The Opposition…

The Fault in Our Stars

John Green

Discussion: 2014-Apr-May-Jun

Why we're reading this: TCR June 23, 2014
TNS panelist November 16, 2015
[close] TCR June 23, 2014
TNS panelist November 16, 2015

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2014-Apr-May-Jun

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* June 2014
By Tiffany , WristStrong · 1 post · 26 views

last updated Jul 01, 2014 01:25AM

* May 2014
By Tiffany , WristStrong · 1 post · 28 views

last updated May 27, 2014 05:54PM

What Members Thought

Jul 13, 2014 Lee rated it did not like it

I wanted so badly to like this book. Every recommendation I had of the book was "Oh my god, it was so sad, I cried!" Which in hindsight doesn't actually sound like a great recommendation and perhaps, that was why I was a bit skeptical about The Fault in Our Stars. From having listened to enough people talk about it and seeing the trailers. It was obvious without even opening the book, that this was a love story about two people with cancer. As such, it really only had three possible outcomes. Fi I wanted so badly to like this book. Every recommendation I had of the book was "Oh my god, it was so sad, I cried!" Which in hindsight doesn't actually sound like a great recommendation and perhaps, that was why I was a bit skeptical about The Fault in Our Stars. From having listened to enough people talk about it and seeing the trailers. It was obvious without even opening the book, that this was a love story about two people with cancer. As such, it really only had three possible outcomes. First, they both go into remission, and everyone lives happily ever after... a bit unlikely but never underestimate the power of a Disney ending. Two, one of them dies, leaving the other with the burden to bear. Finally, they both die, sort of an emo-Disney ever after, they are at peace together.

From the outset, I didn't like characters. Something about them was just very flat. At first, I though maybe John Green was too on track with his whinny teenage dialogue, but that wasn't quite it. There is just something about the characters that doesn't work for me. Hazel a sympathetic character, who has been dealt more than her fair share of hardship and as a result she's sarcastic, blunt and jaded. Okay, makes sense. She's also an angsty obnoxious teenager. Yup, we all have been or are currently there. However, the part that really irritates me is more difficult to articulate... She is portrayed as someone who is so deep and profound, because she's obsessed with this book that it seems the great undeserving masses can not or refuse to appreciate. She says things that are seemingly poignant, but her dialogue is so calculated that for me nothing about it rang true and it reduced the whole character to an empty shell. If Hazel was irritating, Augustus was downright obnoxious! Augustus, a one dimensional pseudo intellectual in the extreme, is nothing more than a terminally ill hipster, finding more amusement in superficial metaphor than any actual reflection.

After you find out that Hazel is terminal and Augustus' survival rate is comparatively assured, again, the plot can only again go in a certain number of directions. Hazel dies and leaves behind August, this is a bit unlikely, if only because it would be so obvious. Although, it would have allowed Green to kill the narrator and end the book without an ending, like Van Houten in the novel. Alternatively, both of the characters could die, this would again harken back to Van Houten's fictitious book. However, not far into the book, it was apparent that the second most obvious course events would take place, the seemingly healthy character would take a turn for the worst and the terminally ill narrator would be left to cope. Although, I did sincerely hope that Green would surprise me with an ending I hadn't already thought of.

Everything about this book just felt fake, forced and automated, as if it was created using the algorithm of a best seller. I also felt that it was a bit exploitative. It takes something as serious as cancer, and reduces it down to a trite love story about two teens. I understand, that it may not have been Green's intent. From what I've heard about the novel it would seem he wanted to write something thought provoking and poignant, but I just don't see it in this work.

I particularly like Gregory Baird's review of this book and his discussion of Green's work in broader terms. I do think I'll give Green another try in the future.

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