So let me tell you this: The Fault in Our Stars scared me. I love John Green's novels* and am an avid follower of the vlogbrothers. But I wasn't sure I wanted to read TFiOS, because of my fear of cancer and cancer-related things**. Even so, I preordered a copy, mainly because I wanted John Green's signature***.
The story of TFiOS was highly guarded before its release, so let me clarify it for you: it is the story of Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16 year old girl who is dying of cancer, albeit slowly. She was diagnosed at age 13, but in the years since her diagnosis, a miracle drug has been keeping her alive. Even so, Hazel knows her time is limited, and regularly attends a "kids with cancer" support group at her (understandably) overprotective parents' request. It is here that she meets Augustus 'Gus' Waters, a "gorgeous" (Hazel's words, not mine) amputee who takes a special interest in Hazel and her life. Hazel and Gus bond over a mutual love for 'An Imperial Affliction', a novel that ends in the middle of a sentence and whose reclusive author has never commented on its extremely vague conclusion. Together, they manage to contact the author, and travel to his home in Amsterdam to get some answers. Along the way, Hazel and Gus fall in love, but both struggle with the knowledge that their time together is limited.
Against my expectations, I was not depressed or scared while reading TFiOS; despite its dark subject matter, the novel has Green's trademark hilariousness, and the dialogue is occassionally laugh-out-loud funny. Which is not to say the novel isn't sad; it is, and sometimes heartbreakingly so. But somehow, the gravity of the story never manges to bog down the humor. As one expects from a John Green novel, the characters - particularly Hazel - are all wonderfully fleshed-out and realistic; I loved getting to know Gus, Hazel's parents, her friend Kaitlyn, and Gus' sarcastic friend Isaac (who is one of those awesome John Green best friends, like the Colonel, or Radar, or Hasan). Much like life, TFiOS is both sad and funny; it asks many important questions, including: how does one leave one's mark on the world? How does one remain brave in the face of death? And, perhaps most importantly, how can you let someone love you when any day could be your last?
I hate it when reviewers describe a book as life-affirming, but TFiOS is exactly that - it's the sort of book that makes you appreciate the things in life, whether it be the people you love or the things you have. In particular, it makes you thankful for the things you take for granted everyday - the ability to breathe, long and deeply. The ability to run, and eat to your heart's content. Just the ability to live, really. I didn't want to read TFiOS because I was afraid - and, as I was reading it, that fear was not erased. I am still frightened of cancer, and of losing the people I care about. I don't think there's anything that can get rid of those fears. Everyone is afraid of those things, after all. But what TFiOS reminds us is that bravery - true bravery - is not the sort of thing one comes by naturally; it is developed, from the people we know, from the things we experience. And what could be more life-affirming than that?
5/5
*Paper Towns is my favorite.
**Also, I hate, hate, hate depressing books, and I honestly can't think of anything much more depressing than a book about cancer.
***Which I have, in all its red-sharpie glory.
