I think this a book that reads very differently depending on where you are in life. If you're young and in love, or in love with the idea of love, Hazel and Gus could make an attractive couple: witty, spontaneous, and bursting with emotion.

But for me, an older reader and a parent, the best part of the book was the final third, when Gus is gone and Hazel is left with a clearer understanding of what her parents will one day go through. Throughout the book, in fact, it was Hazel's relationship with her parents, and not her fleeting love story, that seemed to be written best. Otherwise, as I mentioned in earlier posts, I found Hazel and Gus' dialogue unnatural and tiring.

I could also have done without the Peter Van Houten subplot. For me, it added nothing to the story, other than to prove the old adage about not meeting your idols. And his reappearance near the end of the novel felt forced and just terrible. I was much more interested in his assistant, and the friendship she developed with Hazel.

As I also wrote in an earlier post, I bought this set of Green novels because they're the first foray Penguin makes into its new collection of Minis. This is a popular format in the Netherlands, and Penguin has done a fantastic job in adapting it to their offerings. The books are read horizontally, and the pages can be comfortably flipped up with your thumb while the rest of the hand supports the book. It made for perfect lunchtime reading. The pages are thin but very sturdy, and I loved the experience. Hopefully, more authors will be added to the collection soon.

Today's lesson: Never meet your idols. Enjoy their work, but leave them me.

Although, as appalling as Peter Van Houten turns out to be, I agree with him on one thing: once a work of art has been released into the world, it no longer belongs to the creator. A novelist has no obligation to have a prepared answer for what happens to characters once the last page has been read, or to even think about it. That is entirely in the purview of the readers, to fill in the gaps, the pasts and futures, as they see fit. It's actually one of the best things about reading, having that freedom to keep imagining beyond the boundaries of print.

I'm still not in love with the dialogue style; I find myself rolling my eyes way too often. But I'm reading this almost as fantasy (because it is, in the end, the story of the MCs fulfilling a wish). Maybe if I'd read this book when its popularity was at peak frenzy (I haven't seen the film either), I could have followed the conversations and been more invested, but I can't say it's doing a lot for me at the moment.

I'm reading this book more for the format than because I really wanted to read the story itself.

These little books are great to have around. They're the size of a phone, and are read horizontally, with the covers becoming an easy way to hold the book in one hand. The pages are thin but sturdy, and can mostly be flipped using a thumb (they're obviously going after the "swipe" generation here).

As for the story itself, I know it has many devoted fans, and I can see why people like it. I'm enjoying the wit of the protagonists, but at the same time find their words and actions somewhat unrealistic. The book is on my desk, and when I need a break from work I read through a few pages; it's also great for keeping in a pocket and taking it out when waiting in line at the store.

I know Penguin has plans for more books in this format (which was, I believe, inspired by a publisher in the Netherlands that has been printing like this for a while), and they chose a set of Green books as their first foray because of their popularity. Hopefully there will be more offerings in the near future!

The Fault in our Star book is about Hazel Grace Lancaster, and how a book about a cancer sufferer which brings two sufferers close. The other sufferer being Augustus Waters.

But there is some fault in the characterization. John’s characters, Hazel Grace and Augustus, sound more like 25 or 30 year old adults then 17 year old teenagers.  The character of Augustus is more very mature according to his age. But then the wit John has used in his characters is wonderful to read. The sarcasm is outstanding. This made the dialog conversations between the main characters is realistic and fun to read.

I could imagine the characters in front of me conversing to each other. It was that clear. Also, the book is for a quodophile(i.e. me). I also feel, John develop these mature characters as the book also targets young adults and which I feel is a very good thing. The young adults could add something new to their vocabularies and learn some small-small morals which this book provides and make a good impact on their attitude and personality through their whole life. This effort, of the author, I appreciate.

There was also one more fault with the book is that in the end it becomes too much emotional. And that aspect I certainly do not like. But hey, I am not the author, John Green is, and he has full rights to write whatever he wants. Also, he being a male writer, wrote the entire book in female teenager’s point of view. And I feel, he did a good job. Never once, I felt that something was too manly about his female characterization.