The Fault In Our Stars
By John Green
(Dutton Juvenile, Hardcover, 9780525478812, January 2012, 336pp.)

The Short of It:

An amazing, life affirming read. Reading this book is like sitting with your best friend, under a bright blue sky with nothing but love surrounding you.

The Rest of It:

Goodness! This is going to be one of those gushing reviews where not a lot is said about plot, but much will be said about why you should read it. Let me jump right in.

This book is about cancer. Specifically, two teens living with cancer. One teen, Hazel Grace is not doing as well as she probably could be, but she knows, as well as her family, that her days are numbered and that the BIG day will come. Augustus Waters is this beyond beautiful guy that Hazel meets at support group. He’s like no other boy she’s ever met and he sees in her, what no one has seen in her before. Life. Hazel Grace, even in her weakened state, exudes life and this is what makes Augustus (Gus) fall head-over-heels in love with her. The two form a bond that is both heartbreaking and joyous. They know that their relationship cannot go on forever, and yet… they live as if it will.

Sigh.

This is such a lovely book and if you had told me a month ago that I would be gushing over a book about cancer, I would have given you my “You’ve got to be kidding!” look and not given it a second thought but this book is AMAZING in so many ways. Although these characters never hide from their illness, the story itself is incredibly positive and life affirming and while reading it, it felt so good to be alive. Everything seemed more beautiful to me and that is why this book is so amazing. I’d close the book and drive home and even traffic seemed special to me or the bird singing outside my window seemed more important than the day before. It just made me feel good.

The other thing that blew my mind was how much I loved these characters. Hazel and Augustus are these awesome kids that you can’t help but love. They are flawed in that they never realize just how wonderful they are but their love is so pure and so genuine that I shed many a tear while reading the book and I dreaded the end. When I finally turned that last page, I wanted to go right back to the beginning and start all over again just so I could spend more time with them. Such a beautiful story and so well done. I borrowed this copy but now I want a copy of my own.

I know it’s difficult to gather up the courage to read a book about cancer, but seriously, you won’t be sorry. In fact, you’ll be so glad you did, that you’ll come back here and tell me so.

Source: Borrowed
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