invisible with. 

It's for the people who worries, are heartbroken, and child prodigies turned into an impostor syndrome. It's also for the people who does everything for other people and non-doers.

When you live in constant thoughts and worry, it really is nice to have someone to become invisible with. 

It's for the people who worries, are heartbroken, and child prodigies turned into an impostor syndrome. It's also for the people who does everything for other people and non-doers.

Itzel

It's amazing how now the only John Green book I'm missing is Looking for Alaska.

I like a lot his books, as I may have mentioned before.

In this case, it was the fact that Colin was a former child prodigy that made him likable (at least to me). And oh, you may ask. How does one get to be 'a former child prodigy'? By growing up, because most child prodigies do not grow up to be adult geniuses.

Which may strike a little bit close to home.

Anyway, the anagrams within the book were superb, and now I kinda want to try my hand at them. The mathematical formulas, however, I couldn't understand them at all, but that may be because me and math simply do not get along. Not at all.

Now, even as I have mentioned how I could relate to Colin Singleton in the intelligence aspect, I certainly... well, it's a bit obsessive how he dated nineteen Katherines in the course of his life at the point the book begins (view spoiler)[ actually, he only dates eighteen of them. (view spoiler)[

But I guess it could happen. Certainly I wouldn't go chasing the same name all of my life. 

It began with a promising premise (I'm not really good at anagrams, but am agreeably apt at alliteration), what's with the roadtrip (As seen in my Paper Towns review, I crave a roadtrip), but Colin and his friend Hassan (Who is also a wonderful character, one of those sidekicks who take the stage for them. Think kind of Tiny Cooper) quickly stay in a little in-the-middle-of-nothing town.

The Archduke Franz Ferdinand deserves a honorable mention. (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Colton Ray

I tried to get through this book, but I just couldn't. Paper Towns and Looking For Alaska are the only John Green books I can stomach. The characters got on my nerves and the plot was going nowhere. Boring.

Maui S.

Loved how geeky this book is. An enjoyable read.

★★★★ // extremely hilarious and almost—almost—my favorite John Green book.

carolreadabook

I adored this book and I know lots of people disagree with it. 

I like this book because Colin is annoying and so full of references that the only thing he knows to do is say "this happened because of that" and I enjoy how he progressed in the book from being so selfish to care more about Lindsey and her feeling about how everyone sees her. 

The part when they run away is so precious to me. It's about being able to be around someone that makes you comfortable to be your true self.

And Lindsey, don't worry, everyone makes up to everyone, just be yourself around those you trust.

The colindsey theme's song is Lost Boy by Ruth B because they are both trying to

Jehan Chawla

I like John Green Novels; but this one just wasn't for. I'm glad it was a short read because I just wanted this novel to end. It's not that the book was horrible, I just didn't like the plot or the main Protagonist one bit. It had nothing captivating to hold my attention. The book just read like ramblings followed by more ramblings. Thanks to this book I've started hating the word KATHERINE. The basic premise wasn't appealing. The book had no redeemably. I don't even look back fondly at any character featured. Huge Parts of book were just a drag to read by.
Glad It's over though.

Briar's Reviews

An Abundance of Katherines was an interesting book by John Green - it's the perfect mix of YA and contemporary fiction in my mind. While it's not his best book (in my opinion), it's still a really intriguing read. John Green knows how to write a unique narrative and pull in the reader. Although, his books all tend to be different so you aren't guaranteed to enjoy this book if you liked his other novels. He does an excellent job at changing genres and narratives, and making different stories every time he writes a book.

Colin isn't the most likable protagonist, but that's why I liked him. He wasn't the typical YA character we fall in love with, he had his flaws. His friends were more likable, but to me it made him seem more real. We don't all love ourselves the way we should, so sometimes the protagonist should be more "realistic". 

As for the plot, it's has a smooth flow and doesn't build very much. It's more of a contemporary fiction piece that follows the characters throughout. There's no major plot twists or devices that jumped out at me. Yet, this book still worked well in this context! With most authors, I would have given up with a plot like this, but somehow John kept me hooked. That takes a fair bit of talent!

The best part of this book is that it is full of epic quotes. John Green knows how to make quote worthy books that relate to teenagers and adults alike. I have found countless quotes that I can either relate to myself, my situation or my friends and family. That's one of the major things this book has going for it! 

I definitely wouldn't recommend this as the first John Green book you read (unless you want to start off "weaker"). While I think it's fantastic, it's not the strongest book (in my opinion, yet again). Especially since this book is the type of novel that you either love or you hate (just look at all of the other reviews - it is split right down the middle). So, take a swing at this book once you've convinced yourself that John is truly remarkable through his other books first.

Five out of five stars - what can I say? I enjoyed it.

From the bestselling author of Turtles All the Way Down and The Fault in Their Stars, a beautiful tale of love, loss and not so fool proof mathematic equations. When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton's type is girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun - but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl. Love, friendship, and a dead Austro-Hungarian archduke add up to surprising and heart-changing conclusions in this ingeniously layered comic novel about reinventing oneself.

Victoria

Disappointing. Lame story. I kept reading because I was waiting for something to happen but nothing ever did and I ended up thinking, 'Why, John Green, whyy???' It was sad, really.

Katherine Yang

Rereading. More light-hearted and less emotionally-impactful than other Green books, but I love me some beautiful graphs and anagrams and footnotes.

An Abundance of Katherines

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