The Fault in our Stars Review

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS BY JOHN GREEN

Rating: 

The story is narrated by a sixteen year old Hazel Grace, who is a cancer patient and forced by her parents to attend a support group in the “Literal Heart of Jesus”.  There she  meets seventeen year old Augustus Waters, an ex-basketball player, as well as an amputee.

They bond instantly and agree to read each other’s favorite novels. Augustus gives Hazel The Price of Dawn, and Hazel hands over  An Imperial Affliction, a novel written by Peter Van Houten about a cancer-stricken girl named Anna that parallels Hazel’s own experience. After Augustus finishes reading her book, he is frustrated because the novel ends abruptly and he wants closure. Hazel explains the novel’s author has been off the radar and can’t be contacted.

A week had pasted and Augustus revealed to Hazel that he has tracked down Van Houten’s assistant, Lidewij, and, through her, has managed to start an e-mail correspondence with Van Houten. They both wrote to Van Houten questions regarding the novel’s ending and the fate of a few characters. Van Houten replied at last, explaining that he can only answer Hazel’s questions in person. At a picnic, Augustus surprises Hazel with tickets to Amsterdam to meet Van Houten and so the adventure begins.

my thoughts about the book

Whenever I get my hands on a much discussed book two thoughts run through my mind: either I am going to love it or absolutely hate it.

I didn’t love the book right away. As I was reading the first pages I felt too depressed to continue. It is, after all, a sad story. But as the sorrowful events unfolded with a humorous way and a hint of optimism, my desire for more grew page by the page. I devoured the last 127 pages with a breath. Got so caught up in their adventures and the love story and everything that followed. I couldn’t put the book down. I just couldn’t! I needed to know how it was going to end. My alarm clock shrieks 00:00 and I am brutally pulled out of the story. My eyes and nose are red from crying and I am trying to pull myself together. I had just finished it and only one thought: wow!

It left me speechless. It is a very well-written book that has an amazing story to tell. Being able to narrate such heartful events with a twist of humor is so refreshing and brilliant. I highly recommended it and my advice to you is keep your tissues nearby. Now I finally understand what all the fuss was about.

xoxo, Kat