Coming across a John Green quote on your Tumblr dashboard is as likely as coming across soft porn. The 36-year-old author struck a chord in thousands of young adult readers with his 2005 novel Looking for Alaska. However, Green writes coming-of-age stories that resonate with readers from all age groups. His latest novels The Fault in Our Stars is no exception. Keeping with familiar themes, sarcastic humour and easy-to-read writing, Green gets more philosophical and slightly darker with this novel.
The book is narrated by sixteen year-old Hazel Lancaster who is living with Stage 4 thyroid cancer when she meets Augustus Waters in a cancer support group. The two fall madly in love but face devastating realities when Augustus’ cancer returns shortly after the two begin their relationship. Hazel has to decide whether she wants to risk having her heartbroken, or to take a risk and see what life brings her. The teens are forced to deal with things far beyond their years and learn what it is to love someone selflessly and whole heartedly. Hazel and Augustus grow tremendously through the short time they have together, showing us that it is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.
Though the book is aimed at younger audiences it is filled with philosophical insights and thought provoking one-liners. I’ll admit, I’m not a fan of romantic novels but the book was interesting enough for me to get past that. The plot is a little cheesy as to be expected from a young adult romance novel.
However, The Fault in Our Stars deals with surprisingly mature subject matter and hits the reader with raw, honest emotion.
This book can also be a little depressing and morbid, but if you’ve read anything by John Green before you would know to expect that.
In comparison to the cult-favourite Looking for Alaska, The Fault in Our Stars falls a little flat. Yes, the plot is very captivating and intense, but it’s a little too dramatic and unrealistic for the reader to connect to as easily as Looking for Alaska. The characters are dynamic, original and loveable in both novels. Green is very talented at character development in his novels which translate to a lot of tears being shed when one of them inevitably dies. Green is a fresh, new author with a lot more to offer. He is definitely one to watch and expect great things from in the near future.
The Fault in Our Stars is a good, quick read that won’t necessarily change your life but will sure as hell keep turning the pages for three hours.
Julia Alfano
Contributor
