John Green’s The Fault in our Stars spent over a year on my to-read list. I remember seeing it on Entertainment Weekly‘s must list around the time it came out in January 2012. I’m not sure why it took me so long to finally buy and read it. It’s an amazing work.
The book follows sixteen-year-old Hazel, a terminal cancer patient who eeks out as normal of a life as possible while constantly hooked up to oxygen. She’s already lived beyond expectations, but knows that eventually the cancer will win. She’s accepted her fate as best she can. Hazel’s life takes a sudden turn though when she meets seventeen year old Augustus Waters in her cancer support group. Augustus is in remission after loosing a leg to cancer and only came to support group to support his friend Isaac. Hazel and Augustus embark on a hesitant friendship that transforms into love.
Green created such rich characters in this book, not just for Hazel and Augustus, but for their friends and parents too. Most importantly, these are smart teenagers who understand exactly what their cancer diagnosis means. We see them deal with the realities of it and get a vivid look at the ups and downs that live throws at them. I loved Hazel’s melancholy take on things and how it changed as Augustus worked his way into her life. Augustus was such a bolt of energy in the way he wooed and loved Hazel, as well as the way he was there for Issac as cancer blinded him.
This was a fast read for me because I couldn’t put it down. I constantly wanted to see what would happen next. The book has its share of heartache, but everything that happens makes sense and doesn’t feel forced. The Fault in our Stars is the best book I’ve read in many months and definitely lived up to the expectations of the accolades its received over the past year.
