From the Bookshelf of 2015 Reading Challenge [Closed]…

The Fault in Our Stars

John Green

Discussion: . Week 3: Book Turned Into Movie

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. Week 3: Book Turned Into Movie

* Week 3: Introduction
By Jessica · 45 posts · 391 views

last updated Feb 27, 2015 05:34AM

* Week 3: Progress Post
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last updated Nov 06, 2015 06:53AM

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Sep 17, 2013 Nadin Doughem added it

Shelves: watched-as-a-movie

The book's title, The Fault in Our Stars, comes from a line in Shakespeare's play in Julius Caesar where Cassius says, "The fault, dear Brutus is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings." Deep, much? Cassius seems to be saying that it's not fate that dooms men, but instead their own failings. ...more

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Apr 09, 2015 M.M. Clem rated it really liked it

***Taken from my book blog at http://booknerd0116.blogspot.com/2015...***

First let me tell you the thing I L-O-V-E-D about this story: it took place in my home town of Indianapolis. Green not only used Indy as the location but he used several very specific spots in the city for his story to revolve around...and I KNOW THESE PLACES!!! That was just so cool and so fun to read, to know that this big accomplished author, one that I admire even, chose to use a place he loves -a place I love- to cente ***Taken from my book blog at http://booknerd0116.blogspot.com/2015...***

First let me tell you the thing I L-O-V-E-D about this story: it took place in my home town of Indianapolis. Green not only used Indy as the location but he used several very specific spots in the city for his story to revolve around...and I KNOW THESE PLACES!!! That was just so cool and so fun to read, to know that this big accomplished author, one that I admire even, chose to use a place he loves -a place I love- to center his story around. Like I could actually see the intersection of 86th & Ditch that he spoke of and the Speedway gas station there. I've been there. Really, that is so neat!

Okay, so my city-love aside this was still such a well written story. Yeah, it's a sad one. It's filled with kids and cancer and normally I don't go for junk like that. Books are supposed to make me happy and cheery and let me cast aside all the drudgery in the world for a bit while I idly flip through the pages...but sometimes a dose of reality is alright, and Green does an awesome job of bringing the reality of cancer, and children dealing with cancer, out into the fold of things without it seeming so sad and taboo of a topic. His characters just deal with it, the way real kids and real adults must do every day. The story talks about "cancer perks" in one sentence while following it up with those same people getting those looks from others who just feel sorry for them. He uses such wit and humor to pull forth a story about cancer without it feeling like a "cancer story." Does that make sense?

The main characters of the story are Hazel, a young home schooled cancer patient who carries around an oxygen tank everywhere just to help her lousy lungs breathe, and Augustus (or Gus) whom is a boy she meets at support group. Augustus had cancer too so he understands her, knows what she's going through, etc. They fast form a relationship that turns from friendship to a little more, despite Hazel's trepidation. These characters are so easily likable too. Aside from the fact that their banter desperately reminds me of watching Rory on a Gilmore Girls episode, they're just so totally real and down to earth. They don't sugar coat their condition, or the fact that cancer kills and that they will die. It's not sad, it's not bitter, it's just a fact.

I really enjoyed reading this book and with I hadn't waited so long to finally succumb to it. Since this was the second book by John Green, I can officially say that I'm a fan of his now. Not only has he written at least two books that I thoroughly enjoyed reading, he's also a fellow Hoosier...and that rocks! Maybe I could go meet him, tell him about my love of reading and writing and we'll become besties and collaborate on a story together down the road. Hey, I can dream, right?! ...more

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May 28, 2014 Dawn Husted rated it it was amazing

“I fell in love the way you fall asleep; Slowly, and then all at once." Does it get better than that? Yes! I finished reading The Fault in Our Stars today and cried the last part of the way. This book is well rounded and written with passion. The author dove into the characters and knew them inside and out, left and right, up and down. I truly felt I knew them too. This teen read is deeply romantic at times, light-hearted and emotional a lot of the time, and the balance of all three is done well ...more

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May 17, 2014 Saara rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, reviewed

Here's the thing about seeing a book praised, especially by your friends: It creates expectations it is pretty impossible for the real thing to live up to.

Don't misunderstand me. I liked this book. I really, really did — just not quite as much as I ~~expected~~ wanted to. I wanted to love it, not only because of those aforementioned friends but also because I consider myself a Nerdfighter. Alas, it was not to be. Further skewing my experience was the fact that, being late to the party, I had encount Here's the thing about seeing a book praised, especially by your friends: It creates expectations it is pretty impossible for the real thing to live up to.

Don't misunderstand me. I liked this book. I really, really did — just not quite as much as I ~~expected~~ wanted to. I wanted to love it, not only because of those aforementioned friends but also because I consider myself a Nerdfighter. Alas, it was not to be. Further skewing my experience was the fact that, being late to the party, I had encountered spoilers. I knew about the big twist long before I even acquired the novel. Sad, that.

To the point, now? Yes.

CAUTION: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS.

After finishing the novel, I looked at a few reviews of it here on GR. Some were very critical indeed, and there's one point in particular I would like to address. Well, no, that's a lie. There are more. But the first order of business is this thing about the differences between Hazel and Augustus. There are people who posit that they are, in fact, the same character. Personally, I wouldn't go quite that far, but they are perhaps not as different, or at the very least not as easy to tell apart, as one might like. They are distinct personalities, yes, but their speech patterns are fairly similar.

There's the metaphor thing. I must say I wasn't overly impressed, but for one thing, that horse is as good as dead, and for another... I think that was the point. Not to be very impressed with this idiosyncracy of Augustus's, especially when it comes to his deal with the cigarettes. Hazel is never really convinced; she indulges him, because she knows that it matters to him. To have the illusion of some kind of control. In other areas, the metaphors are kind of sweet. The boy likes grand gestures, and Hazel lets him have them, but the truth is — and I'm not interpreting, it's right there in the fricking book — that she prefers him without that smooth veneer.

One thing that really surprised me was the fact that An Imperial Affliction and Peter Van Houten had such a major part in the story. I mean, I knew John Green had moved to Amsterdam for a couple of months while writing the novel, specifically for research and authenticity purposes, but somehow that didn't click. Threw me off for a while. I'm not really sure how I feel about it. On the one hand, it's an interesting thing to have there and gave Hazel and Augustus something they otherwise might never have experienced. On the other hand, I can't help but wonder whether I would have preferred a more insular story. I'll never know, because this is the one we got.

My emotional response? The tears appeared much later than anticipated. Quite a few chuckles for the dialogue, and I refuse to agree with the nay-sayers who think the lines were too witty for teenagers to come up with. Some of the monologues were definitely thought up beforehand, yes, I'm looking at you Augustus Waters. But the banter? Heck yes I buy it. I've known some amazingly bright people in that general age bracket, and don't believe for a moment that Cancer Kids are exempt from being endowed with loads of wit. These kids were. (I'm sure there is at least one YA novel where the protagonist suffers from an illness but is otherwise entirely unexceptional. If someone recommends such a book to me, I'll read it.)

In light of all this, you will forgive me for not giving the book five stars. I'm very stingy in that regard, to be honest. Nevertheless, this is a beautiful book and I shall doubtlessly re-read it more than once. And yes, damn straight I'm going to go see the movie. ...more

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Jul 15, 2014 Melissa rated it it was amazing

I enjoyed the witty humor that flowed throughout this book, along with the emotional roller coaster of character feelings and experiences. In short, I am sorry to say, that I have no other words to explain my five out of five star rating. I enjoyed my little infinity with this book, and I know that you will too. Read it, and find out for yourself the amazing adventure of Hazel and Gus. Give yourself a chance of a little infinity among the greater infinities of your life.

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Apr 12, 2015 Jenny rated it it was ok

I know this has had brilliant reviews and I was looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately, it fell a little flat for me. I found the characters difficult to empathise with and whilst I appreciate that the style of writing was part of their characterisation, I found that it's pretentiousness was distracting from the plot lines. I enjoyed the plot, but for me, the writing just really didn't click. ...more

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