The world isn't a wish-granting factory.

Book 10 - A book at the bottom of your to-read list

 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

 

It may have been at the bottom of my to-read list, but this is not to say that I felt that the book wasn't going to be worth reading before I had even read it.

As often happens with the young people of today, they pick a book that is becoming a movie and become obsessed with it. I had firmly decided that I was not going to ever read this novel. Then, one day whilst browsing the vast assemblage of books collectively known as Chapters, I bought the novel. Don't ask me why, I'm still trying to work that part out.

It has been about three years since I decided I wasn't interested in reading this novel. The movie had not been announced yet, but there were many people in my Grade 12 English class who were unnecessarily excited about Mr. Green. After listening to such classmates drone on about the "wonderful" nature in which Mr. Green records his innermost thoughts on paper, I became fully unexcited about reading The Fault in Our Stars.

Yet, here we sit, less than 24 hours after finishing the novel. From the conversations of friends, I was under the impression that I would be full out balling by the end. Alas, this was not the case. I didn't cry once. I may have become a little teary at times, but never actual crying.

This novel is another one of those teenage love stories that incurs a problem throughout the novel which threatens the foreverness of their love. Unlike most novels which display a more mild cause for brief separation, ultimately resulting in a happy conclusion of everlasting love, this novel involves *spoileralert* one of the lovely lovers dying. I won't say more as I'm sure you all want to read the novel after such a vivid recount.

I had a rather difficult time identifying with the main character because (and this won't spoil anything because you learn this first thing) she is faced with a difficult life involving the big C. As a result of the cancer that took over her body, she has poor lungs and is always attached to an oxygen tank. There is a great deal of courage involved in the lives of the characters because most of them have or have had cancer.

The part that I can easily identify with is how they all live their lives in full humour even though they have been dealt the worst hand. I often approach difficult situations with humour rather than seriousness. I rather enjoyed the sarcastic remarks made by the characters.

If you are in the place I was before reading this novel, you can stay there. I don't feel as though my life has grown in any way based on what I have gather from its pages. If you really want to read the novel and just haven't had time, maybe your busyness is trying to tell you something.

I think I would enjoy this novel much more if my feelings hadn't been tainted by the general public who fervently informed me that it is the greatest book ever written. My question is; have they ever read any Harry Potter book?

 

Okay? this is t-bear signing off