“The Fault in Our Stars”
by John Green
Why you’d like it:
A lot of people have told me they read The Fault in Our Stars when someone they loved was diagnosed with cancer, and that it helped them through it. I could definitely see that and I’d recommend it for consoling purposes. However, I think you’d also relish it if you appreciate realistic characters and/or if you’ve ever pondered the secrets of our universe.
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.
What I enjoyed:
It’s equal parts laugh-out-loud funny and ow-my-heart-hurts emotional. At times, my brain was thrown off by the rapidness of the humor and heart, which was a refreshing change because I didn’t know what to expect. The Fault in Our Stars uses incredible dialogue, too. Not only is it natural, but it’s also profoundly thought-provoking.
My two cents of constructive criticism:
Honestly, I don’t have any. Just like I said in my Ready Player One review, this book could have been a whole lot longer and I wouldn’t have minded in the slightest.
How it made me feel:
Thoughtful. Grateful. Mortal. I wanted to hug everyone I love and tell them how much they mean to me.
What it reminded me of:
A modern love story brimming with pure emotion and none of the predictable sap that tends to go along with such a genre.
What I thought after finishing the last line:
“Dammit, that John Green knows how to tug at my heartstrings.”
Memorable, spoiler-free quotes:
“That’s the thing about pain. It demands to be felt.”
“It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you.”
“As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.”
“Nostalgia is a side effect of dying.”
Next week, I’ll review The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly (one of my top-ten favorites). Until then: feed your head, little bookworms.
Not sure I need my heartstrings tugged, but your review does make this book seem worth reading.