Today's Review: The Fault in Our Stars, John Green

So, last summer I read this book, and I feel like it ruined all other books for a while. From the perspective of another writer, it was just so well written. And go figure, it's Young Adult. And while it was a YA book, and it was sad, I think everyone should read it.

What book is this, you ask? The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green.

So, I posted my review on Goodreads back when I first read it. Here is an extended version of that review..Though I will probably be sounding kind of cryptic because I don't want to say anything that will ruin the story itself.

This book was very well written, I felt like it was a writer's read. I was recommended this book last summer by my friend, writer, and fellow JHU student, Amanda Hart Miller and finally got around to reading it this past summer. 

Back when I first read it, I thought, I don't think I'll watch the movie, because the book was good enough. And summer and fall have passed, and we're now into winter, and I still don't need to watch the movie. One of my favorite things about this book is the voice. I feel like voice never quite translates into a movie smoothly.

I love Hazel's attitude towards the world and her situation. It's a sad story, of course, but you expect that going into it. Spoiler alert, it's about kids with cancer, and Hazel's approach to the whole genre is entertaining, even though it is a coping mechanism -- the book follows a 'in a cancer story, this is where this happens...but here is what happens for us' sort of story line.

I love the literary and art references (The Treachery of Images!), the title taken from Shakespeare, 

"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings."

Julius Caesar (I, ii, 140-141)

(taken from here: enotes.com)

It is not too complicated of a story line (which, actually, I envy that, and wish I could have more simplicity to my stories) but in general, in a sense of plot, it might not have been my favorite story ever, but in the sense of character (well developed, round, and distinctive), and prose (descriptive, real, and as I mentioned, the voice is great), and tone (sad, but not too sad, and very clever) --  the emotions are real and I genuinely felt for the characters in this book.

This book has been a problem for me....in a good way....ever since, I've been comparing everything YA that I read to John Green and nothing has quite lived up to this one yet. I guess I should get on it and read some of his other books soon.

Overall, if you're looking for a YA book that's also a great piece of writing, this one can't be missed. I definitely recommend this book!!!