THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green and performed by Kate Rudd

Audiobook Review by Christi De Leon

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Audiobook:

Green, John. The Fault in Our Stars. Performed by Kate Rudd. 2012. Grand Haven, MI: Brilliance Audio, 2012. Audio on Compact Disc.

Novel:

Green, John. The Fault in Our Stars. New York: Penguin, 2012. ISBN 9780525478812

PLOT SUMMARY

A 16-year-old cancer patient named Hazel Grace Lancaster meets a young man named Augustus Waters at a cancer support group. They fall in love and take a trip to meet the author of Hazel’s favorite book. Towards the end of their trip, Augustus tells Hazel some news that is heartbreaking for them both.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The audiobook format of The Fault in our Stars is an unabridged version consisting of 6 compact discs in slipcase packaging. Kate Rudd, the female reader who individually performed this audiobook narration, has a career in acting and performing vocally. The overall sound quality seems faultless, with clear pronunciation and appropriate volume. Subtle music, fitting to the mood of the story, plays at the beginning and end of each disc. The reader alters her voice just enough for the listener to be aware that another character is speaking. Introductory information includes the basic information such as the title, author, performer, and publisher. The backmatter includes a highly informative Q & A with John Green. This audiobook offers a riveting listening experience filled with expressive emotions that will engage the listener until the very end.

This realistic fiction story, primarily set in Indianapolis, follows the female protagonist named Hazel as she struggles daily with weak lungs and dwindling years. Meeting Gus at Support Group brings love and a new sense of purpose to Hazel’s life. The outspoken, yet natural dialect among the teens is accurately abundant with words such as “like” and “whatever” throughout the story. John Green weaves in plot twists and turns, many of which are unpredictable, while the charming pair embraces opportunities as if each day could be their last. Amsterdam, as accurately described by John Green, also exemplifies a major turning point for Hazel and Gus. Readers have little hope to latch onto by the end of the story. However, Hazel has the satisfaction of reading meaningful words written about her, giving a gentle end to a moving story.

Though many moments are tough to swallow, the story is captivating in both formats. The audiobook seemed to take my experience with this novel to a whole new level for several reasons. Being somewhat unfamiliar with Amsterdam, hearing the Dutch accents of Peter Van Houten and his assistant allowed my imagination to travel one step further. As a result, I was able to grasp a more well rounded understanding of these characters. The way Kate Rudd conveyed Hazel’s many feelings enhanced my reaction to the humor, truth, and sorrow that flooded the story. Seeming as if Hazel was actually telling the story herself made the audiobook version even more emotionally powerful. This story will continue to win over teens and young adults in either format through seamlessly reflecting the mindsets of this age group.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Audiobook:

Audie Award Nominee, Best Teens Category, 2013

From AudioFile: "It's a testament to John Green's writing and Kate Rudd's narration that, in a book about teenagers with cancer, there are still plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. Green's teens are precocious and clever, and Rudd sells it, delivering every 'or whatever' with perfect teenage inflection and fully inhabiting protagonist Hazel as she navigates the world with lungs ravaged by cancer. When Hazel has trouble breathing, we hear it in the way Rudd gasps and pants between words. It's a sad, funny, smart, beautiful book."

Novel:

#1 New York Times Bestseller

#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller

Now A Major Motion Picture

From Booklist: “In its every aspect, this novel is a triumph.”

From Entertainment Weekly: “The greatest romance story of this decade.”

CONNECTIONS

Gather other John Green books also available in audiobook format such as:

Paper Towns. ISBN 014241493X

Looking for Alaska. ISBN 0142402516

Gather other #1 New York Times bestsellers also available in audiobook format such as:

Zusak, Markus. The Book Thief. ISBN 0375842209

Possible activities:

Discuss and analyze the poems in which Hazel verbalizes in the story.

Examine metaphors within the story, such as Augustus’s cigarettes, and how these metaphors help the reader understand the characters.