Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars

Title:  The Fault in Our Stars

Author:  John Green

Length:  313 pages

Publisher:  Dutton Books (an imprint of Penguin Group Inc.)

On-Sale Date:  January 10, 2012

Format:  Hardcover

(Warning:  Language may not be suitable for all ages).

The Fault in Our Stars is about 16 year-old cancer patient, Hazel Grace Lancaster.  A miracle (fictional) drug has halted the spreading of the disease, but she continues to live with cancer everyday.  Hazel Grace meets 17 year-old Augustus Waters, who is in remission.  This is their love story.

Things I was told before I read The Fault in Our Stars:  It’s going to be the best book you’ve ever read.  Don’t read it in public.  You will cry.

I remember thinking that all these people couldn’t have been wrong, could they?  I wasn’t in love with The Fault in Our Stars from the first page, but I was by the end.  And there were so many tears that it is almost embarrassing.

I finished The Fault in Our Stars less than two hours ago*, and all I can tell you is that I’ve carried this book with me.  I don’t want to be separated from it for too long.  I just want to stare at it and reread parts of it and memorize it.

There are only a handful of truly great books, and you know when you’ve found one.  The Fault in Our Stars is a great book.  You know because you can’t stop thinking there’ll never again be a time when you haven’t read it.  Now, there’s a Before-I-Read-The-Fault-In-Our-Stars and an After-I-Read-The-Fault-In-Our-Stars.  Great books, like this, follow you.  All you want to do is continue feeling how this book makes you feel.  Something slides into place, and this book holds a permanent residence in your heart.

I know that in a couple of months or a couple of years I am going to come back to this book.  Even while I was still reading I knew that I’d want to read it again.  But I don’t need to reread it right now, because this story is still with me.  I haven’t forgotten Hazel and Augustus; they follow me everywhere.

The Fault in Our Stars is endless.

This book has an underlying sadness to it, and you will cry so hard, but the characters will fill you with such an incredible happiness.  I’m grateful that Augustus exists.  I know he and Hazel and Isaac are fictional, but I don’t have to believe it.  They’re real where it matters.  John Green created fictional characters that don’t feel fictional.  I’m kicking myself for not going to the bookstore the very day TFiOS came out and for not reading it immediately.

People say The Fault in Our Stars is “magnificent” and “heartbreaking”, and it is those things, but it’s mostly so incredibly powerful that I wish I could invent new words to explain it.  I don’t want to go to sleep, because I don’t want to let this day go.  I know that The Fault in Our Stars will be waiting for me when I get up, (and possibly also in my dreams)**, but that’s not enough.  This story is too hard to let go of, because it could so easily be real, and that is possibly the saddest thing of all.  Gus and Hazel could be my friends if they weren’t written on paper.

But I always have a way back to them, through The Fault in Our Stars.

I could see myself in Hazel Grace.  I share her love of books and I’d rather be hurt myself than see those I love hurting.  She made me think this book was for me, in a way.  She never needed to explain herself to me, because I completely understood her every time.  I desperately wanted her to be happy.  Hazel deserved a love like Augustus.

I wish there was something I could do to say thank you for this book.  The Fault in Our Stars feels like a gift.  Gus and Hazel feel like friends, and I’m not ready to say goodbye to them.  So, I won’t.

At the end I wasn’t thinking it was a cancer book.  I was thinking it was about a girl who loves a boy and a world that isn’t fair (the boy loves her too).   Arguably, cancer is what defines the whole book, but it sure doesn’t feel that way.  I don’t think of cancer when I think of The Fault in Our Stars.  I think of how awe-inspiring Hazel and Augustus are.  I think about how much I love Augustus.  And I think about reading it again.  It feels so important.  There are books that stay with you, and there are stories that you never forget, and this is one of them.

I don’t want to live in a world without Augustus Waters, and he was only in my life for less than a day.  Damn John Green.

I had about 50/60 pages left when I sincerely thought I couldn’t finish.  I completely lost it.  I broke down crying, and one line was all it took.  I knew I needed to see how it ended, but I didn’t want to.  It hurt so much, and I could only imagine what the end would feel like.  (I couldn’t even find tissues.  My God, I had to stop reading to locate some).

I will never forget Augustus Waters.

The Fault in Our Stars has given me something to hold onto, and for that, I say, “Thank you”.

Rating

Premise:  5/5

Plot:  5/5

Writing:  5/5

Characters:  5/5

Overall:  5/5

*At the time, I had finished reading it two hours ago, but I wasn’t planning on writing a review for TFiOS so it took some time to get it right.

**I did dream about The Fault in Our Stars the night I read it.

Favourite Quotes:

“What a slut time is.  She screws everybody.” – page 112

"The marks humans leave are too often scars." – page 311

“You don’t get to choose if you get hurt in this world ... but you do have some say in who hurts you.  I like my choices.” – page 313

Book Review: Across the Universe

Title: Across the Universe

Author: Beth Revis

Across the Universe is the first of a series, but the series doesn't have a set title at the moment.

Length: 400 pages

Publisher: Razorbill (an imprint of Penguin)

On-Sale Date: January 11th 2011

Format: Hardcover

We find the story hundreds of years in the future on a spaceship named Godspeed.  A journey was planned after discovering a planet with oxygen in its atmosphere.  Our characters are light years from Earth, and surrounded by metal.  There is an entire human workforce on the ship, and none of them truly have a clue what to expect when they reach their final destination.
After some time on Godspeed, the inhabitants created a hierarchy to sustain peace and order.  Eldest runs the ship, and he is not immortal.  If Eldest dies, the ship still needs to function without him, which is why Eldest always trains an Elder to take his place.
Unfortunately, it seems as if the current Eldest hasn’t been completely honest with his Elder.
Elder, like any curious 16 year-old, stumbles upon something.  It was something Eldest should have shown him.  It was something that would dictate his entire future.
Godspeed has existed for years, yet one girl can change everything.
It all starts with Amy ...


Wow.
Across the Universe was worth it.
I did not know how I was going to put my emotions and opinions into words, but I supposed Beth Revis could put ‘Across the Universe’ into words, that so I could do this.

Across the Universe was narrated by two characters who could not have been more different.  One male, and one female who were worlds apart … literally.
Beth Revis created characters you could connect with.
Elder was more than simply likable.  Elder had heart and he proved himself to be a hero.  In the beginning, he didn’t believe in his abilities, and even throughout the novel he was still unsure and continuously questioned himself.  Elder was battling with what he knew to be true, and what he wanted to believe to be true.  To put it lightly, it was an emotionally shocking time for Elder.  However, he handled the surprising turn of events as a true leader.  Plus, he had a killer instinct.
When Elder first saw Amy she was raw and naked.  From the beginning, Amy’s vulnerable side could be seen.  However, she proved that vulnerability didn’t equal weakness.  Amy made a strong character, because she worked past her fears and through her insecurities.  Her strength only built up, which made her an impressive character.  Amy always fought for her beliefs, and for answers.  Part of the reason she was so successful in her endeavours was because her curiosity could not be sated.  At times, you wanted to comfort Amy, as you were always on her side.  
As the story progressed Elder and Amy took on each other’s characteristics.  Elder became the leader he was meant to be while Amy exposed her heart.  However, this in no way meant that Amy was weak or that Elder found confidence easily.
It was easier to get to know Elder than it was to get to know Amy.  Elder was more open and believing (which really isn’t surprising, given the circumstances), while Amy was hesitant and questioning.  But there still was so much to each character.  By the end of the book both characters blew me away.

If Elder had a best friend you would say it was Harley.  I used to think Harley was innocent, and that he lived in ignorance.  I did not feel that way once the book ended.  Harley did not like living in the dark.  He sought answers.  He wanted truth.  Perhaps, more than Elder.
Beth Revis wrote characters you could be proud of.  I cheered for Elder and Amy and Harley.  I wanted the best for these characters, because I cared about them.
She also wrote characters that you hated, and ones that you thought you hated.  My mind changed, and at certain points I wasn’t sure who I believed.  My questioning mind found answers, just not ones I ever expected.
This was a book of secrets, and the imagination it took to plot this was out of this world.  Beth made a great storyteller.

Across the Universe was not a book I would have usually read.  The plot summary didn’t hook me in, but the writing in between the covers was captivating.  The storyline was nothing like I expected.  There were too many twists and turns to count, and I enjoyed every surprise.
This was a book where you could see the care that the author put into the story.
It was entertaining to see how the plot unfolded.

Across the Universe explored some seriously interesting concepts.  This was a story that really made the reader ask questions, and ponder some uncommon issues.  (For example, I never considered being frozen, and waking up hundreds of years in the future.  However, I can now say that I have thought about such a thing).  The story was so much larger than I originally thought, and I could not believe that all of it was contained in one book.
I enjoyed the impossible aspects of the story.
Across the Universe had one of my favourite endings.  This chapter came to a close, but the story beyond that was open-ended and left to interpretation.

The selling point for me with Across the Universe was that it was science fiction written for people who didn’t like science fiction.  That shouldn’t be the selling point for you.  Across the Universe is the perfect definition of sitting down with a good book.

Rating:

Premise: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Writing: 5/5

Characters: 5/5

Overall: 5/5

I found out Across the Universe was first in a series after I wrote this review.

Review: Anna and the French Kiss

Title: Anna and the French Kiss

Author: Stephanie Perkins

Length: 372 pages

Publisher: Penguin Young Reader Group

On-Sale Date: December 7, 2010

Format: Hardcover

Anna Oliphant, born and raised in Atlanta, is dropped in France to spend her senior year at The School of America (SOAP).  Her parents thought a year in The City of Lights would be the perfect experience for her.  They couldn’t possibly be sending her away, could they?  Whether their reasons are noble or not Anna has never felt more alone.  She has been left in a foreign city surrounded only by strangers.  It seems too good to be true when the friendly girl living beside her comes to her rescue.  When Anna meets Meredith she is also introduced to all of her friends.  One of those friends is the fetching, (and taken), Étienne St. Clair.  Nearly every girl at SOAP has a (not so secret) crush on St. Clair, and Anna is not any different.  Still, finding love is not on the top of Anna’s list of priorities, but sometimes you find what you didn’t even know you wanted.

Anna and the French Kiss is magical.  It may not have potions or spells but it has plenty of fireworks.
Since Anna is first and foremost a love story it seems only fitting to discuss the heroine and her love interest first.  I am proud to say that Stephanie Perkins has created a strong and powerful heroine, as well as equally dynamic supporting characters.  It is just the worst feeling in the world to hate the protagonist of any story you’re reading, so it was nothing short of wonderful to love Anna (the character) as much as I did.  I want to be friends with her, but will settle for keeping Anna and the French Kiss at my bedside.
At the beginning of the novel, Anna is extremely vulnerable and you just want her to fit in and make friends in this strange city.  Even when she starts to get comfortable in Paris she still has that piece of vulnerability in her character, and that makes her so relatable.  Anna has so many flaws, but you almost can’t see them because of how much you grow to care for her.  She also doesn’t see herself as everyone else does, which is why it is interesting to see how the characters react to her.  I loved the relationship Anna didn’t even know she had with her ex-boyfriend, Matt.  I was very surprised to see how that friendship worked because, as the reader, you are only able to see from Anna’s perspective.  You almost can’t compare Anna at the start to Anna at the end, because of what she went through.  All the characters struggled and benefited because of it.

Étienne St. Clair.  Étienne. É-ti-enne.  I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love that name.  Étienne St. Clair is an American boy with a French name, and an English accent.  I am probably the only girl in the world that does not swoon when she hears a boy speaking in that famous accent.  But I turned to mush every time I read the name Étienne.  If I find a boy with the name Étienne (or willing to change his name to Étienne) … I plan on keeping him.  Now, back to Étienne St. Clair.  St. Clair is the boy that every girl wants … or doesn’t realize she wants.  He was charismatic and charming, and the perfect love interest for Anna.  (Or he would be if he wasn’t already in a relationship of his own).  St. Clair was so sweet.  Melt.  Swoon.  Fans self.  He was the best friend to Anna.  You never would have noticed that she was taller, because he commanded such presence.  As you read, you see more of Étienne St. Clair than anyone, because he shared himself with Anna.
Anna is NOT a love triangle.  It’s closer to a love pentagon.
When reading Anna I found myself waiting for the inevitable cliche.  It never came.  Anna was simply marvelous.  It was a love story screaming to be heard.  Once you listened you could never forget it.
I was waiting, and WAITING for the french kiss.  But, oh boy, when it FINALLY came I melted right where I sat.  Seriously.  Paris and a boy named Étienne?  I never had a chance.

Yes, I spent the above paragraphs talking about the wonderful love story that is Anna and the French Kiss.  Except now I have to tell you that Anna is so much more than a love story.  It’s about a girl finding herself even when she didn’t know she was lost.  Hell, it’s about learning how to find yourself.

When reading Anna, I stumbled upon a question.  ["Besides, he's just an attractive boy.  Nothing to get worked up over." page 65]  Don't we always get worked up over the cute guy?  Can we help it?  I don't know.  I certainly haven't been able to get over it yet.

When Anna returned home for Christmas break I could see her in a different light.  I loved seeing that side of her.  At that point, she missed Paris and she didn’t realize she would.  I believe that that homecoming was a turning point for Anna.
One of the characters I loved was Josh, the artist.  His quietness spoke volumes.  Generally, the less you say the more you hear.  Therefore, he was full of surprises.  I found him to be a great friend.  I think all the characters played important parts in the multifaceted friendship.

Anna was so good that Gilmore Girls was strictly background noise.  I, eventually, turned down the volume so all I could hear was a gentle humming noise.

Anna was disarmingly romantic.  I'm still living, breathing, FEELING, Anna.
Anna bewitched me.
Stephanie Perkins deserves all the glowing praise she gets.

Anna was easy to love.  (The book and the character).
Thank the Lord for a heroine who is not stupid.

"Anna and the French Kiss" est un de mes livres préférés.

Rating:

Premise: 4/5

Plot: 5/5

Writing: 5/5

Characters: 5/5

Overall: 5/5

Words that describe Anna:  radiant, gleaming, luminous, sparkling, bewitching, foxy

The following may be considered spoilers, so read at your own risk.
Warning:  Language may not be suitable for all ages.
Favourite Quotes:
"They have turned him into a bestseller and a total dick."  page 5
"Sorry, Chef Pierre.  I'm a little distracted by this little English French American Boy Masterpiece."  page 26

"I'm just as big a fool as the rest of them."  page 29
"Boys turn girls into such idiots."  page 35

"Did you just have a foodgasm?" - St. Clair page 88 (Foodgasm = best word ever. Why have I never heard the word foodgasm before?)
"They blush more for his smile than anything else."  page 105
"There.  You're officially Canadian.  Try not to abuse your new power." - St. Clair page 116
"Girl Scouts didn't teach me what to do with emotionally unstable drunk boys."  page 140
"Funny, but I never imagined my first sleepover with a guy being, well, a sleepover."  page 179
“‘And you're beautiful.’ (St. Clair)  I trip and fall down on the sidewalk.”  page 189
How you know the author rocks:  "There's a lot of blood.  And Mickey Mouse ears." page 211
"Granddad is bellowing for his bonnie lass.  That would be me."  page 237
"Toph is an insensitive douchebag motherhumping assclown ... "  page 245
“Why is it that the right people never wind up together?  Why are people so afraid to leave a relationship, even if they know it’s a bad one?”  page 264

"Anna and the French Kiss" est un de mes livres préférés." translates to: Anna and the French kiss is one of my favourite books.