Fault in Our Stars by John Green

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Recommended: The perception of death

The gripping novel “The Fault in our Stars” by John Green includes the idea of mortality, which sweeps through the book as a major theme. The love between Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters is so powerful and intense that Hazel moves her whole thought of mortality aside to be with Augustus. The novel begins with a girl (Hazel) who has terminal cancer. She goes to a support group to meet with other cancer kids, when one day she meets a new boy, Augustus and as soon as they catch each other’s eyes the connection begins. They share a flirtatious friendship where they share their love for stories and both read the book Imperial Affliction. They travel to Amsterdam to meet the author to try and get the answers to the ending of the book they adore, however they are extremely disappointed when he turns out to be rude and abrasive towards them. After meeting with the author they once idolised, they engage in physical relations and the relationship grows. In a horrible twist of heart-breaking fate, Augustus passes away and the book ends the same way Imperial Affliction did. We are left asking the same questions but in different characters with this book. That is just one example of John Green’s style of artistic literacy.

The opening of the book is Hazel giving the reader an incite into the impact that cancer has on her life. As a reader, you begin to realise how much cancer could affect your life; it can bring depression, tragedies and loneliness. This changes the day Hazel meets Augustus. She always considers others before herself and never tries to hurt anyone, but still manages to have a quirky outlook on life. When she goes to the support group, she noticed a boy staring at her. As soon as she sees him, Hazel begins to feel self-conscio...

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...the difficulty of cancer. They show that cancer doesn’t have to stop you from doing things that you desire. They broke through the chains and unpicked the lock that was stopping them from having a fulfilling life. They showed their extreme care by the epilogue that Hazel did, and that Augustus’s last dying request was for Hazel. Their kind-hearted spirits came across with their whimsical small talk. The passion that they shared in Amsterdam shows just how much they wanted each other. Although cancer did sadly have an end to their relationship as Augustus’s life comes to an end and Hazel is left alone. This is a good way to end it, because it is like life, there isn’t always a happy ending. John Green’s endearing and thoughtful book opens your eyes into the hardship of cancer and how the unique characters (Augustus and Hazel) share their love and their complexities.

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