Why I Didn't Love The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 4 of 5 stars

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten. (Book blurb)

Okay.
. . .

Okay, honestly, this review is far over-due. It has taken me some time to get my thoughts and feelings toward this book straight, and I'm still not certain that I have entirely figured them out. That said, I can find very little wrong with the The Fault in Our Stars. John Green, though I may not feel him to be the writing-god hero-of-romance talent that some claim him to be, is a good writer. He is, however, a good writer of contemporary commercial fiction rather than a literary genius. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

I enjoyed the book, but I realized near the end that something had been keeping me somewhat emotionally distant from the characters. I didn't cry at the end like I had expected too. Being one to bawl loud and long over any little thing in a novel, this was very strange.  Given some time to think about it, I believe the main reason is because of Hazel's Nihilistic attitudes--any form of Nihilism being nothing less than repulsive to me--which seem to stem from a strange mix of acceptance toward her prognosis, hopelessness, and an elevated sense of her own intelligence.

And there is nothing wrong in any of this. It's just off-putting to me. I like spiritualism in any and every sense. Without a feeling of hope, there is--for me--never any true, traumatic loss. I wasn't able to attachment myself to Hazel the way others were for the above reasons, and I, unfortunately, didn't find Augustus all that romantic.

Did anyone else feel the book fell a little short of the hype?


The Movie

No doubt, the movie was cute. I love the actors who played in it, and they did a marvelous job. Again, I just didn't connect with the story that well. I felt that the vibe between Hazel and Gus was more sappy than it was romantic, and the fact that I went on opening night and had to listen to all the girls whispering "Okay" back and forth to each other and sobbing like they had just lost their best friend probably didn't help matters. The experience was funny though, and I always love seeing reactions to movie adaptations.

As far as the translation from book-to-movie went, I think it was superb. I especially like how they showed the text messages. It was a beautiful, well-produced movie.

And that's all I have to say. I may read another John Green novel in the future, but I'm afraid that this isn't my genre and I don't expect to have the same fervent love for his work as so many my age appear to have.