Book news, Book reviews

Book Review | Turtles All The Way Down

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I feel like John Green always delivers a unique addition to the coming of age genre. This wasn’t my favourite book ever or anything but like any other John Green book, it left its mark

The protagonist Aza is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Right from the beginning the reader can tell that a lot of research and meticulation went into creating this character with all these problems. She almost felt too flawed at times but maybe that was the point. This book allows you to get inside the head of someone who is literally struggling with their mental health on a cellular level. It’s not an easy task to put yourself in someone’s shoes so deeply and Green does that beautifully.

In terms of the plot itself, while the mysterious disappearance does attract you at the beginning, you soon realise that it is not the main attraction of this novel. I think the message Green was trying to send across by making the mystery secondary was that in real life mysteries aren’t all that grand. This isn’t a dramatic thriller novel after all. It does however, work as an element of intrigue throughout the whole novel.

In comparison to Aza the rest of the characters felt quite flat, like they were placeholders. I really didn’t feel the overwhelming romance shining through. I did however, enjoy the perspective that the novel gives you. I mean you’re always going from being close to Aza on a cellular level to zooming out and seeing the story as a whole.

 

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2 thoughts on “Book Review | Turtles All The Way Down”

  1. I loved this book. It’s funny, but the response I’ve seen to the romance has been mostly that people didn’t like it, but I LOVED it. The fact that it wasn’t the usual YA thing with the usual YA ending felt much more real to me. That relationships are fleeting – most especially when you’re a teenager – isn’t something a lot of contemporary YA tends to deal with. I think that’s a shame. Just because a relationship isn’t forever doesn’t make it any less important, you know? At least that’s my perspective. Formative people aren’t necessarily forever people. It’s one of the hardest things you learn when you’re growing up, I think.

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    1. Yea I definitely see where you’re coming from and it’s great that he tried to give a realistic perspective on how your first love leaves a mark on your but doesn’t necessarily stay forever

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