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A review by izzyrose8
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
My first impression was that the characters are quirky and charmingly realistic in that uniquely John Green-y way. This, as per usual when it comes to his work, was the best part. Overall, the plot just felt like it was lacking a little. I enjoyed Aza’s character development, as well as the friendship dynamic between her and Daisy, but felt as though all of the truly meaningful elements of the story were overshadowed by the presence of a mystery that I really had no interest in solving. Davis, Aza’s romantic interest, simply wasn’t intriguing enough to spark any interest about his life, which is required to care about the mystery the main characters are trying to solve. For the most part, he serves as a basic pretty-boy love interest with a tragic backstory, but has no discernible personality traits outside of being rich and pretentious. I felt sad for his circumstances, but not to the point where he became endearing to me or lead me to care about his family. I was far more concerned with Aza, which created an overall sense of, “Oh, I hope things turn out well for Aza and Daisy! They remind me so much of myself and the friendships I had when I was younger. How nostalgic… oh and also there’s a big spooky mystery going on. Kinda forgot about that.”
However, while I found the inclusion of Davis’ character to be slightly… meh, I also feel that it is unfair for me to fully criticize this aspect, as it wasn’t meant for ME to enjoy. The characters act like typical teenagers - pretentiously overusing Shakespeare, writing fanfiction, and maintaining edgy Tumblr blogs. To a teenage girl, the first basic pretty-boy love interest that walks into her life is an incredibly huge deal. Therefore, when looking at this elements from the perspective of a young adult, it’s easy to roll your eyes. You either need to BE a teenager or put your nostalgia glasses on to really appreciate the cheesiness here. While I was put off at first, this realization made the characters much more endearing and deepened my appreciation for the book as a whole. I feel like it’s important to consider this before jumping into the reading.
That note aside, I do absolutely love this story’s representation of those suffering from anxiety and intrusive thoughts. Aza’s inner monologue is so accurate to the personal experiences of many, myself included, and serve as a great comfort to those who have struggled with similar circumstances. It inspires hope and provides reassurance that we are not alone in navigating our personal mental health issues.
The ending of the story was particularly strong in this message, and made me tear up a little with feelings of pride and love for Aza, after having undergone such a heartfelt journey with her throughout these pages.
All in all, it was a good story. Nothing that blew my mind in itself. Had I had the right mindset going into it, I might have appreciated it a little bit more from the beginning. HOWEVER, if you have known struggle in the realm of anxiety and intrusive thoughts, Turtles All The Way Down might very well be worth picking up. Green’s awareness of the realities of mental health coupled with the story’s hopeful overarching message makes for a combo that is both refreshing and reassuring. You are not alone.
Cry counter: 1
However, while I found the inclusion of Davis’ character to be slightly… meh, I also feel that it is unfair for me to fully criticize this aspect, as it wasn’t meant for ME to enjoy. The characters act like typical teenagers - pretentiously overusing Shakespeare, writing fanfiction, and maintaining edgy Tumblr blogs. To a teenage girl, the first basic pretty-boy love interest that walks into her life is an incredibly huge deal. Therefore, when looking at this elements from the perspective of a young adult, it’s easy to roll your eyes. You either need to BE a teenager or put your nostalgia glasses on to really appreciate the cheesiness here. While I was put off at first, this realization made the characters much more endearing and deepened my appreciation for the book as a whole. I feel like it’s important to consider this before jumping into the reading.
That note aside, I do absolutely love this story’s representation of those suffering from anxiety and intrusive thoughts. Aza’s inner monologue is so accurate to the personal experiences of many, myself included, and serve as a great comfort to those who have struggled with similar circumstances. It inspires hope and provides reassurance that we are not alone in navigating our personal mental health issues.
The ending of the story was particularly strong in this message, and made me tear up a little with feelings of pride and love for Aza, after having undergone such a heartfelt journey with her throughout these pages.
All in all, it was a good story. Nothing that blew my mind in itself. Had I had the right mindset going into it, I might have appreciated it a little bit more from the beginning. HOWEVER, if you have known struggle in the realm of anxiety and intrusive thoughts, Turtles All The Way Down might very well be worth picking up. Green’s awareness of the realities of mental health coupled with the story’s hopeful overarching message makes for a combo that is both refreshing and reassuring. You are not alone.
Cry counter: 1
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Mental illness
Moderate: Death of parent, Car accident, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail