The Fault In Our StarsAuthor: John Green
Series: ---
Publisher: Penguin
How Received: bought
Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, 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.
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.
This was going to be one of those books I read and didn't talk about, because I knew everybody would be talking about it and there wasn't going to be much I could add to the conversation. I couldn't compare it to other contemporary fiction, which I don't often read; I couldn't compare it against John's other works, which I haven't read; I've never been a blog to talk aimlessly about a book and how much I loved it.
I knew it would be brilliant - I am a Nerdfighter, after all, even if I haven't had a chance to pick up John's other books. I knew the passion he put into it. I heard the brilliant first chapter and was already in love with Hazel's voice.
But I didn't expect it to be that brilliant.
I didn't expect it to dig into my heart and my soul and make me cry. And boy, did I cry. I sobbed. I sobbed uncontrollably for ten minutes. Then my sister came into the room to tell me a joke and just stared at me for a moment and gave me a hug and asked me what was wrong and I was unable to tell her because I didn't want to spoil the story for her.
Do not read The Fault In Our Stars in a public place if you do not like crying and laughing and screaming and more crying in public. Do not start reading The Fault In Our Stars before you go to bed, thinking you'll read a chapter and keep reading more the next day, because you will stay up the entire night and go about your day the next morning bleary-eyed and discontent (because, let's face it, the only way you can go about after finishing a brilliant book is discontent).
But do read The Fault In Our Stars.
If you have ever picked up one book from this blog, let it be The Fault In Our Stars.
Because, I promise you this - you will not regret it.
I could not agree more - this is one of the best books (even if I cried like a baby) that I've read in a long time.
ReplyDeleteI was pretty vocal while reading - I actually yelled "No! No! No! No!" at one point...
I just finished it. Literally (literally!) ten minutes ago. I keep trying to describe it, but instead I just trail off.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to get my hands on a copy!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe it's the first book that ever made you cry!!! I cry all the time at books. Have you read Hunger Games? I cried throughout the entire first half.
I love John Green! Thanks for the review!
Of course, I pre-ordered this and squealed when it came in the mail (signed--woot!) but I'm a little nervous to start it because I KNOW it will be a tear-jerker. Maybe a cold Saturday morning, curled up under the covers with my puppies...
ReplyDeleteI just ordered my copy this morning. I'm late to the party, I know, but I've never read anything of Green's aside from Zombicorns and figured this would be a good starting point :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks heartbreaking, but I simply can't wait to read it.
I cried so much. At one point I was crying so hard that I was nearly shaking.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with everything you said. I've read all of John's books and, in my opinion, The Fault in Our Stars is by far the very best.
Wow. Sarah just bought a copy, and we are all planning to kill her and steal it. (Or you know, take turns borrowing it. :P) Glad to know it's worth it. We too fell in love with John's reading of the first chapter and have been anticipating this book ever since.
ReplyDeleteBesides "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" I haven't read anything by John Green, but the way everyone raves about him makes think I should change that right away. Anyway, I wasn't sure whether to read this book, but your review has convinced me!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh I MUST GET MY HANDS ON THIS BOOK NOW!!! Absolutely brilliant review. I consider myself warned of its sobworthiness now. :)
ReplyDeleteI pre-ordered it and it's sitting here in front of me waiting to be read. I're read John's books in the past so I'm prepared to be amazed.
ReplyDeleteEh. I've read up to the point when they fly to Denmark. Is this really a big tearjerker? I'm worried now.
ReplyDeleteFirst book to make me cry? When I was about 9 or 10, I loved to dig up from the library those abridged classics made for children. At a certain point I read Uncle Tom's Cabin and sobbed for a whole afternoon. Montgomery's Misunderstood also made me cry a lot in elementary school.
More recently, a big, big, BIG tearjerker for me was Before I Die by Jenny Downham.