book review: the fault in our stars

This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.

i hope you've already bought or downloaded a copy of the fault in our stars. oh, not yet? stop reading and go get it right now. i may have read it in less time than it took to get through the hunger games. i had to steel myself to slow down and savor this book; it's really that good. 

i was very excited when this book arrived in the mail.

back? perfect. pour yourself a cup of coffee and let's chat.

the fault in our stars by john green is the story of hazel ("hazel grace." "just hazel.") and augustus waters. the book follows these teenagers through their relationship, love of books, video games, america's next top model (naturally), and yes, their journey with cancer. 

are there any faults in the fault in our stars? yes. for me, the story seemed to drag when hazel and augustus visit peter van houten. if you've read the book, what do you think green was doing with this section? the obstacles that they continued to be thrown up against frustrated me, and seemed to add little to the story. i loved these characters so much that i could have read an entire book of them sitting around in augustus' basement. they didn't need transatlantic travel to capture my interest. 

teenagers with cancer would be a pretty depressing topic to start writing about, but hazel and augustus face the world with a sense of humor and wit that would make lorelai gilmore proud. do you have a heart? yes? then pull out the kleenex box because you will cry while reading this book. but it will be the good, cathartic cry that reminds you of why it's so good to be alive and to have friends and love, to have picnics, to travel, to cultivate your sense of humor. the fault in our stars will remind you that sometimes authors really, truly love their characters. you will be reminded that in the midst of pain, it is good to live loudly and well. 

want to chat more? join in the book club discussion happening over at blogher.