So, I am a little in love with the book, The Fault in Our Stars. Are you shocked? Probably not. The movie adaptation was released last week, and I finally got to see it. Before going to see the movie I discussed it with…just about everybody, and, so far, the general consensus is that TFiOS broke their hearts.
As my friend and I left the theater, she mentioned how depressing she found the film, but I disagree. Maybe the second consumption of the story lends itself to a little more introspection and a little less reaction. Don’t get me wrong, I cried buckets. I’m grateful she thought to grab tissues (although I’m not sure an entire box would have been enough to mop up all the emotion). However, even as I dried my tears and tried to pull myself together enough to at least remember where I parked the car (not an easy feat on a day in which I haven’t been emotionally compromised by a John Green tale), I realized that I don’t find this story depressing.
Hazel, Augustus and Isaac broke my heart again, and once again, they’ve mended it a little. The story of the “cancer kids” who meet in “the literal heart of Jesus” inspires me. I had to work my way through the emotion to find the inspiration, and, as I said, the second consumption helped to find the positivity inherent in every novel of Green’s I’ve read.
There’s hope and life in this story. I’m inspired to take advantage of every day, to cherish the people in my life, to take chances despite (or even because of) the risk, and to never dismiss love. My stubbornly independent self is even inspired to admit (occasionally) that it is okay if you can’t carry everything by your self all of the time, and leaning on the people who love you every once in the while isn’t a bad thing. Sometimes you need a boost to achieve your dreams.
Don’t be intimidated by the tears! Go see this movie.
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