The Fault In Our Stars by John Green -313 pages
Book Blurb:
Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs… for now.
Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.
Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.
Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.
My Review: 5 stars
It feels like the largest juxtaposition on the planet to be so utterly moved by the beauty of this book and it’s ugly subject matter. Seriously who wants to curl up on the couch on a cold, dreary day and read about kids with cancer who fall in love? I know that even the Good Book Fairy was keeping this book on the sidelines as I knew I’d be drained from reading it. Admittedly, at the beginning I was only able to read a few chapters at a time as I got to know the main players, but soon after, I couldn’t get enough of Hazel and Augustus. No spoilers, but I was able to predict the ending pretty soon into the book so that did help me get through the story, because I knew there’d be no way to sugar coat an ending with this subject matter. These kids were unique to say the least and the existential questions they posed each other I found fascinating. They were wise, funny and aged before their time. The subplot of the Dutch Tulip man was an added bonus. I think this is Green’s best work to date. Truly beautiful writing.
Quotes I liked:
As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.
-“You don’t get to choose if you get hurt in this world…but you do have some say in who hurts you. I like my choices.”
-“What a slut time is. She screws everybody.”
-“Oh, I wouldn’t mind, Hazel Grace. It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you.”
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can’t wait to read this book! i’ve been hearing rave reviews about it, but you’re review sealed the deal!