Hooked on YA books 2015 discussion

Task 2.1 The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
I must state that it took a great deal of strength to pick up this book and read it. I had sworn I would not see the movie, or read the book regardless of how popular it had become. What I knew of the storyline was simply too depressing. Still, the popularity of this book kept it off the shelves at our library, being read by both young adults and adults. So with great trepidation, and the fact that it will be used in this course, I began listening to the audiobook version as I drove to help divert my attention from the morbid topic. I slowly accepted the inevitable less than desirable outcome of the characters and began to consider how each used humor and sarcasm to deal with their circumstances. They never lost touch with the reality of their situations or attempted to portray a “looking for a miracle” attitude.
The sarcastic and snarky conversations kept this listener’s attention as well as the possibility of hope for more time together for the newfound friends. Each of the two main characters seemed to worry more about their parents and less about themselves. Hazel Grace, the female main character being kept alive with the help of an oxygen tank, appears to feel guilt for making her parents suffer each day not knowing which will be her last. Her parents want her to attempt to have some normalcy in her life so they encourage her to attend a support group to make friends, or at least have others to talk to.
It is the theme of social relationships and their importance that resonates for me in this novel. Not in spite of the terminal disease both main characters have, but because of their potentially short existence that make these relationships so vital. Going through life without friends, acquaintances, or even enemies would make any life seem somewhat bland or meaningless even. In the case of Hazel and Augustus, they don’t want to be remembered as cancer patients but as friends, acquaintances, or even enemies to help validate their struggle to be normal.

I began reading The Fault in Our Stars yesterday, and easily made it about a third of the way through; it became rather difficult for me to read at the point at which Hazel lands in the hospital after fluid accumulates in her lungs.
The relationship between Hazel and her love interest, Augustus, is a relationship built off of mutual friendship, understanding of disease, and a desire to have a relationship built off of feelings resulting from more than just the sadness affecting all impacted by a tragic disease.
I was able to relate deeply to this relationship and story, which is why it became so difficult to read. The relationship between Hazel and Augustus is reminiscent of the trajectory of the relationship between my fiancé and I. He has not dealt with any health problems, but I have had serious, life-threatening health issues since we began seeing one another. I truly believe that his commitment and dedication to me has had an immeasurable positive impact on my health and, in turn, my life. Of course, this impact will only be continued and exaggerated throughout our impending marriage. Because of this, I relate to Hazel and the importance of her relationship with Augustus on a very deep level.

Thanks Natalie for sharing your personal story. I hope that you can express to your fiancé what his commitment to means.

I have not seen the movie, so I got to read the book without any influence from it. I loved it! This book made me cry, and I almost stopped reading early on because I knew it would make me cry. I thought the characters were honest and real. I have had family members with cancer, but never to this extent. I liked the fact that it did not hide or “sugar coat” the effects of cancer. I also loved seeing it from the perspective of a teenager or young adult instead of an adult. I cannot imagine dealing with something so serious at such a young age; and how different that is from someone who develops cancer later in life. I can see why many love John Green as author. I actually thought this would be a great book to use in my classroom for literature circles as it pairs up well with some books I currently use or want to use.

Task 3.5: Hazel is not so much experiencing tension within her social relationships as she is complications. Augustus's deteriorating health is causing her to see him differently; she does not love him less, but he is now somewhat becoming his cancer, rather than having being a cancer survivor being a character trait. The quickness with which Augustus is becoming more and more ill is forcing Hazel to acknowledge her own mortality, as she was never cancer free to begin with. The complications within her most important social relationship is causing complications within her relationship with herself and her own mortality.

I would say that the social tension exists, at times, with parents. They want so badly to do the right thing and can be clingy. In addition, there is definitely tension between Hazel and society at large, resulting in her spending as much time as possible at home, and avoiding eye contact as they wait to board the plane at the airport.
A lot of conflict goes on in Hazel's head, with herself or what she imagines is happening with others. Adolescence is such a time of "newness" and self-doubt, and Hazel has in Cancer too -- a rare thing in young people we meet.
I am wondering how this Amsterdam trip is going to unfold.

I also believe there is social tension when Hazel meets Van Houten and realizes he is not what she thought he would be. When she realizes he is just a drunk who doesn't care about his life, Hazel is understandably frustrated and almost begs him to understand her view of his prized novel. I feel this scene is a very poignant social tension because it is representative of Hazels crushed dreams. She held onto Van Houten's book and basically lived by it, so to learn that he isn't all that great is a huge loss even though she only met him one time.

As several others have discussed before, social relationships are at the heart of this novel, particularly those between Hazel and Augustus, and between both characters and their own parents. The type of social relationships that the characters find the most rewarding are with others also dealing with chronic or terminal illness. Despite the forced social world of the support group, it proves to be the perfect mechanism to link those who seek the company of those who can understand their situation better than any non-ill person. The scene in Gus' basement after Isaac's girlfriend breaks up with him is poignant, and particularly indicative of this dynamic. Despite not knowing Gus or Isaac well, Hazel still goes to support them as Isaac deals with his uniquely painful circumstances, speaking to the depth of kinship existing between those linked by similar health issues.

What social tensions are your characters experiencing? Wow - that's a loaded question for this book! Hazel often talks about how people romanticize the cancer patients' 'battle' and the disconnect she feels between her reality and what society sees her as experiencing. She also struggles with wanting her parents to have a life beyond her and not become destroyed by her being a 'grenade' (a metaphor that I absolutely loved - although she uses it in reference to Augustus but it could be for all her social relations). Hazel struggles with wanting to allow herself to be loved by Gus and wanting to shield him from his inevitable pain.

*I just have to add that like Nancy, I have really tried to avoid this novel. In fact, any book that I think I know the ending to (Bridge to Terabitha is a big case in point for me), I have refused to read it. I am so glad that I read this book, though - I agree with Tasia in saying that I appreciated the author not sugar coating the experience of cancer - it was a perspective I have not had a chance to explore. It was an emotionally tough read, but if I had cancer I would really appreciate a book like this.