The Book Stack

The Fault in Our Stars By John Green

The Blurb

Despite the tumour-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a georgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning-author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

The Scoop

A true great novel leaves the reader changed in some way, whether it’s the perception of life or a new way to look at an issue, whatever it may be, and a truly great book is always so infuriatingly thought-provoking. It leaves the reader perplexed about how they feel about the themes and issues they encountered in the novel, themes such as love and loss, and the real purpose of human existence. They start to question their own belief systems and wonder how it all relates to them. By the conclusion of a fantastic literary read, the reader should be emotionally drained and overwhelmed at what they have just put down. And dear reader, The Fault in Our Stars is exactly that. A truly fantastic novel.

To sum it up in one word, this book is bittersweet. It is completely enchanting and is filled with (as Jodi Picoult is quoted) “staccato bursts of humour and tragedy.” John Green’s fluid, lyrical storytelling captures you and takes you on this adventure and then it will completely undo you into a weeping mess. But that’s the beauty of it. Hazel and Augustus’ story may be heartbreaking and filled with pain and grief, but Green manages to make this book so uplifting and hilarious at times to the points where you wonder if it is wrong to laugh, however Green makes it so right. Its subject matter may be depressing and bleak, but Hazel’s voice is just so captivating it gives you hope, and so you continue reading. You continue until John Green springs another element of tragedy, another layer of reality until you turn into a sobbing mess, yet again. While some say that novels are all fictitious and not real, it is worth noting that stories like this are based on situations that are actually happening right now. There are people going through what the characters go through and encounter the same issues and feel the same emotions.

Green’s already melodic writing proves that when he strips away some elements that make John Green’s writing, well-John Green, and just write in this vulnerable way, while still retaining his facetiousness, can make an authentic masterpiece, and probably one of his best work yet. The way he writes can really entrance the most reluctant of readers, his effortless timing with humour and wit, while delivering punches at the right moments before letting you catch your breath is rare to find these days. He doesn’t patronise the reader with condescending dialogue and simplistic characterisations, but pens intelligent and witty tales and creates characters so realistic, that they could almost be someone you know. And yet, beneath the charming writing, there is a moral that stays with you and always puts life into perspective. That is what a genius writer does.

The Fault in Our Stars is magic. Pure, uplifting magic that always makes you want to carpe diem, to seize the day that some aren’t so lucky to see and to leave a mark on the world through the people we love, knowing you have made a difference. That is what makes a true, great, and fucking brilliant novel.