Synopsis
It all begins with a fugitive billionaire and the promise of a cash reward. Turtles All the Way Down is about lifelong friendship, the intimacy of an unexpected reunion, Star Wars fan fiction, and tuatara. But at its heart is Aza Holmes, a young woman navigating daily existence within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.
In his long-awaited return, John Green shares Aza’s story with shattering, unflinching clarity.
Review
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this book! I felt it was very different compared to other books John Green has written but I appreciated it for what it was. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a casual read and enjoys teenage perspective. I’d also recommend it to anyone who knows someone with OCD or has OCD themselves, as I think it would be insightful for some people from a relational standpoint because of the way the condition was portrayed with such openness, honesty, and vulnerability.
I think the writing style was well-executed in conveying the thought pattern of someone who has obsessive-compulsive disorder. The fast-paced, informal dialogue between characters helped to contribute to the book’s premise and was enjoyable to read in general. I appreciated the portrayal of clinical situations the main character faced which were told without hesitation. The character traits and storylines were well-developed and it took me places mentally and emotionally without hard-reaching effort which I appreciated as I tried to get inside the main character’s head.
There was build up of effective clinchers as to why the characters handled certain situations the way they did, but in the end, the so-called climax (not giving it away) was not where I thought it would be. As a result I was sort of was left with wanting more, but then all of a sudden it was over. Almost like a Korean drama that ends too early within the series. But I enjoyed it because I realized it was more about sharing perspective in someone’s life story than just telling a story for over-compelling plot value, if that makes sense without me giving it away.
MY FAVORITE LINES:
“But you don’t now any of that yet. We squeeze his hand, He squeezes back. You stare up at the same sky together, and after a while he says, I have to go, and you say, Good-bye, and he says, Good-bye, Aza, and no one ever says good-bye unless they want to see you again.” -John Green
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