Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

 

My rating: 2 of 5

 

(Book read from June 7th to June 8th, 2014.)

 

Summary:

 

 

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

  

 

My Thoughts on the Book:

 

 

Ok, so, obviously, I'm in the minority when it comes to The Fault in Our Stars. I know that everyone seems to love this book, but because of the few bloggers that didn't like it, I decided not to have any expectations. I mean, I didn't even watch the movie trailer, in case there are spoilers in it. So, is The Fault in Our Stars the best book ever? No, definitely not! I know that enjoying a book is subjective, but seriously? Did we read the same book? I'm just glad that this wasn't my first John Green book, because after this, I probably wouldn't have read any of his other books, which would've been a shame.

 

The Fault in Our Stars wasn't the worst book I've ever read, but it just wasn't good. It was pretentious, and mostly when the characters talked, I felt like I was listening to John Green philosophize about his opinions & thoughts on the theme & life in general. I mean, seriously? I love John Green's videos, even before I started reading his books, but this was just plain unbelievable in general, especially coming from two teenagers.

And the story was predictable, and so, so boring. I just kept reading until I finished it, because I knew if I stop, I will probaby never go back to it.

That being said, it was still a sad story, but I wasn't heartbroken over it. I guessed early on what will happen, and despite the overall unrealistic aspect of it, it wasn't all bad. There were a few good parts, and realistic, too. Like the good day, which I don't think it counts only for people with cancer, but from my experience, it usually happens with sick & dying people, so that was real. Also, in all this philosophical & pretentious babble, there were a few things & quotes that I liked, but nothing life-changing, and mostly, I was shaking my head on all the things said, and at the silliness of it all. 

I'm actually quite sad about writing this bad review, because I loved Looking for Alaska, Will Grayson, Will Grayson, and John Green's story in Let It Snow was my most fav in the book, and I loved his writing style, but this one, thanks, but no thanks!

I didn't quite like the characters. I wanted to like them, but just couldn't. I'd say that Augustus was interesting enough, I liked his optimism & he was funny at times, and sweet. But, Hazel, I have nothing to say about her, good or bad. The only character that I quite liked was Isaac. As for the romance, it wasn't bad, just your ordinary romance, that happened because of that thing - meeting at the right time & place in their lives, so they connected & started to like each other. But, it wasn't memorable or unforgettable, or the best book I've ever read. And I don't even want to comment on Van Houten, because I'll start to rant.

In the end, I can't recommend The Fault in Our Stars. It just wasn't good, and doesn't deserve all the hype. But, even though I didn't like the book, I'm actually looking forward to the movie. After I finished reading the book, I watched the movie trailer, and I think that it will be good, and hopefully most of the pretentious dialogues will be toned down.

 

  

   

Challenges:

 

2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

Title: An Abundance of Katherines

Author: John Green

 

My rating: 3 of 5

(Book read from March 22nd to March 24th, 2013)

Summary:

Katherine V thought boys were gross
Katherine X just wanted to be friends
Katherine XVIII dumped him in an e-mail
K-19 broke his heart
When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton's type happens to be girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact.

On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun - but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl. Love, friendship, and a dead Austro-Hungarian archduke add up to surprising and heart-changing conclusions in this ingeniously layered comic novel about reinventing oneself.

 

 

My Thoughts on the Book:

Ok, so I guess I'd call An Abundance of Katherines an average comtemporary YA. Overall, I liked it, but it was nothing special. And from that aspect, it's definitely a disappointing John Green book. If you haven't tried his books, don't start with this one. Thankfully, I didn't :) 

It was kind of a quirky read, with a little bit of weird characters, that I can't say that I liked them. I didn't dislike them, but I just couldn't connect to them, I kinda started to like Colin & Lindsey near the end of the book, as to Hassan, I didn't warm up to him at all. And for someone that was suppose to be the funny guy, not so much. I guess I kinda got used to laughing out loud to John Green's books, and this just wasn't the case. I laughed some, and overall it was a fun & kinda interesting read, but nothing special.

But, what did I love? My fav parts in this book were the scenes in Lindsey's secret place - they were written in a lovely way, and they were sweet & made me smile.  I also loved the ending, this is where it felt like a John Green book, so that was better.

In the end, An Abundance of Katherines was nice enough YA contemporary, with good ending & quirky characters, and although it wasn't quite a read for me, I still liked it, so I say, try it & see for yourself.  

Challenges:

2013 TBR Pile Challenge

Take Control of Your TBR Pile Challenge March 2013

Title: Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Author: John Green & David Levithan

 

My rating: 4 of 5

(Book read from March 6th to March 23rd, 2013 for a read-along)

Summary:

One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens — both named Will Grayson — are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical.

Hilarious, poignant, and deeply insightful, John Green and David Levithan’s collaborative novel is brimming with a double helping of the heart and humor that have won both of them legions of faithful fans.

 

 

My Thoughts on the Book:

Ok, so my first thoughts on this novel when I finished it - absolutely hilarious! I just laughed so much. As you can see from the summary, Will Grayson, Will Grayson is a contemporary YA novel about 2 guys that are both named Will Grayson, that meet accidentally, and that meeting will influence both of their lives. The story is narrated alternatively between the 2 Will Graysons, and the PoV changes with every chapter. So, so you'll know about who of the 2 Will Graysons I'm talking about, I'll use capital WG for the 1st Will a.k.a John Green's Will, and I'll use small wg for the 2nd Will a.k.a David Levithan's Will.

So, the book starts with WG. We meet WG, and his best friend (the unforgettable) Tiny Cooper & of course there's Jane. I liked WG right away, he was such a great character, and through the book he carved himself a special place in my heart (both he & Jane actually - they were just so sweet), so, yeah, I really liked Jane as a character, too, and I was hoping for some romance between them, and I was really happy with the way it developed, it was quite sweet, fun & romantic, and they were perfect for each other.

Now, the other Will is actually quite a different character from WG - he's depressed, he has a friend Maura, and an online romance with a guy named Isaac, and he's the only bright light in his life that actually makes him happy & keeps him going. So, they finally decide to meet, and that's when he actually meets WG & Tiny Cooper. 

Ok, I won't go into details because it will spoil the story, because something major that I definitely didn't see coming was revealed, I couldn't believe it how that someone could do that?!? Yeah, I'm still a little bit pissed about it, but that evening is also where some of my fav scenes happened - the ones between WG & Jane were both sad & amazing, and poor wg - I was heartbroken for him, yet really happy in the end, and that was so sweet, too. And something that I saw coming (and I was hoping for) happened :)     

And now a special mention for the man himself - Tiny Copper.  This guy was hilarious, he made me laugh so much. But, he was also a great characters, and a good friend & a real sweetie, and yeah, for a while he became my fav character in the book, although in the end my favs were WG & wg. And his musical, that was lots of fun, too :) 

The ending was good & fun, although I would've loved for some epilogue, but it was fine like this, too. I absolutely loved both writing styles. They were just so amazing, and captured the characters & the story perfectly, and I could only wish that this book would never end. 

Also, I was reading this for a read-along, and I was sticking to the reading schedule, and you have no idea how hard it was to stop reading the book until it was time for the next part, so Will Grayson, Will Grayson is definitely one of those unputdownable books that you'll just breeze through until you finish them. 

So, if you enjoy YA contemporary novels about friendship, love & support, that will both make you laugh-out-loud, yet will bring tears in your eyes, then I can't recommend this novel enough. Now it's definitely one of my favs, and I know that I will read it again & again.  

Challenges:

2013 TBR Pile Challenge

Take Control of Your TBR Pile Challenge March 2013

Title: Looking for Alaska

Author: John Green

 

My rating: 5 of 5

(Book read from February 18-19 for a read-along)

Summary:

Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. Then he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.

After. Nothing is ever the same.

 

My Thoughts on the Book:

Looking for Alaska is one of those rare books that stays with you long after you've finished them. It was absolutely amazing & one of the most realistic YA contemporary novels I've read. I wish I've read this when I was in high school :) John  Green with his writing style has got himself a new fan. What I've been waiting for until now? No idea, to be honest. I just do that sometimes with those well praised books or authors, I just keep postponing reading them. But, that ends now! At least, when it comes to John Green's books ;) At the beginning when I started reading this book & I saw that it's split in 2 parts - before & after - I guessed what will happen & I was right! And the moment I started reading it, I couldn't stop until I finished it. I just got so wrapped up in the story & all the characters' adventures. Looking for Alaska is both fun & sad, it's also funny, but yet heartbreaking, and amazingly told story, that will take you on quite an emotional rollercoaster ride. The writing style was amazing, the pacing was perfect & the characters were great. I really liked Miles as a character,  he was a sweety & really likable, as well as Takumi, the Colonel & Lara, too. Who wouldn't want friends like that? As for Alaska, all I can say is that I understand her. As a character she was also fun & interesting, and also smart, but really flawed & definitely screwed-up, although I don't think it's something she wants to be, she just is... This is where John Green had captured the reality with his writing, although actually he does that through the whole book. I think I'll stop here, anything more would be full of spoilers, but Looking for Alaska is a wonderful read, that I think every teen should read it, actually, I think that everyone should read it, because I think everyone would enjoy it! As for me, it's definitely one of the best YA contemporaries I've read, and a book I'd read again & again & I highly recommend it!!!

 

Challenges:

2013 TBR Pile Challenge

2013 Read-along Challenge