Inspired by Reading: The Fault in Our Stars

The July selection for the Inspired by Reading Book Club is a book written by one of my favorite young adult authors...  it's The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.  I feel more than a bit guilty admitting this, but I didn't reread the book this month.  In my defense, I have read the book twice before and watched the movie within the last six months.  I just couldn't bring myself to commit to the cry-fest that I knew would result from another reading right now!  (Seriously, you will need the Kleenex box for this one... you have been warned.)  The book tells the story of teenagers Hazel Lancaster and Augustus Waters from their first meeting in a cancer support group through their blossoming relationship.  As usual, I'm not going to give too much away about the plot... but two kids who've had cancer falling in love, what could go wrong?  I'll just say that John really captures something special and real here.

As a bit of an aside, if you haven't read John Green's books, get yourself to the library or a bookstore!  Looking for Alaska, John's debut novel, is still one of my favorite bookss (it delivers a major emotional punch in the gut that stays with you); An Abundance of Katherines (a book which I had the pleasure of being on the committee that named it a Printz Honor Award winner) is a more light hearted book with great humor.  When The Fault in Our Stars was announced as his next novel, John also proclaimed that he would personally be signing every single copy of the 150,000 first edition print run.  (I suspect that mid way through his signing jag, he may have regretted that decision but fans loved it!!)  I had a fun encounter with a couple of teen girls at our local bookstore who were discussing what color ink each of their pre-order copies were signed in and generally gushing over John Green and his books.  We got to talking and I told them that I had the pleasure of sitting next to him when the folks from Penguin took our committee out to lunch to celebrate his award and they pretty much freaked out.  It's not too often that librarians get to feel a little like rock stars, so the memory sticks with me.  

Another confession, since I didn't re-read the book I made Eric give me ideas of inspirational jumping off points.  (Yes, I AM a big cheating cheater this month!)  One of the things he mentioned to me the scene where Hazel and Augustus were having their fancy and romantic dinner in Amsterdam and they are served champagne.  Their waiter tells them what Dom Perignon said after inventing champagne... "Come quickly, I am tasting the stars."  I had a mixed strand of faceted citrine and freshwater pearls that reminded me of the colors of champagne.  I kept it pretty straightforward and just added seed beads in between and attached brass chain at the back.  The picture is a tad dark, but hopefully you can get the general idea!

I also made a bracelet using the macrame techniques I learned from Erin Siegel on the Bead Cruise a couple of years ago.  I used a star shaped charm from Diana Ptaszynski of Suburban Girl Studio as a button clasp combined with new jade and aventurine.  I hadn't decided if I was going to add any small beads to the ends of the waxed Irish linen or not when I snapped this picture during a brief moment of sunlight yesterday.  In the end, I decided to keep it simple and trim the ends fairly short.  No special symbolism here... just playing off the "stars" in the title.

If you are interested in seeing what the other book club members made or want to join in the fun yourself, check out our Inspired by Reading Book Club Facebook page HERE.  Thanks for stopping by!