The Fault in Our Stars Review

Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

Release date: 3^rd January 2013

Publisher: Penguin

Despite the tumour-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be rewritten.

Hazel has cancer and feels that it defines her life. It isn’t until she meets Augustus at a support group that she realises she has so much more to offer to him, her parents, her friends and most importantly herself.

‘The Fault in Our Stars’ has recently been released as a film (if you didn’t know this … where have you been?!?) and that’s what finally tipped me over the edge to read it. I had heard great things about this book prior to the film but just couldn’t bring myself to read it. I don’t do sad books if I can help it. I especially don’t do sad books about people with cancer. 331,487 people in the UK were diagnosed with cancer in 2011 (these are the latest stats published by http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/). Two years ago my grandad was diagnosed with cancer and passed away just a week later and more recently my friend’s mum passed away after a long battle with cancer. I didn’t want to read a book about someone with cancer.

But there are only so many times you can explain the reasons why to people before you realise you just have to read the damn book. So I did. And I didn’t cry. I felt sad for the characters, really really sad. But I didn’t cry. I’m not sure why but having experienced the trauma of losing someone I loved dearly to the trauma that is cancer; I wasn’t shocked by anything I read. The book, as well as offering humour and passion and joy, also looks at the reality of someone suffering from cancer and the brutality of them losing their battle. Wetting the bed and being unable to eat is what actually happens when someone with a terminal illness comes to the end of their life – we were given a leaflet about it in the hospice when my grandad was there. So, although I enjoyed the book for its humour and its beautiful portrayal of young love, I also have to praise it for its honest depiction of someone suffering from cancer.

The book is a love story written from the point of view of Hazel, a long term cancer sufferer. She meets Augustus Waters at a Support Group and the sparks fly from the word go. But of course, their path is destined to be rocky and can’t have a happy ending. There are some hilarious moments along the way and Hazel and Augustus are very intelligent and eloquent, their language beautiful in places. There are also some really magical moments where Augustus surprises Hazel and we see their relationship bloom.

At one particular point, Hazel is talking to Augustus on the phone and she mentions that she can hear his crooked smile. My wonderful husband has a crooked smile and in the early stages of our relationship, I would have said something similar (I don’t call him as much now that we live together!) Those sort of little moments are really romantic and build empathy for the characters aside from the illness element of the tale. They are just two teenagers in love with the added complication that Hazel is terminal and Augustus has one leg.

As I said, I didn’t cry but I know many people who did and who have said the film is just as upsetting (I’m fairly sure I can’t put myself through that as well but who knows?) I’m not going to say, ‘This is awesome, you must read this book!’, not because I didn’t enjoy it nor because I don’t think it’s a good book. Far from it. I just think that this is a hard book to read as it faces the reality of some people’s lives (as sufferers of terminal illnesses and as their loved ones). My thoughts and prayers go out to anyone who lives this story on a daily basis and their loved ones.  

10/10 I did enjoy this as the characters are so realistic, beautifully written and have so much humour to offer, despite their circumstances. But be prepared for a sad ending.

There are a lot of wonderful charitable organisations out there to help people with cancer and their carers. I have just put a few sites together in case you want to have a look but there are loads more:-

Cancer Research UK  http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/

Marie Curie Cancer Care http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/

Macmillan Cancer Supporthttp://www.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx

Cruse Bereavement Care http://www.cruse.org.uk/

Cave of Secrets Review

Title: Cave of Secrets

Author: Morgan LLywelyn

Release date: 16^th April 2012

Publisher: O’Brien Press

SMUGGLERS - BOATS

CAVES - TREASURE

When Tom is rejected by his father, he finds a secret second family among the smugglers who trade in and around Roaringwater Bay. Though Tom doesn’t know it, his family in the Big House is under great pressure. His father has had huge losses in business; his mother is always sad and worried, and his sister’s have no hopes for a good marriage. This is seventeenth-century Ireland when land-grabbing is the order of the day. Friend turns into foe, and loyalty counts for nothing.

From his new family, Tom learns all about boats and smuggling – and secret treasure. And then Tom discovers the best-kept secret of all…

Tom’s parents are hiding secrets from their family. His mother is a sad and isolated; his father spends much time away trying to find his place in this new society and when he returns, his attitude towards Tom is always less than favourable. Tom and his sisters find themselves stuck by the constraints of seventeenth century expectations. But Tom finds a way to escape the drudgery of his family life and makes friends with a young boy and his sister, who introduce Tom to a world wholly different from his own. On this adventure Tom proves that he is no longer a boy – can he finally get the respect from his father that he deserves?

This is another novel which I have greatly neglected. It disappeared down the side of my bed at my mum’s house (where I haven’t lived for 18 months!) after being on ‘to read’ pile on the bedside table and was only recently rediscovered. I have to say, despite a ridiculously long wait to be read, the book did not disappoint.

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure that this book would be my cup of tea (smuggling isn’t really my thing) but as a reader committed to reviewing a wide range of genres for my beloved blog readers, I thought I would give it a go. IT WAS GREAT! The novel was a bit of a slow starter which gradually increased the drama, slowly reeling me in until I was completely hooked without even realising!

As far as plot lines go, this book has a great one. Tom’s family have several secrets, which for me was the key to keeping me reading. Some of these are revealed to the reader bit by bit whereas others come as shocks at the end. I was also kept engrossed as I got to know Morgan Llwelyn’s brilliant characters. My favourite character has to be Maura, Donal’s younger sister, who becomes Tom’s friend at the beginning of the novel and who is always there to offer a humorous and often intelligent comment to diffuse the most dramatic situation, despite her young age.

Once again, as historical novels from O’Brien usually do, the author offers us some ‘Historical notes’ at the end of the tale to give us a better insight into the context of the story. These notes were really interesting too! The descriptions of Roaringwater House and Donal’s cabin are based on real homes of the period so when reading this book, I advise you to pay particular attention to these as they give a greater depth to the story and really set the scene of how different people lived.

I think there is something in this book for a wide range of audiences, even if you wouldn’t normally go for something like this. There is plenty of tension, family issues, secrets and lies and true friendships, all set in a really colourful period of history. To me, this review seems quite unspecific but I don’t want to give the game away! I would recommend you give this book a go. Ignore the blurb if you think it is something that you wouldn’t like, the novel itself is brilliant in so many ways.

5/5 A surprisingly enjoyable read. Don’t underestimate Morgan Llwelyn’s storytelling skills!

Many thanks to O’Brien Press for sending me a copy of the book (although this was a while ago!)