Book Blog #117: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Title: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
# of Pages: 355 (hardback)
Genre: YA, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: ★★★★★
Synopsis: Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.
Review: Original Review: 5 stars
Originally posted on Goodreads February 24, 2013.


I was laughing so hard when I was reading this book.

I was crying so hard when I was reading this book.

Words cannot describe how I felt about The Fault In Our Stars. But that's a really stupid thing to say. Hazel at least would probably think so since I'm about to describe my exact feelings about it. In words. Why would I say something if I didn't really mean it? It's like Isaac and Monic's "Always".

For those of you who haven't read the book, you probably have no idea what I'm talking about. Don't worry; I didn't spoil anything for you. Yet. Most of the review that I have planned is going to contain spoilers, so I will be putting that part at the bottom. But first I will write the part for those who are hesitant to read it.

People, you must read this book. I myself was hesitating to even touch the book. I mean, it's about CANCER! It must be a really depressing book, right?

WRONG!

Believe it or not, this book has A LOT of humor. And he is great at adding the humor. How do I know this? Because, right in the middle of the most serious, saddest part of the book, I burst out laughing. LAUGHING when I should have been CRYING! But I don't think John Green wanted his readers to mess up the book with the snot and tears dripping onto it.

For those of you who want a tear dripping novel, don't worry; Green gives you plenty enough time to do that. But he's going to stop you from getting weird looks from the people sitting around you as the wonder why in the world you burst into tears.

And for you young readers (like those 1st graders who think its great to skip right over the children's section and read out of the YA section) there are some "bad words" and a steam-y-ish scene in the middle. It's nothing horribly graphic, but it's suggestive. And defiantly not for seven year-olds.

Alright, I think I'm satisfied with the spoiler-less part. So, if you haven't already, go and get the book! Then finish reading my review. Now shoo. Go read

. . . . . . . . . Are they gone? Good! Now I get to say whatever I want!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!! ... Yeah, that was a little awkward. Moving on! The ending. Oh. My. Freaking. Gosh. The whole time from about page 50 on, I was worrying that Green was going to end the freaking book like ALA to the point where I was a little depressed when he didn't. But then I read the Q and A at the end. There just HAD to be that very last question!

Q: Did you consider ending TFIOS mid sentence? While I was reading it for the first time I was terrified that that was the way you would end it! A: I agree with Augustus that there is a contract between reader and writer and that not ending the book violates that contract. Also, it just seemed kinda

I felt like screaming. HE GOT HIS FRICKEN MID-SENTENCE ENDING ANYWAY!!! AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

*pant* *pant* Phew, I'm glad I got that out of my system. On with my rant.

The dialogue. I know that Gus and Hazel are really smart, but the "big words" made me feel really stupid. I wish he dumbed it down a bit. And who names his kid Augustus?!

On the subject of Augustus, tell me what's wrong with this quote:

"Augustus nodded for a while, his lips pursed, and then gave Isaac a thumbs-up."

Keep in mind that this is AFTER Isaac is blind. Is this just to show that Gus is too sick to even remember that Isaac is blind? It was such a big flaw that I couldn't leave it unsaid. Anyone, correct me if I'm wrong.

I have a confession to make. I didn't really cry (or laugh) very much when I was reading this book. Sure, my eyes ALMOST watered and I blew more air out of my nose and mouth that usual but I didn't actually show any real outward emotion. I wish I did because then I would have really liked the book. Don't get me wrong, I liked the book very much, but that's how I measure how good the writer is. And I didn't cry.

WHY DIDN'T YOUR BOOK MAKE ME CRY JOHN GREEN?!?!?!!?? I was so sad that I didn't cry that I wanted to cry. Ironic isn't it?

Second Review: 5 stars
June 4, 2014

It's amazing; it's been over a year since I first read TFIOS. It doesn't feel like it's been nearly that long.

In honor of the movie release on June 5 and 6, I made the not-so-difficult decision to reread John Green's masterpiece. I was a little worried because the beginning was not as magnificent as I remembered. The plot line was "spoiled" too, so I lost that fresh, unknown feel a book has when you read its contents for the first time. However, I didn't need to worry. John Green still made me feel the same emotions as I did those many months ago.

Below in the spoilers, you will find the notes I took throughout the reading of the book along with my afterthoughts.

NOTES

-The romance between Hazel and Gus is paced a little too quickly.
-Kaitlyn seems unimportant to the story and her interaction with Hazel is randomly placed. While her character may allow our protagonist to reflect on her relationship with "normal" people, I think the same thing could have been achieved a different way.
-Hazel sharing her cannula with Jackie, a random little girl, seems pretty gross. (Refer to page 46).
-

"I'd known plenty of dead people, of course. But I'd never dated one. I couldn't even imagine it, really" (72).

-Too bad she is going to have to experience it.
-Hazel seems like a brat sometimes. She expects her mom to be there to listen to whatever she has to say at any given time. For example, when she receives an email from Lidewij Vliegenthart, she screams for her mom to come over to her. Her mom rushes out of the bath because she doesn't know what's going on. Hazel could have at least said something while screaming for her mom to signify that her presence isn't urgent and there is nothing physically wrong with her that requires immediate attention.
-In a way, Augustus' love for poems reminds me a bit of Shiver's male protagonist, which is extremely concerning. However, I remind myself that Gus is not a werewolf and did not creepily stalker her, therefore making him a perfectly normal guy. And I remind myself that it is perfectly fine for guys to like poetry, an aspect that had recently been corrupted by Maggie Stiefvater.
-Everyone clapping for Gus and Hazel at the Anne Frank House when they kissed was a bit unrealistic. The chances are that there would be some group (or even just one person) who would be indifferent towards their kiss, or even disgusted by it. PDA is often politely ignored, and this shouldn't have been an exception.
-The encounter with Monica's mom during the egging also seem unrealistic.

AFTERTHOUGHT

I thought for sure that I would not feel the same emotions regarding Augustus' death as I did the first time, but I was proven wrong. I FELT THAT CRAZY PAIN OF LOSING A CLOSE FRIEND ALL OVER AGAIN. And, as we have all hopefully learned, pain demands to be felt.

And I definitely felt that pain.

To be truthful, I'm anxious for the movie release. Up to this point, I was very confident in the movie, expecting it to meet or even exceed my expectations. But after the feels that were felt, I'm not so sure.

Still 100% recommended.