The night I finished John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, I sat on my bed crying. For Hazel and Augustus. For the friend I lost to cancer years ago. For the people I was afraid to love. For those I never realized I’d lose.
John Green doesn’t just evoke emotion. Over the past few days, he took me on an odyssey of emotions. He’s made me look inside myself. Questions things. And THINK. Think differently, think obsessively, think openly.
I can’t quite explain all the reasons I was crying, but it’s definitely because of his beautiful prose, his disarmingly lovable characters, and his vivid storytelling.
But this book didn’t just make me cry. It made me laugh out loud and smile like I haven’t since college. The characters are brilliantly witty and their dark humor in the face of oblivion is oddly uplifting.
Some of my favorite lines:
“Depression is not a side effect of cancer. Depression is a side effect of dying. (Cancer is also a side effect of dying. Almost anything is, really.)”
“And if the inevitability of human oblivion worries you, I encourage you to ignore it. God knows that’s what everyone else does.”
“Ma’am, your daughter’s car has just been deservedly egged by a blind man. Please close the door and go back inside or we’ll be forced to call the police.”
If I could only read one book for the rest of my days, this is the book I’d choose to read.
20 comments
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July 23, 2012 at 8:09 am
zelmare
Sounds like something not to miss!
July 23, 2012 at 10:46 am
Kourtney Heintz
I’m so so glad I didn’t miss it.
July 23, 2012 at 9:15 am
Jenny
I absolutely loved this book. It is literary genius. Everyone from every walk of life must read this book. It may be Young Adult but it crosses every age line. It speaks to people of all ages. It is timeless. It is a classic.
July 23, 2012 at 10:47 am
Kourtney Heintz
Completely agree with you. It’s a book I’ll read again and again. And every time I talk about it, I tear up. It’s that beautiful.
July 23, 2012 at 10:15 am
philosophermouseofthehedge
Sounds like I’d better look for this one if those are some of the lines. Thanks for sharing
July 23, 2012 at 10:48 am
Kourtney Heintz
The writing is something I aspire to. Beautiful and honest.
July 23, 2012 at 10:59 am
4amWriter
Sounds like a pivotal book, one that will make you think and do things differently.
July 23, 2012 at 12:46 pm
Kourtney Heintz
Definitely a pivotal book. It kinda makes your soul turn in on itself and reflect and remember.
July 23, 2012 at 11:31 am
Carrie Rubin
I’ve heard wonderful things about the book, but I wasn’t sure I could bring myself to “go there.” From what you’ve written, sounds like it would be worth the trip.
July 23, 2012 at 12:44 pm
Kourtney Heintz
I hear you. It’s the second cancer related book I’ve read this summer. It’s like deciding today is a good day to go to The Holocaust Museum. There is never a good day to hear about and see images of the horrors inflicted during that period in history. But sometimes we need to do it. For them and for us.
July 23, 2012 at 3:28 pm
Elliot
I’ve heard good things about this book. Another to add to the list
July 23, 2012 at 4:58 pm
Kourtney Heintz
Me too! I tend not to go with the crowd, but this is one of those times, they are really really right. : )
July 23, 2012 at 3:53 pm
jmmcdowell
“If I could only read one book for the rest of my days, this is the book I’d choose to read.”
Wow, that’s an amazing endorsement!
July 23, 2012 at 4:59 pm
Kourtney Heintz
I think it would keep teaching me new things on each read or at least help me discover them in me. It’s a really really really amazing book.
July 23, 2012 at 4:30 pm
char
Wow! Thanks for the review. Your last sentence sold me…if the book is good enough for you to want it as your only thing to read, that’s saying something! Will go put on my list of books to get right now.
July 24, 2012 at 12:08 am
Kourtney Heintz
Char, I was talking to my friend who recommended it to me and we both got choked up talking about it. it’s amazing. Glad you liked the review, very few books move me let alone push me miles down the shore of existence. This one did both.
July 24, 2012 at 12:11 am
char
Definitely going to have to read! Thanks.
July 24, 2012 at 12:17 am
Kourtney Heintz
Love to hear what you think.
Enjoy!
July 23, 2012 at 6:13 pm
La La
Sounds like one to add to my list!!!
July 24, 2012 at 12:08 am
Kourtney Heintz
It’s worth every second spent reading it!