I feel as though this was a very intimate story about a disease that wreaks havoc in countless families all throughout time. Hazel (Hazel Grace) was bought a few extra years of her terminal situation by a miracle drug. She was entered into a group for testing of a drug called Phalanix and it has kept back her cancer to a minimal amount. She hasn't attended public school in a long time but rather on her non-busy schedule she was able to graduate from high school and begin her college education. She feels like a grenade. There isn't anything keeping her from hurting her family when she dies. A while ago the family found themselves in the hospital with Hazel gasping for breath and she felt like she wasn't going to make it and so they prepared for her to die telling each other it was okay. Even though not everything was okay she still survived to be the comforter for a fellow sufferer.
She hated attending the support group listening to this monotonous story of how Patrick lost his balls as an inspiration for those to keep fighting. One night she went to take a seat and a new guy joined the group to only stare at her with apparent fascination. Annoyed by Augustus' blatant obsession she strikes back with one upraised eyebrow and death stare. Needless to say he surrendered.
Hazel and Augustus were pulled closer together by a shared favorite book and try to contact the author of the story. Cancer perks are amazing and help them out in their pursuit.
They are both riddled by cancer and fall in love. Yes, they are young and teenagers but it wasn't puppy love that their friend Isaac experienced. It was the true unabashed forever love. The hardest thing of this book is the statement when Hazel says she won't be able to be with Augustus anymore because he died. Ripped from the Earth was a by product of cancer that heroically gave his last wish to the love of his heart. I'll let you read to find out what wish it was.
I was disappointed that I could guess the twists and turns but it showed a rawness that I haven't experienced with characters before. Yes, it is a bit predictable but you won't be reading just for the plot but for the characters. No fancy words were used but only the hard truth in simple words. I do hold different beliefs than the characters but I didn't let it stop me from respecting them as people. This is a great book to share with those that don't know a lot about how hard it is to live through or with cancer. After reading this book I decided that I wasn't strong enough to handle the things the characters did. And I have a deeper respect to those who battle it. Sadly a true point made by the character is that dying from a sickness isn't heroic and it draws only pity and immortalizes those who do.
You can follow John Green on twitter @realjohngreen. Or follow his vlogbrothers online. Author: J. Feistner
No comments:
Post a Comment