Author: John Green
Publication Information: Dutton Books, Penguin Group USA. 2012. 318 pages.
Book Source: I read this book based on all the publicity for the book.
Favorite Quote: "Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put together unless and until all living humans read the book. And then there are books .... which you can't tell people about, books so special and rare and yours that advertising your affection seems like a betrayal."
Hazel is a teenager with terminal cancer. At the Cancer Kids Support Group, she meets another cancer patient Augustus Waters. Beyond that, this is a story about friendship and love where you know that tomorrow may not be. What would you do for someone you love if you knew that this day may be your last day to show them your love? It's not a question most people think about because we don't like to think that our time may be limited.
This book comes at this question from so many different directions. Hazel who knows what her diagnosis and her prognosis is. Hazel's parents who are facing one of the most devastating things a parent could ever face. Augustus who, based on his diagnosis, may have a better prognosis. Isaac whose disease is slowly taking away relationships and pieces of his life. Peter Van Houten, an author Hazel find inspirational, but who fights his own demons. The plot includes a wish, a road trip, some life lessons but nothing really unexpected.
For me, to some extent, the book suffered from its own success. With all the rave reviews and publicity, I had really high expectations. It's not a bad book; for me, it's just not as wonderful as all the rave reviews. It is sad and emotional, but it not not unlike many other books that have been written about people battling terminal illness.
Hazel is a teenager with terminal cancer. At the Cancer Kids Support Group, she meets another cancer patient Augustus Waters. Beyond that, this is a story about friendship and love where you know that tomorrow may not be. What would you do for someone you love if you knew that this day may be your last day to show them your love? It's not a question most people think about because we don't like to think that our time may be limited.
This book comes at this question from so many different directions. Hazel who knows what her diagnosis and her prognosis is. Hazel's parents who are facing one of the most devastating things a parent could ever face. Augustus who, based on his diagnosis, may have a better prognosis. Isaac whose disease is slowly taking away relationships and pieces of his life. Peter Van Houten, an author Hazel find inspirational, but who fights his own demons. The plot includes a wish, a road trip, some life lessons but nothing really unexpected.
For me, to some extent, the book suffered from its own success. With all the rave reviews and publicity, I had really high expectations. It's not a bad book; for me, it's just not as wonderful as all the rave reviews. It is sad and emotional, but it not not unlike many other books that have been written about people battling terminal illness.
This book is 'a big hit' here in Brasil now and I can say that the movie is highly expected too.
ReplyDeleteSo just like you I rushed into the reading so that I would not miss this talk about the so-called 'sick-lit' new gender.
I had an idea about what to expect from the story and I can say I was not disappointed at all.
But in short, I would say that I reccomend the book but not the author. Sorry to say but I don't feel like picking up anything else by John Green as a next reading.
I got a feeling of some 'sarcasm' or 'acid humor' in some passages of the book that didn't really fit there like the friend who had his eye operated.
That's not to say about the trip to Holand which sounded like the loveliest idea from Augustus as a gift to Hazel.
I think it didn't have to sound all romantic and perfect but I had the feeling of seeing John Green in bursts of laugh as he was writing it like saying to us readers 'see what I will do now.'
I hope the movie gets a bit of a 'romantic but realist view' of this beautiful story.
This book is a huge hit here as well and the movie is highly anticipated. I have not heard the term "sick-lit" before but it applies to this book. This was my first John Green book. I am almost tempted to read another one to see if I can figure out what so strongly draws in his audience. I enjoyed this one, but was not blown away. I wonder if my reaction would be different to another one. Have you read any of his other books and found them to have the same tone?
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