I am on a plane right now and when on planes, I get the inclination to read and to write. A few days ago I was in Target on a pre-trip run and as per usual, I made my way through the book section. This always proves dangerous for my credit card. I once thought it smart to kill time at a book store and walked out with four new books. Anyways, I came across The Fault in Our Stars. You must have heard of it, as it is immensely popular and the movie adaptation stars two of my new favorite actors, not just for their acting ability but because they seem like wonderful, genuine people (I have observed this through the wonderful world of social media –Ansel Elgort, your Vines make me smile. Never stop). I have not seen the film. I’ve seen the trailer, read the reviews, all praising the book to film adaptation as very respectable. I’ve been on John Green’s tumblr and read his tweets. (If you didn’t know, he is the author – I have 3 more of his books on my kindle waiting for me). He is another one of my new favorites. I had not read the book. I bought it.
A week later, I am on a plane and the conversation with the older gentleman to my right has waned and he’s taken up his newspaper, so I pick up my book. And I start reading. And I. Don’t. Stop. Until the very last page. And the book ends in such a way that I literally felt out of breath. Mainly beause this is the first fictional work that I have ever read that has made me cry. Now, let me clarify. I teared up for Sirius’s death in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, I teared up when Hedwig died the following book. I teared up again for Tonks, Lupin and Fred. But Augustus Waters and Hazel Grace Lancaster and John Green had me crying real tears. Rolliing down my face, ruining the makeup that I put on before a day and a half of travel to ensure that I wouldn’t look like total hell upon reaching my ultimate destination. I could not stop them. I tried, thought I had succeeded and then there they were again, a few pages and chapters down the way. This is the best, most honest book I have read in a long time. I felt like I knew these kids. (I’m 25 and the characters are 16 and 17). I became attached to them. I will definitely go back to once again get to know them. They’re that good. TFIOS is not a book for sequels. I know that John Green is now an author I can’t ignore and I’m sure that the 3 books I have on Kindle will open me to new characters and feelings.
Go read this book. I’m sure that once I see the movie, I’ll tell you to see that too. This may have been such a random burst of a post, but I had too many feelings after the close of this book.
Also, a reflection on the fact that I haven’t written anything since my post about my Great-Uncle Mikey. I’ve come to view this as a place where I don’t need to write about everyday things. That would be too depressing at some points and sound too forcefully happy at others. I write when I have a lot of feelings. Sometimes it clears my head and makes me feel better and other times it gets me in trouble. Once, it did both.
Until next time.
