Comments on things mean a lot: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Melody and Heather, I look forward to hearing what...

2012-01-28T21:01:29.647Z

Melody and Heather, I look forward to hearing what you both think :)

Jeanne: I loved your post about it. Also, hugs and warm thoughts to you and your family.

Kristen: I keep thinking about it too, and it's been weeks and weeks now. If there's an author that deserves to have us all become fangirls it's him!

Debi: You're always too kind *hugs*

Darlyn: I hope it lives up to your expectations! And I think it will.

Chris: Hazel and Augustus were so human, weren't they? I just heard his NPR interview and it made me tear up all over again. Of course, that's not exactly hard, since even thinking about the book will often do it :P

Mumsy: *hands you tissues* Yes, I completely agree about Hazel's father. I thought the book hinted that both Hazel and Augustus constructed their worldview in gendered terms, especially in the two scenes where they discuss movies. But of course, the whole point is that the association between these two ideas and gender is far from inevitable, and I thought that by the end they had both come to see that. As for his other books, I'm especially fond of Paper Towns, but it's so different. My friend Renay wrote a post about where to start with him just the other day, actually, which might be helpful for when you're ready to read him again.

Great review, Nymeth. I didn't really think o...

2012-01-27T01:27:53.859Z

Great review, Nymeth. I didn't really think of the difference between the two ways of regarding the worthiness of life as gender-based; perhaps because I have female friends who take Augustus's point of view, and male ones who think like Hazel. (Also, seems like Hazel's Dad was a Hazelite, rather than an Augustinian, don you think?) I was struck by how the ways of looking at the world were now clear and sharp-edged, and now melting into one another and blurred. And I loved, loved, loved, how the characters talked and talked so that you fell in love with them yourself and broke your heart for them. This is the first John Green I've read, and now I am scared to try one of the others because I just know it won't be THIS good. (Plus my eyes are still blurred with tears and I probably wouldn't be able to read them anyway.)

Such a beautiful review, Ana. Maybe my favorite of...

2012-01-21T06:27:30.377Z

Such a beautiful review, Ana. Maybe my favorite of yours yet. I just finished this book...just put my own thoughts together and wow. This book was so much more than I even thought it would be. Like you said, I just loved the respect he gave these characters. That the focus was on those that WERE the people with cancer and what it's like to be that. And more importantly, who they were as people aside from the cancer. Just a beautiful book. And I'm glad you put the spoiler warning and talked about specifics :) It's so good to read someone else's thoughts on the specifics of the novel. *hugs*

I only skimmed your post because I haven't rea...

2012-01-20T05:02:05.421Z

I only skimmed your post because I haven't read this yet, but The Fault in Our Stars sounds exactly as brilliant as I expect it to be. I hope to get back to your review when I finally get my hands on a copy. :)

So glad I could finally come back and read your wh...

2012-01-18T00:37:25.071Z

So glad I could finally come back and read your whole post. As you so often do, you again made me feel unbelievably blessed. Your words, the way you are able to put thoughts to paper...they are a gift, dear Ana. It's just the most amazing thing to have someone be able to express thoughts that you yourself can't coherently express. And yes, there are also added bonuses of seeing things through your eyes that mine had missed completely. :)

What a well-thought out review! I thoroughly enjo...

2012-01-18T00:30:06.482Z

What a well-thought out review! I thoroughly enjoyed the book and this review of it because I too, am itching to hear what others have to say about TFIOS. I'd definitely say it's my favorite John Green novel and that I have rapidly turned into a fan-girl which I never thought I'd do in my entire life...but at least it's an author that's turned me into a fan-girl! I read this almost a week ago and I still can't stop gushing about it for long enough to really process it!

I've been looking forward to this new one with...

2012-01-16T23:11:52.194Z

I've been looking forward to this new one without even knowing it was about issues I've been living through lately. My son just got a signed copy, and I may have to put another bookmark in it when he sets it down.

So I basically skipped the majority of your review...

2012-01-16T02:41:30.464Z

So I basically skipped the majority of your review because I'm going to read this very soon and want to avoid any possible spoilers. But I've bookmarked your post and will get back to it once I finish the book. :)

I'm definitely adding this onto my wishlist! T...

2012-01-16T00:14:16.543Z

I'm definitely adding this onto my wishlist! Thanks for the lovely review, Ana!

Priscilla: I'd say sorry, but then again more ...

2012-01-15T21:25:18.099Z

Priscilla: I'd say sorry, but then again more books is a good thing, right? :P I hope you enjoy LFA when you get around to it!

Marigold Lott: It's incredibly moving without every being sappy.

Staci: And I can't wait to hear how you like it!

Trisha: And I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

Holly: I think you did a great job of keeping yours spoilers free while still giving people a good idea of why the book is so great.

Chachic: Very glad to hear you found it! I can't wait to hear what you think.

Sandy: Eep, the vegetarian ghost one sounds like more than I could take. Horrible things happening to animals = my no good area in fiction. It's not that I care more than I do about people, but I'm more used to processing human tragedy and thus can handle it better (generally).

Jenny: Yes! And the scene is just so horrible - you know all along that her idea that he'll tell her everything about the character's futures won't work out, but not that he's going to be absolutely horrid about it. Poor Hazel. But it was nice that even the author who was a jerk was eventually humanised.

Kathy: :( I don't want to pry into that comment, but I want you to know I'm sending my best wishes to you and yours *hugs*

Kelly: Argh, sorry to hear it! Hopefully tomorrow?

Aarti: WGWG is my least favourite of his, though I wouldn't say I disliked it. But I think you should try this one, because if it doesn't convert you, nothing will.

Amy: Aw, thank you <3

Trish: Yes! He does that so well, doesn't he?

Melissa: Yes, it really could have, but he managed to strike a perfect balance. It was wonderful that Hazel and Augustus were never solely defined by their illnesses. I can't wait to read your post tomorrow, and thank you again for your e-mail.

"It’s important to take care not to let grief...

2012-01-15T20:28:19.311Z

"It’s important to take care not to let grief bury the people they were."

Such a wonderful point. I was so impressed by how deftly Green navigated the minefield of traps this book could have held. It could have been too cold, too sappy, too preachy, etc. Instead it was a wonderfully honest look at two teenagers who happen to have cancer, but who are so much more than that. I loved it.

I've only read a handful of John Green novels ...

2012-01-15T18:08:04.826Z

I've only read a handful of John Green novels so far but the thing that strikes me about his writing is that it does make you feel EVERYTHING. Not just the sad but also the happy and the nostalgic and the wondering and questioning and the joy and the sentimental. I'll look forward to this one (one day). Still have a few of his others on my shelf to tackle first.

Aw Ana this review is perfect! I loved so much of ...

2012-01-15T11:00:55.140Z

Aw Ana this review is perfect! I loved so much of what you made note of.

So I think because my last (and only) John Green e...

2012-01-15T05:36:01.229Z

So I think because my last (and only) John Green experience was Will Grayson, Will Grayson, which I wasn't a huge fan of, I am not the Green fangirl that so many are. But people ADORE him, so I feel like I should give him another go, particularly in a book with just him as the author.

My copy hasn't arrived!! So annoying!

2012-01-15T02:15:07.528Z

My copy hasn't arrived!! So annoying!

I avoided the spoilers but I'm undecided if I ...

2012-01-14T16:03:13.184Z

I avoided the spoilers but I'm undecided if I want to read the book. It sounds very powerful, but it might be too close to home for me right now.

This sounds good! And sad, especially whatever hap...

2012-01-14T15:49:42.193Z

This sounds good! And sad, especially whatever happens when they meet their favorite author. I always slightly dread learning more about authors I love, in case they're jerks -- it's part of why I love Neil Gaiman so much, that he proves over and over what a sweet, cool, classy guy he is to teh fans.

Hey if I can subject myself to a book about a vete...

2012-01-14T12:20:52.249Z

Hey if I can subject myself to a book about a veterinarian ghost, ruminating over all the animals that she had to put down, I can read this. (In fact, I think I cried MORE over the latest Stephen King novel.) One of my New Year's resolutions is to have a John Green fest, since I have most of his books. I'm feeling it coming on...

I didn't read your whole review because I have...

2012-01-14T08:14:21.814Z

I didn't read your whole review because I haven't read the book but will do so this weekend. Yay, so glad we already have copies here in the Philippines. My friend was looking for one the other day and it looks like it's out of stock in all the bookstores here.

I had such a hard time writing a review with no sp...

2012-01-14T07:03:14.363Z

I had such a hard time writing a review with no spoilers.

Wow. Articulate and thoughtful review as always. T...

2012-01-14T07:02:02.379Z

Wow. Articulate and thoughtful review as always. Thank you for including spoilers. I, too, loved that this was a tribute to people who NOTICE things.

I totally stopped at the spoilery part. :) I reall...

2012-01-14T02:38:49.092Z

I totally stopped at the spoilery part. :) I really enjoy Green's novels so I am sure I will pick this one up at some point.

I so can't wait to get this one!! Wonderful th...

2012-01-14T02:19:37.145Z

I so can't wait to get this one!! Wonderful thoughts!

WOW! My buy. I am already crying.

2012-01-13T21:39:39.519Z

WOW! My buy. I am already crying.

John Green is one of those authors I keep meaning ...

2012-01-13T21:35:09.399Z

John Green is one of those authors I keep meaning to read because you've recommended him so highly. In fact, I am so well-meaning that I actually bought a copy of Looking for Alaska, which is on the TBR pile (well, metaphorically speaking, because it's on my Kindle). That reminds me...I should figure out just what percentage of my TBR you are actually responsible for! I'm sure it's not insignificant. :)