The Fault in Our Stars

*There is a page break, as this book was too beautiful for me not to write a long page-break-deserving review!*

So I finished this a few days ago... But I didn't write the review immediately. I just needed a little time for it to settle in; I don't see how people can just go round living their lives normally when I've just experienced emotional trauma in the form of a paperback! John Green is an amazing author, and how he wrote this gem, I'll never know..! UPDATE: And coincidently, I've posted this on this book's one year anniversary! I'll pretend I did that on purpose...

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now. Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

My Thoughts:  First of all, why? Why does this book have to seem so real..? Why does it have to play with your emotions throughout? This is hands-down the saddest book I have read and probably will ever read. I'm never reduced to tears by a book, but this one cracked me. This story of Hazel, Augustus, Isaac and all the other characters is heart-breaking... It's just completely brilliant. Littered with beautiful quotes that will never leave me, this is the most beautiful of all of John Green's books! It also made me laugh (Hazel has a great sense of humor), angry (a certain fictional writer...) and think (about my infinities)... If you want a book that will take you on a whirlwind of emotions, this is your book. This book deserves all the reads it can get (and many more)!

“I’m on a roller coaster that only goes up, my friend.” ~ Augustus Waters

Augustus is a great character. He's written brilliantly, and it's oh-so difficult to believe he isn't real! This goes for all of John Green's characters – he's a character-making genius! No, really. Even if the quote above is repeated around three times (getting sadder and less truthful each time it's said), it really shows what a positive character Augustus is. Both him and Hazel are looked down upon for having these conditions, but Augustus is always optimistic and looking for the best. He helps Isaac out a great deal and this makes his character so likable.

I found it really unusual in that this book was narrated by a girl... I mean, Paper Towns and Looking For Alaska are both narrated by boys... And this book has Hazel. However, I like it just as much this way. Hazel is also very, very likable, and some of the things she says are hilarious (in a kind of morbid way)... Even though I still can't pick a favourite John Green book, the characters from The Fault in Our Stars are perhaps my favourite. The only problem is,that you're forever worried about Hazel and Augustus, and you have this reoccurring thought coming into your head that the ending won't be a 'happily ever after'...

“My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations.” ~ Augustus Waters

This book is thought-provoking (like the rest)! It makes you think about life, death and what people will remember of you when you are gone... What legacy will you leave behind? Through the eyes of Hazel and Augustus, these ideas are explored and they are fascinating (even if you're not the philosophical type)! All of the small theories (infinity is now my favourite number!) and ideas make you think... And... Ahhhhhhh! This book is so beautifully written and full of all these beautiful thoughts that it is impossible for you not to love it! As I said, this book is about life and death, it's thought-provoking, it's extremely sad and everybody should read this book! All the success was well deserved, and I genuinely hate myself for not picking up this book earlier! Is it too soon for a reread?

Favourite Quote:   

“Some infinities are bigger than other infinities.”~ Hazel Grace

The Word: 

Why? 
It's so difficult to transfer all the thoughts I have about this book in my head onto the page. This review has just been all my ideas mashed into one. I just really, don't know what to say about The Fault in Our Stars... Perhaps this John Green quote could sum it up better: “Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.”