Turtle book review all the way
A billionaire is missing and the promise of a cash reward fascinates Aza Holmes, a young adult suffering from OCD and anxiety. While your daily existence is cumbersome due to the negative thoughts that are dragging you down in life, you can definitely look for a true friendship that awaits you. This is the central theme of the book, as well as showing the true form of mental illness.
It is not just a book, but a journey. Apparently, John Green has developed a predilection for her. The opening pages are lighthearted and engaging, but as soon as the author plunges you deeper into Aza’s life, his inner conflicts and demons, it becomes difficult to read. This is not because you don’t want to read, but because it hurts.
Turtles All the Way Down shows the true nature of OCD and anxiety from a 16 year old girl’s point of view. As soon as you read the line ‘If it hurts is irrelevant’, you begin to reflect on the veracity of it. However, that’s just the beginning.
There is a section in the book where the protagonist wonders what it is that people want to hear when they ask about the welfare of others. Are you just looking for simple answers? Will they be interested in really listening? How will you react if someone reverts that it was not okay?
The book also deals with loss. Now that subplot has a good reason behind it in my opinion. Perhaps the author wanted to show how even a person suffering from mental illness is not without other concerns in his life. Also, it adds to the protagonist’s pain and makes you think.
I loved how John Green has developed the characters. In addition, each character has an important role in both the story and the life of Aza.
Another important thing to keep in mind is one of the quotes within the book. “I guess at some point, you realize that the one who takes care of you is just one person and that he doesn’t have superpowers and he can’t really protect you so you don’t get hurt.” Although everyone around Aza loves her, that doesn’t change the fact that she’s hurt inside. It is also true in real life. People who care about us can help us navigate through our sorrows, but they can’t protect us from hurting ourselves in the first place.
Overall, the book is wonderfully written, thought-provoking, and a great addition to the young adult genre.