The Fault in our Stars

Step one: Read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

Step two: Play the song "All of These Stars" by Ed Sheeran.

Step three: Let the weeping begin. 

Sometimes you cannot control when the waterworks will begin, but every once in a while, you pick up a book that hits you hard. Even though I read The Fault in Our Stars for the first time six years ago, reading it a second time was just as intriguing and somehow just as moving. There was much laughter, some anger, and although I hate to admit it, tears were definitely shed.

Teen Fiction

I miss walking down the Teen Fiction section of bookstores. There's no way I can pass as a teen anymore, and I sometimes feel judged for reading books that are "not for my age group." But the fact is, although John Green may have intended this book for a younger audience, it might have power for all people, regardless of age. Don't let the age of the protagonists fool you; there are so many ups and downs in this book, it is definitely an emotional rollercoaster. Despite the ups, downs and sharp turns, it is well worth the read. 

Altering Perspectives

Why do you read fiction? Is it for the story, or do you also feel like you learn something from the stories you are exposed to? At the beginning of the novel, John Green emphasizes that the story of Hazel and Augustus is indeed fiction:

"Neither novels nor their readers benefit from attempts to divine whether any facts hide inside a story."

And he's right, of course. It's useless for us as readers to go through a work of fiction and try to decide whether or not any of it is true. That being said, there are truths that readers cannot deny when reading novels, and that is how our feelings and perspectives are shaped by the fiction we choose to read. 

Here's an example: Although we know the characters in this book have cancer, and the story is shaped by that fact, we also know that that is not what the book is about. The Fault in Our Stars is about life, plain and simple. All of those feelings of love, laughter and pain that we experience with Hazel, are all a part of living. With Hazel, I learned that we need to see the person, not the disease. This might be obvious to adults, but as a teenager, I remember reading this book and knowing that this was something I needed to learn.

As I said before, this was the second time I have read this novel, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Do you ever reread novels? Are you like Hazel, rereading the same story over and over again because you adore it so much? I would love to hear your thoughts and/or recommendations, either in the comments section, by email (theopinionatedbookworm@gmail.com) or through Instagram (@theopinionatedbookworm1).