I’m honored to be co-hosting the Moms Reading Facebook chat this Wednesday with Laura of Mommy Miracles!
I chose this month’s book, The Fault in Our Stars
And for good reason…it really is an excellent book. I don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to reading as it is, but I positively flew through this one.
It’s written by John Green as Hazel, a 16 year old girl battling cancer. I fell in love with Hazel immediately, as a quirky, intelligent, still-innocent teenager. She’s not typical in any way, and I appreciated that about her. Even her thyroid cancer was held off by a “miracle treatment”, which bought her several more years, though she has to drag round the oxygen tank that keeps her breathing.
Her mother is literally obsessed with Hazel, always close by, never more than a small yell from running to her. Her father will do anything for her.
A lot of her “social life” is spent at Cancer Kid Support Group (that she’s forced to attend), where she eventually meets Augustus, a seemingly normal teenage guy and former hot shot basketball player. It turns out, though, that he has his own cancer history and is an amputee. The two become inseparable, and Hazel shares the book that she keeps a secret, close to her heart: An Imperial Affliction. The book, about another young cancer patient, is one that she has read over and over again, and the two bond over it. It doesn’t have a real ending however, and the two use a “Wish” that Augustus has been hoarding to visit Amsterdam and the book’s author for some answers.
The book is incredible and devastating. It’s a quick read, but an emotionally draining and satisfying one. I definitely give it five stars/hearts (out of five).
Come join Laura and myself Wednesday evening, Feb 26th at 9pm Eastern on the Moms Reading Facebook page for a discussion about the book.
The book for the March discussion will be The Book Thief
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And, Laura will be giving away a copy of April’s choice, Where’d You Go, Bernadette: A Novel
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Incredible and devastating. Yes. I read it all in one reading too, and it made me smile, cry, laugh. Such a great book. Love the choice for the book club!
I've heard so much about this book, but Me Before You already broke my heart – I just can't handle it (but your review really makes me want to read it even more 🙂 )
It sounds lovely. Alas, I cannot read books about cancer patients, survivors or not. Hits too close to home.
I am trying to read this right now but every time I lay down at night to get some pages in, well, I fall asleep! ha! I know it's an easy read but not when you're tired and your eyes are closed. LOL.
I see this book everywhere, and I'm sure it's on my reading list. I need a short, devastating book to read. 🙂
This book was so SO good! I read it all on a Saturday morning while Eddie played videogames. I'm not even sorry about that.
I haven't read the book – I tend to shy away from sad stories – but it does sound awesome.
I've been wanting to read this one, but I'm kiiiiinda afraid to.
This really was one of the best books I've ever read!
(I read it awhile ago and it still pops into my mind regularly! Such a stunner!)
Yes! Definitely "incredible and devastating". Thanks for letting me text you as I read the last couple of chapters in public. It helped me keep my eyes dry! 🙂
This was a GREAT pick for book club – thanks for choosing it!
I enjoyed The Fault in Our Stars. I teared up at the end. Really good book.