Backlist Review Take Two: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Title: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Genre: contemporary
Series: N/A
Pages: 313
Published: 2012
Source: purchased
Rating: 3.75/5

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.

I can take or leave John Green. I enjoy his books but they aren't my favorites. He is not The Coming of YA, or its Chosen (S)One. Of the three I've read, one has been a 3 (Looking for Alaska), one was a almost a four (this), and only one was a 5 (Will Grayson, Will Grayson). You won't find me amongst his nerdfighters, but nor does he irritate me as much as the small but vocal group of detractors he has amassed. Yes, he can be pretentious. Yes, a lot of his characters act the same, think the same, etc. But still, he can turn a phrase. He can make you care about his MPDGs.

I think the key to enjoying his books is to space them out. I read about one a year, and it keeps me from noticing (too much) the similarities between them all. I can also separate the man-as-an-author compared to his smarm on twitter or in interviews. Though I do think this will be the last of him I read, he's not a bad author. He's just not that perfect either. He lacks the originality I crave in characters and plot.

That said, the reason this is rated so highly is purely personal. I read it on the anniversary of the death of someone I loved immensely. Someone who died at 19 - way too young. Someone who was funny, handsome, and full of life. So I am not the be the most objective in how I feel about The Fault in Our Stars, but Green knows how to write grief. It got to me, it resonated with me, and this book will stick with me for all these reasons.  John Green can turn a phrase, but his writing is largely lost on me.

Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Title: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Genre: contemporary
Series: none
Pages: 337
Published: January 1, 2012
Source: borrowed from friend
Rating: 2 out of 5

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.

Reviewed by Danielle. 

The Fault in Our Stars is an undeniable phenomenon. The book has sold millions of copies. John Green is routinely five of the NYT top 10 YA books. The movie made $48m in its first weekend. My beloved co-blogger gave it four stars and has shared how emotional it makes her.

Sorry nerdfighters, I can’t stand this book.

The hype train got me, and with the movie coming out, I wanted to give it a chance, but there’s a lot working against TFIOS and me. First, I knew the twist going in. That probably sucks a lot of the emotion out of the reveal. Second, I’m only just becoming a fan of the contemporary genre and I still don’t like melodramas. But unfortunately, the biggest problem with the book is the writing and characterization.

John Green has spent a lot of time waxing about how he doesn’t write manic pixie dream girls, and I’ll agree, Hazel is not a MPDG. No, in this book, Mr. Green has written the first manic pixie dream guy in Augustus Waters.

I was completely unable to invest in Hazel and Augustus’ love story, because Gus is so inherently unlikable. He’s vain, pretentious, and doesn’t listen to what Hazel actually wants. He continually calls her “Hazel Grace”, despite being repeatedly told it’s just Hazel, because it’s what he likes. He plans this way over the top picnic and puts her on the spot, without thought of what she likes, how the food tastes, or the fact that such a big gesture makes it impossible to say no. The only time the character ever feels human is as the plane takes off. That’s a huge issue.

I did like Hazel, though I wish she’d shown a bigger array of emotions. She faces crushing disappointment and loss with the same apathy she applies to being forced to go to her support group. I actually liked that she got mad at her parents, terminally ill people are allowed to get mad, I just wish there’d been a bit more. Still, she felt like an actual person, (of course that’s because she is and that’s a whole other kettle of fish,) unlike her “love” interest.

I’ll admit, I teared up twice. Once during Isaac’s pre-funeral eulogy and once during his actual eulogy. I liked Isaac. In those two scenes, I actually felt humanity in Augustus. Why didn’t his girlfriend make me feel those feelings?

There’s just too many problematic things in the book. Gus’s pushiness. Hazel’s passiveness. That fucking kiss. No, seriously, that kiss killed any chance this book had. I was disgusted. And to have the Dutch people clap at the disrespectful American teenagers? Cancer perks indeed.