YA Reads with Mostly Books discussion

Life has been a little crazy for me this month, so I have to apologize I am behind on my reading. Feel free to start posting any thoughts you may have regarding The Fault in Our Stars and I will post questions in a few days.

Here are a few questions to ponder while you read. Feel free to leave your response(s) when you are ready.

1. What do you think of Hazel as a narrator? Is she a well developed character? Is she a reliable narrator?

2. In what ways do Augustus, Hazel, and Isaac fight to keep cancer from defining who they are? How do they work to prevent it from consuming all aspects of them? What benefits come from attending the support group?

3. How does Hazel and the other support group members' stories define them? If you move beyond your own personal story, do you become someone else?

4. Discuss the parent/child relationships in the story. To what extent are the relationships of these characters shaped by the world around them? To what extent do their relationship shape that world?

5. Discuss the importance of the novel An Imperial Affliction to the story. Why is Hazel so desperate to find out what happens beyond the ending?

I like Hazel as the narrator. She seems authentic and told from an interesting perspective. I like that I get to see her friendships, both current and developing and her relationship with her parents. I find the way the story is told so well done that it is totally believable.

I already thought Green's writing is amazing and then he has Hazel quoting T S Eliot-I'm love with this book.

Intense but amazing! I will fully respond once I have had a chance to digest the end of this novel.

1. I liked Hazel has a narrator. She was often funny and so philosophical for her age. I felt like she was trustworthy simply because she had no reason to lie to us.

2. Well, Hazel was often determined not to let her lungs get in her way of things-mostly this occurred after meeting Augustus. They also had other interests that they focused on, such as reading and video games, and their friends. Yes, cancer was a part of them but it wasn't all of them and they stated this time and time again. They all worked hard at keeping their personalities separate from their diseases and were more successful at being a regular teenage then they realized. Obviously, one of the best aspects of attending the support group was that they were able to make friends who could relate to their problems. They were able to make jokes about their diseases and not have it be awkward. They were also able to discuss their cancer issues in all seriousness. Their friendships weren't artificial, which is what was happening with their friends before they were sick.

4. Well for a long time Hazel's only friend was her mother. I think that this was the time when Hazel let her cancer define her. Her mother and her were constantly discussing or dealing with her disease. Of course it was necessary at times, but it seemed like that was all they focused on. Hence the push from Hazel's mom to go out and make friends.

5. AIA was incredibly important to the story. It was the first thing that Gus and Hazel enjoyed together and of course half of the book is about their trip to meet the author. This was my favorite part of the book-meeting the author and their dinner at the fancy restaurant. Hazel needed to know what happened to everyone else because she needs to know that people are able to move on after losing someone to a terminal illness. She didn't want to be a grenade, but knew to some extend she would be.

As previously stated, I loved this book. Green gave his characters such fresh personalities that you instantly became attached to them. The writing was fabulous and I can't wait to read another book by Green.

First off...LOVED the book!
Scared the cats away with my bawling (and laughing,too)
Hazel was a fabulous narrator. The story would have been totally different if someone else narrated--although, it would be interesting from Augustus' point of view...
The humor they used was definitely key. To an outsider, the way they talked about their conditions might be uncomfortable, but they took it all head-on. I found it amazing that they even managed the Anne Frank house, but it wasn't unbelievable since they were so strong mentally. Their friendships WERE definitely genuine, I agree.
It must be hard to watch your parents and know that they have given everything up for you and your disease out of love for you. Hazel's mom was ALWAYS there...good to know in case of emergency and yet a bit smothering. In her health situation a necessity though. I liked how their relationship grew stronger at the end of the book when Hazel found out she DID have another life with her going back to school online. It was such a relief to Hazel knowing that their lives would go on without her.
I wish AIA were a real book. Would like to read it and get to know the characters...although I bet they are similar to Hazel and Gus--that's why they relate so well to it and each other. I have the impression that Mr. Van Houten might have written some more...maybe not.
I wish John Green would write AIA...

I agree with Jody & Tricia about the writing...totally believable relationships...that's why I cried. You lose a part of yourself when you lose a character you have come to love.

Excellent read...but have tissues handy.

Did anyone else think that Green might end the book like Van Houten? I kept waiting for Hazel to end mid-sentence. I enjoyed hearing about the book within the book. Always makes me wonder if the author will start paralleling the author he/she is talking about.

I thought he might end it like Van Houten's until Van Houten shows up at the funeral and Hazel brushes him off...literally leaves him sitting at the curb. That kinda' ended the whole relationship with Van Houten and also between the books.
I still would like to read AIA....
I guess that's the sign of a good book.

Funny fact. In the collectors edition there is a Q and A with John Green at the end of the book. Somebody asks him about the ending the book mid sentence thing. He replied to the question and ended mid sentence. Totally cracked me up. This book I read in one sitting. It was beautiful and John Greens writing is fabulous. I definitely needed some tissues after I processed everything.

I know! Sobbing uncountable even though I knew it was going to be him-still so unprepared!

Oh my goodness, that was uncontrollably not uncountable.

Ha, ha! I might have to get ahold of that Q & A.
Love John Green and this book.

I know. I was uncontrollable too. You know when the pets start looking at you funny and the dog comes over to see how you're doing...that's a great ending! :)