Tuesday, January 24, 2012

The Fault In Our Stars - John Green

Hazel is a survivor of thyroid cancer. She goes to support group once a week at the local church. It is here that she meets Augustus Waters, a friend of Isaac, who is another support group attendee. One could say it was love at first sight. After the meeting Augustus says that they should go and watch V for Vendetta. Before the movie they talk about their favorite books. Hazel's is An Imperial Affliction, and Augustus's is The Prince of Dawn. They read each others books. Hazel continues reading The Prince of Dawn series. Augustus has the same reaction she did after finishing An Imperial Affliction. It is one of those books with an open ending waiting for a sequal to be written. Augustus uses his dying wish to take Hazel, her mom, and himself to Amsterdam to meet Peter Van Hauten, the author of An Imperial Affliction. A few weeks before they leave Hazel goes back into the hospital with fluid building in her lungs. After she's released her doctor says no to her traveling until she is better. Strings get pulled by Hazel's doctor and the trip is back on. The day they meet Peter Van Hauten doesn't go the way they thought it would. He is a drunk and barely remembers that he was meeting Hazel and Augustus. He won't answer Hazel's questions because that would mean writing another book, which he won't do. On the last day of their trip Augustus tells Hazel that his cancer has come back, and there isn't long before he's gone.

I absolutely love and enjoyed John Green's latest book, along with the rest of his YA novels. It was raw, emotional, and moving. The reader feels like they are a part of the story, and not just looking in from the outside. Words can not express how powerful this book is. Make sure you have a tissue handy because you will need it.

T. B. 1/24/12

1 comment:

Emily L. said...

So you write about the price of dawn as Augustus Waters' favorite book , which it is :), but do you know if it is real or not ? Does the book actually exist?I have also read john greens newest novel, and it is now my new favorite book . Coincidentally , alike hazel I have some questions. I've discovered an imperial affliction is not real unfortuantely, but if you know I would like to learn about the prince of dawn . < a seeker of information >