From the Bookshelf of YAholics Anonymous!…

The Fault in Our Stars

John Green

Start date: October 1, 2013

Finish date: October 31, 2013

Discussion: Group Read

Why we're reading this: Contemporary BotM
[close] Contemporary BotM

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 9 topics — 90 comments total

Group Read

December's Book of the Month: The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski
By Riya · 2 posts · 6 views

last updated Dec 06, 2014 07:58PM

December's Book of the Month: Where She Went by Gayle Forman
By Riya · 1 post · 6 views

last updated Dec 06, 2014 06:03PM

showing 10 of 25 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Sep 13, 2012 Annie Brewer rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star-worthy, emotionally-devastating, unforgettable, favorite, favorite-authors, tearjerker, death

God. I just. I can't. *breaks down in sobs*

Not sure when I'll have it in me to write a review. I'm seriously broken. ...more

13 likes · Like · see review

Jun 05, 2012 Justin rated it it was amazing

Where do I even begin? I've read a lot of books that bring out all forms of emotions, but The Fault in Our Stars was able to bring out those emotions in a way I have never experienced while reading a book. It's so hard to explain exactly what it feels like reading this book, you could be laughing one moment and feel like crying the next. The Fault in Our Stars is easily one of the greatest books I have ever read. How John was able to imagine this story, and write it the way he did is beyond me, Where do I even begin? I've read a lot of books that bring out all forms of emotions, but The Fault in Our Stars was able to bring out those emotions in a way I have never experienced while reading a book. It's so hard to explain exactly what it feels like reading this book, you could be laughing one moment and feel like crying the next. The Fault in Our Stars is easily one of the greatest books I have ever read. How John was able to imagine this story, and write it the way he did is beyond me, but he did an astounding job.

I knew this book was going to be tough to read, since it is dealing with cancer. I feel like the fact that it is younger people, makes it even tougher to read. Although, with the way John wrote this story it wasn't nearly as difficult as I had first thought it would be. The story has a lot of clever humor. I honestly didn't really expect all of the humor, and it's not really humor in the way you might expect. I think it was a really nice touch though.

Hazel and Augustus... I always use the word strong to define characters when they show certain characteristics. In this case though, strong isn't anywhere near enough to describe these two characters. I can't even imagine going through what these two have to, you read what they are going through but it is so hard to put into focus exactly what it might be like outside the words on the page. I became so emotionally attached to these characters. Not just Hazel and Augustus, but Issac and a lot of others also. The parents also deserve to be mentioned, both Hazel's and Augustus. They were in yet another situation I could never imagine going through, but I felt like they would of done anything in the world for their kids and that is extremely admirable. One other really interesting character that I want to mention, is Peter Van Houten. This was the author of Hazel's favorite book "An Imperial Affliction" he was a really complicated character, but I feel like he had an important role. John has done such an amazing job writing these characters, it is so hard to put it all into words to explain just how memorable these characters are, but I am sure once you read this book you will know how I feel.

The ending of The Fault in Our Stars was one of the most touching endings of a book that I have ever read. This book as a whole is extremely sad, if it wasn't for the very clever humor from Hazel, Augustus and some of the other characters throughout the story I feel like it would be very depressing too. I am sure this book, and the words enclosed will remain with me throughout my life. I very rarely find a book that I feel will be something that I will always remember, and hold onto. But this book is just so powerful, that I really do feel like what I read on these pages will stay with me forever.

I can't stress this enough, this is a book that everyone should read. I don't care what type of books you like to read most, I don't feel like The Fault in Our Stars needs to have a label. I think it is a book that everyone should read, without question. I can only think of a few books that I have read where I have felt this strongly. But as I mentioned before, it's just so hard to explain what it feels like to read this book until you actually do it. I really, really hope that anyone that reads this review and hasn't read this book yet will go out and buy a copy and read it. When you're done, put the book up and save it for someone else to read one day. This is a book that needs to be shared, and read by anyone that is capable of reading it and understanding it. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Jun 22, 2013 ♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ (Krystle) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: loved-it, favorites, ya, romance, refreshing, romantic-focus

I can't really go into a bunch of details because I JUST finished reading this book and I'm still feeling all the feelings, but I know that if I don't review it now I never will, and I think this book deserves all the praise it can get.

Hazel was the best type of brave, the kind that isn't afraid to admit that she's annoyed or scared or just doesn't want to be touched at the moment. She never once fit into the mold of what someone who is"dying" is supposed to be, and I loved her for that.
Gus was ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Dec 27, 2013 Bette rated it liked it

I finished this book yesterday, having started it only three days prior. It was one of those books I found difficult to put down, and when I did I couldn't wait to pick it back up again. It is a roller-coaster of emotions. If you are not laughing, you are reaching for a tissue. Other times you get that weird feeling in your stomach, you know the one that you felt for Jack and Rose when they first met on the Titanic. You willed them together even though you knew it could only end in sadness. The I finished this book yesterday, having started it only three days prior. It was one of those books I found difficult to put down, and when I did I couldn't wait to pick it back up again. It is a roller-coaster of emotions. If you are not laughing, you are reaching for a tissue. Other times you get that weird feeling in your stomach, you know the one that you felt for Jack and Rose when they first met on the Titanic. You willed them together even though you knew it could only end in sadness. The story is bittersweet, but somewhat honest. John Green doesn't disguise his unhappy tale of a girl struggling with cancer and it's side effects. It's as much honest as it is fictional.

I liked this book. But I did not love it. I did not love it because.... well I don't know why. Some parts of the book just irritated me. It weren't really anything John Green did or didn't do, I just found some things a bit... unconvincing. Perhaps it's because (touch wood) I have never experienced cancer, nor know of any direct family or friends who have had a form of cancer. So I do not know what to expect. However it wasn't the cancer side of the story I found unconvincing but more the characters themselves. There were times I had to question who the characters actually were. There is no... development or understanding of the characters. You are told who they are, (kind of) what they look like, what they do... but there is no real story about them, just one set around them. Hazel and Gus develop together, but not much individually. It is only the writer of An Imperial Affliction (who is as pretentious as his book itself) who gets any backstory and development at all. Even if it is a predictable one (well I guessed it). There was little depth to the characters, with only a little personality.

Oh and the part Hazel said about the film being 'a boys film so girls won't get it...' then playing and enjoying a game which (by my understanding is basically just 007 meets Hitman meets COD). She reminds me of those girls you knew in school who liked whatever boy they fancied liked, even if in truth they didn't like them at all and were only trying to impress that said boy. Yeah... why can't a girl like 'V for Vendetta' or '300'? Is the only reason a girl can like 'V for Vendetta' is if they find Hugo Weaving's voice acting skills sexy? Is the story and characters not important at all? (This is not really a reflection of the book itself just a little rant I had while reading the book).

The story is not a bad book. It is extremely enjoyable - I personally think this book could have been a lot better if he only concentrated more on the characters and focused less on the disease. ...more

Like · see review

Dec 21, 2012 Kayla rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

I was terrified to read this book. I knew it was going to make me cry from the moment I began reading it. Throughout the entirety of the novel, I was aware I was going to have deeply mixed feelings about it. I do have mixed feelings, but I still loved this book. I feel I still have a love/hate relationship with it, but I'm not upset or regretting that I read it. This was my first John Green book, I wasn't disappointed, he is an amazing author and I hope to read more of his work in time. ...more

Like · see review

Nov 11, 2012 Diana ❀ ☺ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

This book was really good,I loved it, but i feel like she wasn't that much sad..
Summary of whole book (main points) : (view spoiler) ...more

Like · see review

Aug 29, 2012 Lisa rated it it was ok

Shelves: i-own-this

I see what John Green was doing with this book, but unfortunately for me, it was just too commercial. And now there's a movie deal. See? Commercial. John Green's best work comes from when he tries less. This book just felt like he was trying too hard. ...more

Like · see review