Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Review & Give-away: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Publisher: Dutten Books
Publication Date: January 10, 2012

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.
Book Quote: I’m in love with you, and I’m not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things. I’m in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we’re all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we’ll ever have, and I am in love, with you. ~AW

My Thoughts
I’ll be the first to admit, I have a very specific selection criteria when it comes to determining what type of books I’ll consider reading.  Most often, I always say yes please to YA Dystopic, Fantasy and Contemporary. I’ll NEVER say no to a YA Australian book. Yes, I declared that as a genre I believe in early 2011. But one criteria I tend to grapple with is male versus female authors.
At first glance, if I see a male author listed on the cover of a book my initial reaction is to put it back on the shelf. I really don’t have a solid reason why, I simply just gravitate to female authors especially in the YA genre. Oh and when I see that the male author is attempting a female character’s voice, I’m all sorts of skeptical. Like sirens blaring skeptical. Again, I don’t have a particular reason, it’s just a preference or a pre-conceived notion that it might not work with my taste.

These same considerations don’t hold true for female authors when it comes to writing male characters. I always have faith that the possibility of me liking it will be pretty good. I mean let’s consider a few of my favorite authors that have succeeded in winning me over with their male character voices. Here are just a few:
Gale Foreman – Adam in Where She Went
Melina Marchetta – Finnikin and Froi in the Lumatere Chronicles
Colleen Hoover – Will in Point of Retreat
Tabitha Suzuma – Lochan in Forbidden
Fiona Wood – Dan in Six Impossible Things
I know I’m missing a ton here… help me out. J

So imagine my surprise when I came across one of the few select male YA authors that has won a spot on my “Don’t Question Him, Just Read His Book and Forget He’s a Guy Shelf?” Yes, I have a shelf for that criteria because there are only a handful of male YA authors I’ll even attempt to consider… again all based on shallow biases. When I heard John Green’s novel The Fault in Our Stars was written in a female voice, I thought to myself… okay let’s see what we have here. And of course I fell in love with this book! Not just that, my first and only book tears so far for 2012 are dedicated to Augustus Waters in The Fault in Our Stars.

This book was more than I ever expected going in. It wasn’t just about two teenagers who were both battling a fight against cancer. It was about living your life at the moment and understanding that no matter how much time we’re given, we should be thankful for the small infinity we have and for the chance if we’re lucky enough to find love and be able to give it back.

This story was beautiful, funny, heartbreaking and poignant. Gus and Hazel made me laugh, cry, laugh all over again, and cry some more. I knew well before the ending was near that when I was done, I’d be floored with some heavy emotion. As much as I felt prepared for the ending… I really wasn’t. Wow… I wanted this book to become a person so I can take it to Vegas and marry it. That would make more sense after you read The Fault in Our Stars...trust me. ;)

By far, my favorite by John Green written in a perspective that had me bowing to his genius and endless talent.

 Favorite Quote:
“You know how I know you’re a fighter? You called a ten a nine...” ~sobs~
5 Snowflakes
Follow this Author:
Goodreads  /  Twitter  /  Website

Book Give-away!
So if you haven’t tried a book by John Green and you have the same reading quirks I do, I’m offering you a no risk opportunity. I’m giving away a signed copy of this beautiful piece of magic to one lucky winner. All you have to do is fill out the rafflecopter thingy and post a comment on either (1) a favorite male character of yours written by a female author, (2) your reading quirks or (3) male YA authors you recommend. Just one comment will do. =)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

93 comments:

  1. My favorite male POV is Sebastian from What A Boy Wants.

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    1. I've heard so much about that book. I need to check into it. :)

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  2. My favorite male POV novel has got to be Something Like Normal by Trish Doller! I LOVED Travis's voice. He sounded so real. :')

    Thank you for the awesome giveaway!

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    1. I still need to read that book and check out this Travis character. :D Thank you for the post A.J.! Good luck on the give away. :)

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  3. Really enjoy John Green. My favorite male POV is Deadline by Mira Grant.

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    1. Yes, John Green is really great. :) Deadline has been a hit with a ton of my fellow readers. Yet another book I still need to check out. :)

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  4. I've been wanting to read John Green for awhile now, I've heard great things about his books!
    My favorite male POV is Will in Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover.

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    1. He really is a great author. I hope you try one of his books soon. This happens to be one of my fave of his. Yes, Will from PoR was great male POV. :) Good choice!

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  5. my favorite male pov is Charlie's from perks of being a wallflower.
    thanks for the giveaway i really like john green books :D

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    1. I believe they're making a movie out of that book. You're welcome! Good luck! :)

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  6. I would have to say that Harry Potter is my favorite, but my favorite read this year was Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi and it was told from two points of view so it kinda counts :)!!!

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    1. Yup that counts! :) How could I forget HP!?! Great choice!

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  7. I guess it's Jeff from Suicide Notes... I really loved that book.

    Thanks for this great giveaway ;)

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    1. You're welcome! I haven't heard of Suicide Notes. Must look into it. :)

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  8. I would have to say Mackie from The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff. Awesome book and I love Mackie! ;)

    - Beckie

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    1. I feel like I'm missing out on so many great male POVs. I haven't read The Replacements either. Thanks for the rec! :)

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  9. Cas from Anna Dressed in Blood. That book is awesome. Thanks for the chance to win :D

    -Dannielle

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    1. Oh at book was spooky! I enjoyed reading it. Good choice! :)

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  10. Great review! I had no interest in this book before... but now! I'd have to say my current favourite male POV by a female author is Callum from Sky Hawk written by Gill Lewis. For some reason I can't think of any others right now... this is definitely my favourite of 2012.

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    1. Thank you tehkelsey! LOL I had a hard time coming up with a few too! Thanks for the rec!

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  11. Acheron by Sherriyln Kenyon <3. I adore that book, it is my favorite book of all time! The first half of the book is told from his sister's POV but for the majority of the book it's from his.

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    1. I've read the first four books from that series. I love her writing! Good choice Felicia. :)

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  12. The Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater

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    1. Oh!! Good one Gaby! I really liked Cole's POV in that series! Thanks for posting. :)

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  13. I really like Cassel in the Curse Workers series by Holly Black : )

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    1. I feel like I've missed out on so many great POVs. I haven't read anything by Holly Black, but my roomie Crystal I believe has. Thanks for posting alicia! :)

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  14. LOL! I'm so glad you said that. I was worried about posting my quirks. :P I agree, it is an amazing book. :)

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  15. LOL! Sounds good. I love new recs, so it's all good. :)

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  16. The Percy Jackson series books. :D Mostly the Lightning Theif. :D

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    1. Do you know that I still haven't read those books? But I saw the first movie! Does that count? :) Great pick!

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  17. Favourite YA male writer, Tolkien - The Hobbit, it's a classic, easy to understand and gets children ready to ready the great epic of Lord Of The Rings.

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  18. This sounds like such a heartbreakingly beautiful read! I've only ever picked up one book by John Green so definitely need to pick up some more! Lovely review Arlene :)

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    1. Thank you so much Jasprit! I really like his writing. I hope you get to try more of his books. :)

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  19. My favorite male POV is definitely Charlie from The Perks of Being a Wallflower

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    1. They're coming out with a movie for that book, right?

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  20. 2. A reading quirk I have is simply this... becoming obsessed & completely entranced in a character. I have, on multiple occasions, looked at something while out shopping or walking around & thought of a character rather than thinking of a friend when I looked at a certain stationary set or outdoor setting. But I am sure I cannot be the only book lover who does... right? (:

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    1. D'awww! I love that reading quirk. Yes, I can't look at a guitar pic and not think of Aiden, or here about a western book and Dimitri pops into my head, I also think of Cameron from Going Bovine when I see yard gnomes. I guess I better stop there before I embarrass myself. :P

      Thanks for posting. I love it! XD

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  21. My favorite male POV book is probably Bag of Bones by Stephen King. Mike Noonan's voice is strong throughout and it is the most compelling aspect of the novel.

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    1. I've yet to read a Stephen King book. Thanks for the rec!

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  22. My favorite male POV book is Point of Retreat (Slammed #2) by Colleen Hoover. Read Slammed first though! :) Thanks for the awesome giveaway!!!

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    1. Thanks! Yes, I love Will's POV in Point of Retreat. Good pick!

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  23. Ged/Sparrowhawk from Ursula Le Guin's Wizard of Earthsea

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    1. Hmmm, must check it out! Thanks for the rec!

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  24. One of my favorite and a classic is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. It's been a while since I've read it and now I want to go back and do a re-read.

    P.S. I am an email subsriber but couldn't find a slot to input the info so I hope it's ok to put it here (simplyreading/at/hotmail) :)

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  25. My favorite male POV would have to be Harry from the Harry Potter series. But I also happen to love Charlie from "The Perks of Being a Wallflower". David Levithan is another male author who happens to be one of the handful of male authors who I'd read without question! Thank you very much for this amazing giveaway opportunity...I'm pining to read this novel! :)

    Name: Hira Hasnain
    Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Harry Potter is a great pick! I like David Levithan too especially his co-authored book the John Green. If you haven't read Will Grayson Will Grayson, you should check it out. Really good! Thanks for posting!

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  26. Not sure did I have to think a bit about this one, because I loved (and LOVE) Shaun's pov in Deadline by Mira Grant. One of my favorite books :)

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    1. I've heard Deadline is a great series! Thanks for posting Ari. :)

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  27. Other than Gus, Paul Hudson from How to Kill a Rock Star by Tiffanie DeBartolo won my heart.

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    1. Hmmm, I've got to check that out. Thanks for the rec!

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  29. This looks like a really interesting read. My favorite male POV book has Dank's perspective from the Existence series. Male POVs are kind of rare in paranormal romance.

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    1. Good point legendary-mei. Yes, there aren't too many. Thanks for the rec! :)

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  30. Cas from Anna Dressed in Blood. Thanks for such a great giveaway!

    Ensconced in YA
    http://cahreviews.blogspot.com

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    1. Good pick Christina! Thanks for posting. :)

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  31. I just read Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry and loved the male POV from Noah. So good!

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    1. I just finished Pushing the Limits and I agree with you 100%. Good pick! :)

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  32. Is saying Harry Potter cliche? Because I'm tempted to say him. Although I did enjoy Margaret Atwood's the Snowman from Oryx and Crake.

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    1. Not at all. LOL Good pick. He's a legend. :)

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  33. Reading quirk. When I find a good book I tend to become completely engrossed in it. I either read the whole thing in one sitting (detrimental to my next day or not) and/or I take on the character's personality (again, detrimental to my next day or not) lol

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    1. Oh I know exactly what you mean. I get lost in a book and I'm worthless until I finish. Thanks for posting Kathleen!

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  34. My favorite male character is definitely Harry Potter (everybody loves him!) or maybe Tobias from Divergent by Veronica Roth because it's one of my favorite books so far. Thanks for the giveaway, I really enjoy reading John Green's :-)

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    1. Both great choices! I enjoyed their POVs too! You're welcome and good luck with the giveaway. :)

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  35. Thomas from The Maze Runner by James Dashner is a favorite of mine.

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    1. Good choice DarcyO! His POV was really good. Thanks for posting! :)

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  36. Harry from the HP series. Thanks for the giveaway! :)

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    1. Harry should be like #1, right? :) You're welcome and good luck. :D

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  37. The Maze Runner and Perfect Chemistry is partly in Male POV, great series :)

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    1. Both great choices. I loved PC. Thanks for posting Maija! :)

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  38. Awesome giveaway! Thank you!!
    elmghost@live.com

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  39. A male YA author I recommend is J.L. Bryan. Thank you for the giveaway:)

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  40. John Green! Big fan of him and his works. I've read all his books more than once and he never failed to amaze me.

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  41. For a female author writing from a male POV, I love Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, written by Wendy Mass. She captures the voice of the adolescent male so well in this book. It was a Christmas gift to me from a student, a 7th grade girl who said it was her favorite book. A great coming of age story.

    A male author of YA fiction I really love is Gary Schmidt. The Wednesday Wars is told from a male POV but has some female characters that he has captured quite well indeed. It is another great coming of age story.

    I am currently reading this John Green book and I have to say The Fault of Our Stars just might be on my top five list by the time I am finished. Wow, what an amazing writer. My college daughter has been following him for some time and I should have listened to her!

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    1. I will definitely have to look Meaning of Life up! I have heard a lot of good things about The Wednesday Wars so that one is on my never ending tbr lol. I am glad you are enjoying this one as well =) Thank you so much for commenting and good luck =)

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  42. Thank you for the giveaway, I really want to read that book !
    My favorite male POV is Conrad in the Summer Series by Jenny Han.

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    1. You're welcome! Oh I know a LOT of Conrad fans out there. :) Thanks for posting!

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  43. For my favorite male POV, that would be Jeff from Suicide Notes or Percy Jackson. :)

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    1. Those are two books I have not read. Thanks for the rec Danielle! :)

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  44. Harry Dresden in the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher

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    1. I have to look into the Dresden Files. I haven't heard of this book. Thanks for posting nrlymrtl! :D

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  45. 1. Favorite Male character written by a female author - I've just started reading Pushing The Limits, by Katie McGarry; it's a double pov book, and Noah's pov shows great promise :)

    3. Favorite Male Author - J.R.R. Tolkien, by a long shot. I admit I haven't read many current books by male authors (No John Green as of yet *gasp*), but I kind of doubt that anyone can match Tolkien's sheer awesomeness and way with words.

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    1. Tina read and loved Pushing the Limits so I really need to read that one soon =) J.R.R Tolkein is definitely a must =) Thanks for commenting!

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  47. I love Augustus and Hazel! They both made me laugh and cry at the same time. I'm really glad you loved this one. Great review :)

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