The Fault in Our Stars in OSU 3356 Spring 2013

Jan 30, 2013 Brandi Rees rated it really liked it

Shelves: grief

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Apr 13, 2013 Kate Noggle rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, for-my-future-classroom, unexpected-gem

"The Fault in Our Stars" is a book I will never forget. I not only fell in love with Augustus Waters but I want to be friends with Hazel Grace! This book is one of my all time favorites.
I began to fall for the characters when they began to put the thoughts I have in my head that I can't put into words. I felt like they could put obscure thoughts into beautiful poetic lines. The characters seemed to come to life because the writing was just exquisite. The prose was just masterful. One of my favor ...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Angela Regoli rated it really liked it

Shelves: adolescent-literature-sp13

This novel marked my first time reading a John Green novel, and I must say that I look forward to exploring his other works (such as Looking for Alaska). I find his writing style and character personas (i.e. Hazel, Augustus) to be very witty and unique as compared to other "conventional" YA characters. For example, I was very enlightened by the author's own description of why Hazel is named so as our class watched a selection from his vlog. He stated that Hazel's name is significant in that Haze This novel marked my first time reading a John Green novel, and I must say that I look forward to exploring his other works (such as Looking for Alaska). I find his writing style and character personas (i.e. Hazel, Augustus) to be very witty and unique as compared to other "conventional" YA characters. For example, I was very enlightened by the author's own description of why Hazel is named so as our class watched a selection from his vlog. He stated that Hazel's name is significant in that Hazel is an "in-between" color, just as Hazel is in-between health and sickness. In regard to Hazel's character, I find her very interesting in that she seemed (in my opinion) to also be in-between in relation to her relationship with life and death. I find it especially interesting and personally relatable that she searches so deeply to find her answers within the pages of a book, as I can say that I've done the same many times throughout my life.

I enjoyed the contrast between Hazel, Augustus, and Isaac's relationship with their illnesses and potentially impending death. Hazel seems to have contemplated life and death on a pretty profound level numerous times (she even details a time when she was expected to die, and how she had nodded to her mother that she was ready to go), but doesn't really seem to be at peace with either (she's in-between!). Augustus strikes the reader as an individual who has come to terms with his illness, impairments, and handicaps, and he readily lends his wisdom and peace-of-mind to other characters throughout the novel, especially Isaac and and Hazel. Isaac stands on the opposing end of the spectrum in comparison to both Augustus and Hazel in that he struggles greatly with his illness and disabilities, essentially cursing himself over it. He is especially vulnerable to these feelings of hopelessness and negativity when his beloved girlfriend, Monica, breaks up with him. It is during this time when the reader can readily gain a sense of these differences between the three in that while Isaac is wailing in distress, Augustus is able to provide words of wisdom and assistance to his friend while Hazel mostly remains quiet and seems to have no comment.

Ultimately, I recommend this book to all readers. It is truly a touching story, and the relationship between Hazel and Augustus is so poignant. It's a story of loss that everyone can relate to, either directly or indirectly, and I feel that the characters' hardships reflect in the wisdom they express throughout the entirety of the novel. This wisdom could be really uplifting and helpful to YA readers of all ages. ...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Samantha rated it it was amazing

Review #3: Grief Novel: I absolutely loved this book and thought it was both beautiful but also had a refreshing attitude/ tone to it. The snarky, sarcastic voice of the first-person character of the writing style was really interesting and entertaining. However, it did in a way give me a little bit of a different perspective on cancer. John Green does a good job capturing the voice and thoughts of a young adult/teen that is suffering with cancer. The characterization and full development of the ...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Tori Quiring rated it it was amazing

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Jan 24, 2013 Shailyn rated it it was amazing

This is my first John Greene novel and I loved it. It was a very tragic story and,at times, difficult to read, but well worth it. While the live story was entertaining, I think it somewhat takes away from the true point of the story. The love story carried it's own little message about having been better to have loved and lost someone than to have never known the love to begin with. This message deters the reader a little from the big picture message of the reality and tragedy of the Loss of lif ...more

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Feb 02, 2013 Calyssa Smith rated it it was amazing

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Mar 21, 2013 Mia Balsamo rated it it was amazing

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Feb 01, 2013 Tyler rated it liked it

To explain upfront, I have never been one who much enjoys either romance or despair, which may make you wonder why I would choose to read a book that is about both. To answer that, I wanted to step out of what I usually read (or would like to read) and see if I might enjoy something different from my tastes. That being said, I wasn't entirely disappointed by 'The Fault in Our Stars', but I wasn't thrilled by it either. I really enjoyed the characters and thought they were well developed, and Haz ...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Emily Brown rated it it was amazing

Our Fault In the Stars was the most beautifully written novel I have read in awhile. It made me cry my eyes out, along with have me laugh until I teared up. I loved Hazel’s voice and attitude towards the cancer that was ultimately trying to take her life. Augustus was the cutest character I think I have ever came across in a novel; I honestly fell in love with him faster than Hazel did. The amount of love they experience throughout the novel was something that I could only wish to experience for ...more

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Jan 23, 2013 Tara O'malley rated it liked it

Shelves: youngadult

I have never read a John Green book before and I was excited to read his young adult grief novel, “The Fault in our Stars”. After seeing how high this book was rated on goodreads I had some high expectations; unfortunately, I have to say I was disappointed. Everyone said they cried while reading this book but I cant say I ever cried once. I just didn’t feel connected to the characters. The book was written well and the characters definably have their own personalities; however, they just didn’t ...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Michaela added it

It has taken me forever to write this review. I don't exactly know why, really. To steal some thoughts from the book, I'd like to think I'm like Hazel in the way that sometimes it's really easy to talk about a book you think everyone should read, but sometimes it's hard, you want to believe you and the book are connected in some way. And you don't want to share your feelings about the book, you want to just keep living in this world where it's you and the fictional characters.

This was one of th It has taken me forever to write this review. I don't exactly know why, really. To steal some thoughts from the book, I'd like to think I'm like Hazel in the way that sometimes it's really easy to talk about a book you think everyone should read, but sometimes it's hard, you want to believe you and the book are connected in some way. And you don't want to share your feelings about the book, you want to just keep living in this world where it's you and the fictional characters.

This was one of those books. Of course, I've given my copy to many friends since I got it last year, there's about 5 different colors of highlighter and pen and scribbled notes. That is really my favorite part of the book, it hits home on so many different levels with different people. My friend in a long-term relationship highlighted a lot of instances where Hazel and Augustus were really in love, the scene on the plane, the scene with the swing set, the dinner in Amsterdam. Another friend highlighted a lot of passages about the passing of time and many tiny philosophies that were scattered all around the pages.

I connected most with Hazel. On the surface this book is an epic, star-crossed, love story. That's a great layer, there's great characters with great traits and funny witticisms. Inside the story, we get to see inside of Hazel's mind, and inside of her mind, we see that this story is also a huge tale of her spiritual awakening. And not even a spiritual awakening in God, Hazel just becomes awakened as a person. She was told she was to die from a very young age, she's a ticking time bomb, and she was defined by that sentence. But she learned to love and to let others love her. And she is awakened by this spiritual connectedness. That makes this novel not only about love and loss but about finding oneself and finding confidence and being connected to the world, taking it all in, loving all it has to offer. Hazel learns that life is more than being remembered for some material accomplishment, life is about letting love in and spreading joy and living to the fullest and exploring and making the most of everyday until time stops you. She learns that the true purpose of life on Earth is to be connected to people by love and that love will always be remembered and shared and cycled over and over until the Earth is here no longer.

"I was thinking about the universe wanting to be noticed, and how I had to notice it as best I could. I felt I owed a debt to the universe that only my attention could repay, and also that I owed a debt to everybody who didn't get to be a person anymore and everyone who hadn't gotten to be a person yet" (pg. 295). ...more

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Jan 11, 2013 Joshita rated it it was amazing

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Jan 09, 2013 Frank Bonfiglio rated it it was amazing

John Green has done it yet again. I had a wonderful experience reading "The Fault in Our Stars". The friendship/relationship between Hazel and Augustus could potentially be the most beautiful one I have ever experienced through a novel. I took a special liking to Augustus--one who literally seemd to have it all before he was struck with cancer. He had the basketball capabilities, the good-looks, and the popularity. However, throughout the book, he is so humble, and not once does he ever blame an ...more

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Jan 16, 2013 Sarah Payler rated it it was amazing

This is one of the few books I have ever read that made me cry. It is such a beautiful story. I really like Augustus and his sense of humor.
I just can't come up with enough good things to say about this book. This is the first John Green book I have read and I can't wait to read some of his other books.
*Spoiler*

When Augustus reveals to Hazel that his cancer came back I started to tear up but also a song popped into my head, Without You- from the musical Rent. ...more

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Feb 21, 2013 Megan T rated it it was amazing

Going into this book for grief week I was nervous. I could not see what would be appealing about teens with cancer. A couple pages in I understood. Cancer is a common thread with the characters but it is more than that. Also the narration by Hazel grabs you right away. She is dark and sarcastic but is full of life. I loved the relationships in the book. Yes, Hazel has cancer but she is also a teen. I love how John Green brought it all together and wrote a book with humor and realism; a new addit ...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Molly rated it it was amazing

Shelves: heart-breaker

Grief Novel: I really loved this book. It was my first time reading John Green and I plan to read more by him. I think The Fault in Our Stars takes realistic look at cancer. Although I can't say it doesn't romanticize it to some extent (obviously, its a love story) I think there was a nice balance of realism. ...more

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