Author: John Green
Publisher: Penguin
Pages: 316
Price: Rs 399
Genre: Fiction / Young Adult / Contemporary
Rating: 10/10
Format: Paperback
I had
already read such rave reviews about this book on the internet and from friends
that the moment I opened the book, I knew something special was going to begin.
And it sure did. Reading ‘the Fault in our Stars’ was an emotionally moving
experience. It is an extraordinary book and restores my faith in fiction. I am
not going to forget it for a long time.
16 - year
old Hazel Grace Lancaster’s and 17-year old Augustus Waters’ stars cross for the
first time at the Cancer Support Group. Hazel thinks Augustus is hot, while
Hazel reminds him of Natalie Portman from ‘V for Vendetta’. He invites her to
watch the movie together, she tells him about her favourite book ‘An Imperial
Affliction’ by Peter Von Houten, and so begins this beautiful story of love. ‘An
Imperial Affliction’, a fictitious book, almost becomes a character in their
story with the kind of significance it eventually has.
Their
love is magical. When they converse, you feel as if they are complementing
their thoughts, as if they are always on the same page and as if soul mates
exist. Their conversations are sometimes philosophical, sometimes frothy, sometimes
intellectual, but all times in perfect sync with each other. The terrible truth
is that you know both of them have very limited time. You don’t want it to end but
perhaps the beauty and preciousness of all great love stories is that they are
so short.
It is
hard not to feel for both sets of parents [extremely likable and loving] who
see this young love blooming, although happy that their son / daughter got a
chance at love and yet knowing well that someone is going to hurt.
Till
240 pages, I read it at a breakneck speed but after that I intentionally slowed
down. I did not want it to end. But it had to, and let me also assure you, it
is one of the most satisfying, not necessarily happy, endings I have read.
Be
assured that you will be deeply, emotionally invested in this book. When Hazel
and Augustus will fall in love, you will have happy tears for the mushy,
teenaged, young love, and you will cry buckets when life will take its toll. At
least I did. I haven’t cried like this since a long time while reading a book. But this remarkable book is just not a tear-fest, it has humour, playfulness and mush in good measure too, which you would find heart-warming. One tip I want to give you is that start this book only when you have enough time to finish it. If you don’t, you
would not feel your heart in anything else. Trust me.
A few
of my favourite lines from the book:
“What a slut time is. She
screws everybody.”
“Some people don't understand
the promises they're making when they make them," I said.
"Right, of course. But you keep the promise anyway. That's what love is. Love is keeping the promise anyway.”
"Right, of course. But you keep the promise anyway. That's what love is. Love is keeping the promise anyway.”
“You gave me a forever within
the numbered days, and I'm grateful.”
“Grief does not change you, Hazel. It reveals you.”
Read
more quotes here.
And if
you have not understood in so many words, READ IT.
Review Book courtesy: Penguin India
