Book Report: A Fault In Our Stars

I am a reader and I am a writer. I devour books the way that most people breath air—- I need them to live. If I didn’t have books I don’t know what kind of person I would be. Books help me to understand the world around me; they open my eyes to the possibilities that lie before me, and force me to see perspectives other than my own. As I work towards finding my own voice through writing, I find myself reflecting on the books that have touched me most.

There are poems that constantly remind of the type of person I aspire to be. There are novels written for children that have meant so much more to me as an adult than as 10 year old girl. There are older books that took me years to love and new releases that have became a part of me before I even finished the last page. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green is one of those latter reads that gets into your system and stays there.

I have been a fan of John Green’s work since a beloved author listed An Abundance of Katherines as their Must Read Book of 2006. Since then I have fallen in love with his writing style. A mix of educated wit and unencumbered nerdiness, the worlds he creates are filled with characters that you want to get to know. I have never laughed or cried over a story quite the way I have over his books. That being said, John Green’s latest novel is without a doubt the rawest of all his work.

While, I am sure that some readers may be turned off by the topic of this book, the story follows two teens that meet while attending a Cancer Survivors’ Support Group; I found The Fault In Our Stars to be an uplifting book that celebrates life. The Fault In Our Stars does not focus on the melodrama that typically accompanies fictional books that feature characters fighting a terminal disease.

Although the story is beautifully told, the true treasure here lies in the two main characters. Augustus Waters, the male lead provides optimism to his new friend Hazel Lancaster. He believes in “something with a capital S,” and refuses to let Hazel take life too seriously. Hazel on the other hand seems to accept her fate early on and struggles with Augustus’ uplifting perspective. Together they bond over a novel written by a reclusive author. They eventually travel to Amsterdam to track him down in hopes of discovering how the story ends. Despite dealing with cancer, Augustus and Hazel manage to find the humor in life. Through laughter, and yes even a few tears, Augustus and Hazel struggle to make meaning of their existence.

As I write this review, my copy of The Fault In Our Stars is drying out on my bed. Of course as with any John Green book, there were always going to be a few tears shed while reading. This time however, I was crying because I was happy—happy that I got to know Augustus and Hazel, happy that I got to see their wishes granted, and happy to see the world through their eyes. If you enjoy good writing, desire to fall in love with a fictional character or two, or just simply feel the need to be moved, pick up The Fault In Our Stars today.