Book 3 Review

At thirteen she was diagnosed with lung cancer, ever since young Hazel was not able to take a breath without being hooked up to a machine or carrying her oxygen tank around. Meeting mysterious Augustus Waters in the support group defiantly made her life brighter and exhilarating. Both of them have truly tasted what life is really about, survival. Hazel accepted that she is a “grenade” that can explode any minute, but that does not stop her from living each day to the fullest. Hazel’s and Gus’s trip to Amsterdam proves it. Their mutual knowledge of true pain is what makes their relationship so powerful.

Loss and survival as the main theme, makes the reader appreciate what they have. John Green did a fantastic job at making readers emotional throughout the book. An abundant amount of people can relate to the struggles of having cancer, but reading this book certainly makes you experience every second of it. The Fault in Our Stars contains many examples of the suffering cancer brings. However one might feel uncomfortable with the jokes about sickness throughout the book that portrays those cases. For example when Gus’s friend Isaac had his eye surgery, he became blind. This quote demonstrates one of the troubled remarks: “You can’t just not contact your former boyfriend after his eyes get cut out of his freaking head.” Pg. 226. Numerous jokes were made by Hazel and Gus towards his disability. Even though they didn’t mean it in a hurtful or mocking way, some more sensitive readers might not appreciate those jests.

The attachment to characters is what makes the book so moving. Hazel appeals to many because of her open mind and progressiveness. She doesn’t let society standards get to her; Hazel always stays herself and does not pretend to be anyone else. For example, when Gus and Hazel were driving in the car, she wanted to appear as if she is not a “walking corpse”, she was pulled out of school for three years at the time. This depicts that even though there is an urge to mask out the truth Hazel still chooses to be her genuine self “I considered lying. No one likes a corpse, after all. But in the end I told the truth.” Pg. 24. Small talks bore her and profoundness thrills Hazel. Augustus and Hazel shared spiritual connection because of their outlook of the world. Bound by misfortunes of their physical state, they perceive what true pain is, and don't take anything for granted. Complete understanding that neither of them might live for long, makes both of these characters strong and unique. An example confirming their neutrality towards death “He was looking for the most hurtful way to tell the truth, but of course I already knew the truth." Pg. 193 In this scene Peter Van Houten confronts Hazel's sickness as a side effect of dying and how she is fated to live out the days as the child she was when diagnosed. Reacting passively, Hazel just brushed it off. Not many would accept that they might not live till the next day; most people get startled by the fact and therefore seeking for the miracle and hoping for the best to come.

The Fault in Our Stars merits four and half stars for its complexity and heavy topic that fills with different sentiments from beginning to an end.    

If you want to get a glimpse of what the book is like , watch this trailer: