Wednesday, April 09, 2014

Review: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

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Review: The Fault In Our Stars by John GreenThe Fault In Our Stars by John Green
Published by Dutton Juvenile on January 10th 2012
Genres: Contemporary, YA
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five-stars

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.





I bought The Fault In Our Stars nearly a year ago and had been holding off on reading it because it just hit too close to home for a while.  Upon seeing all of the excitement for the movie trailer I knew it was time to pick it up and make my way through it. In the end, I’m not even sure what to say other than “WOW!” There isn’t much that I can say about this amazing book that hasn’t already been said so this is probably going to be short but this is a must read for everyone. EVERYONE.

The writing in this book is stunning. I loved the voice that Green gave to Hazel Grace Lancaster; it was honest, it was intelligent and it was beautiful.  The way that she thought about things was so… real.. her thoughts about cancer and the people around her were not sugar coated and I so greatly appreciated that.  She also wasn’t someone who lost who they were the moment that they fall in love with a boy.  Hazel likes Augustus Waters from pretty much the first moment that she sees him, he’s handsome and he’s got an intoxicating personality.  But she isn’t afraid to voice the things that she doesn’t like about it or to call him out when the time calls for it.  These two go through so much pain together and bring each other so much happiness, it was such a beautiful thing to read. Gus’ refusal to let Hazel keep herself away from him and his humorous side had me falling for him really quick as well.  Both of these characters were just so expertly written.

The emotions conveyed in these pages are also handled incredibly well by Green.  Hazel and Gus are able to find happiness in a life that many other people wouldn’t be able to.  The cancer is always there, but just their ability to help each other forget about it and see beauty in everyday life is truly inspiring.  I loved that the reality of cancer isn’t made out to be pretty in this novel. We see the embarrassing moments, we see the ugly side of Cancer that is so incredibly hard to deal with and that is what is so heartbreaking about the story.

I feel like I am just reiterating stuff that everybody else has already said about this book so I will leave off with a visual review.  This is me with about 30 pages left in the book.  Up until those last moments in the novel I had just accepted the fact that my eyes would always be in a constant state of drowning but the last pages just drive it home and I was a wreck.  I had to leave the room I was in because I was crying so hard while my husband was trying to watch tv. Behold:

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five-stars

5 Hot Espressos

33 Responses to “Review: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green”

  1. El @ So Bookalicious

    I reread TFIOS this week and I still loved it as much as the first time. And I thought that I wouldn’t cry anymore because I already knew what was going to happen but I couldn’t be more wrong. I had to grab a box of tissues again and I was a complete wreck after finishing it. This book has just so much power.

  2. Nick @ Nick's Book Blog

    That photo of you kills me every time, Jenni. I’m such a wuss when it comes to sad books, so I don’t think I could ever garner the courage to read it. Hell, I cried my eyes out just watching the movie trailer, so who knows what state I’ll be in if I read this. The writing sounds absolutely wonderful though and I’m glad that you loved it so much.
    Lovely review!

  3. Maya

    Yay, glad you loved it too! I can’t wait for the film to come out, but I also now that I’m going to need a LOT of tissues for it :'( Have you read any of John Green’s other books? I’d really recommend Looking for Alaska – may favourite of his – if you haven’t read it already! 🙂

  4. Lisa @ Lost in Literature

    I totally agree. With everything. This book was so sad, and so perfect. I had a pit in my stomach when I saw that pic of you, remembering how I felt reading it. I actually went the audiobook route, so I looked quite similar to you, though I was driving down the road, sobbing like a baby. I don’t cry often when reading, so that goes to show how amazingly sad and wonderful this book is. Great review, Jenni!

  5. Bethzaida (bookittyblog)

    Oh, Jenni! I was like that too! I remember crying so hard my husband thought something had happened to me! My heart broke, that’s what happened. I can’t even watch the trailer without tears coming out of my eyes! I don’t even know what’s going to happen when I go see the movie at the movie theater. I’m going to be wreck. They are going to end up throwing me out haha. Great review, girl!

  6. Mary @ BookSwarm

    Not to laugh at your pain…but I’m laughing at your pain because I was there, too! I gave this book to my mom (who doesn’t really read YA) and she loved it, too.

  7. Pili

    I guess this one will be therapeutic and I will have to ugly cry for a lot of the book… but I must read it soon!
    Thanks for a great review, Jenni!

  8. Amanda @ Book Badger

    Oh Jenni hun, I feel your emotions in the end. I would never be able to reread this book because of those feelings, it’s just too much. Yes, you pointed out what everyone else has, but you pointed out how it made you feel, and that’s what matters to me. You clearly loved every moment, and I’m so so glad 🙂

  9. Christianna

    OMG, that picture of you. I was totally in ugly cry, hysterical laughter mode those last pages. Cause even when it gets so sad, it still has it’s funny moments. It’s beautiful and so is your review!

  10. Jesse @ Pretty in Fiction

    That was basically what I looked like for the whole end of the book. This one was rough, but I love that Green didn’t sugarcoat anything. It was harsh and real and still incredibly beautiful. I definitely loved this one too and am anxiously awaiting the movie. It’s weird but a part of me hopes I cry just as much from the movie as I did the book.

  11. P.E. @ The Sirenic Codex

    Ugh I know. I was such a mess. I think I brought a box of tissues and then just ended up crying into my pillow. Once I stopped, I went downstairs and told my mom that I hated the world and I hated the book, and damnnit, life wasn’t fair. It’s that kind of book, one of the really good ones, that can elicit such a reaction. Glad you enjoyed it too!

  12. Eileen @ Singing and Reading in the Rain

    Ahh I’m so glad you loved this one! I agree, John Green’s writing style is truly something special because he just captures Hazel’s voice so perfectly and vividly through her thoughts on cancer and life in general. The whole book is just so smart and real it’s actually ridiculous. And the ending is definitely an emotional roller coaster! Fantastic review, Jenni! <33

  13. Chantelle

    I was the same! I put off reading TFIOS for ages, because I didn’t think it would be my type of book, but it blew my mind once I got around to it. The way John Green, a middle aged man, could so accurately and convincingly write a teenage girl narrative was sort of disturbing, but in the best way possible haha great reivew 🙂 I bawled my eyes out too

  14. Melliane

    yay! I heard so many wonderful things about this one and I don’t think I ever saw a mixed review. we have it in France as well and everyone is loving it. I just need to read it as well now.

  15. Sara @ Just Another Story

    I am so glad you liked this one Jenni. I read it two years ago and was blown away by it. My book club has decided to read it this month and I am both excited and nervous to experience The Fault in Our Stars all over again.

    Thanks you for your review.

  16. Savannah

    At least you didn’t read it in public. I made the mistake of doing that and everyone around me looked at me like a crazy lady. “What’s wrong with her?” I had to drive quickly home and regained myself.

  17. Florence

    I still can not imagine someone not tearing up at this book, TFIOS is just so raw and amazing it definitely deserves the 5-espresso rating

  18. Amy @ Book Loving Mom

    Awww just seeing that photo of you makes me want to cry!! I have this book and have been wanting to read it, but still haven’t gotten to it yet. I really need to though. I know I will love it.

  19. Amelia

    I have just finished TFIOS and I loved it! Just came on here to see what other people thought but I seem to love you blog.. might have to follow you! 🙂

  20. Paulina

    I know what you are going through. This book is one emotional mess! I still can’t bring myself to review it (a little bit weird I know) but just thinking about it makes me want to cry. I don’t know how I’m going to go through the movie!

  21. Rosie

    I actually cried on the bus whilst reading this. I kinda just embraced it in the end but it was not the right time to start an emotional spiral, haha.

  22. Krys

    I had the same look on my face when I was reaching the the end of the book. A difficult read, but I felt the language was too “old”, I get that Hazel is this college-ish student, but still a kid no-less. I can’t expect teenagers to talk to each other like those two did. Maybe I’m not “in” with the times , but I certainly have never heard any of the students that I see on a regular basis talk like that.