The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

[Kathy]

Did everyone drink the Kool-Aid or is The Fault in Our Stars as good as they say?

[Nathan]

Mrs.Gick wrote: "It's better! :) John Green is an amazing author. Loved this book so much!"

Agreed. This is an amazing book. I have already passed on my original copy, plus two others. Such a good book.

[June]

This book is outstanding. I really loved it.

[Jess]

After all the hype I was prepared to be disappointed or at least not blown away - but I'm having trouble imagining topping this one this year.

[Kathy]

Jess wrote: "After all the hype I was prepared to be disappointed or at least not blown away - but I'm having trouble imagining topping this one this year."

Same here! I didn't think it could be as good as people were saying!!

[Nancy]

I absolutely loved it too. I thought it was beautiful--sad but not hopeless, and pretty realistic.

[Clementine]

I'm not a Green fan, in general--I've had trouble with his tendency toward manic-pixie-dream-girls in his novels, but this book was moving, poignant, and very funny.

I devoured it in two days on the treadmill. I was a sobbing mess by the end, and the guy on the treadmill next to me was clearly unsettled by my sniffling.

[Clementine]

Jess wrote: "After all the hype I was prepared to be disappointed or at least not blown away - but I'm having trouble imagining topping this one this year."

I'm always let down when I buy into the hype. This might be the exception.

[Jess]

Clementine, I'm impressed you could read it on the treadmill - I was laughing and/or crying too much to have managed not flying off!

[Caroline]

Holden wrote: "Agreed -- it's John Green's best book yet, by far. I haven't been drinking the "kool-aid" for his previous books (I didn't really care for any of them), but I really enjoyed TFiOS."

I absolutely agree that this is his best yet, and I've read all of them. I wonder, as does one of my co-librarians, if we've already read the best book of 2012 and it's only February.

[Kathy]

The Fault in Our Stars has been optioned for a movie!
Early Word

[Caroline]

That's so exciting, though I know they will ruin it!!!

[Cheri]

Just got a copy from BJs wholesale store - just walked by and saw it - can't believe it, says it is a signed copy! I had a hold at my library - now I can read it tonite! And I don't know what others are drinking, but have to say Will Grayson, Will Grayson is on my all-time favorite list.

[Heather]

I loved the book - it was so much more than I expected, and certainly my first "must read" book of the year. However.... I don't think that Green really nailed the female perspective as well he might have. There were small catches that would pull me out of the narrative, something I don't remember experiencing with his previous books.

[Cheri]

Finished reading TFIOS and I agree with Heather. Although I truly enjoyed the witty dialogue - I wasn't as caught up in the characters as I expected. Maybe knowing someone might die, I had my guard up and tried not to get too attached - kind of like the female character. I also wonder if teens (and adults for that matter) would get all the literary jokes. I know the main character was supposed to be smart and a great reader, but some parts felt like I was in english class and I just couldn't grasp what the teacher was saying.

[Kathy]

Cheri wrote: "I also wonder if teens (and adults for that matter) would get all the literary jokes. I know the main character was supposed to be smart and a great reader, but some parts felt like I was in english class and I just couldn't grasp what the teacher was saying. "

I had that question/feeling myself. Had to look some things up. We are reading this in my 8th grade book club. I will see what the students think.

[Tracy]

Cheri Wrote: Just got a copy from BJs wholesale store - just walked by and saw it - can't believe it, says it is a signed copy!

I think he signed the entire first print run!

[Laura]

He did sign the entire first print run! I love the way John Green interacts with his fans...we had many students at my library who were so excited to see his signature in the book!

As for the book itself, I really enjoyed it as well! I don't think it will replace Looking for Alaska as my favorite of his books, however, I do think it was his best book in years. The one problem I had with it was in the character of the Van Houten character/subplot, which felt really forced by the end. That said, I was still moved and I cried buckets, of course.

[Tracy]

No crying from me, but it was still heartbreaking. I actually liked it more than Looking for Alaska.

My thoughts (more or less) are summed up here: http://bcplreviews.blogspot.com/2012/...

[Melissa]

I generally like Green's books, but I agree: by far his best. As someone already said, I'm having a really difficult time picturing one that will be better.

[Marilyn]

When I started reading, I knew this was a cancer book, but I didn't realize that the protagonist was female, so I began reading thinking she was a he based on the way she approached life. It took a bit of mind bending to turn that around when the realization hit, but I did get into the characters and thought the book was well written. The first tears came when she said she had overheard her mother say that she would no longer be a mother, so you can imagine how ugly the crying became for me by the end. There were laugh out loud moments, though, too to soften the blow. The other fun part for me was finding all of the Indianapolis references throughout the book.

[Caroline]

Cheri wrote: "Just got a copy from BJs wholesale store - just walked by and saw it - can't believe it, says it is a signed copy! I had a hold at my library - now I can read it tonite! And I don't know what oth..."

Oh, I love Will Grayson, Will Grayson -- very close to TFIOS for favorite -- Looking for Alaska is my least favorite. And I've convinced a group of John Green fans at school to write and stage "Tiny Dancer" from Will Grayson, Will Grayson as their Senior Project next year...it is going to be awesome!!!

[Kathy]

Caroline wrote: "Cheri wrote: "Just got a copy from BJs wholesale store - just walked by and saw it - can't believe it, says it is a signed copy! I had a hold at my library - now I can read it tonite! And I don't..."
that sounds like so much fun!