katekintailbc | The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Reply)

The Fault in Our Stars
by John Green

There was so much hype in Nerdfighteria about this book. John Green personally signed every pre-ordered copy, which is pretty much unprecedented. And it's a JOHN GREEN book. Any new book by an amazing writer is cause for great anticipation. I actually pre-ordered two copies and then rushed out on the day it was out and bought a third copy at the book store because I couldn't wait for my pre-ordered ones to arrive that Friday (I ended up buying a fourth copy before the week was out). I was worried, therefore that I wouldn't like the book enough. Looking for Alaska remains my favorite John Green book, and I can't actually imagine him writing one that I like more than that, but I definitely didn't want to be disappointed.

Luckily, I wasn't. All I knew going in was that this book was about kids who have cancer and that it was partially inspired by Esther, a great nerdfighter we lost not long ago. One wouldn't expect a book about cancer to be so enjoyable or humorous, but it absolutely was. In fact, I was laughing from page 1. And though I teared up and cried a little bit at spots throughout, I didn't actually start sobbing until page 245... and I didn't stop until some time after I'd finished the book. I did actually laugh a number of times WHILE crying, which shouldn't be physically possible, but totally happened.

Hazel is an amazing character with spunk and personality and kindness and a great outlook. Gus is... well, you can't help but fall in love with Gus. You really can't. He's got a wicked sense of humor and he's unfailingly kind and understanding. The author of The Imperial Affliction, on the other hand... I just wanted to punch the guy in the stomach, even when I was feeling sorry for him.

The book is filled with lots of lofty speculation about life and death. And you sort of believe it, because it's coming from kids who have/had cancer. Not that having cancer makes you wise to the world or anything, because the whole point of the book is that it doesn't. What the book does do is explain that a person can be separate from their fate. I don't want to ruin anything with talking more about its themes and the realizations the characters come to. But what I will say is that it's a book that makes you think and makes you feel and makes you treasure each and every second of life. It makes me want to be a better person. And there's no better compliment than that. LfA is still my favorite John Green book, but I wasn't at all disappointed by TFiOS.