The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Published by Dutton Juvenile, an imprint of Penguin

Hazel is a teenager living with terminal cancer. Although she benefited from an experimental drug several years back that extended her life and shrunk her tumor a considerable amount, she knows that her cancer will, one day, kill her. She is forced by her parents to go to a Cancer Kid Support Group, and it is there she meets Augustus Waters – the boy who teaches her that no matter how short life is, it can always surprise you in new and exciting ways.

I am a John Green fangirl, I must admit. Looking for Alaska shattered me to my core [my review]. Paper Towns, while not as emotional of a read for me, was fantastic and I loved the adventure within the novel [my review]. I even liked Will Grayson, Will Grayson quite a bit – and that’s the one John Green that people seem to have mixed opinions on [my review]. So it was with much excitement and anticipation that I picked up The Fault in Our Stars. And wouldn’t you know – John Green did not disappoint, not even a little bit.

You would expect that a book about two teenagers with cancer who fall in love would be unbelievably depressing, but not in Green’s capable hands. He managed to make this story not about the fact that they have cancer, but about two teenagers living life in spite of the fact that at least one of them is terminal. This book is not about the cancer, not at all. It’s about these teenagers, and while their cancer is a very real thing hovering in the background of their lives, affecting every decision they make and everything they can or cannot do with their lives, the book is about Hazel and Augustus – not about Hazel’s cancer or Augustus’ cancer or both.

What can I say? I loved both of them. I can’t even properly “review” this book because my heart was so enmeshed with everything about this story, I can’t separate myself enough to do the book justice. Just read it.

And if you haven’t read a John Green book yet, what the heck are you waiting for? He is amazing. His books are amazing. He is saying something, really and truly, in a profound but very quiet way. It’s incredible and you need to read his novels to get it.

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14 thoughts on “The Fault in Our Stars by John Green”

Along with Sarah Pekkanen, John Green was also one of my “projects” I assigned myself at the beginning of the year. My daughter has five or six of his books, and I have heard nothing but good about this one too (when I see a review now I just sigh and shake my head because YES I KNOW HE IS AWESOME and I’m missing out). I am going to have a John Green binge in May or June I think.

I finished this last week and also feel I can’t properly review it. So amazing!

Heather, I LOVED what you said here, “I can’t even properly “review” this book because my heart was so enmeshed with everything about this story, I can’t separate myself enough to do the book justice. Just read it.” That is so compelling!! Like Sandy, I haven’t read any John Green yet but have been wanting to! I may start with this one, though I have An Abudance of Catherines on my shelf somewhere here too.

I bought this book a few weeks ago, and have given it to my daughter to check out, but along the way, I read a few reviews that stated that the dialogue seemed a little advanced for a YA book. I am not sure if this would be a problem for me, as usually I can lose myself inside a story and not become too bothered by things like that, but I was wondering if you found this to be an issue as well. This was a wonderfully enthusiastic review today, Heather, and has made me really excited about getting started with this one!

I’ve got a couple John Green books that I’ve had for a while. I need to make time to read them – it sounds like he’s an amazing author.

I don’t know that I really believe you guys when you say it’s not depressing.

Evidently I have trust issues.

Another Green I will have to read. I love the way he writes.

I am so excited to read this — excited probably isn’t the right term, but I’m eagerly anticipating reading it. I haven’t read a single negative thing about it yet.

I love your review on this book, not to mention your blog is great – definitely following =)
I also wrote a review on A Fault In Our Stars for my blog that you can check out here: http://bookmarkreview.wordpress.com/2012/02/29/the-fault-in-our-stars-book-review/
Hope you like it!

I just bought this book, and I have heard so many good things about it. Looking forward to reading it.

I bought this book but haven’t read it yet – and I’m not sure why. I guess I have had other review books that I’ve had to get to first but I have heard so many amazing things about John Green and his work! I’m glad this was such a fantastic read for you!