The Fault in Our Stars in Bound Together

Jul 22, 2013 Rachel rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, young-adult

Oh man. I cried on the subway. And then for an hour as I finished it once I got home. When I was a kid I would read books that made me cry. I would reread them mercilessly. Specifically, I remember Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume. When I was much younger I couldn't even make it through The Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter;* I was crying so hard my mom got worried. That stopped happening as I got older. I assumed it was because I got older and was better able to handle the emotions evoked by a Oh man. I cried on the subway. And then for an hour as I finished it once I got home. When I was a kid I would read books that made me cry. I would reread them mercilessly. Specifically, I remember Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume. When I was much younger I couldn't even make it through The Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter;* I was crying so hard my mom got worried. That stopped happening as I got older. I assumed it was because I got older and was better able to handle the emotions evoked by a novel. Nope, this book made me cry. Is it something connected to the love of young people? I guess it's not something I read about that often.

I have avoided young adult literature like the plague after I kept getting sucked into the hype and never really enjoying it. Hunger Games? Meh. Sparkly vampires and boy wizards (I read the first three of the Harry Potter series, meh!)? No thanks! So when I first heard of this one, I thought whaaatever. But it kept getting raves and raves and I thought, well if I ever get the chance maybe I will give it a try. Then I realized it had been out for 3 years and was still getting raved about, so at least it must be memorable right? And however long it has been out for it still hasn't come out in paperback!! The library doesn't even have the ebook of it! So I thought if it comes my way I might read it (thinking it's not going to come my way ever so that's a pretty safe commitment there). And then I found the ebook on B&N for $3. So I got it, downloaded it on my phone and hoped for it to at least pass quickly as an acceptable way of passing the time at work in the coat check.

It was good, it was good. It was smart. Too smart for actual teenagers, or anyone really, but seriously? Who wants to listen to real teenagers? Haha I kid. Mostly. Just showed everything perfect in the world as well as everything completely fucked in the world.

I am still not going to read young adult books. There's no way any of it can touch this one!

*Holy hell, Forrest Carter is a pen name for Asa Earl Carter, who was very controversial for his racist past. Wow I did not know that. ...more

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Sep 17, 2012 Karen rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2012

I did read this in me 3 hour sitting..and perhaps if I let it ruminate more itwould have gotten higher stars. I found it touching, sad, frank. I did not however find it believable. Yes I have given paranormal fiction 5 star ratings, but I rate books within their genre. If this is to be the touching, compassion filled, drama filled book about humanity it is a 3. I am not a fan of weepy fiction or weepy film/tv. Don't tug my emotional heart strings to sell something, unfortunately this felt as if ...more

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Dec 20, 2013 Barbara rated it liked it · review of another edition

Hazel has cancer. She meets Gus at the cancer group. Hazel is obsessed with this one book she really likes and wants to know the answers about what happens after the book ends to the characters.

Gus decides to use his one dying wish on Hazel. They make a trip to see the author and ask him these questions. He is a bitter man. The author doesn't want nothing to do with anyone.

So Gus sets out to finish Hazel's wish by writing an ending for her. He sends it off to the author hoping that he will re- ...more

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Jan 25, 2014 Michelle Stie rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-about-books, dysfunctional-characters, young-adult-lit, love, romance

I'm always a sucker for a good romance, and The Fault In Our Stars is a better-than-good romance. There are no surprises in this story--but the protagonist Hazel has a gripping voice and the plot doesn't devolve into the maudlin. I thought the author's interesting use of metaphors--children playing on the sculpture of a skeleton, the blind truth telling friend, the visit to Anne Frank's house--demonstrates that the author didn't pander to his intended audience and helps explain the novel's wide ...more

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Mar 27, 2012 Pat rated it it was amazing

Young adult books get better and better! This is a beautiful story about 2 teenagers with one commonality, CANCER and their developing relationship entwined with piece of literature. No further spoilers! Read and enjoy it; don't be afraid of the sadness; it is secondary to these amazingly insightful youngsters! ...more

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Feb 21, 2012 Michelle rated it really liked it

I read this in 3 sittings. It gripped me from the start and I instantly fell in love with the characters. Such a sad topic but interspersed with moments of such joy and laughter, I found myself chuckling at some of the macabre humor and telling myself that I really should not be laughing at this. But this is what made the story seem real...bc many of life's toughest moments are also strangely comical. ...more

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Feb 04, 2012 Deb rated it really liked it

"The world is not a wish-granting factory." Despite this, I wish I had known about John Green sooner. I had never heard of him or his books until now, but after reading this one I will seek out everything he has written. What a book. What a story. It's hard to say that you really liked a book that's about kids with cancer, but this book was so well done. I was emotionally attached to Hazel and Augustus, I loved them! I laughed, I sobbed, I took to heart so many things that were in this book. Not ...more

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Jan 18, 2012 Christina, Join Me on Storygraph! rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-i-recommend, 2012

I'm having a hard time figuring out what I really liked about this book; it's kind of a slice of life book that doesn't usually fall into the category of books I love. With that said, I loved the characters in this book. I loved Hazel, even, sort of, during her more obnoxious typical teen moments, I loved Hazel's mom (definitely signifying the change in my life stage by my bawling at sad parts for Hazel's mom more than sad parts for Hazel), I loved Augustus.

I particularly love this coming-of-age ...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Lisa rated it really liked it

When I read the premise of this novel, narrated by a kid with terminal cancer, I just knew it would tug at my heartstrings and manipulate me into tears. I don't always mind that. Sometimes a good cry is just what I need as a reader. But this novel surprised me. The narrator was funny and sad, without being morbid. The characters were lovable and likable. There were many deep observations about life and death, but it wasn't heavy-handed or morose. I would highly recommend it. ...more

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Jan 12, 2012 Angelica rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book was so beautifully written with thoughtful quotes throughout. There's no way I can capture quite what the author did... Just read it. You won't be disappointed. ...more

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May 07, 2013 Erin rated it it was amazing

Oh, John Green I think actually I know that you are now one of my favourite authors. I loved this book and the roller coaster of emotions that it made me feel.

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