Some kind of classic

I feel like numerous people will be offended if I say that I consider The Fault In Our Stars a classic. But there is such thing as a modern classic, something that feels right when you read it. Something that makes you feel, that makes you think. In my mind that defines a classic, because if the book didn't matter, why did it linger so long? Modern classics haven't had time to linger yet, but the feeling is still there. 

I can't believe I haven't talked about TFIOS yet. 

I have no doubts that you've heard about this story before. I say story because I know that people will have gone to see the movie without reading the book. I hold no judgments against these people, but honestly, read the book. I read it for the first time in one sitting, ending in tears at about midnight. 

In case you don't know the story, I will give you the basic premise. This is a love story. A doomed love story, as it is a love story between two teenagers with cancer. Hazel Grace Lancaster was diagnosed with terminal thyroid cancer that has metastasized in her lungs, causing her to depend on oxygen delivered through a canula in her nose, and forcing her to attend a weekly support group of teenagers with cancer. Augustus Waters had osteosarcoma, causing him to lose his leg, and become friends with Isaac, a boy with eye cancer who also attends the weekly support group. Hazel Lancaster and Augustus Waters meet and the sparks fly. Favorite books and phone numbers are exchanged and the story begins. But a love story with a cancer and post-cancer pair is full of emotions, high highs and low lows. You will get emotional. I'm not going to guarantee that you will cry because so far no one else in my family has cried over it. I sobbed. The two times that I read it. I have no shame in admitting this.

I also cried in the movie theatre. Which is why I'm not going to give you a movie review, because I would not have anything to say about it other than "It was good" which isn't much of a review. Once I see it again, maybe I'll write an actual review. 

For now, I will discuss the book, because I absolutely love it. I honestly do. I think it's clever, funny, witty, absolutely devastating but beautiful at the same time. However, I hear a lot of criticism about it (especially since it became one of a the staple reads for teenage girls). One of the main criticisms I hear is concerning how pretentious and arrogant Augusts is. Yes. He is. That's his character flaw. He's far from perfect. He's arrogant, full of his own self-worth. He wants to be remembered by everyone, he wants to make headlines. I don't deny that because that's what his character is, that's the point. 

I've also heard that he is "too mature for his age" and that I don't deny. No 17-year-old is as good a flirt as Augustus Waters. I'm not even going to try to deny that, he is unrealistically romantic. Which is undoubtedly why we love him so much. 

And even if you don't like the story, or John Green, you cannot deny that there are some fantastic lines in that book. There is one I absolutely adore:

"My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations."

Think about it. If you are a teenager, you know that sometimes you have all these thoughts buzzing inside your brain and none of them make sense but somehow you understand all of them and some are brighter than others, but putting them together is nearly impossible. If you are no longer a teenager, I hope you will remember such thoughts. 

But honestly, my favorite line is this.

"You are going to live a good and long life filled with great and terrible things that you cannot even imagine yet!"

On that note, happy Sunday and I hope you have a great week.