This may not be the most reliable review on a book that I have ever done, simply because of those words I added on at the end of the title.
Audio book
I tried to listen to Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn in audio book quite some time ago and was not impressed by the book OR the reader. So while I waited and waited (and waited!) for the 2 library copies of The fault In Our Stars by John Green to be returned so that I could check one out, I disregarded the option of the audio version sitting on the shelf, lonely and ignored, until I finally ran out of patience with the disrespectful young adults that were dominating the copies of a young adult book coveted by adults.
I checked out those CDs doubtfully. I loaded them onto my computer, transferred them onto the tablet AND bought a new set of ear buds. I quickly discovered that if I am not busy doing things while listening I will 'zone out'. You know what I mean, the voice or music is going in one ear and out the other while my brain is contemplating something thrilling like the grocery list or lesson plans.
Also, I found that by listening instead of reading I never formed an emotional attachment to any of the characters. At all! It was disturbing to say the least. I am usually overly attached to fictional characters!
Anyway, John Green (according to his author page on goodreads.com ) has spit out 4 decently popular books in the past 8 years. I consider that impressive, having never written anything decently popular in quadruple that amount of time.
This is a tear jerker people. Before I even opened the cover... er... CD case... I knew it was a love story about two teens with cancer, at least one of them terminal. Some people would cry over that in itself.
It is the story of Hazel, who meets Gus at a cancer support group. It is the story of their friends from before they were diagnosed and the story of Isaac, a friend who also has cancer. It is the story of siblings, parents and doctors who love and treat them and others.
*Side note: I love the names in this book. They are not totally common or uncommon. The purpose of that? Who knows. I, however, prefer to think that it is because they need to be viewed as individuals, not just another John or Jessica, but they also need to be considered as people you could meet at the local high school or supermarket.
These teens are avid readers and deep thinkers. Whether that is because they were born that way or if it is a 'side effect of dying' is not made absolutely clear, but my guess is that we are expected to deduce that they became that way after they were diagnosed.
This is not just a story of first love. Nor is it simply a story of cancer. It is a tragic and heroic story of living & dying, love & anger, despair & hope. Life. It's a story of the realities of life.
So what is my opinion?
I liked it. I wish I had read it instead of listening to it but, eh, so it goes.
Read it, tell me what you think. Okay? Okay.
