An Abundance of Katherines
An Abundance of Katherines was a 2007 Michael L. Printz Honor book and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. It was also named one of the books of the year by Booklist, Horn Book, and Kirkus.If you would like to read this book in another language, go to the Translations page.
Reviews (Spoiler Alert!)
“Imagine an operating room at the start of a daring but well-rehearsed procedure and you will have something of the atmosphere of ”An Abundance of Katherines”: every detail considered, the action unrolling with grace and inevitability.”
-New York Times Book Review
“Green follows his Printz winning Looking for Alaska (2005) with another sharp, intelligent story. The laugh-out-loud humor ranges from delightfully sophomoric to subtly intellectual.”
-Booklist, Starred Review
“Fully fun, challengingly complex, and entirely entertaining.”
-Kirkus, Starred Review
“Laugh-out-loud funny, this second novel by the author of the Printz winner Looking for Alaska charts a singular coming-of-age American road trip that is at once a satire of and a tribute to its many celebrated predecessors.”
-Horn Book, Starred Review
{ 161 comments… read them below or add one }
Not my favorite John Green book, but, still, funny as always!
Nice website, John!
Also, there’s an extra space in the middle of the word “dumped.” The summary says that Colin was dum (space) ped by all of his Katherine-girlfriends.
I think that might be to make the summary lines finish at around the same place. I may be wrong though. We’re only human right. : )
That’s how the book is the whole way through, i think it has to do with Colin’s anagrammatic skills, or at least that’s what i assumed.
is there a new formula website??? i was so upset when it stopped working. is it back?
John Green, you are one of the best authors I have ever read. “An Abundance of Katherines” is the book that made me start reading your books, purely for the fact my name is the title. I loved it. Then I picked up “Looking for Alaska” and “Paper Towns”…and now I’m desperately trying to find a copy of “Will Grayson, Will Grayson.” I just want to say I love love LOVE your books, and it’s not just because you wrote a book about nineteen of me (bad joke). Most of my peers were pretty annoyed with me last year when I first found your books, because I was going crazy. I still am. You’re an amazing writer. “Looking for Alaska” is the first book that ever made me cry, and that’s saying something, because I love most books I read and always end up feeling a bit too much for fiction characters than I should, even with my own hectic life to distract me from reading. Okay, I’m rambling now. I have to stop that. Damn. Guess I’m pretty incapable of stopping myself from gushing when it comes to authors…
Well, I have the same exact problem as you. I tend to ramble, and I get emotional over books. And whenever I read, my friends get annoyed and say, “WHY ARE YOU READING?! GO DO SOMETHING!” They just don’t understand how wonderful reading is.
I completely understand what you mean with your friends telling to stop reading, as it’s aparently loserish (their words not mine). And Will Grayson, Will Grayson was the first one I read and it was pretty damn good in my opinion. I would probably per order “The Fault In Our Stars” if I could, but I can’t so I have to wait till it comes out. :(
Anyway, continue reading and just laugh and say you are doing something. :D
I couldn’t have said it better myself…except my name’s not Katherine :[
I know!! My friends say that John Green’s books sound lame. I talk about them too much :P
That’s exactly what I do and now none of friends will read his books!
Did a book report on this book…..BEST IDEA EVER! Thank you for smart AND funny books!
DFTBA
My friend Allie first introduced me to Brotherhood 2.0 in 2008 and and I’m stilling watching Vlogbrothers now. It was what got me into your books and Hank’s music.
My favorite so far of yours was An Abundance of Katherines. It was so witty in spots I had to actually stop and mull over it, but you still had your classic outrageously funny humor that flies off the page. The appendix at the back had my sister at a loss for words. I’m always stunned at what you come out with.
One of your latest vlogs left hint of your newest project and I cannot wait until it comes out! I’m sure it will be a materpiece, as always.
Which begs the question: What Could You Do With a Poe Bust?! Because that wasn’t your last award….
Roughly, when do you plan on publishing your next book?
Absolutely wonderful.
‘Twas my first John Green book and it was on my summer reading list. Who knew the school could pick something so funny and interesting?
Great work~
Best book I’ve ever read. Now, I want to read all his books.
Hey There John! (sorry about my english in advance)
My name is Adriana and I’m from Lisbon, Portugal.
I’m one of your subscribers at youtube, and I have to say: Hank and You are hilarious! I follow you both every week and i see every single episode you guys post. <3 You!
Well, the other day I went to buy one of your books ( An Abundance of Katherines) at Fnac store ( I'm finally on vacation so I really want to READ for fun, and not for study reasons) and I was told THERE WAS NO BOOK OF JOHN GREEN ( i mean… at any Fnac Store), none really. I was also told I would have to order one and wait about 1 mouth to have your book. @_@
So I thought…"I really wanted to have the book signed by John"… hum..Is this wish possible? I Don't know how we could do it, the payment and the sending and all that. Even if you can't help me, I'll understand, and I'll still love your work (even though I have to wait 1 mouth to read it – I'm kidding :D ).
DFTBA
Adriana
I felt the need to mention that this is by far my favorite one of your books!!!
This book is a very great book, I haven’t finished reading it yet, but I would like to point out that on page 57-58 ((of my copy, anyway)), the last line of page 57 is the same as the first line of page 58. I just thought that you should know that and maybe a punishment for it? ;)
i noticed that too, but i think i saw it in two or three different places
I read this book a couple years ago, and I loved it!
Then, at some point this past winter, I stumbled upon vlogbrothers on youtube, and thought they were really funny. It took a while, but then I figured out/was shown/someone in some video mentioned that John was the author of An Abundance of Katherines. I was shocked, surprised, and thrilled. And now I’m going to go buy your other books, John.
Have you ever heard of One Story? Google it. You should submit a short story to them.
Happy writing :]
~Emily
I love “An Abundance Of Catherines” :)
Anagramming is awesome.
Wow, I just seriously confused myself with this sentence:
“…Colin–an anagram-obsessed washed-up child prodigy–heads out on a road trip…”
By thinking “But ‘Colin’ isn’t an anagram of “obsessed washed-up child prodigy”.
Not that there’s anything wrong with the sentence, or really anything wrong with me. I just thought I’d share that.
ouch. my brain hurts
no, they’re saying that he’s anagram obsessed, not that obsessed is part of an anagram! haha:)
This was the first book I read by you and honestly, it’s my favorite. Of course I’ve only read Looking for Alaska and Abundance of Katherines, but this is just so light-hearted and witty. I loved it and I’m seriously contemplating stealing it from the library, cause I’m broke and cool like that.
not my fave of yours, but i loved the light-heartedness (is that one word or 2), the math, and the anagramming. Also I loved the pi subnote or whatever it’s called. i’m memorizing it for next pi day- 3-14
dis book is really good
it is real good ,I like it very much
This is by far my favorite John Green book (although I have liked all of his books). I wish they would turn it into a movie. I think it would be a laugh riot! I have Michael Cera cast in my mind for the part of Colin. I think that you be just great. Maybe it would make some more money for John Green too!
Favorite quote ever: “Tampons to me were like grizzly bears: I’d heard plenty about them but I’d never seen one in the wild.”
~Colin from John Green’s “An Abundance of Katherine’s.”
Du bist ein genie! (Collin would get this–er sprecht Deutsch!)
Mine too! It was hilarious!
God. Just. God.
This is my favorite book in the entire universe.
As an aspiring author myself, I so envy how you can write fiction of substance, about themes that aren’t cliche, over things that actually make me think.
I wanna do that so bad.
I just want you to know, that by inspiring me every damn day of my life, every damn day of my life I aspire to do great things.
I couldn’t ask for more.
You should offer workshops or something, and then maybe one day I’ll be able to make an impact on someone’s life the way you’ve made on on mine, and I don’t even know you, dude.
Way to go.
I just finished this book and I don’t think I’ve ever learned so many random facts from one fiction novel. Great work!
Me neither!
yeah, i was spouting irrelevant facts for an entire month after i read this book. and my new fave word is schadenfreude. or however you spell it.
oh, and dont even get me started on fug.
schadenfreude is a great word. i really need to read this book
John Green is absolutely wondrous! You are the epitome of everything good in the literary world. I was introduced to Katherine’s by my english class but after that there was a group of us from the class that became avid fans. We even went to get WG, WG at five in the morning. You are the reason I write and read at all! Write more as fast as you can!
The best book ever!
I would like to writhe a book down, right here, but I’ve problems in English.
It’s making me sad that there’s no german Fan-Site
In the words of my former roommate, “ME! I’m a Katherine!” I haven’t had a chance to read this yet, but I will have to pick it up!
It is nice of you ,I like to read you blog, I hope that I can make friends
with you
Hello from France! I ‘d like to know if this book will be published and translated soon in French! I loved your books and this one is the only one I have not read,so i can’t wait! Please tell me
You have a wonderful talent, Looking for Alaska is one of my favorite books…just carry on like that!
‘Bisous’
I did myon of my reports on this book and was so happy when I didnt fail the report. The only reason that didn’t happen is because the book was so interesting and funny to read. I love, love, love when I stumble across books that aren’t dull or uninteresting.
I loved An Abundence of Kathrines! I’m a sixth grader trying pre algebra, but still couldn’t figure the formula out! I found it really funny!
I read this bok when you wrote a pep talk for nanowrimo.org. You really inspried me!
This book is witty, clever, and incredibly and unbelievably HILARIOUS. I loved Looking for Alaska and I didn’t think it was possible for a book to match it, so I didn’t have high expectations for Katherines. But no, this book actually blew me away. It’s funny in the weirdest and nerdiest ways, and coming from a math magnet school full of math geeks (myself included…) I was thoroughly impressed. It almost made math seem COOL, which is hard to do. I love how all your characters have random, amazing quirks (famous last words, anagramming, obsessions with paper towns, etc), it makes them seem a lot more real, and so much more believable. Your novels have really inspired me to pursue writing (oh, and your pep talk for NaNo was great, too). How do you do it?!? Anyway, keep writing, please…and thanks for such a great read!!
This is the only book that I actually read for my English class. It was kind of amazing. But only in the way were there should be no ‘kind of’ in the last sentence.
Can I read this online anywhere??
amazing book, I’ve never laughed so much while I’m reading a book. I hope that you don’t stop writing books.
I have read this book, Paper Towns and Looking for Alaska, and I haven’t been disappointed by any of John Green’s book. Plus I guess I’m a bit behind so I found out today he makes youtube videos.
New favorite person ever.
To my favorite vlog-brothers/nerdfighters.
RE: The unfortunate loss of my 3 favorite John Green novels.
First off, I’ll tell you I’m not here to fawn all over you two even though that’s what I want to do. I’m here to tell you a story.
I am affectionately referred to as Katie B, I live in Michigan, I am turning 17 years of age on the 11th of this month (January of 2011) and over the past holiday break I sent via non-priority mail, An Abundance of Katherines, Looking for Alaska, and Paper Towns to my 19 year old boyfriend, Tyler, in Ontario, Canada. I adore those books – they are 3 of my most prized possessions – and I regret to inform you both that the snail-mail system has lost my books. I’m quite disheartened. I loved those books, and as a proud nerdfighter (DFTBA!) I am also so enraged that they have been “misplaced.”
I’m not sure what I told you this for. Maybe because I have the tiniest of hopes that you’ll care and could consol me in some way. I don’t know. I just thought that I’d share my story.
I love you both quite a bit. Keep doing what you do. you inspire wannabe authors – suck as myself – and give hope to those of us life-long lovers of the written word who feel the end nearing for the printed book.
Much of my Michigan love,
Katie B
Just finished it literally 10 minutes ago. It was fantastic! Now I’m trying Colin’s formula on all my friends. :3 Keep writing John, and best wishes! DFTBA
HI! MY NAME IS LYZZEE. I AM DOING A REPORT ON YOUR BOOKS FOR SCHOOL, AND I NOTICED THAT YOU SPARKSFLYUP WEB PAGE HAS BEEN DOWN LATELY. IS IT GOING BACK UP ANYTIME SOON?
DFTBA
XX
This might actually be my favorite John Green book. I struggle to chose between Alaska and Katherines! This novel was so fresh and hilarious, and at the end I was just….HAPPY. I love it so very much. I have it on my Kindle, but I’m thinking of buying the paper version of it as well just so I can scribble all over it in my own hand writing.
OH MY GOSH! I absolutly loved this book the first time i read it, and it keeps getting better every time. I keep catching things I missed the first times through, so this books definetly keeps me on my toes.
I hope you realize too that there’s no spark notes page for this book. Not that anyone should want to use it, bu just a heads up if you need help with an assignment or book report and need to go back and look.
(this is an AWESOME book! i love it!!!!!!!)
-Emily!
I just started this book yesterday and I’m already almost done with it. Your book isn’t just a great read, it is seriously addicting. I was up till about two thiety reading last night because I just couldn’t pur it down. The ideas and plot of the story are so interesting, funy, and enjoyable to read:)
This is literally my favorite book of all time. I LOVE the story line, the characters, the little charts that made math for the first time relevant to my life. You made me proud of my nerdiness. Made me feel like it could amount to something other than grades. I can’t believe that you could be the same person who does the VlogBrothers, in fact, I noticed your name was the same but I thought it was impossible that so much talent could be in one person. DUDE! YOU ROCK!
Hey, just so you know, i am using this book as an example for a literature assignment on quests. Great book, doing this project made me read it again, even better the second time!!
This is one of my favorite books. It is very aspberger’s in many ways. Maybe even a bit autistic. I like how it reflected some of my students.
I have to write a 150 word OR LESS summary for this book!!!!! 150 words is not enough!!!!!!!!! Got it down to 180…. GRRR!
I loved this book!!!! I read it in added together like three hours.
I LOVE “An Abundance of Katherines”!! I first started reading it because my librarian recommended it for “people who like funny books”. I didn’t know I was one of those people until I read this book. While I was reading it I must have laughed out loud like 20 times! That Hassan kid says some funny stuff!
maybe dum ped is written like that so you pronounce it like dum ped, so it goes in rhythm with dat-ted
Love this book! First John Green book I read so it’s specail to me. Plus, it’s REALLY funny!
This is the book that got me started on reading all of John Green’s other books. I absolutely love it. It was extremely funny and very well written. Very, very awesome author.
: )
I would just like to say I thought this was a really good book. And that Hassan is the best, best friend anyone could have….well I think so anyway. That’s all.
-Thanks :)