A genius (always striving to be a child prodigy) has a penchant for girls named Katherine. As the story unfolds, the reader learns of his history with the many Katherines and how each has broken his heart. The latest breakup has left him rather inconsolable, so his best friend convinces him to go on a road trip. They end up in a small town, living with a quirky mother and her daughter, getting paid to record the history of the town members. Meanwhile, the boy works on an equation that will be able to predict the longevity of any relationship and also who will break up with whom. The author includes a lot of information in his footnotes, which is a fun idea. The boys are very clever, and there are some funny parts. The best friend is a quirky, lovable character. There is some math, which might appeal to math lovers. Also, the boys use "fug" in place of the f word quite a bit.

I read this book about three weeks ago when we were still on our vacation, sitting around the pool and sipping my drink in a coconut (I do miss that a lot!) An Abundance of Katherines was such a great surprise that I read it in one sitting. I was completely hooked to the story and the characters!

Some guys like blonds; others like blue eyes; Colin likes Katherines. His type is linked to the name rather than physical appearance, and why not? It’s an original idea, one that gives you a good glimpse at the author’s sense of humor. His character, Colin, was refreshing to me; how great is it to have a male lead instead of a female one in a novel that has a lot to do with love? And Green does it well enough; the story is just a good mix of fun, realism, and extraordinary adventure.

The characters made the story exciting; they were original and detailed, in such a way that I immediately imagined this book being turned into a movie. They had strengths and weaknesses, and the friendship between the two guys was absolutely believable – maybe because in some way, it reminded me so much of the friendship some of my guy-friends had at that age. This is one book I wouldn’t be afraid to recommend not only to girls, but also to some guys! I read certain passages to the Man and he laughed, so that’s a good sign! (The man usually reads things with guns, swords, science-fiction or historical settings).

This may not be a life-changing book, but it is certainly a fun, quick read, perfect as a beach read! And Green’s writing is on point on so many occasions, I could easily feel Colin’s misery or happiness along the story. He also makes a great use of footnotes and anagrams, which makes the reading more surprising, varied.
I loved it so much that I already added Green’s other novels on my TBR list, and tonignt I ordered Looking for Alaska. Hopefully it will get home fast! ( )

Full review at http://yannabe.com/2009/05/30/review-...

Summary: Colin Singleton has just graduated from high school, only to be dumped by his girlfriend Katherine—the 19th time he’s been dumped by a girl named Katherine. To end his funk, Colin and his best friend go on a road trip. First stop: Gutshot, Tennessee.

Review: Do you like anagrams, math, random trivia, or let’s see…the kind of funny that makes you laugh out loud no matter if you happen to be reading next to your child who is finally, finally sleeping after a 2.25-hour-long struggle? Then you’ll love this book. And if your sense of humor hasn’t been supremely dulled due to parental sleep deprivation, just imagine how much MORE you will enjoy it.

At one point, I was laughing so hard I had to put the book down so as not to damage it. (The hog hunt scene, for those of you who’ve read it.)

I also loved how smart and genuine the main three characters were—Colin, his best friend Hassan, and the girl they meet in Gutshot. I was sad to have to stop listening in on their conversations.

This book will show you a good time. In fact, if one day I’m in a public restroom and I happen to glance up at the stall door to see

Call “An Abundance of Katherines” for a good time

followed by its Dewey Decimal Number, I wouldn’t be surprised, not at all. ( )

Colin and his best friend Hassan go on a road trip to help Colin deal with a broken heart. Katherine XiX has just dumped him, the nineteenth Katherine to dump him in fact. They stop in Gutshot, TN, and get hired on by Hollis to interview residents about the history of the town. Colin is such a nerdy, odd bird - definitely a character.
Along the way Colin tries to perfect his formula to predict the trajectory of relationships while he manages to learn a lot about himself, love, and making your mark on the world. I really liked this book. Although it is probably more for a high school audience. ( )

Part love story, philosophy, and comedy, "An Abundance of Katherines" is a unique an refreshing coming-of-age that's a bit different than the usual convention. Colin's honesty, desperateness to prove himself to others, and heartbreak are feelings that many teenagers will relate to. The characters are detailed, funny, and heartfelt. In addition, the mathmatical formula for relationships that is incorporated into the novel, adds an interesting, quirky, philosophical dimension to the story.