The Fault in Our Stars
There was a time when I really, really wanted to read this book (if only to see what everyone was talking about). During that time, John Green seemed to me like a rare type of YA author who's aware of his (target) audience and his influence on these people (teens). Even his interactions with this audience was appropriate because he knew how to navigate the minefield that is social media. He was the author whom I though might actually take YA in a new direction--away from generic and derivative writing about petty first-world problems and toward thoughtful social commentary about real-world issues.
That time was yesterday... before I saw this post. Well, that's a huge let down.
I find the points he's aiming to make quite ironic in light of this book and what it's supposedly about.
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The more I read about this book, the more I'm convinced it's one of those emotionally manipulative ones that aim to make you tear-up. I usually put a lot of distance between my reading list and books like this, but for this one, I'm willing to pick it up to see what all the hype is about. And also, to know how John Green writes. If only to use this knowledge as ammunition later on in book discussions.