When The Fault in Our Stars came out in theatres a few years ago, I refused to see it. I had seen the previews and just knew what the plot was; boy and girl fall in love, one of them gets sick and dies. Why would I want to go to the movies to cry in front of a bunch of strangers? I ugly-cry, y'all, and no one needs to see that!
But I saw the book at the Goodwill recently for like a dollar, so I was like "Why not? I might as well at this point." I know I'm years behind, but I read the book, and I just knew I was in for some arrogant eye-rolling, but I surprised myself. I read the book in two days, and really, truly enjoyed it.
If I read a book before seeing the movie, even if I've seen who the actors are portraying the characters, I'm still pretty good at developing the characters in my mind and figuring out who they are (and what they look like) to me. I'll say that I think they got Augustus 100% right, Isaac should have been scrawnier and nerdier, and Hazel should have been portrayed by Anna-Sophia Robb or Chloe Grace Moretz. But hey! That's just my opinion, right?
As Hazel states about her favorite book, this isn't a cancer book. Yes, it's a book about people with cancer, but it's not about how by dying, they found out how they should be living, and I think that's the most important thing that differentiates this book from others like it (*cough*Nicholas Sparks*cough*). Reading the book, you immediately fall in love with Augustus. (Yeah, Hazel's cool, too, whatever.) He's funny and romantic and just so dang sweet. I literally found myself laughing out loud, and later crying so hard that I couldn't make out the words on the pages.
My cousin described the film as "absolutely wonderful awful... the happiest most sad movie [he's] ever seen," and I have to say that's probably also the best way to describe the book.
It's the perfect YA novel, easy to read and understand, with the perfect amounts of comedy and tragedy.
I'd definitely like to see the movie at this point, as well, but I don't think it could be nearly half as great as the book. I will definitely be reading more from John Green.


Thoughts?