I'm choosing to write about The Fault in our Stars by John Green. This book summarizes the life of Hazel, a sixteen year old with lung cancer, who falls in love with Augustus Waters, a boy free of cancer until it reappears about halfway through the story. This book was fiction, but the story of Hazel and Augustus was so realistic and filled with facts that made it extremely fascinating and melancholy. The author made this book so emotional by incorporating tons of metaphors that made you think about not only Hazel and Augustus or cancer, but life in general and how many take it for granted.
John Green shows Augustus putting a cigarette in his mouth, but not lighting it. At first, Hazel is mad at him for using this product that kills so many. But Augustus never once lights the cigarette. I see this as Augustus putting a thing that kills him in his mouth, but not letting it do its damage. In this scenario, Augustus has all the control. I feel like Augustus would want control because with cancer, he has none. Cancer does its harm no matter what; we do not have control over it. John Green uses this metaphor to show that the cigarette does not have control over Augustus. Also, Augustus does not tell Hazel that his cancer has reappeared until after their trip to Amsterdam. On the flight back, they are watching the same movie and Augustus discusses how he is a little bit ahead of her and can tell every time she will laugh or cry. I feel like the author is using this as a metaphor to show that Augustus is a bit ahead of Hazel, and knows how she will react to every event. The author uses these metaphors to help readers think and interpret in our own way.
This book as a whole often discusses the meanings of life and how to cherish every moment. This is a huge life lesson. In society in general, many do not take the time to cherish the simpler things. This reminded me of the saying, "Stop to smell the roses." Such a simple thing, yet it is taken for granted daily. This book summarized the morals in life and to cherish any moment, even if its as small as smelling roses.
