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I was on the waiting list for months for The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, feeling like the only person on the planet who hasn’t read this one. And I devoured it.
I read it almost in one day, having to put it down near the end because I was going on the Metro and just knew I was at an almost-sad part and didn’t want to be “that girl” crying on the Metro.
The Fault in Our Stars is about Hazel, a sassy, honest, super-smart teenager with cancer. At a support group, she meets Augustus, who basically sweeps her off her feet.
Hazel and Augustus are just awesome characters. They are smart, philosophical, and fun.
I enjoyed every minute of this book, and if you haven’t picked it up yet, you must. I can see why everyone on the planet (now I’m included!) has picked this one up.
What book touches your heart, in maybe a sad, but also smart, way?
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I have felt like that about this book as well but I’m just not sure it wouldn’t be too sad for me. I’m a bit of a wuss about these things! 🙂
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Oh yeah, it’s a crying type of book. But it was really good.
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Same here. I don’t like if it gets too sad. Good you put it down on the metro. People even look at me, when I get my book out on the metro, like I’m a nerd. Don’t know what they would do if I started crying.
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Oh I totally like sad books. I love books that make me emotional. I have been that person who cries in public when reading something sad, but not in a tiny enclosed space like the metro!
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I’ve heard wonderful things about this book. In fact, I think it’s being made into a movie.
A book that I remember making me weep was MY SISTER’S KEEPER. Oh lord the tears were flowing!
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YES!!!! I actually finished reading that one when visiting my husband’s parents for the first time. We hadn’t been dating that long, either, and we were sitting on his bed (door open, nothing going on) and I was crying like a relative had died.
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I started this one at like 8pm one night and ended up reading until 2 in the morning, unable to put it down. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it or end up sobbing, but it totally caught me off guard.
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I would have done the same, except for my trip on the Metro! It was just such a light, easy, emotional read. Very enjoyable and very much the kind of book you could read straight through!
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I haven’t read this, and I honestly don’t have any desire to. I tried listening to one of Green’s books on audio and couldn’t get into it. (Plus I’m super cynical, and the idea of cancer teenagers falling in love and going to Amsterdam makes me feel eye-rolly.) I’m glad you enjoyed it, though!
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Haha! It wasn’t cheesy, though. The girl is a super strong, spunky, kind of girl so it’s not as bad as I think you’re thinking. But if it’s not for you, that’s okay! It’s the only Green I’ve read.
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I haven’t read any John Green, which is basically a crime. I think I’m going to start with Looking for Alaska and then maybe this one.
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I haven’t read anything else besides this one, so I hope you enjoy it!
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I’ve got a copy but haven’t read it yet. I suppose I know I’m looking forward to it and I expect I’ll love it but at the same time that slight doubt keeps me from just going for it. I’m going to aim for this month, though.
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Just go into it with no expectations. It’s a quick, easy read and actually, it’s so similar to E&P, which I know you just read. I read this one then picked up E&P. They’re practically the same book just with a different tragedy.
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I’m glad you finally got a chance to read it!! I even had my husband listen to it and I think he enjoyed I as well. I didn’t think it was overly sad, just put me in a lot of what would I do situations.
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It was really good, though, I for sure cried.
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I am still in a minority on this one. It didn’t make me cry or make me sad. Although I think seeing it on film may have more of an effect. But everyone I know loved it. And I’m not sure what didn’t work for me. I also read Looking For Alaska and liked it a little better. I might have to revisit this one.
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I probably wouldn’t see the film of this, though. It was good and I really enjoyed reading it, but I don’t have the desire to see the movie.
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This book is so good. I have some friends who don’t want to read a “sad book.” I try to explain that it is so much more than a “sad book,” but they just don’t get it!
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Sometimes people don’t want a book that makes them feel emotions. I love that though because there’s so much that leaves us emotionless that I want to FEEL. I want to cry, get angry, laugh, etc. It’s real.
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I’m glad you liked it. I enjoyed it even though it’s not in the genre that I usually read.
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Totally agree. I wouldn’t want to read like 10 of this kind of book, but it seems like one of the best of the best, and worth reading.
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I loved this book!!! I read it in one night, stayed up until 3 am, and bawled my eyes out. SO GOOD! I’m glad you loved it too!!!
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It really is one of those perfect read-all-night books!
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‘The Fault in Our Stars’ is an epic book. It is amazing what John Green produced. I, too, cried while reading this book. This is a very random/strange comment I am about to make, but… I don’t know if you’ve ever seen FRIENDS or the episode where Rachel asks Joey to read Little Women- when he gets close to the death of a character, he puts the book in the freezer (in his head it “freezes” the moment, so nothing bad can happen)… I know that sounds totally ridiculous, but while reading TFiOS, I was thinking “this is a book that needs to go in the freezer.” I know it is very strange, but that is all I kept thinking as I was crying my eyes out.
Another book that I cried with is called ‘The Language of Flowers” by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. That book evokes A LOT of emotions, but in a different way than John Green. Still, me reading both books means tears for me.
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I don’t remember that episode, but it made me laugh to “hear” you tell it! Did you put it in the freezer??? 😛
I have The Language of Flowers on my Kindle, and plan on reading it since I’ve heard only good things!
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I was actually very close to doing so! LOL! But I ended up taking a few deep breaths and got through it, but I certainly had a LOT of tears.
Ah! It makes me happy that you have ‘The Language of Flowers’ on your Kindle and are planning on reading it 🙂
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I really liked this book a lot. I read it with Middle School readers in mind – I am constantly screening books to recommend to my students. I thought this one was honest, thought provoking and just a good read! Someone commented that the Amsterdam trip was a bit farfetched and while I agree, it didn’t ruin the book for me.
I read “Wonder” and “Out of My Mind” around the same time. Each was different but all were thought provoking, readable books.
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I haven’t read either of those. I also think that the Amsterdam trip was fine – because while it might have been a little far-fetched, it’s probably kind of realistic to what Make a Wish foundation would do. I just imagine that they would go all out with that kind of thing, so I accepted it for what it was.
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The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison truly touched my heart (even thinking about it now makes me want to cry). When the writer has sparked such emotion from the reader, he or she really has done a great job writing. Glad you enjoyed the book!
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The Bluest Eye was such a good one! I totally agree that evoking emotion is one of the best things a writer can do. I’ve finished reading certain books, disliking them, but feeling like the author still did a fabulous job because he/she made me FEEL.
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I want to read this one so bad, but it’s not at my library
Think I’m just going to have to buy it then, because I want itttt
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I waited MONTHS for it from the library! I put myself on the waiting list a long time ago. . . maybe a friend you know has it to borrow. It’s a super quick read.
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This one wasn’t one of my favorites. For some reason, I am not a huge John Green fan – I’ve read several of his books. He seems like a genuinely awesome person though (via twitter, at any rate). This book was just too much for me.
Jane Eyre always hits an emotional spot for me. Empire Falls, White Oleander, and Tell the Wolves I’m Home all did too…
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I haven’t read anything else by him, although I don’t love this kind of YA as a genre. I’ll read a few here and there, but “nice” stories of love aren’t fully my thing.
Ohhhh I have to pick up Tell the Wolves!
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A book that really got me crying was A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. It’s the book the movie Simon Birch is based on. Very few books make me cry, but this one was a tear-jerker for sure.
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Oh that was such a good book, too!!!
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You MUST listen to the Literary Disco episode about it where Rider Strong rants about how un-believable (as in not believable) and poorly written he found it.
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I will totally listen! I’m a wannabe podcast lover and the only podcasts I have listened to all the way through are the Literary Disco ones. . . maybe bc I keep imagining him on BMW when he was like 13-18. . .
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I haven’t read this book yet. I am seeing mixed reviews.
THANKS for sharing.
Stopping by from Carole’s Books You Loved December/January Edition. I am in the list as #33. My book entry is below.
Silver’s Reviews
My Book Entry
Also…if you haven’t entered this fun giveaway, please stop by if you like.
Giveaway
Ends December 8.
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Thanks Elizabeth! I actually have an autographed copy of that book already, so I won’t enter, but maybe some of my readers will be interested!!! 😀
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You’re not the only one! I haven’t read it yet! I want to but I’ve never liked to read something everyone else is reading at the moment so I’m waiting for the water to settle down a little bit on this one. I know, it’s snobbish, but I think it takes something out of the personal experience to read something that is so popular right now… Maybe I’ll start with other John Green books instead.
And for your question, Life of Pi and Perks of Being a Wallflower are definitely smart and sad books at the same time.
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I totally know what you mean with the snobby thing. I’m the same way when it comes to music. I’m SUCH a music snob. And I actually do the same for books, but since the hype died down a lot, I decided to try it. Plus my mom read it and told me to read it, and my mom has good book taste. So I decided to take the chance!
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Now I’m officially the last person on the planet to read this one! I definitely want to pick it up soon; it’s universally loved, isn’t it?
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Haha, it is really good. It’s a quick, easy read for sure, and very enjoyable and emotional.
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I haven’t read any Green novel, but I do want to read this one! Your description reminds me of My Sister’s Keeper (and I see it’s been mentioned in the comments!) which I loved, so I think this one is a must-read for me.
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It’s the only John Green I’ve read. And to be honest, I would NEVER compare this one to My Sister’s Keeper. They are absolutely nothing alike, except they evoke emotion. But by far, My Sister’s Keeper was much more emotional and twisty and turny.
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