The Fault in Our Stars holds a strong emotional place among John Green’s fans ever since the book came out in 2012. Moreover, the 2014 movie adaptation of the same increased the fan base by many folds. While all girls were looking for their Augustus in every guy, readers were again drawn into the idea of love in the ideal sense. On the other hand, John’s other work, Paper Towns, instilled a fantasy in young boys with the description of Margo Roth Spiegelman, which later was portrayed by Cara Delevigne in the movie adaptation.
Both works of Green’s cater to the two genders and allow the readers to delve into the romantic idea, creating imagination and releasing loads of Dopamine and oxytocin by the time the books end. However, the question remains: which of the two is a better work of John Green? Let’s objectively try to find the answer.
Fault in Our Stars: Epitome of Love
There is nothing better than a story that has love at its core and an ending that breaks your heart and makes you shed tears. This is exactly what Fault in Our Stars is all about. Two teens suffering from life-threating diseases, falling in love, and living their life to the fullest. Making sure that whatever time they have left is used to enjoy every moment, and if they tend to be in love while doing all of it, then what better?
It is said that giving your life for another person is the maximum a human can go to for love, and Augustus, the male lead in the story, does exactly that. Not only does he fulfill the dream of Hazel Grace (female protagonist) while being sick, suffering from Osteosarcoma, he makes sure she is not aware of his health deteriorating until he dies towards the end of the story. This sacrifice is what connected with the audience the most, and to this day, Fault in Our Stars is used as an example while describing love.
Paper Towns: Through a Guy’s Lens
The description of a female protagonist in Paper Towns might be the best-written piece of work on paper. The way John Green narrates everything about Margo, through the eyes of Quentin Jacobsen, the male lead, is a treat to read. There is no malice whatsoever, and the intentions with which the boy is watching and thinking about the girl is so pure. Throughout the story and despite so many downs, Quentin doesn’t seem to give up on his love, or so he believes.
Therefore, when Margo leaves the town and informs nobody, the young boy sets out on a journey to find her. Knowing the girl since childhood, he figures out the reason for her disappearance and follows the clues Margo has set throughout the town. The dedication of searching for the clues and eventually finding the female lead toward the end of the story is something readers applaud. John Green’s attempt to show the sincerity of the boy and the attractive, cold nature of the girl is what sets the story apart. Moreover, it gives a chance to all men to relive their ‘crushes’ one more time through the depiction.
So Who is the Winner
In terms of numbers, The Fault in Our Stars has a massive following compared to Paper Towns. The fact that the movie was released in 2014, two years after the novel was published, gave it a solid boost. The movie also received positive feedback, and the entire acting cast was appreciated. Meanwhile, Paper Towns was published back in 2008, but the movie came out in 2015. Moreover, the film could not create the same magic as the Fault in Our Stars. The duo of Cara Delevine and Nat Wolff somehow failed to replicate the magic done by Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort.
Therefore, it is fair to say that The Fault in Our Stars has an edge over Paper Towns. Let us know which one you prefer.
