Young or Old

Some people made the argument that The Fault in Our Stars was sadder than your average cancer story because it was about kids. I disagree.

What about having an adult who is leaving behind young children? They haven’t lived all of their life and they’re living behind something much more important than potential. Unless you’ve been a parent to human children, you can’t imagine what it’s like to lay there dying leaving behind a part of yourself that you’ll never seen finished.

Depending on how young the kid is you’re missing out on learning to swim or ride a bike, summer camp, puberty, high school, college, first loves, graduations, engagements, weddings, grandchildren and so many other milestones.

Being a teenager and never getting to life a full life sucks. It’s completely unfair but I think watching this life you created have to go through all these milestones without you is worse. Teenagers don’t fully know what they’re missing whereas the dying parent does. I think it’s worse to know exactly what you’re losing than to never have had it at all.

Baker’s Dozen Challenge Book 4

The Fault in Our Stars is a massively popular book and recently made into a movie. I’ve had friends who’ve loved it and it’s even been included in some of the fandom memes you see on the internet. For all the fandoms and all the hype, my biggest feeling was “It was OK.” 

My dad died of cancer half my life ago so the only thing that was brand new to me was the perspective. Cancer sucks. It steals your life and takes your dignity on its way out. Most of the teens in this book handle their situation with a grace and maturity not afforded to most healthy people.

I enjoyed the protagonist Hazel. She was very down-to-earth and likable. Her instant relationship with Augustus felt a little convenient but when you’re dying I supposed you’re pressed for time. 

For the most part I enjoyed Augustus but he was so obsessed with leaving a legacy and not being forgotten that it wore on me. At first it was an understandable feeling but eventually it felt like those that would remember him just weren’t good enough. 

The ending also reminded me of the ending in the fictional An Imperial Affliction. It stopped while action was still happening but if it had kept going we would have watched Hazel die. When you’ve got teens dying of cancer, it isn’t always easy to decide where to leave it.

I enjoyed this book but it didn’t change my life or rock my world. I’m not a big crier especially when it comes to fiction and this was no exception. If not crying at TFIOS and Up makes me a heartless bitch, so be it. As sad as this book was, it was also lovely and worth reading if you’re not turned off by the concept.

1) Another World –

2) Learned Something –

3) Movie-Book – The Fault in Out Stars by John Green

4) Graphic Novel – Fanboys vs. Zombies Vol 1 by Sam Humphries

5) Dust –

6) Nonfiction –

7) Reread –

8) Shorts – 20something Essays by 20something Writers edited by Matt Kellogg and Jillian Quint

9) Fiction –

10) Shiny – Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay

11) Retelling –

12) Wild Card –

13) The End –

Amy Amy Amy by Amy Winehouse