I borrowed The Fault in our stars from a friend and read it during the last
semester break of college. I haven’t seen the movie but the book gave me an
insight, which is why I chose to write on this. I found Green’s writing in the
book unpretentious and very straightforward. In a simple narration John Green
uses harsh reality to weave a sweet heart rending tale of cancer afflicted
teenagers. The protagonists are crippled by the disease but their beings shine
forth due to their undying spirit. By thumb rule a tale of lovers cannot be
exemplified without some strong forces of opposition that endanger their tryst!
Here, in The Fault in our Stars Green
uses such a predicament that is more real than dramatic, but serves the purpose
of making a connection with the readers.
The story sets off with a sixteen
year old Hazel Grace a victim of lung cancer and her acquaintance with Augustus
Waters, a survivor of osteosacroma. They meet at a support group and build up
an interesting relationship over time, getting introduced to each other’s
passions and likings. Augustus is drawn to The
Imperial Affliction, a book that means a lot to Hazel. Hazel is piqued by
Augustus as he draws her resemblance to Natalie Portman in the movie V for Vendetta, which she agrees to
watch with him. Hazel also tells him that she wants to meet the author of The Imperial Affliction, Peter Van
Houten who has left the story incomplete and she wants to know what happens to
the characters thereafter. The story takes an interesting note when Augustus
perseveres and uses his wish from the Genie Foundation to take Hazel to
Amsterdam and meet Peter Van Houten. Hazel also has to make efforts to make her
doctor grant her the permission to go. After overcoming resistances, they make
it and Hazel’s mother accompanies them to the trip. But the meeting with Peter
Van Houten turns out to be far different from what was expected. Instead of
providing Hazel what she expected, the man acts rather insensitively and calls
her a failed experiment of mutation. Hazel gets distressed but later they take
a tour to the Anne Frank’s Museum and Hazel has to toil to climb the stairs.
The place soon enthrals Augustus and Hazel and caught amidst a tide of emotions,
they kiss and soon realize how much they love each other. The story takes a
tragic twist when Augustus reveals that his cancer had returned. It becomes
clear that he won’t survive and he dies following a few days of deteriorating
health. The story closes to an end with Hazel receiving a eulogy from Augustus,
post his death. She expected that he had written an ending to The Imperial Affliction, but instead
receives a piece of writing about how grateful he was to have known her in his
life. Hazel also feels the same.
Green takes us through the tenacious
struggle of the characters interspersed with moments of joy and fulfilment. The Fault in our Stars explores all shades
of probabilities in the relationships of the characters. The reader perceives
them in the bonding of the parents with the teenagers, the teenager friends and
the ones they develop while interacting with those whose lives are easier than theirs.
The characters accept the inevitable, yet their good humoured take on their
destinies would make one bound to appreciate their boldness. Augustus’s friend
Isaac charms the readers with his wit instead of arousing pity in the reader’s
heart for going blind due to cancer. They spare no moment to be in merry and
indulge in pleasures as they realize that life is too short for them to keep
brooding over their maladies. In the subplot of the story involving The Imperial Affliction, the reader stumbles upon an anti-climax
over the meeting of Peter Van Houten. But as the story ends, Green clears all
impending queries that arise in the reader’s mind while going through the
story.
There is very limited use of rhetoric
and as a non-fiction genre, The Fault in
our Stars plays upon the delicate intricacies of life, as varied as it
could possibly get. This is where I feel that Green scores in creating a warm,
endearing story of star crossed lovers with an undying spirit. One should
consider reading this book, especially those who are suffering from depression
or think that life is too cruel for them. The plot of the book will bring a
realization that we are really fortunate for even the most little things in
life that make us happy!
