After seeing The Fault in Our Stars by John Green on numerous book club reads, I figured it was about time I checked it out. Ready for a Bookworm Belle confession? I read this entire book in one sitting. It’s that good.
The main character, Hazel, is a 16-year-old girl with stage IV thyroid cancer. Although she uses an oxygen tank and is prescribed medication to keep her tumors at bay, she is completely aware that her cancer will eventually lead to her death. Hazel attends a support group and meets Augustus Waters, who is in remission. The two become friends as the novel progresses and grow closer as their diseases change. The title of the novel is inspired by the Shakespearean play Julius Caesar: “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings.” (I, ii, 140-141).
Why you should read it: The Fault in Our Stars is different. It’s not a typical love story or a typical cancer-remission story, which makes it unpredictable and a compelling read for anyone. John Green is an amazing writer, and the plot is so well contrived that I found myself unable to put this book down once I started it. One of the reasons I think this novel is so successful is the personal connection John Green is able to convey to his audience through his writing. When reading the story, you instantly feel drawn to the characters. To cut to the chase… Read this book! You might also want to invest in a box of tissues because this story is definitely a tearjerker.
From the back cover: “Despite the tumor-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 gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.”