The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.


When I heard of this book, I didn't know whether I wanted to read it or not. Having had a number of family members succumb to cancer, this hits home just a little too close. But when I did finally get to see it stocked at my favorite bookstore, I couldn't help but get a copy...but then I tried delaying reading it this time. But today, when super-storm Haiyan kept me home and with the power out for most of the day, I elected to stay away from ebooks and decided to cozy up with some paperbacks. So I finally settled on this.

Please note though this is going to be a very short review. If I can even call it that. Have you noticed that the books you like best sometimes are the most difficult to review? As if your words would never do justice...which I'm pretty sure is what's going to happen now in the next few paragraphs.

First, let me say that John Green is a master storyteller extraordinaire that kept me turning page after page, making me miss lunch and dinner. That may be unusual to some other avid readers but it is to me. Because in this instance, this is YA book and I'm not the biggest YA fiction fan. JG glued me to the pages with the fantistical play of adverbs and adjectives that reduced me to laughter, tears, and even both at the same time.

The story of Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters is a soul-warming, heart-breaking tale of hope and pain, of love and selflessness, of friendship and family. And yet, I ploughed on. Because this is a story that shouldn't be told to someone, it should be lived by reading through these pages. It was a joy reading about two old souls living in the bodies of these two young people. Who would eventually remain as forever young even after the book ended. There will be no sequels.

I cannot even gush about how I love this book. It's not that kind of book. So while the storm raged outside earlier, my eyes had become swollen from the crying while I was reading this. This is that kind of book. And yet there were smiles, too. If I could say something to it, I would take a quote right out its pages:

It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you. 

Okay?

Okay.


Final verdict: 10/10. Great read, must have. Should be re-read when you can.