Book Review: The Fault In Our Stars, John Green.

The Fault In Our Stars is a young adult novel that has sat on my shelf for a year or so. Again and again, I've picked it up and barely even a hundred pages in, I then put it down again for a month or two before I start to read it once again before putting it down yet again for another month or so!

I first brought this novel after Gemma launched her book club with it. The blurb sold it to me straight away, 'Despite the tumour-shrinking medical miracle that has brought 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 completely rewritten.'

"Sometimes people don't understand the promises they're making when they make them, " 

I know, you don't need to say it. Straight away your heart goes out to these two kids with cancer and you want to read their story but then reading their story reaffirms what we already know, cancer must surely be one of the most difficult things to live with. And to. read about Hazel, a girl who knows cancer will never leave her, left me with a lump in my throat from almost the very beginning and actually for a while there, made me very uncomfortable and almost guilty which is maybe why I had to stop and start this book over and over again.

"Right, of course. But you keep the promise anyway. That's what love is. Love is keeping the promise anyway. Don't you believe in true love?" '

I finally finished The Fault In Our Stars last night after once again re-starting it about four days ago and this time after reaching the last page and putting the book down. I was truly sad not only for the story that was told but also that the time, between (and with) the friends who I felt as if I had met (IE. Augustus, Issac and Hazel) had come to an end. The relationship John Green established between these three characters was so amazing and you can not imagine how their days would have been without each other. I can only hope that one day I will find friends as true as these, for as much as they couldn't, they made the terrible so much better.

'You don't get to choose if you get hurt in this world, old man, but you do have some say in who hurts you. I like my choices.'

I don't really want to tell you too much about this book because I don't want to go and give you all the spoilers but it is special and like me, you may take a few goes but please read until Amsterdam before you give up on The Fault In Our Stars. I'm not sure a story has ever took me to a setting or situation that felt so real before. As I read about the dinner and then Augustus's confession, I smiled, cried and shivered.

This book starts as a book (maybe even a slightly uneasy one) but when it ends, you're left with the feeling that The Fault In Our Stars was so much more!!!

You can buy The Fault In Our Stars here on Amazon and in many other bookshops. I  really recommend, 'Looking For Alaska' also by John Green!

Happy New Year everybody!!!!!!!!!! So, go on, have you finished a book yet in 2014? Have you read A Fault In Our Stars, what did you think? I hope you've all had a fab weekend.

Book Review: How to Fall in Love, Cecelia Ahern

I personally first encountered the writing of Cecilia Ahern about ten years ago when she released her first novel, 'PS, I Love You'.

I wasn't alone.

That book was one of the first in the line up for the Richard and Judy book club and it quickly gained Ahern a massive following.

Then there was 'Where Rainbows End', another sweet romantic offering that I probably enjoyed a little too much and then there were others which I dipped in to but could not bring myself to finish as her tales seemed to grow increasingly fairytale like (maybe a little farcical too) and a little less real but 'How to Fall in Love' did catch my eye as soon as it was released a few weeks ago.

Why, you might ask?

- For one, it was at the front of every single store I walked in to. In pride of place from Waterstones to the service station.

- Two, there is the beautiful deep blue front cover, where the two lovebirds sit and I mean, goodness, it is so simple but almost cinematic. Honestly, just looking at it makes me want to fall in to the book and get lost in their story.

- Oh and there is the cheesy title, got to love a good love story!

- Then I open the cover and read the blurb inside:

'Adam Basil and Christine Rose are thrown together late one night, when Christine is crossing the Ha'penny Bridge in Dublin. Adam is there, poised, threatening to jump.
Adam is desperate - but Christine makes a crazy deal with him. His 35th birthday is looming and she bets him that before then she can show him that life is worth living.'

Wellllll, obviously, then I just had to read it. I had to know from the moment I read that, if Adam lived? If he did, how did Christine do it? How did she save him?

Sure enough, all is revealed and yes, this book is a bit predictable.

It ended in the same way I thought it might just as soon as I read that inside cover but then my little ending was just so obvious that I almost dismissed it straight away and this is why 'How to Fall in Love' was a page turner. So much of it was about what we already know to be true of life but just as much of it was about the different motivations we all have (especially for the future) and how this influences what we actually see (especially in our today).

I have to admit that I enjoyed the first three quarters of the book. Such simple, pleasant reading (considering the subject matter, this book is not that dark or morbid) and I probably would have enjoyed it even more if I hadn't read the absolutely beautiful and captivating 'For One More Day' by Mitch Albom last week (review coming soon). However, I did read 'For One More Day' and I guess, a little comparison was inevitable especially as they both deal with suicide. As entertaining as Aherns' tale was and for all the times she pinpointed some truth about life, 'How to Fall in Love' did not resonate quite as deeply as 'For One More Day' but it was an easier and maybe more entertaining read. Then there is the last part of the book where Ahern comes in to her own and we find out exactly why Christine and Adam act as they do. . .

Wow!!!  Suddenly, everything becomes clear. The plot was so tight and I can see exactly why Christine feels she needs to do what she does throughout the book. When I closed this book, I was so incredibly satisfied with the ending. It really did come a full circle in my eyes.

So yes, 'How to Fall in Love' is well worth a read especially when it is half price or less in so many stores. With Christmas coming up (eek), the hardback could also be a lovely present for a friend. 'How to Fall in Love' is a really well written, charismatic, straight-forward read with some great passages as well as some very unique and memorable characters.

I'll leave you with one of my favourite lines (I can be a bit corny like that), 'Life is a series of moments and moments are always changing, just like thoughts . . .'

I got my copy from Tesco for £7. It is also available to buy in many other stores and here on Amazon!

Have you read 'How to Fall in Love'? Do you plan to? What do you think of Aherns' writing style? What books do you recommend?

I hope your week has started well. Mine has . . . with a couple of little wins on Ebay ; )