Monday 23 January 2012

Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

 Title: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Genre: Teen / YA
Summary:
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.


Review: Its been some time since I've read The Fault in Our Stars, I needed a while to ponder, cry a little more, and write down all of my thoughts- because in all honesty, I have no idea how I'm supposed to make this AMAZING book sound as fantastic as it was with the measly little paragraphs I'm about to write. 
  
First off, this was my first novel to read written by John Green (and I can't wait to read his others now!) I enjoy supporting hometown writers and was pleased to find out that he was born and raised in Indianapolis, IN. So therefore, the book takes place in parts of the Indianapolis area. It was nice reading about settings and knowing exactly where the characters were- I could picture them easily that way. 

I loved the main characters in TFiOS-Hazel is a girl whom even if you can't relate with her on a personal level, you will love her. She's tough when she needs to be and she has her own beliefs and opions on life, death and the world and isn't afraid to be open about them. Hazel meets a young boy named Augustus who attends her support group- I thought the interaction between these two was hilarious. If you don't leave this story loving and wanting more of Augustus... then I don't even know whats wrong, because my heart ached at the end of this. I needed more story, I needed Augustus, I wanted Hazel to have more time with Augustus.


John's writing is fantastic; the entire time reading, I couldn't quite put my finger on why I felt that the writing style was different from other books I've read- now after taking the time to get my thoughts together I've decided it is how John's characters come across on paper that make the writing see different (in a good way!)
They have a new and more elaborate sense of the world around them. Most teens, whether diasgnosed with cancer or not, wouldn't be sitting in their rooms discussing a book front to back over and over unless maybe it was a new phenomenon trend going on at the time.
  
The ultimate WIN factor about The Fault in Our Stars is the parallel story that John includes. Hazel reads a book in which her and Augustus bond over. This novel may just seem like any other novel, but to them it plays a large and important role in the storyline and change the characters lives.

Here's what a reader needs to know:: you will NOT be disappointed with this book! It is not a typical "cancer" book and I'd say even the characters are not your average teens, if you enjoy literature (YA, adult, anything) you will fall in love with this storyline that John has created. You WILL cry, so go grab a box of tissues now :-)

Rating: HANDS DOWN 5 STARS!


3 comments:

Anonymous said...

This book sounds so good and I love John Green's books anyway so it's win win! Fab review :D

Seattle IT Consulting said...

Probably the best book for me this year! I really love The Fault in Our Stars. This is my first John Green book and I just have to read more of his works.

Great review!

Unknown said...

I've read a lot of books, but this is one of my all time favorites; that's not something I can say about very many books. I'll make it simple; I'm a fifteen year old teenage boy. When I usually read a book, I toss it aside and move on to the next one. And, like most teenage boys, I am not very emotional. At the end of this book, I cried. Not just a few tears either; I was full on bawling my eyes out. That's how good this book is. I promise you, unless you have a heart of stone, you will love this book.

Mica
Best Reviews for Austin SEO Don Allen information

Post a Comment

 
Imagination Designs