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A review by mgdsmile
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Green's portrayal of mental illness in this novel is extremely believable and commendable. While the plot didn't necessarily captivate me, the author's characterization of Aza did. Throughout Turtles All the Way Down, I felt as though I was fully able to empathize with Aza and her anxiety, and also with many of her obsessions and compulsions. This aspect of reading this book was truly impactful to me and made me more emotional than I expected.
I was reminded recently that while Green's characters are often overdramatic (c.f. manic pixie dream girl & others), teenagers often just ARE- they romanticize and philosophize and dramatize as they figure out the world. The interaction between Aza and Davis didn't bother me and in fact maybe felt more realistic than I expected. Grateful for this story, and for the author's wisdom in refraining from tying a neat little bow but still providing concrete hope and perspective.
I was reminded recently that while Green's characters are often overdramatic (c.f. manic pixie dream girl & others), teenagers often just ARE- they romanticize and philosophize and dramatize as they figure out the world. The interaction between Aza and Davis didn't bother me and in fact maybe felt more realistic than I expected. Grateful for this story, and for the author's wisdom in refraining from tying a neat little bow but still providing concrete hope and perspective.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Self harm, and Grief
Minor: Suicide, Drug use, and Alcohol