Over spring break, I made it a point to indulge in a book. No, not Saint Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica, not James Joyce’s Dubliners, and no, not even close to anything from my psychology textbook. Instead, I made a promise to myself that before I did any academic reading over spring break I needed to read a book for pleasure. Pleasure and reading used in the same sentence? I know. I forgot what it was like to say those two words in the same sentence too. But truly, one of the best parts about my spring break was reintroducing my mind to my imagination.
With all the rigorous readings we are assigned for classes, reading for pleasure falls to the bottom of our list preceded by sleep and Netflix. However, I always find that over the summer I am reading books for enjoyment, which is what we should be doing when we engage with a text. As an English major, I tend to get really critical when I read, always analyzing why things are happening and why the author chose to use this word instead of that one, and blah, blah, blah. For one week of my semester, I was able to throw all of that out the window and let my mind slip away into the wonderful world that a novel opens us up to.
So which book did I choose? As a matter of fact, I chose a novel based off a friend’s recommendation. I believe her exact words were, “you HAVE to read it!! It’s one of my all-time favorites!” Her recommendation? The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I then asked her what is was about, not really wanting to get myself wrapped up into a boring book that didn’t even catch my slightest interest on my flights to multiple cities over break. She told me it was a love story that would touch my heart and make me cry. I was sold. Having a boyfriend who goes to a different school, I was in desperate need of love and was completely down for having a book pull at my heartstrings.
I started the book on my first flight to Philadelphia, going to visit my boyfriend as a matter of fact. I stowed the book in my carry-on and didn’t plan on opening it on my flight because I was still very sleepy on the early morning departure. However, unable to sleep on the plane (mostly due to excitement) I decided to turn open that chalky-text-covered blue front to check out the story for myself. Needless to say, I was hooked. I read eighty pages on my first flight and continued to read while at the first stop of my trip. Yes, I can’t believe it but I read in my free time during my spring break, and it only took me a few days to wrap up the 350 page national best-seller.
So what is it about? I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s a love story about two teenagers, Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters who meet in a cancer support group. The two fall for each other, and we see humanity at it’s finest. In their ups and downs, the couple realizes what it means to love and be loved in a limited number of days.
The best part about it? The movie is coming out this summer and is sure to be a hit! You can check out the trailer here. In the mean time, if your looking for a good cry make sure you read this truly touching story.
Sources
http://www.photographyblogger.net/35-sensational-airplane-window-pictures/
http://johnsonmemo.blogspot.com/2012/01/friday-focus-january-6_12.html
http://sjplreads.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-fault-in-our-stars-by-john-green.html
http://thefaultinourstarsmovie.com/post/71128642612/merry-christmas-nerdfighters-we-present-to-you-a