"Some infinities are bigger than others:" The Fault In Our Stars

Title: the Fault In Our Stars

Author: John Green

My rating: 5/5

“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.”

(Announcement: This is an older review from November 2012. It's been on my Goodreads account for a while, so I thought I should post it here, for consistency)

John Green. Oh John Green. Why must you write something so deep and tearjerking in such a believable way. After devouring the book in two sleepless (and foodless) days I am just devastated by the time I reached Acknowledgements. 

I am going to get my only tiniest complaint about the story out of the way, and then I'm going to quote my favorite (sometimes very hilarious and very painful) lines from the story, because I can't form words to praise it.

K. I think the only thing I'm gonna be nit picky about is the use of language. I totally understand that given the stuff Hazel and Augustus have gone through in their life, they will inevitably have some deep thoughts, and will exchange meaningful ideas more often than regular teenagers. But then again, sometimes the way they talk sounds a tad too processed--it's almost only good-looking on paper, but when you try to read it out loud it sounds way too formal, and pretentious, even, if I may. (But I'm not implying that I don't enjoy the good-looking-ness of these words and thoughts on paper. To be honest, I'm blown away by most of them.)

So that is that. Now let's move on and talk about my favorite quotations:

“That’s the thing about pain. It demands to be felt.”

“What a slut time is. She screws everybody.”

“I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.”

“I’m in love with you, and I’m not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things. I’m in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we’re all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we’ll ever have, and I am in love with you.”

“And in freedom, most people find sin.”

“Sometimes it seems the universe wants to be noticed.”

“Some infinities are bigger than other infinities.”

“I love you present tense.”

These words pretty much sum up my feelings. I have never cried so much for any book (I did cry almost as much for Perks of Being a Wallflower, the MOVIE. the book I cried for too, but not half as much.)

And the ending just. I know it's the only possible way to end the book, but just. I don't know if I'd rather read until Hazel is dead or what. Hard to decide.

Bravo, John Green. Bravo.

xx
Vanessa :]

Question Wednesday: What makes a good book "good?"

The title is pretty much self-explanatory in my opinion.

I'm sure everyone has their favorite books, or books that they think are "good" (or fabulous or awe-inspiring or life-changing, dot dot dot). The question is, what exactly makes a good book "good?"

First of all, I think the writing matters a lot. Every author has a different style, and not essentially every bestselling author's style suits your liking. However, generally speaking, a natural, established flow of story is fundamental. There should also at least be some conflict, and enough character interactions to push the plot along. For me personally, I have an obsession with first-person narratives (well I do still lovelovelove the Harry Potter series), particularly if it's a girl's perspective. Well, for the most part because I'm a girl.

Aside from the actual writing, I do think there's much more to a "good" story. Maybe one particular character (preferably the protagonist, or maybe the villain! You never know) connects to you in a certain way--most likely because it reflects some of your own qualities--you just bond with the book/character instantly. I think that's the case with a lot of books that I like. Say, the Perks of Being a Wallflower. I just felt so sympathetic towards Charlie and Sam, because I think their high school days, although crazy like mine, are splattered with the dark dangers of being a teenager, the almost inevitable melancholy that often accompanies adolescence. Another example, the Fault in Our Stars, I was constantly amazed by the wit the two main characters bring to the table. I was so invested in them and their relationship that I cried buckets for the turnout of the story (sobbbbbbb!).

So, I think a good story not only has to be solid in writing, but also has to be able to evoke some personal, emotional response from the reader. 

What do you think?

xx

Vanessa :]

Music Companion to TFioS

Something to read the Fault in Our Stars to:
http://8tracks.com/ness428/omnis-cellula-e-cellula

(Sara this is especially for you.)

xx
Vanessa

i'm smiling uncontrollably while reading TFioS...and people are starting to stare.

stop it augustus waters. stop it.

Things to ponder...

As you probably know, I've just begun reading The Fault In Our Stars. I'm on page four. And it's already fantastic. 

"Whenever you read a cancer booklet or website or whatever, they always list depression among the side effects of cancer. But, in fact, depression is not a side effect of cancer. Depression is a side effect of dying. (Cancer is also a side effect of dying. Almost everything is, really.)"

That is the most touching, deep, and meaningful thought that I've read in a long time. It gets me thinking. As humans, in fact, as living things, we fear death. We try to avoid it (usually). But when you think about it, everything you do, everyday you wake up is one step closer to death. Now I understand I'm being all depressing, but I swear I have a point. While, yes, every day you are closer to death and that's a saddening thought, every day is also another day of life. Another day to enjoy the world. 

If everything is a side effect of dying, then that fantastic night at the movies you had with your crush was a side effect of dying. The time you spent laughing with your best friend until neither one of you could breathe was a side effect of dying. Your graduation, your marriage, your children. They are all a side effect of dying. 

Life is a side effect of dying.

It has a beginning, a middle, and an end. It's mixture of good things and bad things. The good things don't always make the bad things better, but then again, the bad things don't always spoil the good things or make them unimportant. It's a journey, a great adventure that we must experience to reach our goal. The great parts of the story are the moments leading to the ending. 

The side effects of dying. 

On a more uplifting note...

This just came. Yeah. I'm excited too.