The Fault In Our Stars

Can't help but love this book, not excited about the soon to be adaptation.

There are so many things I want to say and so many feelings bursting in my chest, and yet I have no words. There are so many reviews out there that express my thoughts better than I ever could, so please bear with me.

The Good

This is not a cancer book. It is the story of two people who have cancer, but it is not a book about two kids who have Cancer with a capital "C". Okay, that's confusing. Let me try again. It's about the people (Hazel and Augustus and Isaac, and, to an extent, everyone else in the "Literal Heart of Jesus") and who they are and how they see the world and life and death and themselves and each other. It's not just about the circumstances they are living in.

Author John Green doesn't pity the characters or pussyfoot around the hard topics, of which there are many (dying, afterlife, sex, cancer, etc). He isn't afraid to make it hurt, and he isn't afraid to be a touch insensitive, at least to the sensitivities of those who so often cringe when topics and people are treated with anything other than kid gloves. I think that was what I loved best about Hazel and Augustus—they said what they thought in the way that best suited them. It wasn't that they didn't have a filter; it was simply that they said things as they felt them. Life's too short to censure. It was like Hazel repeatedly argued; they weren't braver or stronger just because they were "cancer kids", they simply were living regardless of the circumstances.

I was completely in awe of John's craft and his unbelievably strong-yet-fiercely-real characters. The way Augustus and Hazel consider their identities and their mortality and the purpose of existence and love was so heartfelt and fresh and unlike anything I'd ever heard before. So many times, I had to stop, completely in awe at the wonder of it; at the knowledge that somewhere out there, someone — John Green — is thinking this profound ideas without the prompting or guiding hand of an author or a tell-them-like-it-is narrator.

The Bad

Did I mention the open weeping in my office? Really, I couldn't find a flaw in this book if I tried. I can't even wish Augustus and Hazel and Isaac health because it would destroy the greatness of this work and diminish the impact it had on me and countless other readers.

The Bold and the Beautiful

I listened to the audiobook of The Fault in Our Stars, so I didn't get to highlight all of my favorite moments, but here are some I managed to jot down:

“As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.”

“Thank you for explaining that my eye cancer isn't going to make me deaf. I feel so fortunate that an intellectual giant like yourself would deign to operate on me.”

“It's hard as hell to hold on to your dignity when the risen sun is too bright in your losing eyes."

“What a slut time is. She screws everybody.”

"You don’t get to choose if you get hurt in this world, old man, but you do have some say in who hurts you. I like my choices. I hope she likes hers."

The Grade

5.0 / 5.0

I highly recommend that if you have not yet read The Fault in Our Stars, you do so at once. Better yet, listen to the audiobook. I typically read quickly to discover what happens, and listening to the book really made me focus in on the words themselves, and the experience was one of the best literary moments of my life. No exaggeration.

The Fault in Our Stars is my favourite John Green novel. Since its release, I’ve read it at least four times and I’ve recommended it to absolutely everyone I know. I even own two copies of it; a signed copy that stays on my shelf looking pretty, and a second copy that has been lent out more times than I can count and whose pages are marked by the bright yellow highlighter that covers all of my favourite quotes.

The Fault in Our Stars is not your typical cancer novel: the characters are refreshingly real, as opposed to the stereotypical martyr, and all of the ugliness associated with cancer is not glossed over or glorified to spare the reader any unpleasant details.

Cancer is a heavy topic to write about, so naturally the book is very emotional. While I did spend a good portion of my time crying over the book, I spent an equal amount of time laughing and having fun. This is mostly due to the fact that Hazel and Augustus were just like any other teenager – they played video games, watched movies, became obsessed with books, fell in love and traveled. They had cancer, but their cancer did not define them.

The Fault in Our Stars is beautifully written and is littered with many incredible, memorable, thought-provoking quotes. While John Green himself is in his 30s, he is able to create such authentic voices for his characters, including his sixteen year old female protagonist. It’s a fairly short book and can easily be read in a sitting – which is good because you’ll likely want to read it again as soon as you’ve finished.

"There is one thing in this world shittier than biting it from cancer when you're sixteen, and that's having a kid who bites it from cancer." Hazel Grace Lancaster has cancer, along with the rest of her support group who are all in various stages. Then she meets Au(gus)tus, and it isn't quite love at first sight, but when two teenagers who have gone through more pain than any teenager should, it's a powerful kind of love. "I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once."

I've never read any other book by John Green, and I believe that's why I enjoyed The Fault in Our Stars. The characters are unique and funny, if not a bit over-the-top on some of their jokes. I added so many of the lines to my quote book (I'm a nerd), and I'll try not give too many more away by ending this review.

Read the book. Maybe you'll be like me, and think you're going to make it to the end without crying, but you will cry. And you will cry multiple times.

I can easily say that the spectrum of emotions I felt while reading this was overwhelming. With that being said, I will also say that is one of the best books I ever read.

I honestly feel that it is impossible to not fall in love with the characters. Hazel is a girl that has at least just one characteristic that readers can sympathize with. Augustus Waters is the boy that every boy wants to be and every girl wants to date. Emotion #1: Love

As an experienced John Green reader, I expected something bad to happen. I mean, it always does. In the middle of the novel, I wanted to stop reading. How could something bad happen to these characters. I want, no need, for them to be happy. Emotion #2: Fear

Unless you are a teenager faced with the fear of your impending death, it is extremely heart wrenching to read about their situation, and know that it is a reality. There are high school students all over our country in similar situations, and we are powerless. There is nothing we can do to ease the situation. Emotion #3: Frustration

Just as you start wiping away your tears, be prepared, because you will laugh. Emotion #4: Relief

The BEST part of this book, is that after reading, I felt inspiration. If these teens can feel hope, love, excitement, and learn from pain in this situation, there are no excuses as to why I do not live my life in the same way. We ALL can learn something from Hazel and Augustus. Emotion #5: Inspired

So, my final recommendation, is to clear out an afternoon, put on your Pjs and slippers, grab a box of tissues, and find a comfy spot where you can experience all of these emotions and hopefully learn something along the way. If you pass this one up, you are missing out!

This is the most brilliant and heart wrenching story I have ever read! I cannot tell you how embarrassing it is to be sitting on my couch bawling and unable to explain to my husband what exactly is wrong. I have heard so much about John Green and his writing. I can tell you that after reading this book, I am definitely hooked. I just could not put this book down! The humor in this book only added to the story. I mean, when staring death in the face one can only find humor. Which brings me to the Kubler-Ross model on the five stages of grief. As I read along in this book, I found that most of the characters had already reached number five at such a young age. I found immense respect and admiration for the characters in this book. They each had something trivial they had to face, and to my knowledge, did it to the best of their ability.

I have only had cancer touch my family once. It was an extremely difficult time in my families lives. We were all unsure if today would be the last day. Thankfully everything turned out fine and they are healthy and cancer free now. As I was reading this story I came across a quote that really resonated with me.

‘”What a slut time is. She screws everybody.”‘

This could not be farther from the truth. Time is fickle. You never know when you will have your “last day”. It was extremely difficult to read how true this was in this book. I have personally worked with terminally ill patients. A lot of people seem to think they want sympathy and pity when all they really want is to be treated equal and normal. We allow our emotions to rule the way we react to those suffering from travesties, and ultimately push them away.

Hazel was ultimately pushing people away from herself. She did not want to be the pain suffered by others. I found a lot to respect in her character. She was reality in a delusional world. Hazel knew that in time she would also suffer from her fatal illness like many before her. She did not focus on denial or delusion. She was a real person who suffered real pain. Hazel did not see herself as a hero or some sort of heroic figure. Her humor was extremely welcome in this devastating story. She made this book just a little brighter. The other brightness in this story was the love she found with Augustus.

Augustus was the type of character you would want to meet in real life. He was such an optimist! It was his humor and intellect that caught my attention the most, though. Another thing that I found attractive about his character was the fact that he was so straightforward. His romanticism was something that I will linger with me when I think of this book. His is a friendship worth cherishing. I could definitely picture him saving the world! It was extremely difficult to read his last couple of chapters. I had to compose myself numerous times. I had fallen head first for him.

The humor in this book only made it even more amazing! I could not help but to laugh out on a couple of occasions. One of my favorite quotes in the book is when Augustus and Hazel first meet:

‘” Someone should tell Jesus,” I said. “I mean, it’s gotta be dangerous, storing children with cancer in your heart.”
“I would tell Him myself,” Augustus said, “but unfortunately I am literally stuck inside of His heart so He won’t be able to hear me.”‘

Their support group met in the center of a cross shaped church that the members called the Literal Heart of Jesus. The fact that their use of humor draws them together was quite adorable to me. I was so happy that even faced with their unfortunate situations they could still find love.

I would definitely recommend this book to all readers. It was a really great read. I could not put this book down and I could not stop laughing/crying. I feel like I just unraveled one of the secrets of the Universe with this tragically humorous book. It took me a while to compose myself and my thoughts and write a review. I still feel that I have not done the book justice. I do not think I would be able to find the words to tell you how touching this story is. Thank you for reading my review. Please fill me in on your thoughts if you have ever had the pleasure to read this story.

I dont know. I read this at a time when i was reading so many books in a day that maybe thats why i dont remember it much. I mean i know its about cancer and i think i may remember some of it but not too much. For that reason its not a favorite of mine. Im going to go back and read it once again and hope that im not disappointed.

Steph’s Review:
Words cannot describe how much I loved this book. I have never cried so much in a long time, and nothing is even close to how heart-wrenching this book is. It is just Flat. Out. Amazing. As my friend Angie would describe it, it was just...beautiful. This book is a lot different from books I usually read, probably because of it’s realism. Cancer exists, and right now we can’t do anything to stop it. The Fault In Our Stars is very touching, and within the span of it’s pages, John Green was able to fully connect his characters and world to me as if they’d been there my entire life. I actually wasn’t expecting this to be as good as it was, but I listened to the awards and raves it got and gave it a shot. I had no regrets that I started read this from the very first chapter.

At just 13 years old, Hazel Grace was diagnosed with thyroid cancer which metastasized to her lungs. By some miracle, a cancer-treating drug perceived to ineffective became her savior, and halted the growth of any new tumors in her body. However, Hazel is and will be tethered to an oxygen tank for the rest of her life, because her lungs simply won’t be “good lungs” anymore. She’s practically given up. It’s not exactly a good situation, because anything “normal” for kids her age is now out of her reach, or so she believes.

During a fateful meeting at the Cancer Support Group, Augustus Waters barrels into her life. He’s hot, one legged, funny, and hopeful. Cancer-free and in remission, Augustus Waters is what cancer patients hope to be one day. With his sweet talk, he gets right into Hazel’s nerves and shows her that living with cancer doesn’t take away who you are. You just have to make the time meant for you your own infinite, your type of forever.

John Green, amazingly, was able to put so much humor into this book despite it’s serious topic. I don’t even know how many times I LOL’d while I was reading it, and contrary to my personal belief, he can write romance. Augustus is such a sweetheart, and he’s pretty darn arrogant and hilarious. I love him, enough said. He’s a bright highlight, both to Hazel and to The Fault itself. Despite his near flippant attitude, he is one of the wisest characters in the book, and provided more support to Hazel than her parents ever could. Hazel’s first mindset is that she’s just an ugly nobody, waiting to rot in a grave, but Augustus makes her feel and become someone beautiful. John Green, through this book, tells everyone that there isn’t anything wrong with hope, and it’s one of the strongest feelings a person can have.

Back to the crying part. While this book was happy-go-lucky for the first 2/3, a surprising twist made my whole world come crashing down like a meteor plummeting towards Earth. I was kind of expecting it to happen, but it was still surprising nonetheless because I didn’t want it to happen, I was hoping it wouldn’t. The ending of The Fault was as heartbreaking as it was heartfelt. There are so many life messages hidden between the pages that inspire you to be better. It was pretty bittersweet, but still hard to handle. I read too much paranormal stuff, when there is always a HEA. I cried at least three times within the last 100 pages, no joke. I could not get over this book for days, and me and Angie (mentioned above) blubbered over this book for a while. A long while. I once had to write an essay for school on the book that most changed my life and I chose to write it on Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kodohata. If I had to rewrite that essay today, The Fault In Our Stars would have been my top choice instead. This is definitely a must read for adults and teens both.

This book is about a 16 year old girl named Hazel Grace Lancaster which has lung cancer. Her mom makes her go to a support group for teens that have cancer. One day that she goes she meets a August other known as Gus, he had leg cancer but is now recovered and when he sees Hazel he thinks shes beautiful and ask her if she'll go to his house to watch a movie. She says yes. And when they get there they switch there favorite books. Hazels favorite book is called ALA its about a girl with cancer. The book ends and leaves Hazel and Gus what happens to the girl and her mom. When you get cancer there is a foundation that give each child one wish come true. Hazels only wish is to go and meet the writer of her favorite book. But she already and used hers, but Gus wants to give up his for her. They go to the Netherlands together to meet the writer. The end is amazing but very emotional.

While I wasn’t blown away by this one as so many other were, I did really enjoy it. I read it through in three sessions, interrupted only by sleep and classes. I didn’t cry which probably makes me a horrible person, especially since I’m a total cry baby, but I was still moved by Hazel and Augustus’ story. The Fault in Our Stars deals with a very tough, sad subject, but overall it didn’t feel sad. There were some very sad parts, hence the expectation to cry, but there’s the theme of hope weaved throughout the whole story.

I’ve noticed that all of John Green’s main characters seem to be quite pretentious. Hazel is no exception, but I like that. She may be dying of cancer, but she still displays humor, cynicism, brains, and caring. She even falls into some of those stereotypes of how people treat cancer patients, which she hates. I absolutely loved Augustus from the moment we met him! He’s hilarious and sweet and just completely loveable.

The one thing I did not like about this book was the whole Peter Von Houten plot. He played an important role in the story, but at the end I found his actions very unbelievable and just irritating. I know a lot of the plot couldn’t have happened without him, but I still just didn’t like it.

I’m never really sure how to review Green’s books. He’s obviously a talented writer, and I do enjoy his books. I just don’t know what to say without spoiling anything! The Fault in Our Stars is heartwarming, funny, sad, moving, so many things in one. I’m not familiar with the cancer process, but it felt like a very realistic portrayal with ups and downs.