Message
In a writing workshop I once took, the literary novelist Ethan Canin told us that reading is "about connecting with a sensibility." This resonated with me as a writer because I know that when something I read compels me, it's because I feel like I'm connecting to a certain world view in a piece of writing, a specific take on a timeless theme, a fresh, original voice. A teacher I had in college used to like to say "there are no new plots, just new characters" - and I'd like to take that one step further. New sensibilities. Lucky for all of us writers - each of our sensibilities is truly individual. No one else in the wide world sees the way we see - through our unique experience, through our distinctive eyes.
And that's the heart of point of view.
Not just who's telling the story or how it's being told but the entire world view that an author translates through a piece of writing to a reader.
Different readers connect to different point of views, to different sensibilities. It's why I can read something and think "Wow, this engages me. I'm hooked." And the guy sitting next to me in the café can tell me he couldn't get through it. It's two sensibilities connecting - or not.
So that's why I think Point of View is essential as a writer and a reader.
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 The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
"The marks humans leave are too often scars." --Augustus in TFIOS
I avoided this one for awhile only because I thought it would just wreck me. A love story about two teen cancer patients in the hands of the masterful John Green? A wreck, I tell you. Turns out, while I cried wildly and often throughout this book, it didn't wreck me. It made me feel a deep, profound gratitude for John Green. Thanks, John. Thanks for writing a book about cancer that made me laugh far more than it made me cry, but that was also an unapologetic love song heralding gratitude and joy. Thanks for writing a book whose main focus was life, rather than death. I love Hazel and Augustus - and the complete cast of characters - all whole and wonderfully drawn. This book doesn't have a villain (even cancer, Green submits, is just trying to stay alive). This book is a meditation on the power of life, on how special each day is, but in a fresh, wry way - a John Green way. How brave to tackle this subject with such originality, humor, and unabashed love. How optimistic. The Fault in Our Stars shows a tremendous understanding of how precious life is, how noticing things in this world matters, and how we have an opportunity each day to choose love over all else. In each of his books, (and especially in this one), the mark that John Green leaves is the literary equivalent of a bear hug.
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 Writing Exercise
The idea that "some infinities are bigger than other infinities" gets repeated throughout the book. Use this statement as a prompt and see where it takes you. The possibilities are infinite.
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 Outside Reading School Project
As mentioned above, Augustus says, "The marks humans leave are too often scars." What do you think he means by this? How does he use Hazel Grace as an example of someone who "First, does no harm"? Give examples from your own life, history, and/or current events where you discuss examples of people "leaving scars." How, instead, could people "do no harm"?
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 Instructions for a Broken Heart
by Kim Culbertson
IFABH was named a Booklist Online Top Ten Romance Fiction for Youth: 2011: check it out!
IFABH was also named a finalist for the 2012 Northern California Book Award for YA Fiction: check it out
I appreciate any other great reviews you'd like to add to Amazon, goodreads, etc.
And I thank you in advance - it means a lot! "Culbertson balances the story between teen angst and a nice Italian travelogue. The author has a flair for evocative descriptions. . . The major strength here is in the literary quality of the writing, although teens may be more interested in the characters' relationship." -- Kirkus Reviews Sourcebooks Fire (May 1, 2011) Also, check out the official trailer!!  | | "Instructions for a Broken Heart" by Kim Culbertson - *Official Trailer* |
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 Need a gift?
Inspire the special people in your life to keep a song journal chronicling the soundtrack of their lives.
Bundle any combination of the following:
a Writing Journal, a CD, and/or an iPod
with Songs for a Teenage Nomad
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