Title: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Genre: YA contemporary fiction
Publisher: Dutton Books
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Source: Print copy from the public library
First line: Late in the winter of my seventeenth year, my mother decided I was depressed, presumably because I rarely left the house, spent quite a lot of time in bed, read the same book over and over, ate infrequently, and devoted quite a bit of my abundant free time to thinking about death.
Goodreads 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.
1. John Green can make me fall in love with characters faster than just about any other author I read.
2. Your collection of literary acquaintances is not complete if you haven’t met Hazel and Gus.
3. This book will remind you of the power that books hold in our lives – and the lives of others.
4. It will make you laugh. A lot.
5. It will make you cry. Hard.
6. You will remember what it was like to fall in love for the first time.
7. It will remind you to hold those you love very close and to leave nothing unsaid.
Twitter: youvegottaread
says:
I’m just tearing up (again) with those short sentences. Such a good book. I love characters that are clever and smart and snappy like these two. Reminded me of Juno. And while I expected to cry (kids with cancer, argh!) I didn’t expect to laugh so much. I also appreciated that the parents are actually cool, not shit-heels like in most YA books.
Sandy´s last post ..Bad Marie – Marcy Dermansky
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Sandy – I loved that about the parents, too – that should be reason number eight!
I recently bought this book, and now I’m really eager to read it. Wonderful review, Carrie!
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Thanks, Beth – I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
I am glad you liked this. I really loved it! One of my favourites so far this year.
Kailana´s last post ..Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Kelly – mine, too. I can definitely see this as being on my “best-of” list for 2012.
I really want to read this one but I still need to read Looking for Alaska and An Abundance of Katherines first!
Stephanie´s last post ..TLC Book Tour: The Shoemaker’s Wife
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Stephanie – I loved both of those, too, but this one even more, I think.
Twitter: sueysays
says:
Awesome short and sweet review that I totally agree with!
Suey´s last post ..Top Ten Tuesday: Tips for New Bloggers
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Thanks, Suey!
Twitter: bermudaonion
says:
I need to buy this book – it sounds perfect.
bermudaonion (Kathy)´s last post ..Wondrous Words Wednesday
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Kathy – I think you would love this one.
aw, I really loved this book as well even though I haven’t written about it yet. I don’t know if I ever will, but this is a lovely way to do so!
Amy @ My Friend Amy´s last post ..Interview with Sarah Pekkanen
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Thanks, Amy – I’m trying to switch things up a bit, hopefully to become more excited about reviewing again.
great review, sounds like a must read.
irene´s last post ..House of Tyneford a read along, Part 2
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Irene – definitely!
Amen. You’ve said it all.
Michelle´s last post ..Review – Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Aw, thanks, Michelle. It was kind of fun writing it this way!
You would have completely convinced me, had a friend not already written to me to warn me that The Fault in Our Stars is “a cancer book” and she found it upsetting. I adore John Green and wish the subject matter was different because he does make me smile. Guess I’ll just hang on for the next book. Glad you loved it!
Bookfool, aka Nancy´s last post ..Wahoo! Wednesday returns after lengthy absence, dogs go crazy
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Nancy – it is a cancer book, and so I can see how it would be upsetting for some people. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long for his next one!
Twitter: MargReads
says:
This was my first John Green, but it definitely won’t be my last!
Marg´s last post ..Library Loot: April 18 to 24
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Marg – how cool to still have his backlist ahead of you!
I’m so glad you loved it too! I completely agree that Green has an amazing way of making you fall in love with his characters. You do laugh and cry and it’s hard for a book to make you do that without being sappy.
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Melissa – I love the fact that he can engage the emotions without going over the line into sappy or maudlin.
Twitter: myeclecticbooks
says:
I am too afraid of the crying hard part
Melissa´s last post ..Cat Thursday – Cats & Books (Life is Sweet)
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Melissa – oh, don’t be afraid! Sometimes I choose a book that will make me cry on purpose – it’s cathartic.
Twitter: Carolfoasia
says:
I keep hearing I need to watch Midnight in Paris so I reserved it at the library, but I am number gazillion on the list! I would normally shy away from a Woody Allen, but your 10 word review made me even want to rent it. Paying money for a movie that is already on DVD when I can get it at my library is almost unheard of. LOL!
Carol Ann Weaver´s last post ..Freewrite Fifteen Friday
Twitter: Carolfoasia
says:
Adding my twitter too.
Carol Ann Weaver´s last post ..Freewrite Fifteen Friday
Twitter: Carolfoasia
says:
Didn’t work that way. Just putting my name.
Carol Ann Weaver´s last post ..Freewrite Fifteen Friday
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Carol Ann – I hope you enjoy Midnight in Paris!
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