Okay?
Okay...
Now that we've all established that we're okay, let's begin. The most anticipated movie of 2014 is about to hit cinemas in Ireland this week and to say TFIOS fever is in the air is an understatement.
The majority of instagram pages will involve a picture of the book with the quote "can't wait to read".
That makes me so full of happiness and joy I want to jump! The fact that this book has been shared and loved around the world is great. It started small and was the hardest book to find on this emerald all just over two years ago, but in a bookshop in Galway I finally came across my desired object.
The Fault in Our Stars. Not one sick love story. Something so much more.
I still remember the feeling of inner peace and harmony, mixed with empathy and understanding that I felt directly after reading it. Of all of John Greens books, I knew that this one was different,in the best possible way. Little did I know that two short years later this would be a book that changed a generations view of cancer, love, wishes and the truth about illness. That it doesn't make them any less of a human being. That was how I felt. Every time I reread it, I'd come away with the same opinions and ideas. I wanted to share this book with everyone and anyone I could. It helped me bond with friends and family. It caused one particular friend to stay up until the early hours and prevented her from studying for a history test....she got an A anyway ;) But reading this book one year later
is what really changed me.
When my dad passed away from cancer in the summer of 2013, I felt a little lost, confused and not really sure as to what had just happened. I turned to books as my way to escape, ones that I had read before, ones I'd never heard of and happy ones. This time I read tfios with a different view point than any other time. I had a sense of understanding I'd never before witnessed and for the first time I cried. I really cried. Not at death or heartbreak, but at the fact that they would never experience life at it's fullest. That my dad wouldn't experience my life at it's fullest.
Original readers are sometimes sceptical of the influx of new readers that come from movies and popularity, and the nerdfighter community are no different. We had this secret, an amazing secret, all to ourselves for so long, but now it's out there for everyone. I for one am happy. I'm happy that so many people, young and old, get to experience this book for all it's worth. I love hearing new thoughts and ideas, hearing about when they began to tear up, their new found love of venn diagrams....everything.
I've heard a lot of people talk about how it's changed their life. I've also heard people talk about how they didn't really get it. That's okay too, not everyone likes these books, and they shouldn't feel they have to just because everyone else does. I wouldn't say it's changed MY life. I'd say it influenced me to live it to the fullest ( a pre-YOLO if you will), do everything you can while you can and enjoy it. Read the book, watch the movie, do whatever you want. Just remember its message. Love what you've got, accept it and follow your heart.
The Fault in our Stars hits cinemas June 19th in Ireland.
May your odd socks be ever together
xx
Aislinn
