The Fault in Our Stars

Good book

I have sharii my experience with this book as below John Green is possibly the most renowned author of Young Adult Fiction currently operating. His most well known book so far is probably this one, The Fault In Our Stars. The basis of the story is that a girl named Hazel who has cancer meets a boy named Augustus who she falls in love with. The two of them try to deal with cancer, love, and books. It's your average boy meets girl, girl has cancer, boy and girl talk about how a fictional book ends book. The whole story is beautifully written and is just breathtaking. The metatextual elements with references to the fictional book which the two are both a fan of (An Imperial Affliction) have a very Third Policeman–esque vibe to it, which, as a great fan of The Third Policeman was very enjoyable. I thought the plot was wonderful, the characters were absolutely believable and you do completely fall in love with them. Hazel and Augustus are fantastically drawn and the voice of them both is very funny and very well done. It is not a sick lit novel, despite having many of the trappings associated with the genre, it is a story about two people in love, one of whom has cancer. It also has a certain philosophical bent in which it discusses the meaning of life and death. Of course, I cannot talk about The Fault In Our Stars without mentioning the brilliant film adaptation. Despite what the Guardian film critic might say (apologies Guardian, but you are for once wrong about this. Stick to politics and children's books next time and stay away from films) it is equally as brilliant as the book and, in my opinion, enhances the novel which very few films do. For me, the novel and book are now as one, each dependent on the other. Augustus will always be Ansel Elgort and Peter Van Houten will always be that guy who I thought was John Hurt but wasn't and then realised was in The Life Aquatic. Or Willem Dafoe for short. I would recommend that everyone reads this book. It is beautiful, enthralling, funny and just fantastic. It shows how a short life can still be an infinity, even if it is a lesser one. It enthralls, entertains and educates and offers a jumping off point for young people to explore and discuss important philosophical issues. And yes, I did get something in my eye at the end. But it was totally dust. Totally. 10/10 Thank to Amazon for great deals with Amazon Prime Free and Fast Delivery

I had not read any of the John Green’s work earlier and being privy to the praises and kudos this book has garnered, I purchased this one hoping that it does hold true to all the praises. My initial thoughts about the book were of being skeptical as it dealt with cancer suffering characters and I thought, would have the usual story line unnecessary baking up the sentimental stuff in an attempt to forcibly touch the emotional chord of the reader (that’s why it perhaps remained in my ‘to read’ list for long). However, now when I have read the book, it did not really disappoint me per se. ‘The Fault in our Stars’ is a typical teenage romance where a boy meets girl, fall in love and then spends his life exploring answers to quench girl’s quest for the ending of a fictional story she adores. Despite being so predictive, there’s something in the book which connects with the reader the instant one starts reading the same. It’s actually a beautifully narrated human story of a cancer survivor boy and a cancer ridden girl that encompasses all the human emotions of love, longingness and affliction. Though it’s about the cancer suffering / surviving characters, this book is neither about the disease nor about the final fate it leads to but about the life that remains in between. As the story matures and characters evolve, the reader feels to be the one in Hazel & Augustus world, experiencing their ecstasy, pains and longings. The book paints the story of Hazel Grace who despite struggling to live lives out her struggle to survive, it is about Augustus Walters who despite being an amputee infuses enthusiasm and positivity in the life of people around, it is about Isaac who despite losing his eyes to the cancer manage to stay afloat and it is about many other lives which are intervened and tangled in their affairs. The plot of the book is simple and doesn’t really have that edge of the seat twists and turn & tend to flow effortlessly with the story, the high point of the book, however, is the dialogues. The manner in which the author effortlessly strings his words together to form sentences which are simple and uncomplicated yet deep and impactful is simply great. The inherent humour amidst the conversation and the ease with which the same has been crafted further add to the pleasure. However, at some junctures the book and the language thereof did appear ostentatious and far from being true. I specifically disliked the character of Peter Van Housten and the subplot of the story involving him. His character never really fit in the whole scheme of events and right of the beginning it appeared the odd one in the bunch. Infact, his character has been portrayed in a sketchy and shabby manner that all the scenes involving him actually appear sluggish and would have been better, if avoided. The cover page of the book is simple with blue ground its name written on a black patch. The title of the book is apt as it reflects the ironies in the lives of its characters which the contours of their hands structure. The printing, font and word spacing are decent enough to grant reader a comfortable read. The Final Word. . . ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ isn’t completely path breaking and remarkable but it does have its moments and phases which touch the chord. High on wit and humor & rich in emotional quotient, this one has been written beautifully with some amazing quotes providing an enthralling reading experience. Nothing life changing stuff here but the book surely moves you in bits telling you that even the most mediocre and short life can make a difference to the one around them. Recommended to be read & experienced for the wonderful quotes and statements and nuggets it offers. Rating: 3.5/5 Read the complete review here >>> http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/2015/11/book-review-the-fault-in-our-stars.html

My first novel and the best novel

First of all, I didn’t cry. I know many of you did, and I can understand why, I really can. But, the thing is… this book has a balanced atmosphere. It’s both sad and full of life. During my reading, I concentrated on the joyful parts and the humour. Maybe that’s why I didn’t feel crushed by the ‘cancer’ part. The number of times I laughed out loud or giggled are uncountable. Of course, there were some times when I felt my eyes burn because what happens in this book is not fair. Then again, is life ALWAYS fair for any of us? Hint: no. Hazel is such an honest main character. At first, I thought it was impossible she had cancer. Sometimes, I even forgot she had cancer! She accepts it and I began to accept it as well. I rarely read books with diseases or heavy subjects in fact, so loving this book wasn’t in my pre-read expectations. BUT, I DID. OH, I DID. Will I re-read this book? YES, YES AND YES. I’m not the queen of re-readings, I know a queen of re-readings and it’s definitely not me. I’m way too excited about newly released books or ones I’m dying to read and haven’t to take the time to re-read books. In fact, I think I only re-read 12 books in my entire life. And that was when I was younger and didn’t know Goodreads existed, hehe. However, I know that, when I’m going to re-read The Fault in Our Stars, I’ll appreciate it even more than I do now, fall harder in love with Augustus and feel an even greater connection to Hazel. The originality of this book is beyond amazing. I kept thinking, ''how did John Green manage to invent all of that?'' He’s a fantastic author with an impressive writing style and choice of words. I’m so eager to read his other novels, in occurrence Looking for Alaska of which I heard only great things; it has a big amount of raving reviews. Hazel's family is adorable and full of love. She's so lucky to grow up surrounded by such comfortable and loving parents. I rarely see similar families in real life but they do exist so, yes, the story is also a believable one. Even the ‘author’ inside it feels real.

Good

I don't get the hype. Seriously, there are far better stories than this one. This was more like a philosophical novel and the plot was dragggggiingggg.. Although, I wouldn't say It was totally a let down. Of course, there were beautiful moments and the writing especially was of top quality. But besides that, I found it as an ordinary story. The Quality of the book was nice and the shipping was worth mentioning.

It was an amazing read and I was hooked like crazy till the end. The chapters are a bit long but yet I flew through it... And honestly Augustus deserved so much better... Totally loved it... Please get it

What Occurs: Despite the medical miracle that shrunk her tumours, buying her a few more years in this good old world, Hazel has never been anything other than terminal. But when she meets Augustus Waters at her Cancer Support Group every person in the world with a heart melts and cries and both curses and falls in love with John Green (just a heads up). Thoughts: 'Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read that book.' - Hazel John Green is probably one of the most awesome people on the planet (Nerdfighters are living proof of this. As is Crash Course). That being said: JOHN GREEN WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO TO ME WITH THIS BOOK?! I'll be honest, this review probably won't do Green's masterpiece justice. So I will begin by saying this: there are books and then there are books like this. This is a book that'll change how you see the world and will allow you to connect with each character on a truly deep emotional level. You will laugh when they laugh and cry when they cry. And you will fall in love right alongside them. One of the best things about TFiOS is that the characters aren't 'dumbed down' so they sound more 'teenager' (whatever that even means). John Green writes realistic, authentic, smart protagonists who make mistakes and screw up but are also capable of poignant and intelligent thought. Hazel was witty and self-deprecating and completely human (Mary Sue, who?). John Green does a great job of adopting the female narrative and Hazel is hands-down my favourite YA heroine. She's just hilarious. She's also bad-ass and the way she thinks of death and deals with her illness challenges preconceptions of 'cancer kids' and is honestly riveting and awesome. And Augustus? Well, I challenge you not to fall in love with him. He's adorable and vulnerable and sincere and optimistic and brave and defiant and SO FRICKEN FUNNY. He's the teenage boy we all wish was our first love. This isn't a book with insta-love. This is a book that shows you what true love really is. A love that's not dependent on how 'hot' someone is, but on how truly amazing they are. But I what I do want to stress is that this isn't just another romance novel. It's a love story. Between Augustus and Hazel, between Hazel and her parents, between Augustus and his best friend and between them and the world and life. Also? This book isn't one big 'sob story'. John Green, seemingly effortlessly, avoids that. Because for all the bad in this book, there's also so much fun in it. Laugh-out-loud, hilarious fun. He writes the poignant parts with depth and the equally-important laughs come naturally. This is one of those books I'd recommend to literally anyone, whether you're a reader of YA or not. This isn't about liking a certain genre or style of writing, this, my friends, is about appreciating amazing literature. And John Green writes amazing literature.

John Green’s approach to the ultimate existential problem (time) is rather brilliant. He has demonstrated with gut-wrenching accuracy, what it is like to feel like a ticking time-bomb, and what makes this love story exceptionally thought-provoking, is that it actually IS thought-provoking. Not simply because of its premise, but the way in which it is dealt with; seemingly mundane, and in every way imaginable, extraordinary. For children to be grappling with life-crises most adults postpone until old age is heart-breaking as it is, but also unfathomably eye-opening. And the questions raised, while paint an ugly picture of the cruel reality of being ill, help extricate nuances (by definition, small and seemingly insignificant) which are surprisingly powerful in changing one’s mindset about why we are here, why it is transient, and whether or not that’s ok. I was shook to the core by this narrative, and though it was becoming painful to sob uncontrollably every few pages or so, it was also incredibly cathartic because every single word confirmed a reality I know exists, but which I would never want to experience for myself. The Fault in our Stars is unprecedented. It is raw, ugly, spellbinding, beautiful, infuriating, heart-breaking, and most importantly, it forces you to feel. It has dawned on me that all things—whether in or out of existence—pertain to the ultimate existential crisis. Not simply as relevant to us as human begins, but as fundamental as what it means to be a rock. To be a collection of molecules devoid of what we as humans deem as ‘awareness’. It would take a lifetime to decipher the enigma of what life is, and at best it seems, the most satisfactory conclusion is: that we simply do not know. And it can seem disheartening, not knowing what it is about life we cling onto so desperately, and why we fear its loss the most, even though there are losses far more excruciating within the realm of our experience: loss of hope, loss of freedom, loss of self, of dignity, of time. And there it is: time. The one commodity we falsely assume we have enough of. And once you have managed to grapple with its uncompromising nature, once you think you have planned your life well enough to do all that matters to you with the time you've been given, you only wind up with more questions than answers; and not the kind of answers you find, but the kind of answers you concoct. And we do so, because not knowing what lurks in the dark is infinitely more terrifying than the death sentence itself. So what it is about, this 'life'? Is it about living it as comfortably as you can manage? Is it about self-actualization? About leaving something behind? Is it ultimately about deciphering it? And most importantly, is this 'meaning of life' universal, or is it as personal as it can possibly get? The most comfort I have found in questioning virtually everything there is to question has been this: That most certainly, the only thing certain thing about life and death is uncertainty. And I’ve found that acknowledging this fact has in many ways relinquished my responsibility of a life-long pursuit for answers I will never get. In some ways, that is the simultaneous beauty and pitfall of philosophy: raising more unanswerable questions, but broadening horizons in the process. So what do you prefer? Do you prefer never loving, never laughing, never experiencing neither the peaks nor the valleys of life, so that once death comes, you can easily part with this ‘life’ you have not lived? Or do you want experience every beautiful and ugly facet of life alike, so that when it comes to part with it, you simply cannot? It seems to me that if parting with my life is not the most tragic, frightening, and unbearable thing imaginable, then my dreams have not been big enough; that I have not been living a full enough life. And the last thing I'd want on my death-bed (or within the last seconds of still retaining my consciousness) is feeling like: 'I cannot believe I could, and I didn't.' I believe not having anything to lose is the most tragic thing about loss.

Adoro o livro e fiquei feliz com a leitura em inglês para praticar o idioma

Este libro es un clásico de la literatura juvenil. Te hace sentir todas la emociones y te recuerda lo importante de la vida. Solo hay que tener cuidado con el envío porque llegó un poco doblada la esquina de la portada pero fuera de ahí todo bien.

- "The fault in our stars" rencontre un succès prodigieux, en particulier auprès des jeunes lecteurs, et je ne voulais pas passer à côté d’un tel enthousiaste, malgré mon peu d’attrait, a priori, pour un thème aussi déprimant, qui reflète une réalité si présente autour de nous. Pourquoi raconter une telle histoire ? Pourquoi raconter quelques mois de l'existence d'une jeune fille condamnée à court terme ? (ce n'est pas un spoiler, les choses sont claires d'emblée, Hazel est en rémission miraculeuse, son cancer n'attend que la moindre occasion pour bondir à l’assaut de son corps et la submerger). Eh bien sans doute parce que ce roman, dans son existence et sa personnalité, est une parfaite métaphore d'une personne atteinte d'un cancer : la maladie ne devrait jamais définir une personne malade de A à Z. Une personne très malade, mourante même, devrait avoir le droit de rester elle-même, avec ses défauts, ses qualités, ses opinions, ses projets, ses décisions - et ceci même si la maladie régit le moindre de ses moments. Ce roman, qui raconte la rencontre de deux jeunes gens malades d'un cancer, est bien plus qu'un roman sur le thème de la maladie : c'est une vraie histoire, qui existe par ce thème mais aussi bien au-delà. Cette histoire, écrite à la première personne du singulier par une jeune fille de 16 ans (l'auteur disparaît complètement, une prouesse) est brillante, drôle, délicieuse, généreusement et terriblement émouvante. C'est aussi un récit méticuleusement réaliste : aucun cliché, aucun lieu commun et une immersion que je n'ai peut-être jamais encore rencontré à un tel niveau dans aucune de mes lectures (le parallèle le plus fort qui m'est venu à la lecture de ce roman, en manière de ressenti, est la visualisation du reportage de Terry Prattchet sur l'euthanasie). La tonalité du récit est néanmoins extrêmement proche de celui d' Among Others , un roman que je conseille à tous ceux qui ont tombés amoureux de l’âme si pure d’Hazel, son pragmatisme, son humour, son esprit acéré. L’un des nombreux atouts du roman tient dans le fait que les affres des premiers temps ne nous sont pas contées. L’horreur, l’incrédulité, le déni, la colère, le sentiment d’injustice, d’incompréhension – tout ça a déjà intégré par Hazel et ses proches. Désormais la situation est, tout simplement ; dans sa cruauté et son inéluctabilité. Sans être pour autant résignée, chaque personne de ce roman sait à quoi s’en tenir et tâche, avec plus ou moins de succès, de vivre cette réalité intenable, avec son quotidien misérable mais pourtant si précieux. Hazel est jeune fille exceptionnelle, d’une intelligence supérieure à la normale, d’une lucidité et d’une générosité exceptionnelles, mais aussi une simple jeune fille de 16 ans. L'éclairage de l'entourage à travers les yeux d’Hazel, en particulier de ses parents, est tout simplement remarquable. J'ai beaucoup apprécié l’humour et la lucidité de l'histoire dans l'histoire, alors que la jeune fille se passionne pour un roman écrit par une jeune elle aussi atteinte d'un cancer (roman écrit par un homme adulte), cherchant désespérément à joindre l’auteur pour savoir ce qu’il advient des personnages ensuite. Le traitement et le rapport à l'auteur (qui n’est idéalisé en rien !) sont étonnants. D'une manière générale cette histoire, pourtant si terriblement triste et désespérée, nous fait souvent rire aux éclats : une prouesse et une démonstration... La relation entre Hazel et Augustus est pleine d'une maturité hors d’âge mais aussi de la fraîcheur de leur âge ; elle est illuminée par leur intelligence hors norme, leur humour délicieux, souvent bien noir, leurs personnalités si poignantes. Cette histoire d’amour éphémère mais d’une sincérité et d’une maturité étonnantes, sans une once de mièvrerie ni le moindre stéréotype, atteint la perfection. Les idées, nombreuses et passionnantes, développées par ces deux jeunes personnes confrontées si injustement tôt à la mort, sont intrigantes, riches et traitant de thèmes qui nous ne peuvent manquer de toucher le lecteur, lui-même condamné à mort dès son premier souffle. Aucun remplissage, un texte dense dans sa simplicité. Cette lecture, malgré ses attraits et ses qualités littéraires (c’est un vrai page-turner, une lecture limpide) a été particulièrement éprouvante ; on pourrait ainsi s'interroger sur la pertinence à s’immerger ainsi dans une histoire, aussi remarquable soit-elle, si le prix à payer est d'être aussi profondément bouleversé et perturbé à la fin du roman. La réponse est sans doute dans le thème même du roman : Vaut-il mieux ne rien vivre, ne s'attacher à rien et ne s'intéresser à rien puisque l'on va tout perdre à la fin, ou profiter de tout, au mieux, chaque instant, puisque chaque instant pourrait bien être le dernier ?...