The Fault in Our Stars

Sometimes you pick up a book and you can’t put it down… wish that happened more frequently in my life… today it did!  And to remember explicitly where I am reading the book… I am in Abu Dhabi for NYU’s first graduation at our portal site, now back to the book.  Having read one of the author’s other books, I knew I was in for something special, how special?  You should read this one – and don’t watch the movie (coming out NEXT weekend!) by John Green,  The Fault in Our Stars. The topic of the book is especially close to me at the moment as my sister suffers from cancer, and yes the book has cancer as the centerpiece of the problem, but the story is more about growing up, coming of age, and trying to understand the impossible nature of life, and of course death.  The story is set in Indianapolis where the lead character, Hazel Grace, is attending a support group meeting for adolescents with cancer.  Hazel, who suffers from a terminal cancer, though handling it at the moment, introduces the other youth who also suffer from various stages of cancer, with one or two in remission.  It is at this meeting where she meets a visitor, Augustus Waters, a “hottie” from Hazel’s perspective.  He's there to support their mutual friend, Isaac. Isaac suffers from eye cancer and will be going for surgery to remove the eye the next day.  As the story unfolds we learn that Augustus has lost a leg to cancer a few years prior.  During the meeting Augustus makes an overture to Hazel to spend some time together after the meeting.  Of course the two begin a connection that develops as only a true love story does!  Hazel, a voracious reader, shares with Augustus her favorite book, An Imperial Affliction, by Peter Van Houten, a recluse who has virtually disappeared from human existence.  But he can’t escape Augustus, who attempts to find him because of Hazel’s love of the book, which has a most bizarre ending, the main character is writing a note and the book ends mid-sentence, leaving the audience to have to imagine what happened to the various characters.  Hazel, obsessed with the book, gets Augustus to read it… and he then attempts to find Van Houten.  Of course, Augustus does and after receiving the “Make a Wish” dream for cancer patients, guess who is going to meet the author to find out the ending?  Hazel and Augustus (with Hazel’s mom of course - they aren’t letting two 16 year olds off to Amsterdam alone).  I won’t ruin the ending, and yes cancer does play a major role in the ending, as does death, but more than that does understanding, love, emotion, and the beginning of really knowing what our relevance is in our world’s, those we love.  The characters are real, complicated, and loveable.  The story moves and the backdrop is moving.  Green is on his game.  Move over Holden Caulfield (Catcher in the Rye) and the 2000’s Perks of Being a Wallflower… what they have in “journey” this has in heart and emotion.  If you don’t shed a tear on this one, hmmm... you don’t have any to shed.  Add to your book list.