The Fault in our Stars

John Green's novel about two teenagers falling in love whilst living with cancer is so much more than a book for "YA" young adults. Although the premise sounds like a straight forward story of ill-fated young love with the potential for schmaltz and tears, what makes it so special and a fantastic read is the philosophical and almost fourth wall breaking approach by the author. The dialogue is witty and sharp, with the two young lovers sparring and delving into deep discussions over mortality.

Having read a novel, "An Imperial Affection", which ends mid sentence, Hazel and Augustus are so frustrated to know what happened to the characters after the story ends, that they travel to Amsterdam to try and find answers from the author. The author has become a drunk nihilist following his own daughter's death by cancer and refuses to give them any clues - they are just characters in a novel and when the story ends, they cease to exist.

Does this apply to real life to? Once all those people that remember us have passed away, are we no better than a fictional character?



During their visit to Amsterdam, they visit the Anne Frank museum where a book holds the names of all the 103,000 dead from the Netherlands in the Holocaust. There are five other Aaron Frank's before Anne - who remembers them and keeps their story alive?
With all this and a discussion of Maslow's hierarchy of needs whilst diagnosed with cancer, this is no ordinary teenage novel and great kudos to John Green in assuming a higher level of intelligence in the reader and a refreshing change from all the supernatural / dystopia genre material being aimed at this age group.

Movie website

Its often said that the big screen is the best place to see blockbuster movies, as the small screen doesn't do them justice. Well, its also a good place to see a weepie, as in the cinema no-one sees you cry.

As was natural for a film adaptation, it eschews some of the philosophy and discussion on mortality, but still manages to rise above what Hazel Grace herself refers to as the "cancer genre", with intelligent and straight talking dialogue. The only point where it felt veering into dangerous territory was with the waiter at the restaurant in Amsterdam and the tourists clapping the kissing couple in Anne Frank's attic (or is that just because I am British and don't like to see public shows of emotion?). It seems almost sacrilege to be kissing in somewhere linked with such tragedy, but it does seem to echo Anne Frank's own narrated lines about finding happiness and beauty where you can.


Although I knew the ending, the film manages to hit the tear ducts more than once until you are on the mat after a one-two-three with a mock eulogy, a funeral and a coda from beyond the grave.  


 
If you enjoyed the book or the film, try the book of the soon to be released film "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman or "Before I Die" / "Now is Good" by Jenny Downham reviewed on this blog