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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
Not being able to stand the Anthropocene reviewed, I went into this trepidatiously, plus I’d seen the movie some time ago too, so there were no surprises. But I actually liked this quite a bit, for what it is. It’s prescriptive and one of those sentimental, overly orchestrated emotionally manipulative type books, like Irving or Haig.
That actually suits YA pretty well though, since this fiction is preoccupied with developing minds choosing who and what they are going to believe in. And this adds up to, well, maybe we should treat sick people with the same dignity as everybody else. With a message like that, I don’t mind the prescriptive elements. It’s cheesy and I don’t think most teenagers that age would behave the way these two do, but they are pretty expressly characters with a capital C, and the book is intentional about infusing them with some qualities you wouldn’t usually see—which is why they are characters and not concerned with verisimilitude (on that front).
I went in disliking the author and thinking I wasn’t going to like it, so I have to give it props. The deck was stacked against it and It still won. Though, more than some of it may be down to the absolutely stellar narration too.
That actually suits YA pretty well though, since this fiction is preoccupied with developing minds choosing who and what they are going to believe in. And this adds up to, well, maybe we should treat sick people with the same dignity as everybody else. With a message like that, I don’t mind the prescriptive elements. It’s cheesy and I don’t think most teenagers that age would behave the way these two do, but they are pretty expressly characters with a capital C, and the book is intentional about infusing them with some qualities you wouldn’t usually see—which is why they are characters and not concerned with verisimilitude (on that front).
I went in disliking the author and thinking I wasn’t going to like it, so I have to give it props. The deck was stacked against it and It still won. Though, more than some of it may be down to the absolutely stellar narration too.
I love this. It made me very angry. That is a good thing.
It was a quick read and I enjoyed the characters and the writing. I was genuinely saddened by the events of the story, and Hazel's perspective, as a teenager dying of cancer, was one I hadn't really experienced before this book. I can't comment on whether it was an accurate representation of that experience, but I found it really interesting.
I found, though, that the dialogue was more than a little bit overwritten. I don't know any teenagers who speak the way Hazel and Gus and Isaac do, and so although it was clever and witty and amusing, it didn't seem very realistic to me. I also disagreed with the whole premise of Hazel feeling this overwhelming need to find out from Van Houten what happened to the characters in his novel after it ended. I guess I am of the belief that the author is no more qualified to determine that than the reader is. It's like the movie Inception: the last scene, with the top spinning, the viewer doesn't know whether the top falls (meaning it's not a dream) or keeps spinning forever (meaning it is a dream). Watching it, I was totally frustrated that they would leave it up in the air like that, but it allows the viewer to decide for himself. There's no right answer. Similarly, with Hazel's favourite book, when it ends abruptly, she has this obsession with finding out what happens to the characters after. But the book ends. The story by the author is over. So the reader is free to decide for herself what happened after.
I found, though, that the dialogue was more than a little bit overwritten. I don't know any teenagers who speak the way Hazel and Gus and Isaac do, and so although it was clever and witty and amusing, it didn't seem very realistic to me. I also disagreed with the whole premise of Hazel feeling this overwhelming need to find out from Van Houten what happened to the characters in his novel after it ended. I guess I am of the belief that the author is no more qualified to determine that than the reader is. It's like the movie Inception: the last scene, with the top spinning, the viewer doesn't know whether the top falls (meaning it's not a dream) or keeps spinning forever (meaning it is a dream). Watching it, I was totally frustrated that they would leave it up in the air like that, but it allows the viewer to decide for himself. There's no right answer. Similarly, with Hazel's favourite book, when it ends abruptly, she has this obsession with finding out what happens to the characters after. But the book ends. The story by the author is over. So the reader is free to decide for herself what happened after.
“ …and I just held her hand and tried to imagine the world without us and for about one second I was a good enough person to hope she died so she would never know that I was going, too.” (313)
man… re-reading this book broke me.
i loved the cringe and laughs i endured and by the end, i was a weeping mess. i forgot how sweet and beautiful this book is.
love is so precious. life is beautiful and cruel.
im eternally grateful i get to live it everyday.
but god… frick you, john green for tugging at my heart strings until they snapped.
man… re-reading this book broke me.
i loved the cringe and laughs i endured and by the end, i was a weeping mess. i forgot how sweet and beautiful this book is.
love is so precious. life is beautiful and cruel.
im eternally grateful i get to live it everyday.
but god… frick you, john green for tugging at my heart strings until they snapped.
I will never forget the emotions that ran through me whilst reading this book! I read it before i saw the film so i could gather my own pictures and thoughts in my head. I cried so hard during my read, and cried harder at the movie! My all time favourite book.
This book was beautiful. But at the same time it wasn’t as mind blowing as I would have expected it to be. It was gutting to find out that Gus would die before Hazel and it was heart-wrenching to read through Gus’ last few days.
The humour was occasionally childish. That’s the only complaint I have and it’s not really a complaint.
The humour was occasionally childish. That’s the only complaint I have and it’s not really a complaint.
Yay! A really good read! I saw the movie when it came out, so knew the spoilers in the book, but still found this a very hard to put down book. Such an upbeat and down-to-earth storyline on what should be depressing as hell subject matter and characters.
So many feelings with this book that I can’t make two full sentences without saying: “I love ….”. So, I’ll point you to the reviews of my friends Joel and Katherine (whose opinions on books I trust blindly) they summed my thoughts of this favorite to perfection.
Katherine’s review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/374432434?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
Joel’s review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/915848007?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
Katherine’s review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/374432434?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
Joel’s review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/915848007?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
Well that one hurt. This book is beautifully tragic and full of very likeable, real characters. I wanted to read it because the author portrays angst-ridden, intelligent teens to a T, but I also knew it couldn't end well so I hated to keep reading. Not earth-shattering, but perfect for what it is. Reminds me of a question: Do you want a full life or a long life? We can't guarantee a long life, so might as well go for full each and every day.