A review by louisesmith
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

challenging mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I ended up really enjoying this book. I think that John Green writing style for this novel was what was either going to make it or break it. The representation of mental illness in the characters was beautifully terrifying. I'm a huge fan of the inclusion of Davis' writing with the quotes too, it added to the somber feeling that this book gave me. It was sad, but the ending of this novel left me feeling content in a strange way. Aza's character was messy, complicated and exhausting but so were the thoughts in her head which is why I believe that was the way that Green intended us to feel about the character. The dynamic that Daisy added as a side character was much needed and I think in some way that she almost acted like us as the reader too. The way she used her fan fiction to express her feelings about having Aza in her life was a brutally honest way of doing it and my heart did ache as Aza was reading them. This book isn't the type you can really fall in love with and rave about but the feelings it gave me as a whole is what gives it such a high rating. A beautifully written representation of the demons living in Aza as she tries to come to terms with the pain they cause her. A sad but important novel in todays society. 
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