Books to read before they hit Indian theatres in 2014

Books to read before they hit Indian theatres in 2014

MUMBAI: This is the final review in a 10-part series by Indiantelevision.com on the books that are being adapted into Hollywood movies in the year 2014.

The Fault in Our Stars – John Green

“You gave me forever in numbered days, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am for that.”

The Fault in Our Stars follows Hazel Grace Lancaster, who diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumors in her lungs... for now. Two years post the medical miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time, Hazel lives strapped to an oxygen tank, the tumors sparsely kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus “Gus” Waters. A match made at Cancer Kid Support Group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and interested in Hazel, something that has taken Hazel completely by surprise. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-think how the stereotypical vows taken at wedding of sickness and health, life and death, will completely rewrite her story.

"Sometimes you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read that book." When Hazel Grace Lancaster said that, millions of readers agreed with her hook line and sinker. What with a raking of 4.50/5 of 5,29,985 ratings on Goodreads and Booklist calling it Green’s best and most ambitious novel to date, The Fault in Our Stars is known to stand out for its “ironic sense of humour, melancholic realism and quirky philosophy which strikes an endearing chord with the readers”.

In January 2012, Fox 2000, a division of 20th Century Fox, optioned the rights to adapt the novel into a feature film. The film stars Golden Globe Award nominee Shailene Woodley (The Descendents, The Secret Life of an American Teenager) as Hazel Grace Lancaster, while newcomer Ansel Elgort (Carrie, Divergent) stars as Augustus Waters sparking an interesting chemistry between the two characters. Golden Globe Award winner Laura Dern (Enlightened), Scream Award nominee Sam Trammel (True Blood) and Academy Award nominee Willem Dafoe (Spiderman) round up the cast in the film.