The Fault in Our Stars

by John Green

I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, then all at once.

Despite the tumour-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 brilliantly explores the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

Praise for The Fault in Our Stars:

Sunday Times (Culture)
'A touching, often fiercely funny novel'

The Sun on Sunday (Fabulous Magazine)
'So good I think it should be compulsory reading for everyone!'

Daily Express
'John Green brilliantly captures the voices of a young generation while instilling it with the wisdom of a life that has lived too much yet will never live enough'

The Metro - 2013 Best Fiction
'The love affair of two terminally ill teenagers could be mawkish. In fact, it's funny, clever, irreverent and life-affirming.'

Grazia
'So good!'

Good Housekeeping
'As funny as it is heartbreaking... we defy you not to fall in love with its main characters, Hazel and Augustus.'

The Tablet
'A humourous and poignant love story... It's terrifically funny... as well as a moving exploration of loss and grief. And no, it's so much not just for teenage cancer sufferers... it's for everyone.'

Bliss
'If you need inspiration when it comes to making the most of a moment, this one is for you'

Mizz
'Insightful, bold, irreverent and raw, if this doesn't make you cry, it'll definitely make you think, laugh and maybe even fall in love yourself!'

• ISBN10: 0141345659
• ISBN13: 9780141345659
• Publish Date: 3 January 2013 (first published 1 January 2012)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[jeannamichel]

Hazel has a tumor eating up her lungs and was only given a few months. Miraculously, they found an experimental drug that seemed to be keeping her alive. She attends a Support Group in the Heart of Jesus and meets Augustus Waters. Augustus transforms Hazel’s life for good.

Book Blogger Confession: Before The Fault in our Stars, I have never read a John Green novel.

After finishing this book, I am angry at myself for not reading any of his books before this. John Green is a genius. He writes elegantly and poetically. When I read his work, I felt like a poet myself. His diction and syntax flowed like a river dancing on pebbles. (See, I am trying to impress you with my poetic skills… that is a joke; I am not a poet at all, not even close.) John Green is not only a best-selling author, but also part of Vlogbrothers. I discovered John and Hank’s Youtube channel the beginning of September 2011. So I did go into this novel with somewhat high expectations because occasionally John Green shows off his incredible genius skills with videos called “Thoughts on Places.” (Below is the one he created when he was in Amsterdam.)

When people would ask me what this book was about I would say something like, “It is about this girl. Her name is Hazel. She has cancer.” People would stop me right there. However, this book is so much more than that. Hazel is this strong, young girl who is relatable and awesome. She loves watching marathons of America’s Next Top Model, as do I. She has an unforgettable attitude that grabs the reader’s attention.

The Fault in our Stars brought me to tears. Cancer is a big topic these days and as much as this book wasn’t solely about cancer, it still had some reality of what it can do. Cancer has touched most of our lives. Still, Green took this topic and created it into a magnificent story that is not focused on cancer, but focused on transformation.

The Fault in our Stars is a beautifully-written piece of magic that belongs on everyone’s bookshelf. If you haven’t read it yet, please go grab a copy because John Green will just blow you away with a touching story.

[violetpeanut]

What to say about this book? It was beautiful and heartbreaking and funny and devastating all at the same time. I'm generally not the type to cry when reading but this book had me blubbering like a baby in parts. Maybe it's because I had a close family member lose a battle with cancer last year and it's still a little raw but this book just hit me really hard.

It was well written, the dialogue and situations were realistic. Highly recommended.

[Angie]

While I wasn't blown away by this one as so many other were, I did really enjoy it. I read it through in three sessions, interrupted only by sleep and classes. I didn't cry which probably makes me a horrible person, especially since I'm a total cry baby, but I was stilled moved by Hazel and Augustus' story. The Fault in Our Stars deals with a very tough, sad subject, but overall it didn't feel sad. There were some very sad parts, hence the expectation to cry, but there's the theme of hope weaved throughout the whole story.

I've noticed that all of John Green's main characters seem to be quite pretentious. Hazel is no exception, but I like that. She may be dying of cancer, but she still displays humor, cynicism, brains, and caring. She even falls into some of those stereotypes of how people treat cancer patients, which she hates. I absolutely loved Augustus from the moment we met him! He's hilarious and sweet and just completely loveable.

The one thing I did not like about this book was the whole Peter Von Houten plot. He played an important role in the story, but at the end I found his actions very unbelievable and just irritating. I know a lot of the plot couldn't have happened without him, but I still just didn't like it.

I'm never really sure how to review Green's books. He's obviously a talented writer, and I do enjoy his books. I just don't know what to say without spoiling anything! The Fault in Our Stars is heartwarming, funny, sad, moving, so many things in one. I'm not familiar with the cancer process, but it felt like a very realistic portrayal with ups and downs.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Hillary]

http://purplemoonmyst.blogspot.com/2012/03/fault-in-our-stars.html

[e_rodz_leb]

Oh, my! This is the first book by John Green that I’ve read and it certainly will not be the last. What a marvelous story! What breathtaking characters! (Okay, I’m done with the exclamation points now).

Our protagonist is Hazel and she is amazing. From reading the synopsis we know that she is sick, very sick. Still she sees the world in a pragmatic, realistic, but not pessimistic way. She is by no means perfect, but she accepts that fact and move on. Hazel has isolated herself from school and friends, because in her mind it is better to not have any than to eventually abandon them and hurt them when eventually her disease wins. Augustus is an incredible character; he is positive, charismatic, incredibly handsome and full of life, even at the face of terrible circumstances. Both Hazel and Augustus are one of a kind characters. They are well read, they love unusual things, and they wield irony and sarcasm like a weapon, and even though their families might not understand them, they recognize the greatness in them.

Hazel and Augustus’ parents are very involved in their lives, which is nice (and more realistic) to see in YA. I really enjoyed Hazel parents and their relationship, especially her father because he always seemed to have a brilliant comment to make.

What can I say about the writing that you haven’t read before? Mr. Green is a master story teller that makes not only the story, but its characters come to life. The writing is perfect, well-paced, and flawless. The plot was at the beginning funny and ironic, and then it was surprising and painful.

Even though I cried for a good part of the book (at least half of it!), it was worth every tear. If you have read any books by Mr. Green before, please leave a comment and tell me which of his books should I read next?

[lizarodz]

Oh, my! This is the first book by John Green that I’ve read and it certainly will not be the last. What a marvelous story! What breathtaking characters! (Okay, I’m done with the exclamation points now).

Our protagonist is Hazel and she is amazing. From reading the synopsis we know that she is sick, very sick. Still she sees the world in a pragmatic, realistic, but not pessimistic way. She is by no means perfect, but she accepts that fact and move on. Hazel has isolated herself from school and friends, because in her mind it is better to not have any than to eventually abandon them and hurt them when eventually her disease wins. Augustus is an incredible character; he is positive, charismatic, incredibly handsome and full of life, even at the face of terrible circumstances. Both Hazel and Augustus are one of a kind characters. They are well read, they love unusual things, and they wield irony and sarcasm like a weapon, and even though their families might not understand them, they recognize the greatness in them.

Hazel and Augustus’ parents are very involved in their lives, which is nice (and more realistic) to see in YA. I really enjoyed Hazel parents and their relationship, especially her father because he always seemed to have a brilliant comment to make.

What can I say about the writing that you haven’t read before? Mr. Green is a master story teller that makes not only the story, but its characters come to life. The writing is perfect, well-paced, and flawless. The plot was at the beginning funny and ironic, and then it was surprising and painful.

Even though I cried for a good part of the book (at least half of it!), it was worth every tear. If you have read any books by Mr. Green before, please leave a comment and tell me which of his books should I read next?

[elvinagb]

What an amazing book. It has me wanting to go back and read John's earlier works (Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns).
I loved Hazel Grace and like a lot of readers fell for Augustus from the first time he appeared. I laughed and cried and can't wait to read this book again.

[Michael @ Knowledge Lost]

Sixteen year old Hazel Grace Lancaster has been dealing with Stage 4 Thyroid cancer since she was 13 years old. Having recently decided to join a support group for children living with cancer she meets Augustus Waters (with osteosarcoma), and the infatuation was instantaneous. Their relationship grows and a common obsession with Peter van Houten’s An Imperial Affliction finds them in Amsterdam trying to track down this obscure author.

There really isn’t much I can say about this book that I haven’t said before. I really like John Green’s books; he writes some great characters and Hazel and Augustus are not exception. This isn’t a typical cancer book, but it is a typical Green book (not that there is anything wrong with that). I do feel like Green have some reoccurring themes in all his books but this one tries hard to break the mould. Obviously since it’s still a John Green book it never will break out, he knows what he likes; his style works really well, so there is nothing too wrong with keeping to it.

This book tends to shift a little into the unrealistic, but I’m sure there are intelligent and witty sixteen year olds that act and talk like these two; I’ve just never met them. I love how Green does a pretty typical YA love story but then finds interesting metaphors and ideas to throw in the mix. Hazel Grace and the reader are left examining life; sickness and health, life and death, what defines them and even the legacy they will leave behind.

The whole concept of ‘death being at your door the entire time’ makes for a very interesting YA novel. I’m pleased to say this is a fine example of what John Green does. I’ve read most of John Green’s novels now and I’m a huge fan of his works; I’m a little sad to think there is only one more novel of his left to read. I would love to know who else can offer intelligent and mostly realistic Young Adult novels for me to read.