John Green's The Fault in Our Stars
Sooooo the new John Green book is here, and it's about a Cancer Girl. Cancer Girls are a fictional trope wherein a teenage girl has cancer and is lamenting her soon-to-be-lost life and is sarcastic but secretly longs for love. Since it's Green, this character is actually likable and something of a departure from the cliche, even though she meets a cute boy who's lost a leg to cancer and this book is about their relationship. Things don't go the usual route and I loved reading their conversations, especially the ones about books (a great fictional book/author are part of a major subplot). They're unrealistically articulate, but hey, great reading. I did get a teensy bit teary more than once, but there was no straight-up sobbing, which I guess merits an A-? Side note for music fans, John Darnielle is thanked in the acknowledgements. Are all creative dudes named John secretly friends?
I just didn't feel any emotional connection to this book. It wasn't straight out Nicholas Sparks or anything - it didn't feel sappy - it just didn't feel fleshed out enough or something.
ReplyDeleteIt sucks how much "sick" became the story of all of the kids in the book except for the one girlfriend with a faux British accent.
Honestly, it felt kind of Twilight-y minus the hot stalker vibes.
HILARIOUS!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I mean, obviously I did like this, but have no interest in revisiting it--it's not THAT compelling, you know?