Summer Reading 3: The Fault in Our Stars

Biography of John Green

• John Green, born on August 24, 1977, is a renowned American author.
• Known for young adult novels, his notable works include Looking for Alaska, Paper Towns, and The Fault in Our Stars.
• Green's writing often incorporates philosophical themes.

Characters

• Hazel Grace Lancaster: Main character, 17 years old, battling thyroid cancer for three years.

  • Avoids forming deep relationships to minimize the emotional impact of her death.
  • Attends cancer support group while primarily connected to her parents.

• Augustus Waters (Gus): 16-year-old with a prosthetic leg due to osteosarcoma.

  • Charismatic and romantic, insists on living boldly despite his illness.
  • Deeply loves Hazel and desires to make a significant impact before his death.

Summary of Plot

• Hazel's cancer spread to her lungs, necessitating oxygen support.
• Forms a connection with Augustus at a support group, despite her reluctance to engage romantically.
• They plan a trip to Amsterdam to meet a reclusive author of Hazel's favorite book, seeking answers about its ambiguous ending.
• Encounter a disillusioning meeting with the author, who is drunk and unkind.
• Augustus learns his cancer has returned, and Hazel provides unwavering support until his death.
• At Augustus's funeral, Hazel discovers the author's book was based on his own daughter, providing her a way to cope with her grief through a letter from Augustus.

Themes

• Incurable Illness:

  • Various characters face different types of cancer, including thyroid (Hazel), osteosarcoma (Gus), eye cancer (Isaac), and leukemia (Anna).
  • Sick youths grapple with mortality in a way that healthy children often do not.

• Love and Friendship:

  • Hazel avoids relationships for fear of causing pain, while Augustus embraces love without hesitation.
  • Friendships also explored, notably between Hazel and Kaitlyn, and Isaac and Monica.

• Death:

  • Central to the narrative, with characters exhibiting varied beliefs about life and its meaning.
  • Augustus seeks a remarkable legacy; Hazel grapples with existential doubt regarding life after death.

• Lack of Freedom:

  • Characters lack agency due to their illness compared to typical teenagers.
  • Cancer serves as an omnipresent force, dictating their choices and experiences.

• Meaning of Life and Death:

  • Augustus equates a fulfilling life with grand achievements and finds hope in the notion of something after death.
  • Hazel's outlook is more pragmatic, focused on minimizing harm and questioning the existence of an afterlife.
  • Isaac approaches life through connections with love and friendship despite his challenges.