Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

163 reviews

mousecat's review

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challenging emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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lilith_hmr's review

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dark reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

It took me a long time to actually sit down and finish this book because of all the hype it was getting. But anyway. When I finally picked up the book to read it wasn't THAT bad, but it wasn't as good either. It was digestible and an easy read. But the emotions didn't deliver.

I did not feel as connected to the characters as I hoped I would. Hazel and Augustus were pretty good representations of angsty teenagers with a twinge of 'I know I'm going to Die Soon' and their odd personalities sort of made the book appealing. However, I would say that the romance between them felt very dissimulating. Augustus was cute, the things he said to Hazel and the things he wrote about her too. But it was too... fleeting?

Many people said they were moved/cried, but I couldn't feel those emotions. It was sort of predictable, the ending.

That being said, John Green's storytelling and writing skills are quite enthralling and reading it made me want to be just as knowledgeable in using sophisticated words such as in the book.

The metaphors Augustus used to describe things, and the thought process of Hazel and Van Houten's "drunk wisdom" were eye-openers to some things around me. Phrases like "The universe just wants to be noticed" and "Some infinities are bigger than other infinities" really put a lot of things about life into perspective.

Overall, it's a good enough book, readable, digestible and thought-provoking too with a hint of cliche, cheesy and cute teenage romance.

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neko_reads's review

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emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Content Warnings

dramagirl2003's review against another edition

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emotional funny sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.

it was real, it was honest, it was brutal

thoughts while reading

p24:

I didn't tell him that the diagnosis came three months after I got my first period. Like: Congratulations! You're a woman. Now die.

oh girl 😳

p28: gus is really funny roasting his parents about the encouragements
p31: aww poor girlie pop trying desperately not to faint

p55: ansel elgort seems to be a perfect match for what I've read of augustus so far
p118: gus is such a flirt but also maybe probably desperate to get laid
p125: screams internally

p147: aww augustus on his first flight is pretty cute
p153: augustus is such an icon and honestly goals for being able to confess his love for hazel when he still thinks it's unrequited (EVEN THOUGH SHE TOTALLY DOES LOVE HIM)
p159: i am marvelling at the insanity of the situation
p164:

"Kind of hard to believe anyone could ever find that annoying," Augustus said after a while.
"People always get used to beauty, though."
"I haven't gotten used to you just yet," he answered, smiling

GIRL never mind hazel, i'm blushing

p171: gosh reading their excitement about meeting van houten and knowing how it's all going to go down is a little melancholy
p181:

"Do you know why I left America, Lidewij? So that I would never again have to encounter Americans."

😅
p192:

"Like all sick children," he answered dispassionately, "you say you don't want pity, but your very existence depends upon it."

hmm is he wrong in this specific instance? everything else is pure nonsense but to my understanding at least, this specific sentence contains a shrapnel of truth. i could be wrong, and i don't think it in a mean way. like (and this is a bit of a silly example) augustus' driver's license. he shouldn't have gotten it, but ✨cancer perk✨ the instructor took pity on him but her pity didn't upset him then because it benefited him

p210: my heart aches a little knowing that augustus is about to sit hazel down and tell her

about his cancer being back

p225: simple but perfect comeback to being accidentally groped by a blind friend 😌

p251: i might die if someone said that in front of any adults in my life

p253: i'm on chapter 20 now and i still haven't cried but i'm guessing there's plenty of time
p260: i'm probably about to start crying after reading the

eulogy and seeing that augustus dies

on the next page. i can feel it coming
p278: i'm still not crying
p308: where are these tears i was promised i would cry?
p313: augustus is an absolute legend and i feel it would be a great honour to be the last love of someone's life

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kotashomelibrary's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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lexibug's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I wish I had read this book in middle school so I could fully appreciate it as the desired audience. I also wish I had read the book before watching the movie (although I did enjoy the movie more and it had a few differences in details). I think I would have enjoyed it more. All in all, I enjoyed the story of two teenagers and their journey together, and even as an adult, it makes you truly question your beliefs and, in my case, reaffirm them and inspire me for the future. To not take life for granted. For that, I would recommend this book.

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d00rframe's review

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challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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sacculent's review

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book made me laugh, sigh, and go ‘awwwww’ so many times and then made me almost cry so many more. I haven’t felt this much emotion in a book in a long long time.

‘You gave me a forever within our numbered days, and I’m grateful’

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anndreya's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

unicorn3's review against another edition

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emotional funny sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Ich hab das Buch angefangen und wollte es gar nicht mehr weglegen. Es ist so einfach und doch kompliziert geschrieben, man taucht ein in Hazel's Welt und wird mitgenommen auf ihrer Reise die sie mit Augustus erlebt. Es ist so herrlich erfrischend bis es so herzzerreißend traurig wird und dennoch geht es stetig weiter mit Weisheiten für das Leben. Ich habe mit dem Buch gefühlt und es verschlungen. Eine bittersüße Geschichte geschrieben in einem einzigartigen Stil.

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