Chapter Ninety-Two: The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars is John Green's latest best-seller, and since I really enjoy Green's work I'm a bit surprised that it took me so long after its publication to read it.  I was a bit apprehensive because I knew it would be a tear-jerker, and because I just wasn't in the mood, somehow, to read a book about teenagers with cancer.  But once I finally picked up this book, I couldn't put it down.  Green is a master of including levity in dealing with heavy subjects; I was chuckling from page one, even as I knew things couldn't end well.  And they don't, though I won't say how, in case you haven't read the book.  But in the meantime, there are plenty of really touching, heartwarming moments that are never sappy or saccharin or unrealistic about the reality of the situation, which is that these teens are living with cancer every day.  And the cancer does nasty things to them, like make it hard to breathe or take away their sight.  Green is pretty descriptive about the physical challenges and consequences of living with cancer--it's not a cutesy, romanticized version of living with cancer, as far as I can tell, although I've never had cancer myself, so I could be wrong.  This book sucked me in and grabbed me--I loved that it had a strong, female protagonist--and I recommend it for anyone looking for a quick, absorbing read.