Sunday, August 19, 2012

The Fault in Our Stars: a sort of review




Here's a tip for my readers: read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

Here's another tip for my readers: Don't read The Fault in Our Stars on an airplane, when the person sitting one inch away from you is privy to every emotion you might experience while reading a book. This book is about kids with cancer. Cool, ironic kids, who talk about the C-word in a refreshing way. But no matter how cool, ironic, or refreshing one tries to make cancer, there will be tears. That's a fact. I know a doctor. I know what I'm talking about. 

Here's a tip for anyone who happens to sit next to me on an airplane while I'm reading such a book: When I --- clutching my armrest for dear life every time the plane makes a sudden movement --- mention that I am reading a book about kids with cancer, don't say, in your broken English "I do not like death from cancer. I rather die in plane crash."

And as the plane descends quickly (but not quickly enough... never quickly enough), and I bury my nose back into my book, trying to make the terror of air travel just end already, don't say, loudly "I have not felt plane like this before. Something is wrong with this aircraft!"

But back to you, readers. If you're in the mood to feel, and you like teenagers who speak above their grade level (a la the kids from Dawson's Creek, but less angsty, which is amazing because they have cancer and bigger things to worry about than not getting in to film school), and you enjoy reading about Amsterdam... you will like this book. Just not on a plane next to a Pakistani college kid who doesn't understand plane etiquette.

5 comments:

  1. hmm...I've added it to my Reading List! Thanks for the recommendation!

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  2. D - I always enjoy reading your blog. It makes me so happy when I see that there is a new post. It makes me rather ecstatic when there are two posts that I haven't read yet. Your writing reminds me of David Sedaris. Have you ever thought about publishing something? I would be your number one fan!

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  3. So i just came across your blog and i wanted you to know that i'm here to stay because...
    #1 you are awesome
    #2 Your no. 1 on you About Me section... THANK YOU! I thought I was the only sane one in this world hehe
    #3 You guys' med school story will prepare me and S when I head there

    hehehe

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    1. aww, thanks Mariel! I'm so glad to hear someone agrees with me on the "hubby" thing. It's like fingernails on a chalkboard!

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  4. I read one of those true-story feel-good dog stories (and it was excellent) and it END-ended... if you know what I mean... and I was sitting in the mechanic's office waiting for them to finish my car's annual inspection. And I was straight up sobbing. I cry silently (yeah, it's weird, I've heard) but I couldn't hide the actual river of tears pouring down my face. So I put on my sunglasses. Inside the dingy office. On an overcast, rainy English day.

    IT WAS SAD, OKAY.

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