The Fault In Our Stars

**Possible Spoilers**
I’ve recently read the book The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, and have also seen the movie which is out in cinema’s now. I’m hoping to go again this week. If you haven’t already read this book, go out and buy it and read it. If you haven’t seen the film, go and watch the film. I’ve given the book to my Mum to read, and she’s only 3 chapters in and is loving it! 

I guess I should start with some facts right? John Green is an author of course and has other books published such as ‘Paper Towns’ and ‘Looking For Alaska’ which I’ve just purchased. John Green is also a YouTuber, and is apart of the VlogBrothers, I believe he also started Vidcon?

It’s so hard to describe this book without spoiling the whole story line.
For starters, this book has been out for ages! I knew it was going crazy and everything, but it didn’t appeal to me, I didn’t want to buy it or read it (I’m not a big reader anyway, but I’m trying to read more), until this year. I was having my braces tightened for the first time, and I went into WHSmith and I saw this ‘Fault In Our Stars’ book, and thought “I guess I might as well get it”, I didn’t. Instead I waited until 2 months later and got it from Waterstones. I read the first page and thought “ooh, it’s written in first person. Brilliant” (I generally only like reading books where a character or person is talking directly to you.) So I bought this book, took it home. Finished the book I was reading and started reading this new one. Oh my god. Why did I not read this or buy this before! 
It is so good! 

Now for the story line **possible spoilers**, here’s the blurb:
“Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.”

You’re either thinking “this sounds interesting” or thinking exactly what I was “oh god, a book all about cancer, how depressing, I’ll give that a miss then”. Wrong.
Yes, the story does revolve around Teenagers with Cancer, but it tells the story from the point of view from the patient “That’s the thing about pain. It demands to be felt”. If you want basics without any spoilers, two teenagers meet and fall in love. Go and either read the book or film to find out the rest. You will not be disappointed and you will for sure take something away from it, that will leave you really thinking about life and cancer for a long time. 

“I’m a grenade, and at some point I’m going to blow up and I would like to minimize the casualties, okay?”. I can promise you, you will fall in love with Augustus Waters by the time you’ve finished reading the book or have seen the film. “It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you”. There is so much more to think book, than the Romeo and Juliet type story that the movie trailer makes it out to be. If you haven’t read the book, and are seeing the film expecting to see some crappy ‘chick flick’, more fool you. You WILL need tissues.

When I went to see this film at the cinema last week, there was not a dry eye in the room. I was still crying by the time I got home. It’s so hard to not mention spoilers, but this is a really hard hitting and incredibly powerful story (it is all fiction I should mention), and if you are not affected by it in some way or another, you have a heart of steal. 

“It’s a metaphor, see: you put the killing thing right between your teeth, but you don’t give it the power to do it’s killing.”
If you know someone with cancer, or someone who has died from cancer and are afraid that this story is going to be taking the mickey out of such illness, I can assure you it is not. Although this story does have some comedy moments, it was not created for that purpose and does give the up-most respect to cancer sufferers. I gave £4 to the Teenager Cancer trust that night. Although that doesn’t sound like much, a lot of people were giving coppers…. which isn’t much at all, but I guess it’s a step towards beating cancer! 

 

If I haven’t persuaded you to either read the book or see the film, no worries, but if I have, you wont be disappointed. 

Here are some links to check out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuVjGbncgQE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjMqMLZIt30

https://www.youtube.com/user/vlogbrothers

http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/john+green/the+fault+in+our+stars/9378186/

http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/simpleSearch.do?simpleSearchString=John+Green&typeAheadFormSubmit=

https://www.teenagecancertrust.org/

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/

BONUS LINKS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLrjLwGws2U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llKsjJjk5K0

http://www.odeon.co.uk/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l783F717aZw

“Okay?”, “Okay”.

Rollin’ Stoned at Mr.Kyps

I definitely need to write a blog about these guys, because they are so good, I can’t express how good they are by writing it. They are just amazing! I’ve seen The Stones live, and these guys are the next best thing. They make me very happy, and I always feel really happy and positive after I’ve seen them. Everyone should go and see them at least once, even if they are not Stones fans, cos these guys never fail to impress. 

First of all, the gig took place at Mr.Kyps in Poole, which has to be my favourite music venue. They’ve recently had a new sound system put in so everything was sounding pretty awesome. The DJ always plays great songs before the band come out, this time the songs included “Substitute” by The Who, “Jeepster” by T.Rex, “Cigarettes and Alcohol” by Oasis, “Radar Love” by White Lion and “Sunny Afternoon” by The Kinks.

The incense was placed around the stage to give the venue a really 1960’s smell. The band always have ‘alcohol’ on stage as well for a really authentic Stones look. Brian is also usually seen smoking from an e-cigarette.

To start the show off Rollin’ Stoned came out with a rocking number, “Start Me Up!” this time I saw them they were joined by Mick Taylor, otherwise known as Mick Waylor. The crowd were instantly up and rocking, as if it were The Rolling Stones!

Next, Tumbling Dice, my favourite Stones song of all time! I was more than happy that they played this tune. Not too soon after, a drunken angel appeared from the left side of the stage… it was Brian Jones! aka Byron Jones! He came down from heaven to pay us a visit and join the band for the rest of the night. It’s not every day you get to see Mick Taylor and Brian Jones playing with The Stones.

They played a wide range of Stones songs including early Stones covers such as ‘Route 66’, ‘Not Fade Away’ and ‘Oh Carol’.
They also played a wonderful cover of Dead Flowers, which is another one of my personal favourites! They honestly play all of the best Stones songs you can think of.

One thing that I really respect about this Tribute band, is that they play ‘Midnight Rambler’, which is a very difficult song to pull off, but they do it brilliantly and make it look easy. Their version of Gimme Shelter is also incredible as you get to hear Mick sing it solo, which I love, because it gives the song a whole different feel.

A couple of jokes got thrown around, which is another marvelous thing about this band. As Brian came on stage he said to Mick “so how’s your girlfriend doing?”. Another fab joke made, was between Mick and Bill Wyman, as Mick said “Bill’s girlfriend has to get up early tomorrow to do her paper round”… now that IS true! Each time Brian decides to kiss a female member of the audience Mick shouts out “oh no, she’ll be pregnant in the morning!” – Great bit of banter between the band and audience really makes everyone feel welcome.

Brian kept coming over to me, and at one point during ‘She’s Like A Rainbow’ he came over and touched my finger, I was pointing, so he came and over a pointed with me. He’s such a ladies man! We also seem to have accumulated this pose between the two of us. The last time I saw them, he posed with a finger up his nose for me to take a picture, since then it has kind of stuck! 

It was time for Mick to do a costume change, so Keith took centre stage an sang ‘Happy’, an excellent song. Afterwards it was Brian’s turn to sing and he sang a lovely version of ‘I’m Free’. It’s great to see two different members take over.
Another good thing about this band is that all the personalities are so accurate! I’m a hard one to please, as no one in my opinion is better than The Rolling Stones – but these guys are honestly the next best thing.
Charlie is the drummer, and is just like Charlie.
Keith acts and moves like Keith.
Mick, the ego loving frontman
Brian the ladies man.
Bill….. literally just stands there…. as does Bill Wyman.
Mick T does the same as Bill! I love how Brian kept bringing him to the front of the stage too…. a rare sight!

All I kept thinking during the show was “when can I get my Stones tattoo” and also how many Stones tattoo’s do I want.

Another fantastic part of the show is when Mick Jaguar offers the chance for the girls in the audience to go up on stage and be his “Honkey Tonk Women”. It’s always great fun. I didn’t go up this time though.

With no further a do ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’ followed by ‘Satisfaction’… a great way to sign off the show. Of course everyone wanted ‘MORE’ and they gave more. An excellent cover of ‘Brown Sugar’. Excellent.

The guys took a bow, and exited. As Brain got ready to leave the stage he saw I was waving goodbye and he came over and asked me to give him my hand, which I did of course, and he kissed it 🙂 Aawww, I was so happy. My dream has come true! A kiss from Brian Jones… *sigh*….. I’m the happiest girl on the planet right now.

If you ever see their name pop up near a town near you, make sure you check them out. They are honestly the best tribute band I’ve seen, as well as an excellent tribute to The Stones.

GO SEE THEM!

Links to Check out:
http://www.rollinstoned.com/

https://www.facebook.com/RollinStonedUK?fref=ts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAEv2LPoEJw&list=UURAMx4QeuvKBfwFLP7koysQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jww_81GBqms&list=UURAMx4QeuvKBfwFLP7koysQ

http://youtu.be/fqCPfb7jXXA

https://www.facebook.com/jodieharrisphotography