A review of The Fault in our Stars.
John Green’s book, The Fault in Our Stars, is not to be taken lightly. Over 10 million copies of the book have been sold to date. It is currently ranked the number one best seller on Amazon and has been followed by a recent blockbuster movie. The book’s target audience is young adults and teenagers; the theme of the book is about two terminal cancer patients who are teenagers—not exactly what one would expect to be a winning formula.
Green is a talented writer. The story is written in the voice of Hazel, a 16-year-old girl diagnosed with terminal cancer. Her life is transformed when she meets Gus, a 17-year-old boy who has already lost a leg to cancer. The plot plunges headlong into the world of the terminally ill. Hazel and Gus give no effort to make themselves or others comfortable with their cancer. They offer no apologies for who they are and want no sympathy from others. For them, life is it what it is. Terminal cancer is the card they have been dealt.
This directness is what makes the book appealing: having terminal cancer does not make someone less of a person. Green’s characters refuse to meet the expectations of other people extending sympathy to them. But for them, life does stink—at least for Hazel. Then she and Gus meet. We get to see the relationship flourish in the soil of terminal illness. These two teenagers are intellectually super-charged. They want meaning for the immediate issues and interests of their life since there might be no tomorrow. Life still stinks for tomorrow, but today brings the joy of romance, understanding, and closeness with someone in the same sinking boat.
But for Green and his two teenage creations, what is now is all that there is. For an existentialist, now is all that matters. For example, while talking about something difficult that happened to himself, Gus says:
“Not your fault, Hazel Grace. We’re all just side effects, right?” “Barnacles on the container ship of consciousness,” Hazel responds.
Later, regarding death and the impersonal god of the existentialist, 16-year-old Hazel writes this about the death of 17-year-old Gus:
“We live in a universe devoted to the creation, and eradication of awareness. Augustus Waters [Gus] did not die after a lengthy battle with cancer. He died after a lengthy battle with human consciousness, a victim – as you will be – of the universe’s need to make and unmake all that is possible.”
The Fault in Our Stars is praised for being bold and honest. It is praised because Hazel and Gus are able to know what it means to have sex and enjoy love even if only for a moment. It is praised because it is said to be real. The truth is—this book is none of these things.
The book asks the reader to exchange the truth about God for the lie of the sufficiency of creation without its Creator. Hazel and Gus are meant to make us think that they lived life on their own terms. However, this too is fiction. Life is not just what can be seen. Whether humans acknowledge this or not, they are accountable to God. Death does not end existence. At the moment of death the meaning of life becomes devastatingly clear: life is lived on God’s terms.
Terminal cancer is a stark reminder of the fragility of life. The truth is that nothing is certain about tomorrow—neither for the terminally ill nor for any of us. At birth we are all terminal unless rescued by the grace of God. Life on earth is not all that there is, no matter how noble writers like John Green attempt to portray it. Life without Christ is a lie. It is God who provides hope beyond our ability to dream, no matter how bleak our human condition. Don’t let Green’s distortions of reality rob your teenagers of this great truth. Talk openly about this book. You see, The Fault in Our Stars is really about the fault in our souls—a fault that can be healed by Christ, who is the Lord of Creation.
For more helping your children build a biblical worldview see Instructing a Child’s Heart
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40 thoughts on “The Fault in our Souls”
Thank you!
Very well stated and very wise.
Really appreciate your review of this book/movie. I have seen the commercial for it a few times and the impression I got from it was exactly what you described here. Thanks for taking the time to warn readers about the driving point of it and it’s (in)direct attack on the Truth as revealed in Scripture.
I had the same thoughts when I was reading it. I was extremely well written, but I honestly worried about what young people would think if they didn’t have a strong foundation. My cousin-in-law considers himself an existentialist (much like Gus, only not nearly so witty or well spoken), and it’s endlessly frustrating talking to him, because he doesn’t believe in God, or that there is something after this life. I’d like to discuss more of the subject with my teenage cousin when she comes to visit me in a few weeks (she adores the book, and saw the movie this week), and I thank you for verbalizing some talking points for me.
This isn’t a book/movie about theology. This is as fictional story about two characters clawing at an attempt to make sense of their world.
All of life is about God, especially when death is the subject of a book or movie. There is a gracious answer of hope when faced with terminal illness that the book does not address. Two teenagers left to their own understanding of cancer and without hope in God’s mercy and heaven is a tragic picture. The existentialist worldview of the author is very much a theological statement.
So those who have terminal illnesses just haven’t accepted God? Those who die just have not been rescued? There is life after this one, but I find a hard time seeing that with the logic presented here. Ultimately, we have no right to judge anyone or anything, that is His job.
I am not sure how you drew the conclusions you did. God is God to all of us. I know those who are terminally ill and have found great comfort in their relationship with God and the hope of heaven.
I agree because my husband has terminal cancer and we both have great comfort in our relationship with Jesus Christ as our personal Savior & God. We have the hope of heaven awaiting us when he dies (he is 38, diagnosed with Stage 4 Stomach Cancer at age 36). And we look forward to being together in heaven someday. Live for the now is a lie and a trap. If you read the Bible you will see all kinds of references pointing us to the fact that this life is not all there is.
God has blessed you and your husband with His peace that surpasses human understanding.
I agree….I have a good friend who just lost her husband to cancer. It was actually an amazing experience because of their love for one another and for Jesus. I was truly blessed to have been able to share their journey, and I think others were impacted for and saw the gospel lived out in their lives. That was a beautiful story that should be shared!
I’m a teen who read the book because of how excited other girls in my youth group were about Fault. I truly disliked it. While some of the dialogue was witty and poignant, it felt so very fake. Everyone said, “It’s just so real. It’s about real life!” But it isn’t.
I truly love your review, thanks for posting it!
Thank you, Leah. You made my day!
My 15-yr old wanted to see this, so I and another mom took her and some friends and decided to watch it too (sitting many rows away from them of course :). It was definitely one of the most depressing movies I’ve seen because there was no hope for them. Just the moment, which every moment was slipping away beyond their control. I talked to the girls about this afterward and told them how hopeless the movie felt to me. Knowing there IS a loving God who cares for us and wants us to spend eternity with him is the only hope for us! And I am so thankful for that. Let your kids watch, by all means, however, make sure you take the opportunity to explain how this movie gets it very wrong and this broken world is NOT all there is!
i don’t think you can say this story had no hope. hazel was still alive. she was a different person after meeting gus. isaac was still alive. so many others were still alive. there was still life. and we don’t know where gus stood on his beliefs fully. he said he didn’t believe you just sat on a cloud all day playing a harp. but he definitely believed in more or there was not a point in all of this. the movie/book are sad don’t get me wrong. they are tragic, but so is life. shielding your children from life or trying to won’t keep them from having to face it. it will still hit them dead in the face. look at the examples of Christians that these two had in their lives and you might see where they would wonder what was real. i mean the support group guy was enough to make anyone want to laugh/cringe. maybe what we need to take from this is how do we look to the world and how do we portray Jesus to those around us
True about how we portray Jesus. But if we die without knowing him, it’s tragic. No happy ending…
Then I would like to know why he would have the ending feel so absolutely hopeless.
Anyone can call themselves a Christian but Christian beliefs are expressed through our actions and thoughts and even our very breath… You cannot serve two masters.. either you love one and hate the other… As an author You cannot express your views without expressing your convictions… The author is clear where his true beliefs are… And his beliefs are clear to those who know what Christianity really is… Either he calls himself a Christian and truly does not understand Christianity or he is not a Christian at all… I if I call myself a vegetarian and made recipes that include animal products.. Then I’m truly not a vegetarian… Same concept…
Why are there so many Christian themed books and movies? Isn’t the Bible satisfactory enough…aren’t all the answers in there?
My kids went to see this together. It was sold out. I felt bad for them.
Now, after reading this, I’m glad.
Just because they aren’t Christians doesn’t mean that it can’t be a beautiful story and romance. Get over the fact that not everyone believes exactly as you, and enjoy a well-written and inspiring story.
His book isn’t about theology and Christianity it’s about two teens that find love living with terminal cancer he got
The idea from his friend Esther earl who passed away at 16. From cancer who also was a Christian
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:24-28a
This passages teaches that there is but one purpose in life for everybody on the planet. God determines the exact habitation of each person on earth so that they would reach out and know him. If you believe the Bible, this is only possible conclusion that can be drawn. Paul said the these words to the leading intellects of the 1st Century. He was not talking to Christians. This is the message that John Green leaves out of this novel. This is the message that Hazel & Gus needed to hear and live out. Doubt this if you must, but it is impossible to find compassion and hope without the Lord of Heaven and earth.
But if he truly is a Christian why wouldn’t he want to use the gifts and talents that God has given to him to point his readers to the gospel? Why would he promote a more worldly view when it comes to death? Seems like a waste of the gift that God has given to him…..almost easier to swallow and read the book if he wasn’t saying that he’s a Christian.
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:24-28a
This passages teaches that there is but one purpose in life for everybody on the planet. God determines the exact habitation of each person on earth so that they would reach out and know him. If you believe the Bible, this is only possible conclusion that can be drawn. Paul said the these words to the leading intellects of the 1st Century. He was not talking to Christians. This is the message that John Green leaves out of this novel. This is the message that Hazel & Gus needed to hear and live out. Doubt this if you must, but it is impossible to find compassion and hope without the Lord of Heaven and earth.
I didn’t interpret from the review that he was saying the book isn’t good, he actually called Green “a good writer”, which is a compliment coming from a writer. It was the worldview that the author seems to be promoting to his audience that is being cautioned about in this review. Everything is trying to sell you something, a way of viewing life, viewing God and interpreting life in view of God-Theology matters because life is Theology–being mindful and cautious of this is what keeps us from being “tossed about by every wind of doctrine”. And careful throwing the narrow-minded stone since to do so implies a lack of open-mindedness to views contrary to your own, this is a Christian site after all. I want to thank Shepherd Press for helping us think through these matters!
Everyone has a theology. The false theological premise made manifest in this movie is the subject of legitimate debate.
I so appreciate this post. My 11 year old daughter was asked to go see this and just from the basic imdb.com review I knew it was going to be too much for her. Sexually, an 11 year old doesn’t need to see the things described in the reviews. And we talked about that. We were also able, thanks to this post, to talk aboutthe difference I the worldview of the characters in the movie and our worldview as Christians. Thank you so much for this…it lead to such a good conversation!!
No, it is a theological statement. Like any artistic work, whether painting, music, or script, the author provides answers based off of their worldview. The kids do not attempt to really understand reality, because they are only willing to accept things within their own belief structure, which you see crumble as death slowly takes Gus. Optimism for the day is portrayed as the answer, as the article highlights. The point of the author is that you will find little truth, if any, in the movie, so do not think it is a teacher of godly lessons. Do not give this information to anyone in your sphere of influence without planning on challenging the lies portrayed as truth.
There is nothing to enjoy in lies. And if you enjoy lies, then are not a stranger to this world.
I appreciate the gentle review. I personally enjoyed the book, though I can see your points. I see it as an opportunity for discussion and a growth in thought process, helping a young adult understand how others see the world and then guiding to the points you made.
Personally, I’ve found growing up in ones own little “bubble” with no exposure to how others think makes it very difficult to see things from another point of view/have an honest discussion. I can disagree with someone and still see things from their side-it helps me hold to my own beliefs more firmly.
I read the book and went to see the movie. I agree that life goes on after death like you discussed in the article. The book and the movie did address this topic as well. Hazel was quite uncertain about her thoughts on the subject, but Gus was quite certain that there was more. That there had to be or what was the point. I really disagreed with a lot of what your article your had to say. While there was subject matter in the book and movie that was definite sin,(premarital sex etc). there is not one person alive living a sin free life. We are all struggling to make it. And the book did a very good job of explaining how they felt and what they were going through. It wasn’t meant to be pretty or to be polished. It was meant to be like life, raw and real and rough around the edges. Life is not always beautiful, in fact at times it sucks. It doesn’t make you a bad person or less of a Christian to admit that. In your article the comment you made about Gus stating we were all side effects, was not even a serious statement he was making. It was taken completely out of context in this article. He was actually referring to something Hazel had said to him earlier and having a playful conversation with her. Death is not a funny subject, but when facing it sometimes you have to find something to laugh at. You have to find your happy. And we don’t know what these two ultimately found. We see 2 terminally ill teenagers seeking a chance to live as much life as they are given. To just be “thankful for their infinity”.
I think we need to be very careful when we start trying to determine whether or not someone is “truly a Christian”. This is not a role we are meant to play. We are not meant to be a person’s judge. I think that the thing is we are all human. And if someone was to look at anyone else’s life, your’s or mine included, I am sure they could find something that was not right. We all fall short. We all sin. We all do things we shouldn’t do. That doesn’t mean we aren’t saved. That simply means we are human. Statements and thoughts like this are what led us to things like the Salem witch trials. If people can’t see the difference in Christians from the rest of the world, why would they ever want to be a part of that? No wonder so many people are falling away from the church.
But we are called to judge whether or not we are bearing any fruit. To say that we are a Christian and yet not point others to the gospel with the gifts and talents that God gives to us is such a wasteful and shameful thing.
Your inability to share every post that might share insight beyond your own beliefs is very discouraging for the world of Christians. You are bettering what you say by eliminating posts that challenge you.
Perhaps you have not read the number of negative and opposing comments that are posted. There are many.
As a mother of two teenagers, I appreciate reviews such as this. As a Christian you understand the values I try to keep in my home. I like the heads up on what goes against my beliefs, because I can talk to my children about why I don’t think it’s a good idea to watch. Or if they watch it away from home, like at school, I can discuss with them the things that could have been done differently. So thank you!
very well said. i did read the book and loved it. couldn’t have disagreed with the review more. it completely missed the point of the book and the story itself. glad to see i am not the only one wanting to scream when i read so many of the things people are posting here.
Amanda, It is important to look beyond what is immediate. John Green has created a situation where lack of honor and worship to God is not only tolerated but praised. Sexual sin is the reward given to these two teenagers who decide that marriage is not the only place for sexual intimacy. Even in the face of terminal illness, there is the wonderful opportunity to know God’s comfort and care. Yes, pain and bodies that are wasting away is sad and tragic. But it is not beyond God’s reach to bring joy, peace and worship to those who hold knowing God and his goodness as the richest of all human experiences. I have personally known those with terminal cancer who have responded in this way. Green’s characters missed the opportunity to joy and fullness and comfort that God promises. Green’s presentation is a sad and woefully incomplete view of what it means to know God in the middle of suffering. Along with Job it is possible and good to say that though he slay me I will still praise him. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Hear the words of the Apostle Paul: 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
In the Old Testament of God’s word: Ezekiel 36:26-27 God speaks to His people.
“And I will give you a new heart. I will give you new and right desires and put a new Spirit within you. I will take out your stony hearts of sin and give you new hearts of love. And I will put my Spirit within you so that you will obey my laws and do whatever I command.”
Thus, He assures His people His Spirit is alive and can live within their hearts and souls.
Again, in the New Testament – Ephesians 3:16 God speaks to His people.
“That out of His glorious unlimited resources, He will give you the mighty inner strengthening of His Holy Spirit.”