Book Review: The Fault in our Stars by John Green

Introduction:

Cancer has become a very heartbreaking word that might be related to death. Yet, what if because of this unbearable disease you will find the love that will change your perception in life. But the question is how long it will last if pain demands to be felt?

The Fault in our Stars: An astonishing novel by John Green.  A story of tragedy, heartache and hopes dealing with many scars brought of cancer disease. A story of a teenage girl named Hazel Grace Lancaster who diagnosed of a terminal form of thyroid cancer that been spread into her lungs. She keeps distant herself knowing that she might die any moment. Until she met Augustus Waters, a cancer patient survivor in a cancer support group drawn by initial uncomfortable awkward moment, and as Hazel keeps t o distant herself , the more Augustus find her attractive and interesting . A moment where she found the girl he has been looking for.

Be prepared for a story of beauty, romance, humor and even friendship, and bravery of each characters. John Green able to make a novel that shows courage even if there’s a hint of depression and hopelessness as the characters try to protect their family by showing a smile to hide the pain of the possibility of dying. A novel that send hopes and awareness for those who won and lost the fight.  A novel that gives you a roller coaster emotion, a journey of tragedy and beauty, and even finding the reason to live as well as finding the true meaning of happiness.

Plot:

The story started with a teenage girl named Hazel Grace Lancaster, who has a terminal form of thyroid cancer spread in her lungs. Because of her situation she uses a portable oxygen tank to breathe properly. She reluctantly attends a cancer patient support group under the dictate of her mother. Then, in one of the meeting she catches the eye of a teenage boy that through the course she learns that the boy’s name is Augustus Waters. He was there to support his friend named Isaac who has a tumor in one eye that has been removed and now he has to have his one eye also to taken out as well. After the meeting Augustus approaches Hazel then invites her to his house to hangout and watch movie, while hanging out, the two discusses their experiences with cancer. Hazel reveals about her condition, while Augustus had an osteosarcoma before, but after his leg was amputated he became free for cancer.  Before Augustus take Hazel home they agreed to read one another’s favorite novel  Augustus give The Price of Dawn while Hazel give An Imperial Affliction. After this scenario they discussed the An Imperial Affliction, Hazel got curios about its mysterious author, Peter Van Hauten who lives in Amsterdam. A week after Hazel and Augustus discuss the literary, Augustus reveal that he tracked down the assistant of the author named Lidewij. After this scenario Augustus invited Hazel to a picnic, then the two agreed that they will go to Amsterdam. Hazel was trilled, then she touches Augustus face realizing she already falling with the handsome guy in front of her, but there she is become hesitant again afraid that she might hurt Augustus when she dies. She was comparing herself to a grenade. 

At the middle of her struggle about her feelings, she suffers a serious episode in her lungs fill with fluid and then goes to ICU. Days have passed after she released to the hospital, she find out that Augustus never left the hospital’s waiting room. Augustus deliver a letter from the Peter Van Hauten, after reading the letter the two are more determined to went to Amsterdam. But the problem is the doctor and the parents of Hazel think that they might not make it. Then here it comes the physician who convince the parents of hazel that she must live her life. So Augustus and Hazel fly to the Amsterdam, only to see a not so prolific genius writer but a mean-spirited drunk who yells at them. Out of disappointment, the assistant of Hauten offer a tour to the Anne’s Frank house where the two shares a romantic kiss. After this, a loud bomb explode that ruin everything.  Augustus illness back and it deteriorates quickly all over his body. The finals days of Augustus, he sets a prefuneral eulogy for himself together with Hazel and Isaac.Then Augustus dies 8 days later, astonished Hazel where she sees Peter Van Hauten and explain everything to have closure.  

Protagonist of the Story:

Hazel Grace Lancaster is obviously the protagonist of this story. The novels narrator and a teenage girl who has thyroid cancer. But despite of her illness, she fights and resolves it like a steel. A girl who manage to smile after the pain of lost and girl who choose to see the light in all the struggles she been through in her life.

Antagonist of the Story:

The Antagonist of the story isn’t a person it is far, far away of being a person. Cancer is the antagonist of this story because it sets hindrances to the main characters. Also the characters set delusion that they might not experience the happiness of being young because of this disease. They constantly struggle with reality that they might die anytime or how they will live with a normal life like others do.  

Climax:

   The climax of this novel is when they are going to Amsterdam to meet the author of the book An Imperial Affliction. But when they are arrive to the house of the author they are astounded to what they seen especially when the author yells at them. Then after that Augustus find out that his cancer is back and spread all over his body. So now it’s him who’s dying or the grenade that Hazel compared to herself.     

Ooppppsss!!! Spoiler Alert!!!

When you reach nearly the end of the novel, Hazel reaches some closure when she talks to Peter Van Houten only to find out that the author of her favorite novel had a daughter who died of cancer, the reason why he wrote the novel An Imperial Affliction.

All about the author & it’s other books:

John Green is an American author, a blogger, writer, producer, actor and editor. In 2006, he won the Printz Award for his debut novel Looking  for Alaska. Green was included in Time Magazine’s list of The 100 Most Influential People of the World. Then another film based on his novel, Paper towns released in 2015. Aside of being a novelist, Green is also a well-known for his Youtube ventures. In 2007, he launched the VlogBrothers channel with his brother Hank Green. Since then, John and Hank have launched events such as Project for Awesome and Vidcon and created a 11 online series including Crash Course, an educational channel  teaching academic disciplines.