The Fault In Our Stars by John Green Review

Summary:

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.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love

My rating: Two worms!

So, I finally got down to read the critically acclaimed (And with a totally spoiled ending by people on Goodreads) book about two cancer patients who find love. Unfortunately it was not as good to me as it seems to be for the rest of the world.

I got to say, I really liked the first few pages. I enjoyed how with a few words John Green managed to create the life of a teenager, I felt as if this girl was real instead of a work of fiction. I really liked Hazel and her thoughts on the beginning about the cancer group, her parents and life in general. Sometimes she would have these sarcastic comments that I could see myself thinking and that made me laugh. However, I had a problem with this:

“A nonhot boy stares at you relentlessly and it is, at best, awkward and, at worst, a form of assault. But a hot boy … well.”

But, well no character is ever going to be perfect, right? So I kept on reading. Then Augustus showed up, and I think that was when things started to go downhill for me.

If I have to be honest, I found Augustus to be a rather bland, and kind of a snob character. He seemed to be nice, sociable and all but he just had this air of condescendence that truly annoyed me. It got worse as the plot moved along and Hazel got to know him better.

It was so weird, because I never felt that chemistry between them, their relationship seemed forced and it was as if I was being told what I should feel instead of figuring that out by myself. This is a feeling that accompanied me throughout the rest of the book, that I was being told how I should feel and think about everything. The dialogues were awkward, why did they talked like a textbook, who does that?

But maybe it was just me? I don’t know, everybody loves this book.

Nevertheless, my annoyance grew and it came to a point when I just didn’t care about anything (except maybe her parents and Isaac). It became all too boring and I just wished it ended already so I could read something else.

Another thing I found strange was that, for a book about cancer and the struggles and beauties of life I was hardly moved. Sure, there were emotional moments I could connect with but that was just because I imagined that situation in real life, because the book hardly put any thought to it, it was as if those moments meant nothing here. There was a time when Isaac talked about how his girlfriend, the one who had promised to be there with him forever, had broken up with him because he was about to have a surgery that would leave him blind and it was easier to dump him then than after. This was horrible and real, and Isaac started having an emotional breakdown screaming and kicking, and Hazel and Gus don’t give a fuck! Seriously, as Isaac starts breaking Gus’ trophies Hazel and Gus just talk as if nothing is even happening. I just sat there thinking “Do something! Your friend is suffering, for the love of God CARE ABOUT HIM!” but no.

A rather boring book, maybe it was because I knew the ending? Who knows, next time I’ll try Paper Towns a few people have told me it’s good.