by Kay | Jan 30, 2014 | News |
So, unless you’ve been in hiding these last 18 hours, you’ve probably seen the trailer for The Fault in Our Stars. Considering the overwhelming popularity of this book, the trailer has been met with equal enthusiasm. Here it is in case you haven’t seen it:
I know everyone is going to vehemently disagree but… I really did not like this trailer and suspect I will dislike the movie as well. I’m sorry, but there is just something so pretentious about it – it makes me want to gag. I love the book – y’all know I love the book – but I really, really found this trailer unpalatable. Augustus is not the charming-but-awkward boy he is in the book, and Hazel seems to do nothing but fawn over him in these two-and-a-half minutes. There was nothing charming, heart-wrenching or even vaguely endearing about either one of them. Which really, really shouldn’t be the case.
Here’s hoping for a complete 180 from the movie.
by Kay | Dec 14, 2013 | Book Haul |
Feed my Reader is my excuse to highlight the latest e-book additions (a-la Showcase Sunday/Stacking the Shelves/Mailbox Monday). Ever since I made the executive decision to expand my e-book collection (and save space) I’ve gone a bit e-book mad. These recent acquisitions were all for my Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge – I had no choice! 😉
Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle
There is no better holiday read. 🙂
Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas
I like Lisa’s historical novels, so trust her to do something suitably cheery!
Happy Holidays and Happy Reading everyone!
by Kay | Dec 13, 2013 | Reviews |
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Published by Penguin Random House
Genres: Contemporary YA, Young Adult
Source: Received for review from publishers
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Rating: 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.
Thoughts: Everything there is to say about John Green has already been said. He’s one of those authors that (almost) everyone adores. He makes writing and reading YA fiction something an adult can be proud of, while simultaneously appealing to every teenager ever. It’s kind of ridiculous.
So, yeah, The Fault in Our Stars was amazing. Brilliant. Gorgeous. And, well, every other adjective along those lines. But if I hadn’t been sent it for review, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up. Because, honestly, it’s a teenage cancer book. As if life weren’t miserable enough already.
I thought I’d list a few reasons for you to read this book in spite of the scary, depressing cancer. Reasons I would have liked to have known, for those of you who haven’t wanted to pick it up:
- It is a book about a book. This is one of those tropes usually seen in lit-fic, so I was pleasantly surprised to see it in The Fault in Our Stars. I love a good book about characters seeking out an author or obsessing about a sequel/ending that doesn’t exist. The Fault in Our Stars was rather like Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s The Shadow of the Wind… only, er, good.
- It’s funny. It probably shouldn’t be funny, but it is. The characters are snarky, witty and quick with their comebacks… I loved how their minds worked and highlighted every other line to add to my own repertoire of comments.
- It is THE cancer book. It’s the only one you ever need to read. Once you’ve read it, the obligation to read anything similar is gone. And despite the cancerous misery, it is also rather life affirming. So… it’s probably as good as cancer books get.
- You’ll finally understand all the friggin’ references. Alas, not reading this book has become like not reading The Hunger Games. Okay? Okay.
Bottom line? Yes, this book is emotionally manipulative. Yes, it will make you laugh. Yes, it will make you cry. So… just read it already so we can all stop talking about how much we loved it.
