The Looking For Alaska Premiere in the LA Public Library Was a Bookworm’s Dream
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Books have an outsize presence both in John Green's novel Looking For Alaska and the new Hulu limited series of the same name. From the famous last words that Miles is always reading to Alaska's notes in Gabriel García Márquez's The General in His Labyrinth, literature permeates the psyches of all the characters from start to finish. To celebrate the impact that books have on the limited series, POPSUGAR teamed up with Hulu to host an event that highlighted all the literary connections within Looking For Alaska — it was even set in Los Angeles's Central Library. Overflowing with books, yellowed pages, and meaningful quotes, the library served as an immersive experience into the world of Looking For Alaska. Keep reading to see what took place, and watch the limited series now on Hulu.
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Just like the phone booth (and their much-doodled-on backdrop) at their boarding school play such a big part in lives of the characters in Looking For Alaska, the replica at the event was a much-talked-about photo moment. The vignette was complete with a phone booth, quotes, and verbiage from the show on the wall. See if you can spot one of the daisies Alaska was famous for drawing.
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Guests were encouraged to take home library cards that featured memorable quotes from the show. Quotes included one from Miles that read, "It's not imaginary. It's my great perhaps." Another from Alaska read, "My question? It has no answer." Dr. Hyde, Culver Creek's beloved religious studies teacher, was also featured, with quotes such as: "We are all interconnected. It is the nature of all beings." and "Time spent on the future of the past is done at your own risk."
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Guests were treated to custom haikus made by working poets. Subjects ranged from first love and high school nostalgia to family and friendships. They were even written on vintage typewriters!
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After a screening of the show, the cast sat down with POPSUGAR Editor Lindsay Miller to talk about their experience on the set, as well as what the show means to them and how they relate to their characters. Charlie Plummer, who plays Miles "Pudge" Halter, Kristine Froseth, who plays Alaska Young, Denny Love, who plays Chip "The Colonel" Martin, and Jay Lee, who plays Takumi Hikohito, were joined by John Green himself and executive producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage.
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If you're wondering where you've heard the name Josh Schwartz before, he was the creator and producer of iconic TV show The OC. His former colleague and OC actress Rachel Bilson was in attendance to support her friend and mingle with the next generation of teen stars.