The Fault In Our Stars (Life, Cancer, Fate)

Book Title: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Topic:  Life, Love, Fate, Cancer

Thoughts: If you have had me for English II, you should recognize where the title came from.

I would not recommend reading this book in public.  Or if you do, keep your Kleenex handy.

When a friend told me I needed to watch The Cure (1995) and let me borrow her copy, my husband told me never to bring home another movie like that.  I asked him "Why, was it a bad movie?"

He said, "No, it made me cry."  This is one of those books.

Told from Hazel's point of view, this story chronicles her meeting and falling in love with Augustus Waters, another cancer victim.  Hazel does not want to fall in love with anyone because she does not want to hurt them when she dies.  Read to see what she compares herself to.  She even feels guilty of putting her parents through her struggle with cancer.  As much as Hazel fights falling in love, Augustus's charm, good looks, and unselfishness convince her otherwise.

As I read this novel, I thought of a 7th grade student, from over 20 years ago, who had cancer of the lungs.  I still remember her struggling for breath as she continued to want to learn even though she knew she was dieing. 

Reading the part about them traveling to Amsterdam reminded me of when I traveled their with my daughter, my sister and brother-in-law.  I remember touring Anne Franks house, walking along the streets seeing houseboats in the canals and interesting public restrooms along the streets.  I wish I would have known about Vondelpark for us to visit.  Just another reason to travel back over seas!

No one is immune to cancer.  Maybe that is why I cried because I also remember when my mother and a close friend had cancer, and I saw the pain they went through.  John Green is not at fault for writing this heart wrenching novel, which is so much better than his Paper Towns I read a couple of years ago.