https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 13:38:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-feb-tfios-week-1-discussion#post-1407230 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 11:52:37 +0000 dagret 1407230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just got my copy from the library last night...and read it in one sitting. I couldn't stop.</p> <p>1. I think he did a really good job writing from a teenaged girl's perspective.<br /> 2. I really thought this was going to be a Lurlene McDaniels-style book, more melodramatic than it was. But It was a Seriously Good Book About Some Teens Who Happen to Have Cancer. (all caps because i think it's that good.)<br /> 3. I loved the humor, even when it was something that might be deemed inappropriate from an adult's perspective, it seemed appropriate for teenagers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-feb-tfios-week-1-discussion#post-1397728 Tue, 04 Feb 2014 11:42:30 +0000 mrsjyw 1397728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1) I bought it, and he did a good job. I didn't always view it as a "female" voice. </p> <p>2) At points it was a book about cancer. I didn't have a hard time picking it up. I don't mind sad books. Especially about life. I think it keeps yous grounded and grateful and aware!</p> <p>3) I LOVED the humor. Dry humor, clever kids getting by to make the most out of a shitty situation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-feb-tfios-week-1-discussion#post-1396538 Mon, 03 Feb 2014 18:50:23 +0000 Running Elley 1396538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1) I think he did really well! I really never thought about the fact that he's probably writing from a completely different perspective.</p> <p>2) I probably would call it a cancer book. I know that there are obviously other themes and focuses but I think, largely like Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper, that is definitely the (sometimes) underlying point. I didn't have a hard time picking it up- I've heard often that it's really sad but I kind of like sad books. It's weird but...I do! So far it's been funnier than I expected and I'm more attached to the characters already than I thought I'd be!</p> <p>3) I liked the humor. So far it hasn't been anything outrageous to me. I like the personalities of the main characters. I also really like Isaac and think he's pretty hilarious!</p> <p>@lovehoneybee: That scene was REALLY difficult for me too...for the same reasons. I just can't imagine having to be a parent in a situation like that. *Shudder* </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-feb-tfios-week-1-discussion#post-1395475 Mon, 03 Feb 2014 12:37:11 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 1395475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1) It never crossed my mind that the writer was a middle-aged man, so yes. She reminded me a little of the movie character Juno because of her realistic outlook and dry sense of humor. </p> <p>2) I didn't vote for any books this month because I don't like reading sad books because they make me sad. I was hesitant to start it but I just made sure to read it in the bath or when I was home alone. I consider this a "cancer book", but I don't think it sucks. Cancer is scary. I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it more than I thought it would probably because of the humor. </p> <p>3) I enjoyed the humor, although I don't think it was completely realistic. Too quick and comfortable - I feel like there should have been more awkward moments for two teenagers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-feb-tfios-week-1-discussion#post-1395443 Mon, 03 Feb 2014 12:28:31 +0000 bushelandapeck 1395443@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1) I thought he did a great job. I actually never even realized it was a male author until I looked over the book when I started reading it.<br /> 2) I think it’s more of a story about the love between Hazel and Gus and Hazel and her family. She also happens to have Cancer, but I don’t think it’s a Cancer book necessarily. I expected it to be sad, which it is, but what I didn’t expect is to be so enthralled with it. I could have honestly read it in one sitting but forced myself to stop. I haven’t found many books where that has happened to me. I will be sad when it ends, no matter what happens.<br /> 3) I love the humor in this book. It’s by far one of the funnier books I've read where there is also a lot of sadness and depression. I don’t think I would like the book nearly as much without the humor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-feb-tfios-week-1-discussion#post-1395430 Mon, 03 Feb 2014 12:22:09 +0000 IRunForFun 1395430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Full disclosure, I already finished the book, so that might influence my answers, but I won't give anything away!! </p> <p><b>1) John Green uses the voice of a female teenager for his narrator. How do you think he did? Do you buy it?</b></p> <p>I think he did a really good job, especially with the tone. I could totally picture a teenage girl saying the things Hazel said. I did think that she and Augustus seemed a bit more intelligent/sophisticated/deep than the average teen, but I feel like that was attributed to the experiences they'd had vs. other teens. </p> <p><b>2) At one point, Hazel says, "Cancer books suck." Is this a book about cancer? Did you have trouble picking up the book to read it? What were you expecting? Were those expectations met or did the book alter your ideas?</b></p> <p>I didn't think it was a "cancer book" per se. I thought it was more about life and how everyone deals differently with the hand they are dealt and the knowledge that someday, whether it be tomorrow or 50 years from now, they will die. It seemed to be about how different people view what constitutes a valuable life and a life lived to the fullest, and it just happened to be portrayed through the veil of cancer. </p> <p>I didn't have trouble picking up the book. It did affect me on a deeper emotional level than I thought it would, though, and made me think more than I thought it would, as well. I thought it was excellent. </p> <p><b>3) What did you make of the book's humor? Is it appropriate or inappropriate? Green has said he "didn't want to use humor to lighten the mood" or "to pull out the easy joke" when things got hard. But, he said, he likes to write about "clever kids, [and they] tend to be funny even when things are rough." Is his use of humor successful? How did it affect the way you read the book?</b></p> <p>I loved the humor in the book, it was very well done. It even seemed realistic, since I believe a lot of people use humor to deal with serious issues. I didn't find it inappropriate at all, I think it only added to the book. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-feb-tfios-week-1-discussion#post-1395385 Mon, 03 Feb 2014 12:10:11 +0000 LuLu Mom 1395385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lovehoneybee: I actually just got done reading it when it was picked for book club! But I honestly don't think I would be able to stop, you have more willpower than me! haha </p> <p>I need to go back and read again to make sure I don't give any spoilers away! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-feb-tfios-week-1-discussion#post-1395376 Mon, 03 Feb 2014 12:07:16 +0000 lovehoneybee 1395376@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LuLu Mom: I agree about not being able to put it down! I had to force myself to stop at the end of Chapter 5...I'm sure I could have finished it in one sitting! I'm so excited to get to read more tonight! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-feb-tfios-week-1-discussion#post-1395372 Mon, 03 Feb 2014 12:06:01 +0000 lovehoneybee 1395372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>First of all, I'd like to say that reading the scene where she was 14 and everyone thought she was dying was, now, as a mother, really hard for me to read. Her mom asks "Are you ready, sweetie?" and I burst into tears in the bathtub. I can't begin to imagine having to watch Evan die, and trying to do it with a brave front. </p> <p>1) I think he did just fine. I never stopped and thought "Oh man, what is this 36 year old guy think he's doing trying to write as a teenage girl?" </p> <p>2) I feel like it's too early to say whether or not it's a book about cancer. Cancer is certainly a big part of it, but so far it feels more about Hazel and Gus than it does about cancer itself, if that makes sense. A love story in the making of two teenagers who happen to have cancer. But would they have even met had it not been for cancer? Probably not. I still don't think I'd call it a cancer book, though. </p> <p>I didn't have any trouble picking it up to read it. I'd heard it's a tear-jerker, but with a 5-star rating on Amazon with almost 9,000 reviews I figured it must be worth a try. </p> <p>So far it's what I expected it to be. Sharp, self-deprecating, dry and funny. </p> <p>3) I think the humor is fine, but my sense of humor is often inappropriate and self-deprecating, and some of the jokes that come out of my mouth (mostly to D) can be pretty offensive, so it takes a lot for me to think something is inappropriate or offensive. I suppose there are people who want to see cancer treated with a more dignified discussion, but I like to believe that if I had cancer I would be able to make jokes at my own expense. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-feb-tfios-week-1-discussion#post-1395351 Mon, 03 Feb 2014 12:01:01 +0000 LuLu Mom 1395351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p><b>1) John Green uses the voice of a female teenager for his narrator. How do you think he did? Do you buy it? </b> I buy it, she's a very intellegent teenager as well as college educated, so even though I think she gets a little long winded,it seemed in tow with her personality &amp; interest in literature. </p> <p><b>2) At one point, Hazel says, "Cancer books suck." Is this a book about cancer? Did you have trouble picking up the book to read it? What were you expecting? Were those expectations met or did the book alter your ideas? </b> I don't think it's a "cancer" book per say. I had no trouble picking it up, I had a hard time putting it down even though I wanted to not finish it because (I have finished) beause I didn't want to be over. I had people tell me how great it was and I 100% agree. I expected it to be wonderful and it was. </p> <p><b>3) What did you make of the book's humor? Is it appropriate or inappropriate? Green has said he "didn't want to use humor to lighten the mood" or "to pull out the easy joke" when things got hard. But, he said, he likes to write about "clever kids, [and they] tend to be funny even when things are rough." Is his use of humor successful? How did it affect the way you read the book?</b><br /> I laughed out loud several times, I love the characters interactions &amp; their sense of humor even in the light of what they are going through. they are still teenagers, teenagers are often inappropriate &amp; have a knack for making people feel uncomfortable, I loved the way that came across in the writing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-feb-tfios-week-1-discussion#post-1395323 Mon, 03 Feb 2014 11:55:18 +0000 lovehoneybee 1395323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Spoilers through the end of Chapter 5! </p> <p>I'm going to apologize in advance for lifting these questions from goodreads and litlovers. Both D and E are sick, and I was up almost all night with the latter. I'm too tired to think of my own questions! So please, if you have a comment or something you'd like to discuss, feel very free to comment on it!</p> <p>1) John Green uses the voice of a female teenager for his narrator. How do you think he did? Do you buy it? </p> <p>2) At one point, Hazel says, "Cancer books suck." Is this a book about cancer? Did you have trouble picking up the book to read it? What were you expecting? Were those expectations met or did the book alter your ideas?</p> <p>3) What did you make of the book's humor? Is it appropriate or inappropriate? Green has said he "didn't want to use humor to lighten the mood" or "to pull out the easy joke" when things got hard. But, he said, he likes to write about "clever kids, [and they] tend to be funny even when things are rough." Is his use of humor successful? How did it affect the way you read the book?</p> <p>ETA: For next week let's read through Chapter 11 (page 176 in the physical book, not sure about Kindle, sorry). </p>