Books. How can a few hundred of pieces of paper bound together have an impact on someone's life? Fiction novels cover a wide range of subject matter, from sci-fi, to romance, to comedy, to loss and tragedy. I myself read all manner of things; anything whose cover catches my eye, whether I have heard of it or not, will find it's way into my shopping bag. The reason I, and probably most other bookworms read so much fiction, is because it is a world away from whatever angry, sad or messed-up situation we are currently in. When I take my bookmark out and carry on hungry engulfing this teeming mass of words, I lose myself in someone else's life, and in turn I learn so much more about my life. For example, when I read The Fault in Our Stars (for the fifth time) I was struck by how an author can so accurately capture the feelings of someone in such a different situation to 'the average person.' Whilst reading that book, after setting it down I just sat and thought about what I had learned, and I find it hard to drag myself out of that meditative slumber into the real world.
When people see me cry at a novel, they laugh and shake their head fondly. However I don't think they understand what sort of person I am in that moment, they don't understand that I am so engrossed in a book and I get to the point where I feel like I am the character, and I am a part of their world. And similarly to The Fault in Our Stars, when Augustus Waters died it was like a hole had been torn in my heart (I will never forgive you, John Green). The difference between films and books is that, even though you may cry at a film, that moment will be over as soon as the film finishes. You may feel sad for the rest of the day, but because you are only visually involved in the film, you don't feel any emotional attachment to the characters. But in a novel, you delve into the characters head, and when whatever brilliant author divulges the scene of tragedy or heartbreak which will inevitably come, you journey on that emotional roller coaster with them.
Bookshops are dying out. People are choosing, out of pure, unadulterated laziness on their part, to either watch the film adaptations, or to download books onto their Kindles. I for one will ever join in on the Kindle craze, purely because one of the things I enjoy about reading a physical book is that you can appreciate every effort that the author has put into that work of art. To me, reading something on a Kindle is cheating the author, because they were not designed to be that way. The best books deserve to have loving memories be created when reading them; several of my novels have been read so many times that the binding it splitting. But I don't mind, because every time I pick up that book to read it again I am transported back to the last time I read it, whether is was on holiday, or in the bath, or on the train. If you own a Kindle, I am not saying you shouldn't use it, because you should, everyone has a different personality and preference. I am just saying, when you hear of a story that you really love, go out and buy the book so that you can create eve more memories with it, because these are the things you miss as you age and mature.
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Friday, 10 January 2014
Thursday, 9 January 2014
THE FAULT IN OUR STARS - REVIEW
So recently whilst I was on a family holiday in Lyme Regis, I decided to investigate my extremely large pile of novels that I received for Christmas. Book are the one item that I will always discover in my presents, because my parents know that whatever they buy for me, I will enjoy it. This year, I specifically asked for several books, and over the next few weeks I will post reviews and opinions on each of them.
The first book that I asked for was 'The Fault In Our Stars' by John Green. I know that this book has been published for a while, but I wanted to wait until the excitement about it had died down before I read it so that I had the freedom to form my own opinions about it. Originally, I was worried that the novel wouldn't live up to my expectations, however I couldn't be more wrong. For those of you who are waiting to read the book, in the next part of this post I will give a brief synopsis of the book, so to avoid spoilers, please skip to the next paragraph. The story is about a teenage girl, Hazel, who is suffering from thyroid cancer (which affects the lungs) and whose condition, unfortunately, is terminal. However, a miracle drug has bought her a few years, and currently she doesn't really see much point to the life she is living. Every week she spends an hour at Support Group, where a gorgeous boy catches her eye. He previously suffered with osteosarcoma, and lost one of his legs. Soon enough, Hazel and Augustus (aforementioned hot boy) are flirtatious friends and talk to each other about everything. They share her favorite book, An Imperial Affliction, a trip to Amsterdam, and a rather steamy night. When they return from Amsterdam, a bomb drops. Augustus, who has been cancer free for a few years, confides in Hazel that the cancer has returned and has spread to most of his vital organs. In a truly heartbreaking scene, Augustus asks Hazel and his blind friend Isaac to read him their eulogies at their own, personal funeral before he dies. Soon enough, Augustus Waters takes his last breath.
At the start of the book, I was slightly irritated with Hazel. She had been told that she was going to die eventually, so why not make the most of her life, rather than wallowing in self pity? However, when Augustus appeared, I knew that was a turn up for the books. The Fault in Our Stars had me crying, laughing, and every moment in between. Having had someone very close to me suffering from cancer, it gave me a new outlook on the disease, and despite it's habit of making people quite ill, it also has the ability to bring people together in their hour of need. The story of a sufferer who journeys from knowing her end is near, to living the life she had imagined at last with the one she loved. When the tragic bombshell dropped, I am not afraid to say that I dropped the book and sobbed hysterically for an hour straight, as I am sure this was the reaction of many to the story. Jodi Picoult, author of My Sister's Keeper, calls The Fault in Our Stars "an electric portrait of young people who learn to live life with one foot in the grave," which I believe is the best summary so far. I don't believe any further comments can do this stunning work justice, so I will finish with some of my favourite quotes straight from the novel itself.
"I fell in the love the way you fall asleep, slowly, and then all at once."
"Maybe okay will be our always."
"My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations."
The first book that I asked for was 'The Fault In Our Stars' by John Green. I know that this book has been published for a while, but I wanted to wait until the excitement about it had died down before I read it so that I had the freedom to form my own opinions about it. Originally, I was worried that the novel wouldn't live up to my expectations, however I couldn't be more wrong. For those of you who are waiting to read the book, in the next part of this post I will give a brief synopsis of the book, so to avoid spoilers, please skip to the next paragraph. The story is about a teenage girl, Hazel, who is suffering from thyroid cancer (which affects the lungs) and whose condition, unfortunately, is terminal. However, a miracle drug has bought her a few years, and currently she doesn't really see much point to the life she is living. Every week she spends an hour at Support Group, where a gorgeous boy catches her eye. He previously suffered with osteosarcoma, and lost one of his legs. Soon enough, Hazel and Augustus (aforementioned hot boy) are flirtatious friends and talk to each other about everything. They share her favorite book, An Imperial Affliction, a trip to Amsterdam, and a rather steamy night. When they return from Amsterdam, a bomb drops. Augustus, who has been cancer free for a few years, confides in Hazel that the cancer has returned and has spread to most of his vital organs. In a truly heartbreaking scene, Augustus asks Hazel and his blind friend Isaac to read him their eulogies at their own, personal funeral before he dies. Soon enough, Augustus Waters takes his last breath.
At the start of the book, I was slightly irritated with Hazel. She had been told that she was going to die eventually, so why not make the most of her life, rather than wallowing in self pity? However, when Augustus appeared, I knew that was a turn up for the books. The Fault in Our Stars had me crying, laughing, and every moment in between. Having had someone very close to me suffering from cancer, it gave me a new outlook on the disease, and despite it's habit of making people quite ill, it also has the ability to bring people together in their hour of need. The story of a sufferer who journeys from knowing her end is near, to living the life she had imagined at last with the one she loved. When the tragic bombshell dropped, I am not afraid to say that I dropped the book and sobbed hysterically for an hour straight, as I am sure this was the reaction of many to the story. Jodi Picoult, author of My Sister's Keeper, calls The Fault in Our Stars "an electric portrait of young people who learn to live life with one foot in the grave," which I believe is the best summary so far. I don't believe any further comments can do this stunning work justice, so I will finish with some of my favourite quotes straight from the novel itself.
"I fell in the love the way you fall asleep, slowly, and then all at once."
"Maybe okay will be our always."
"My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations."
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