This was by far one of my favorite books on the buzzfeed.com's list of books to read before they hit the big screen. John Green has a writing style that just clicks with my personality. For me, the big thing was, who they would get to play Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters. To be completely honest, I was concerned that Shailene Woodley (Divergent girl) and Ansel Elgort (Divergent girl's brother) wouldn't be able to master the true connection and love the characters had, let alone the intensity of love and loss. But I am here to tell you, they proved me wrong, dead wrong.
Hazel has had cancer since her early teens and is very realistic about the whole thing. She knows she will die and is content watching reality TV and making her parents happy by doing whatever they suggest. Such as a Cancer support group. This whole idea seems cheesey to her and she puts up a fight, but in the end does what she always does, concedes for her parents.
Her first meeting is just about as bad as she imagined. They meet at a church basement and the leader of the group sings Jesus songs that do not make Hazel, who doesn't know if this whole life after death thing is believable, want to stay. Her second meeting, however, changes her whole world. This is where she meets him.
Hazel and Augustus literally run into each other on their first greeting and it's evident an attraction is there. Augustus can't keep his eyes off of her throughout the meeting and it doesn't go unnoticed. Hazel finds out though the meeting that Augustus had Cancer and is now Cancer free from the removal of most of his leg. Following the meeting, Augustus is persistent and wins when Hazel agrees to come over to watch a movie. As much as Hazel doesn't want to admit it and can't understand why, Augustus is very much into her. He even agrees to read her favorite book in turn that she reads one of his. The next day, Hazel realizes Augustus has not texted and she feels dismayed. Trying not to, but without much success, she plays the whole wait by the phone routine until finally he texted her a series of texts expressing his shock at how the book ended. She is reassured Augustus is going nowhere and so begins a romance that can be compared to sleep as she says, "it starts slow at first and then falls fast."
Augustus wakes Hazel up from her dreary, depressing, and cynical outlook on life with Cancer. She begins to live again from picnics, strolls, and a trip to Amsterdam to meet the author of her favorite book to find out what happened. This trip is a major turning point for this couple as it contains the first I love you, first night together, and Augustus admitting his Cancer has returned......
After they come back to reality, the tables are turned as Hazel looks after Augustus in some extremely low and trying times. Augustus' passion for living a life of heroism and meaning something to so many turns him sour as he realizes his mark will not be as big as he'd had hoped. There are still moments when he is back to the guy she first met. Alive, passionate, and hopeful. Unfortunately that last good day would be the last good day and days later Augustus Waters would leave this world, but not Hazel's.
I left out a lot of what happened in the movie because I want you to see it and feel every part. It is going to be rough and you WILL cry, and I mean cry a lot. But there are so many messages to take away from this couple's small infinity. They love each other undoubtedly in the purest way. Death is at both of their doorsteps but it doesn't stop them from living, from feeling. Lastly, it reminds you to live each day as if it were your last. I now that sounds cliché but you truly never know what could happen and should appreciate each day as another day to live, love, and be loved. An inspirational story that will make an impact, even if it is an "ugly" cry.
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