The Fault is in John Green

For the past few weeks now anyone paying attention has seen the same thing in the hands of almost the entire female population at VHS and girls in general:  a blue book entitled The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. I myself not being a particular fan of the novel, which was published and that I read two years ago, wondered why it was all so suddenly a huge trend. My thoughts were answered when I saw the trailer for the much anticipated movie version of the film.

Suddenly all the chit-chat among teenage girls is how lovely John Green is, and how great of an author he is, and John Green this and John Green that. Everyone seems to have fallen in love with this man overnight.  At his public appearances he is treated like a rock star. Apparently he is the best thing since sliced bread.

Let me offer an alternate view.

First, to judge an author and talk about their style and techniques, it is probably best to read multiple novels that they have written, not just one. Many of the people I have talked to about Green who claim to love his writing have only read The Fault in Our Stars. That’s one book out of the many that he’s written.  In case you only thought John Green was famous for The Fault in Our Stars, he is also on the New York Times Young Adults Best Sellers List for Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, and Paper Towns.

If you did know this and have possibly even read some or all of these novels, then that brings me to my second point.  If one is going to write multiple books, the plot shouldn’t be the same thing every time.  All of the books John Green writes have similar plots in too many ways.  Not to be a spoiler but it’s the same old “let me fall so madly in love with you that when I lose you or can’t have you anymore my life is depressing and meaningless” plot, usually leaving the reader feeling sorry for one of the characters.  Sorry but been there, read that.  A hundred times.

Another annoying thing about John Green’s novels is the characters. He writes about teenagers but all of the teenagers he writes about are too smart for their own good. They think too deeply about the world for their age, they know too much about life and are so moody that all they talk about is their love that will never be. It’s the same thing over and over.

John Green is simply overrated.  Just because your two favorite actresses or actors are starring in his new movie, doesn’t make him the best author to exist.  Just because he is good at babbling on about teenage love doesn’t make him the best love story author out there.  Just because every book is the same doesn’t make him a creative thinker.  He gets too much press and praise when there are other unrecognized authors out there that really do stretch their minds to write something new and diverse.

If you love a good depressing love story that doesn’t seem to change from book to book, then John Green is the perfect author for you! Otherwise, next time you are looking for a book to read skip over the “Green” section at Barnes and Noble.