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Thursday, March 22, 2012

The Fault in Our Stars: BlogHer Book Club Review


I read The Fault in Our Stars by John Greene in one night. I couldn't stop reading it even though I was desperately tired and I had to work the next day. 

From the description, it's not a book I would have thought to pick up, so I'm glad it came my way through BlogHer. After the first few pages, I was hooked.

*This* was a book where I dogeared pages to return to good quotes. This was one of less than five books that I've EVER read that made me cry. Not just a couple of tears, but ugly, snuffling sobs for several pages at the end.  BUT it also made me laugh out loud in parts, which also doesn't happen often.  I love the balance of humor and complete tragedy in this book - that is really what made it unique.

Greene's writing is simple and beautiful, and somehow he captures the spirit of Hazel, the teenage girl narrating the story.  He's great at describing the character's physical characteristics so you can picture them very vividly. The dialogue is witty, and reminds me a lot of the movie Juno.  The parents are somewhat one-dimensional, but that seems appropriate considering that the main story is between the teenagers, and isn't that how teenagers think of the adults around them (when they bother at all, that is). 

Go read this book.  It's amazing.  I am so lucky to have gotten the review copy for free - this is one I'll keep in my collection to reread.

I was compensated for this review by BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are totally my own.

6 comments:

  1. You have perfect timing. I just finished a series of books last night and was wondering what to read. I've seen this book come up on my nook as something they think I'd like, but I wasn't sure. Now I am. So thanks. Can't wait to start it.

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  2. love that you are finding time to read, i am inspired to do that again too...this might be the right book to do so. Now if only I can lay my hands on the book, there are 300+ hold on it in our library:)
    Preete

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  3. @Preete - I only started reading again because of this BlogHer Book Club - the commitment requires you to finish and write about the book. But it's helped me rediscover my love of reading, and also realize I *do* have time to read. I'm so happy to be back to reading fiction regularly. One can only read so many parenting books :)

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  4. So I just read this book. I too laughed out loud, I love the sweetness of the relationship with the sarcasm that was witty and intelligent. I too cried. Thanks for recommending it.

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