The Fault in our Stars: On Life and Love

"But Van Houten, the marks humans leave are too often scars... "

The Fault in our Stars talks a lot about the many ironies of life, and love.

Credits

It is bitter-sweet.

You'll laugh and cry.

On Life 

These life lessons were plotted in the lives of teenagers suffering from terminal cancer.  The story was more or less what I was expecting judging from the situation.  I know this would teach me that I should live life to the fullest.  I was right but I went ahead reading it anyway because it really is an easy read, except for the parts when the protagonists, namely Hazel and Augustus, got into poetry mode.

I learned a number of ironies in the stories too: That there is the struggle of the terminally sick trying to live life to the fullest, encouraged and supported by parents who seemingly lost their own sense of living because of them;  That it's ok if you have cancer, they got this thing called cancer perks which somehow makes you feel you're lucky for being sick, free movie pass, Yeah! Go cancer!; That having cancer in your balls is funny and tragic at the same time.  You laugh after reading this, but then you would feel guilty for laughing because you know it was rude to laugh at a guy who ain't got no balls (hahaha)...seriously, it's wrong people.  Somehow the author tries to put lightness to the situation by injecting humor.   Some people buy it, although others who experienced cancer first-hand or who has a loved one who got cancer may or may not find this funny.  Hey, to each his own.  Like what my friend, Jean de La Bruyere said, Life is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think.  But what Mr. La Bruyere miss out on is that once something bad happens, you just can't help but to feel pain.  As per the book, "That's the thing about pain... it demands to be felt."  But you can only mourn at a certain time.  Life won't stop for you.  You need to decide to stop, and be ok.  Push away that pain and pull yourself back together and move on.  In this book, however, the story ended tragically, like Romeo and Juliet.  They're star-crossed lovers, with the only element holding them apart is death.  But they got their love story alright.  They experienced true love.  Something people would die to have, and have died without having it.

On Love

But I think what made this book special is the love aspect.  Let's admit it, everyone is a sucker for love.  And mind you, it's not just any other love, it's true love we're talking about.  I think anyone would want to experience how it is to truly love and to be truly loved in return.  True love and you mix it with death is a deadly combination for a tear-jerker story.  I know, I know there's nothing new about it, but it more or less works.  And it throws people in a very tragic situation that they can't help themselves but to cry.  Story lines speak of situations like "I spent my dying days loving you", or "hey, you don't know about this was what I did for you, I hope you liked it.".  Ok, ok, so maybe I'm ruining it for you.  Try reading the book and you'll understand what I'm talking about.  You really need to sink your teeth in to the book so you could get to see the complexity of emotions revolving around the characters.  Well maybe emotions aren't that complex.  It's just downright heart-wrenching.

So what did I learn about love? I believe true love is selfless. And is not only shown through words but is cemented by actions.  Someone who is dying showed me what true love is, and it's always is refreshing to see it unfold in the story.

My Thoughts

One line that lingered and really struck a chord in me is the line that we often leave scars behind.  We inflict pain on people and people inflict pain on us.  Hazel thought of herself as a bomb. Not because she's hot, although she was depicted to look like Natalie Portman, no.  She said that she's like a bomb waiting to explode.  So she wanted to be less exposed, to maintain her victims to a few close relatives.  So she wouldn't cause scars to many people once she passed away.  But more than leaving scars, I believe that we are equally capable of planting seeds.  Seeds of wisdom and inspiration, so when you're gone you somehow leave something for them to be thankful for.

It may cause them momentary pain, but your legacy remains.