linakv

This book is being compared to John Green. Why? Compared to John Greens books, this was flat, boring and uneventful. So I’m not going to compare it to John Green, I’m going to slaughter it on it’s own instead. Just kidding.

I rather liked this book, butt hat was mostly because it was an easy read. I gave it three stars on goodreads, which I feel was a bit generous, but since I didn’t hate it, I feel like it was justified. The truth is, I’ve read plenty of better books about cancer and self-development.

Self-development is the overall theme of this book, but the thing was, there wasn’t any self-development. As far as I was aware, there were absolutely zero character growth. When I read Greg in the end of the book, he was the same Greg as he was in the beginning of the book, and I really didn’t like that. Yes, his life got all fucked up and whatever, but a fucked up life isn’t the same as character growth. Besides, how fucked up can his middle class life be?

However I did see some character development, but that was in Earl. It wasn’t much, but it was clear that by the end of the book, he had changed to become a better version of himself, ready to take life into his own hands. I rather enjoyed Earl, he was a much more likable character than Greg – mostly because I felt compassion for him I think.

When it comes to Rachel, she was kind of forgettable. I was hoping we would see more interaction between Greg and Rachel, seeing as she is the major plot point here, but noope. What I remember about her is the Hugh Jackman posters and her big teeth. I didn’t get a picture of her. And yes, she has cancer, and as Greg points out, they didn’t have any deep and meaningful revelations because of it – but please give me some hidden message or something to make this book rememberable.

Because that’s the thing I’m most annoyed about in this book. It’s forgettable. In a few months, I probably won’t remember a thing about it. Maybe there was a girl, and maybe she had cancer, I don’t know. I feel like the author should have polished it a bit more. Spent a year editing it, and maybe made it more complex. Even though the main theme is cancer, which is a pretty heavy theme and plot to embark on, the book was utterly easy. What I think Mr Andrews have forgotten is to write what you know. The book could have been about my reading glasses, and have the same depth as this one.

After my review, I see that I must now give the book two stars instead. Because there are simply too much that annoys me. I’m also aware that this is as far from a review as I’ve come, and more like a 600-word long rant, but when there is nothing to review – when there are no themes – what can I do?

Recommended? To those who want something easy to read, and don’t want to think much during the reading.