The Fault in Our Stars by John Green {Book Review}

Now before you continue reading this review, let me just prepare you first.

I didn’t find the hype around the book and the movie as extravagant as most people have. Yes, it’s a sad story, but it wasn’t all that great as it has been made out to be.

Call me cold-blooded and heartless, but I feel what I feel. And I didn’t feel it all that tugging at my heart strings. There were one or two moments that brought a tear to my eye but it wasn’t so overwhelming that I needed to throw the book to the floor and bury myself under a blanket with no interest in facing the world again.

It had it’s moments yes, but they weren’t as great as I’d thought they would be for a couple of reasons. While John Green has stated that it’s a work of fiction and the medical things aren’t real, that’s not what was the deciding factor of feelings towards the book.

Rather the unrealistic conversations that took away the moments by overly complicating something that wasn’t to be true.

I first watched the movie then thought let me try the novel, maybe it would be better since it does happen that movies don’t live up to the expectations that the author has brought forth. I got the book on sale.

I feel like had I not read the book, it wouldn’t have changed my outlook on it.

Another note: not every death is glorious, death is cold and the world is uncaring.

DISCLAIMER: This review could contain possible spoilers based on my opinions. All opinions and views are my own.

Book review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green #bookreview
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Plot:

Hazel is a 16 year old girl, diagnosed with lung cancer. Her whole life has been an isolation from the world.

When she reluctantly attends a cancer support group at her mother’s request, she catches the eye of Augustus Waters, another cancer patient with a unique outlook of the world, who is there to support his friend, Isaac.

As their relationship grows, they discover friendship, heartbreak and love along the way. As both face their fears of a shorter life together, they also find a reason to find the best in each situation, hope.

My Opinion: Positive Thoughts

The book starts off with easy to read and understand dialogues, and has a good pace.

It’s written in the first person, from Hazel’s point of view. I appreciated the fact that the book stuck to one point of view.

I admit, I did tear up at some parts of the book, but that didn’t make it a masterpiece.

My Opinion: Negative Thoughts

Let me start off by saying that the quotes were pretentious and hardly relatable, some had me rolling my eyes a couple of times.

I struggled to connect with the characters, even through the very difficult times. I felt disconnected to their lives based on how they carried on throughout the book. While it wasn’t a ‘love at first’ sight thing going on, it still felt a little off, especially looking at it from Hazel’s point of view.

I found the conversations between Hazel and Augustus completely unrealistic because let’s face it, in the 21st century, you’re not going to find teenagers talking like that, no matter how dire their lives and situations are. No one thinks that fast on their feet to be able to come up with such monologues.

Also, the obsession with An Imperial Affliction, got old very quickly.