The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
Type: Fiction
Length: 313 Pages
Reading Level: Intermediate/Easy
Rank: 4/5
First thing's first, I thought this novel would be a fast, easy read. And in a way it was just that. I finished this book in one day, on one car ride, while I was in Peru. It was an easy read because there weren't a lot of difficult words or descriptive paragraphs that just tend to drag on sometimes. But understand it when I say this book is not a light read. It will have you in tears, unless you are heartless. It will break your heart in a way that only a book can.
The main characters in this book, Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters are very, very lovable. The book is written from Hazel's point of view. She is sixteen. Also (here's the kicker) she has cancer. It's terminal. Immediately after reading that I said to myself' "Why am I reading this? I know it's going to be sad. I KNOW THE ENDING CAN'T BE GOOD I JUST KNOW IT!" But I read the damn book anyway.
Hazel goes to support group with other diagnosed teens once a week, and only because her mother makes her. Hazel hates support group and she hates the leader who always sings about God and being in the heart of Jesus. Also, I forgot to mention that Hazel's cancer forces her to have to travel with an oxygen tank at all times. So that's inconvenient and awesomely inhibiting for a teenager.
On this particular night Hazel is forced to go to support group, there's someone new. A hottie hot hottie, to Hazel anyway. They catch eyes at support group. So high school. The leader asks Augustus to share his story and if he has any fears he wants to tell the group, and he says that he is in remission, though the cancer took one of his legs and he only fears one thing: Oblivion. Hazel finds this funny and she tells him it's inevitable.
After support group Augustus talks to Hazel directly. He tells her she looks like Natalie Portman from V for Vendetta (Hazel's hair is short... you know, cancer.). Hazel hasn't seen that movie so he invited her over to watch it. But before she says yes he puts a cigarette in his mouth which seriously upsets Hazel. Like, obviously she has to breathe freaking oxygen through a tube since her lungs don't work. Wasting perfectly good lungs is ridiculous. Augustus laughs at her anger and says he's never lit one, (which is confusing right?) but rather that he treats it like a metaphor. "You put the thing that does the killing right between your teeth, but you don't give it the power to kill you."
Hazel decides she likes this and goes to his house to watch the movie. They talk about their cancers and their lives. Then they talk about books. Hazel is seriously obsessed with this book, An Imperial Affliction so she tells Augustus to read it and not call her until he finishes it. And he gives his favorite book in return, The Price Of Dawn.
If this isn't enough of the story to get you intrigued, then nothing about it will. This book review is going to be different than my others because I don't want to summarize the plot for you. I want you to go read it yourself. It's such a fast read, there's no excuse not to! Plus obvious spoilers that I want you as the reader to come to yourself. Not via my blog. Not via any YouTube comment or social media. READ IT. Then go see the movie and tell me all about your feelings. By the way, if you watch the trailer for the movie DON'T READ THE COMMENTS. I REPEAT: DO NOT READ THE COMMENTS!! It will all be spoiled. To save you the trouble, here's the preview. I cry every time, but then again I know what's going to happen.
Doesn't it just warm your little heart? And yes, that is Tris and Caleb from Divergent. But you get over that eventually.
Anyway, back to the book. There are things the kids would say that I would read and be like.... why did you say that what does that even mean? But that's what's perfect about it. They are teenagers and not everything they say makes any sense!
This book is so beautiful because it's real. These things feel real. The author makes you feel for these characters. These events could really take place. To finish off this review, I'm going to share with you some of my favorite quotes/moments from the book. The parts I can't wait to see in the film.
I cannot recommend this book enough. It truly was a great read. It made me laugh, it made me smile, and it made me cry. If that isn't the recipe for a great read then I don't know what is. Please, please read this book if you can get your hands on it. It is worth every penny you may spend.
Thanks for reading.
xx
