The Fault in our Stars - John Green

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Chances are you're familiar with this one! The book itself  has received rave reviews, and the award-winning film was also very well received.

The Fault in our Stars tells the story of sixteen-year-old cancer patient, Hazel. Hazel is forced by her parents to attend a support group for cancer sufferers and this is where she meets Augustus, who is there to support a mutual friend. Augustus is seventeen. He plays basketball. He is gorgeous. They fall in love.

Hazel's parents are finding it difficult to cope with her condition, not knowing quite how to act around her and how to react to what is happening to their family. Hazel pushes away  as she struggles to let herself be loved, not waiting to become a 'grenade' in someone's life, who will just hurt them when she dies. But Augustus pushes through, making a place for himself in her heart, and place for her in his.

The whole novel is geared towards showing just how temporary we all are. About how we are, in the main, very insignificant except to those who love us. To those people we will have great significance and we do matter. It is important to show these people that they matter to us too because once we go, they are still there, just without us.

The inevitability of this story lead me to read everything in a slightly more melancholy frame of mind. We know where the plot is taking us. There is only one possibly outcome. Regardless, there is a kind of hope throughout, an optimism and lightness in all that Hazel & co do.

Through a great use of dark humour John Green manages to ensure that this book isn't overly sentimental or sickly. The characters were really likeable, if not a little too Dawson's Creek-ish for my liking. A little too wise beyond their years, with poignant speeches ready prepared for the right moment. This didn't take away from the fact that the novel was very moving and really tugged on the heart-strings.