Book Review: Turtles All The Way Down

Hello everyone!  It’s been quite some time since I’ve done a book review on my blog.  Over the last few years, reading is something that I’ve gotten really into again.  Even though I don’t talk as much on my blog about books as I do about other things in pop culture, I really do quite enjoy reading and books.  My favorite book that I read in 2021 was Turtles All The Way Down by John Green.  In this review, I will talk briefly on what this book is about, along with sharing my thoughts on this book as well.

Book: Turtles All The Way Down

Author: John Green

Genre: YA Fiction

Pages: 286

Overview

Turtles All The Way Down is about life, loss, true friendship, and mental health.  The story in this novel centers around the character of Aza.  Aza’s best friend, Daisy, has learned that the father of someone Aza once used to know has gone missing and that there is a reward to anyone who has information on his whereabouts.  Daisy convinces Aza to get in touch with her friend from years ago to try and see if the two of them can track down her friend’s father and collect the reward money.

My Thoughts

One part of the story in this book is about solving a mystery.  This book is more though than just about two friends trying to solve a mystery.  The main character of Aza is someone who struggles with OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  The way Green wrote about Aza’s daily internal struggle living with OCD was spot on.  I say his writing was spot on because I, too, struggle with OCD, and I saw myself in the character of Aza and could completely understand and relate to what she was going through in this story.

All Aza wants is to just feel normal.  All she wants is for her outrageous thoughts to just go away.  All she wants is to just simply no longer have OCD.  Aza feels helpless to her OCD, continuing to give in to it day after day.  

I am hesitant sometimes to read books, or watch TV shows and movies, that deal with OCD because I already know what it feels like to have it.  I am, though, really glad that I read this book because when you struggle with something such as OCD, it can make you feel like you’re all alone in the world because those around you may find it hard to understand why you just can’t get over your issues by just simply wanting to get over your issues.  Reading this book made me feel not so alone in living with OCD for a brief moment in time.  It opened my eyes to see how those who struggle with this also feel what I feel.

What Green articulated so well in this book is how OCD is something that isn’t rational.  Aza knew that the thoughts in her mind were irrational, but the only way she could ever get the thoughts to go away was to just give in to them.  After she’d give in to her thoughts, she’d find herself feeling a moment of peace.  Although, that feeling of calmness would always be short lived for the thoughts would always find their way back to her.  

Despite knowing these thoughts of hers were not rational, Aza would give in to them time and time again because she found that they wouldn’t leave her mind otherwise.  Her thoughts would continue to pick at her and consume her until the moment when she would finally give in to them.  

In the novel, Turtles All The Way Down, Green truly got to the core of what it’s like to live with OCD.  This novel deals with things that are not easy to talk about such mental health and OCD.  This novel though, is also very much about hope, acceptance, and how friendship is one of life’s greatest gifts.

Would I Recommend This Book?

 Yes, 100%!  I’ve never read a John Green book before, but I definitely plan on reading more books of his in the future.

That’s it for my book review on Turtles All The Way Down by John Green.  If you read this book, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.  

Bookworm Talk!

Have you read any John Green books?  If so, what were your favorites?  Also, what books are you currently reading right now?

Until Next Time Bookworms!  As always, thanks so much for reading!

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