And friends it’s time for my last book review from the honeymoon.
Let’s just say I’m not writing about this one last because it was my least favorite. I read this book in less than 48 hours, was left in tears, and was moved enough to leave it at the apartment we stayed at in their little “library.” I hope someone else picks and up and is moved in the same way I was. . .
Summary
The Fault In Our Stars, by John Green, follows a young girl, Hazel Grace, through her battles being a teenager. The one difference in young Hazel’s story? She’s also battling Stage 4 Thyroid Cancer with metastasis on her lungs.
Sounds like a dark premise, right? Sure, it is, but it does not make the it a dark story. Even when her illness restricts her to home schooling, carrying around oxygen, and struggling to move around without being winded, Hazel stays triumphant.
A part of Hazel’s treatment (and pacifying her concerned parents) is going to a support group once a week. For Hazel, this is really her “social” time, as regular schooling and social activities are a challenge for her. At one of these groups, Hazel meets a young man, Augustus Waters and is immediately intrigued.
You see, Hazel hasn’t allowed herself to get close to many people, as she feels like a “ticking timebomb” ready to go off and destroy all of those left in her path. That is, until she met Augustus. The relationship between the two develop through mutual tragedy (cancer) and a love for specific books. For Hazel, that book is An Imperial Affliction, by the Dutch author Peter van Houten. A tale that is left unfinished and has beautiful tortured the young girl since her first reading.
The peak of their romantic tale is a trip to Europe to meet the author and learn exactly what happened to the characters in the story. You see the story haunted Hazel due to her own concerns with health and what will happen to her own family when she has lost her battle.
Hazel’s entire world takes a turn this trip, not only from meeting this idol of hers but also finding out Augustus may be hiding something from her. . .
Review
Like I already said, within 48 hours I found myself crying, smiling, and bleeding from my heart for the characters in this story. To read such a jarring story of love from the emotional teenage perspective is moving, saddening, but moving in such a unique way.
John Green paints such an amazingly raw and true picture that this story is guaranteed to stick with you long after you put it down. It’s something in fiction that you really just don’t see that often anymore, and I cannot recommend it enough. But come prepared with tissues!
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I loved this book! So sad. I’m getting a little teary just thinking about it.
I totally agree — heartbreaking but SO good.
Loved it too!!!!
Coming from a book expert 🙂
I totally loved this also and recommended it to my family, my wife and kids loved it as well. John Green was on set for the movie and detailed a lot of stuff on his Tumblr. Really looking forward to it … with this and Divergent I would say 2014 is Shalene Woodley’s year to shine … a long way from ‘Secret Life’ (which we watched with our kids as they were both in middle school and getting to ‘that age’).
And as my younger son would say ‘oh the feels!’ 🙂
I didn’t know Shalene was doing The Fault as well! That’s awesome!
Oh my goodness has it been 5 years since that ski trip!
Can you believe it? Time flies when you’re having fun 🙂
I just read that on my vacation, too! I really enjoyed it, I liked that it was sad without being sappy and not predictable.
Exactly! I totally did not expect the twist!
loved it! have you read any other john green books? I haven’t, but one of my friends loves everything the writes
I haven’t either but I will be looking into them!
I read this during my peds clinicals which were on the oncology unit at my hospital and it broke my heart. I can’t wait for the movie (I always love the books so much more than the movies but still have to see them)
I am so excited! And totally agree, I always love the books more 😉
I read this book last week. I loved the characters, especially their voices. The word choices made me want to read their sentences out loud. Such a moving story–although I have to say I was somewhat unsatisfied by the ending when I first finished it. Now that I’ve had time to digest it, I can accept the ending a little more easily. Regardless, I’ve recommended this book to my students and quite a few are reading it now. So that’s good!
HA — I agree with you about struggling with the ending. Although I appreciated the unexpected twist and element of realism it added.
And at least it didn’t end the way the Dutch guy’s book ended…
Top 3 favoite books of alll times. I could not contain myself, I was laughin and sobbing. So glad you read it.
It’s SO good! And not surprising that we’ve both read and loved it.
I’m not about to read a book that makes me bleed! Glad you enjoy it though.
I loved it too! I thought John Green did such an amazing job with it. It’s rare that a book leaves you that overwhelmed with emotion.
Couldn’t agree more!
I loved this book too! One of my favorites. I’m pretty sure I used a whole pack of tissues while reading it.
I love this book. I read it last summer and it’s one I couldn’t put down.
I hear you on that!
I am so going to have to read this book. It looks like a bunch of people loved it.
It’s worth a read!
Great book review! Now I want to read it. I love books that make me cry. Is that weird?
haha I don’t think it’s weird at all!
I recognize the cover of this book but hadn’t actually heard anything about it until now. It sounds really good! I will add it to my list for whenever I get back into a reading mode. 🙂