Book 1 Project

My idea to promote The Fault in our Stars, written by John Green, is to sell plaques inscribed with words of encouragement that are similar to the ones found in August’s home. For example, ‘Home Is Where the Heart Is,’ ‘Without Pain How Could We Know Joy,’ ‘Good Friends are Hard to Find and Impossible to Forget’ and ‘True Love is Born From Hard Times. These plaques can be hung on walls, doors, lean on bookshelves, etc. Places where they will be in full view for members or friends in the household so that they can always be reminded of the quotes/encouragements and how they connect to them. The quote in particular, Without Pain How Could We Know Joy, for example could remind people to focus more on the positive rather than the negative, or help focus on the growth that they have experienced in their lives. Much like Augustus and his family.

     Augustus Waters suffered/s from Osteosarcoma, essentially a type cancer that affects the bones in your body, that completely changed his lifestyle permanently; his leg was amputated. After the amputation Augustus was cured, or so they thought, and to cope as well as remind Augustus’ parents of the events and the fortunate outcomes, they placed plaques with encouragements written on them over the house. As soon as Hazel Grace crosses the threshold of August’s home, she notices the scattered plaques with words of encouragement written across them. Greene writes, “A wooden plaque in the entryway was engraved in cursive with the words Home Is Where the Heart Is, and the entire house turned out to be festooned in such observations,” (2.23). The words of encouragement symbolize the strength and hope of August’s parents has as he fought with cancer, and as readers soon find out, is still fighting cancer. Augustus however, does not find solace in these few words, and instead mocks them. August says, “Quick, give me a throw pillow and some thread because that needs to be an encouragement,” (2.28). August along with Hazel Grace feel as though the plaques are a joke, but deep down know they’re filled with truth. Could this just be that they don’t believe a few words or phrases could change their health or the way they live? Do they simply believe it’s just a decoy to deal with the possibility of death? It’s a mystery. Green writes, “I had been looking toward the encouragement above the TV, a drawing of an angel with the caption, Without pain how could we know joy? (This is an old argument in the field of Thinking About Suffering, and its stupidity and its lack of sophistication could be plumbed for centuries, but suffice it to say that the existence of broccoli does not in any way affect the taste of chocolate,” (2.24). Again, these plaques provide multiple connections, some may find solace, others may simply think they’re just words written on a plaque.
Although these plaques can be seen with two completely opposite perspectives, consumers of this product can be reminded of Hazel Grace and August without finding solace, or on the other hand, consumers can find solace while still being reminded of such characters. Buyers can find strength while going through, or knowing someone, that is going through hard times. They can serve as a symbol to persevere and continue on through the rough time. The Fault in Our Stars is essentially a tragedy, and how the characters fight with death on a regular basis. I believe John Green incorporated the symbolism of these plaques to show readers how people find solace during dark times. With these plaques I hope that buyers will find the same solace Augustus’ parents found.