Book Raves Pt. 2: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

It's January 16th, 2018, but it won't be for you if you ever read this entry. I've just finished 'The Fault in Our Stars', which is the first ever book I've read by John Green, and I'm speechless. On the blurb, Time says that this book is "Damn near genius" and I couldn't agree more.

Unlike the first book rave ('Everything, Everything'), I actually read the book first before thinking about watching the movie. I know, I know... I'm finally doing something right. I don't know why it took me six years to finally read this book when I remember my Twitter newsfeed going ballistic when it came out - almost every avid book reader that I followed tweeted about how amazing this book was and how much they cried for Augustus Waters. I planned to drop into a local book shop and purchase the book, but I never did. And then December 2015 rolled around the corner and said hey as my cousin, who stayed in London, came for a visit on Christmas Eve. The moment the clock on my phone turned to midnight, I immediately opened her present, which was the book itself.

But I've still never read it until now. I'm kind of a mess, aren't I?

Anyway, this book was something new for me... I never usually read romance novels with cancer as the main topic due to the fact that I know I'll just become an emotional wreck by the time I finish reading them. But TFIOS was different to what I thought it would be.

Hazel is diagnosed with Stage 4 Thyroid cancer and metastasis, which has spread to her lungs, meaning she has trouble breathing; therefore, she has to carry around an oxygen tank who she calls Philip, as well as wear nasal cannulas all the time. She meets Augustus (when I first read his name, all I could think of was: "What. A. Name") when attending a Support Group - a 17 year old non-smoker (yet carries a pack of cigarettes) who survived and ultimately suffered from osteosarcoma.

These characters are both interesting and hilarious in my own opinion. Usually, when we think of cancer patients, a wave of sympathy hits us and a flow of how sads, how tragics and I feel sorry for thems trickle out of our mouths when in reality, they're people just like us and are probably tired of hearing the same old, same old.

SPOILER ALERT. I liked how both of them took their conditions lightly - not in a bad way, but in a way where you think "Oh, they accept it and are ready for the inevitable." I'm not saying that all hope is lost and they should just accept dying, but the thought of dying isn't at all impossible for them - there's always a possibility that they could leave their loved ones and for me, a 16 and 17 year old realising that shows their courage. Death, or the idea of death is not something easy to face.

I particularly liked how Hazel, towards the end of the book, is joyful at the fact that her mother is doing something with her life that will not lead to her downfall if Hazel ever said goodbye:

"I nodded. I was crying. I couldn't get over how happy I was, crying genuine tears of actual happiness for the first time in maybe forever..."

This made me emotional just like how Augustus' death made me emotional. His death was abrupt, but I saw it coming, which indicates to me that that's how the idea of death should be portrayed. Just like in 'An Imperial Affliction', death appears out of nowhere while people are living out the best of their lives.

So, there's a lesson to be remembered: live your life how you want it (of course, I'm assuming the life you want is non-criminal, but if it is, then don't live it like that). I don't know what I want in my life or where it's going... if you're like me, that's okay. You'll know while you continue living it, and then it will all come together and you'll realise ah, this is the life I'm supposed to live. 

I hope you find a Hazel, or an Augustus. Look at the stars... don't always look down :)

{#books #novels #rave #TheFaultinOurStars #TFIOS #JohnGreen}