Turtles All The Way Down - John Green - Review

 

Next on my completed book list (and the first of 2018!) is Turtles All The Way Down by John Green.

Turtles All The Way Down is retailed at £14.99 (hardcover) however once again, Amazon saved me a hefty 50% on my purchase of this book.

 

The chapters within this book are a very decent length and paced perfectly. I could pick it up during my lunch break and during my 15 minute pre-sleep wind down and get just enough of the story to satisfy my reading needs, without having to leave half a chapter unread.

 

 

The book starts off with enough unanswered questions and missing information to keep the reader hooked. A criminal has seemingly disappeared off the face of the planet and the main character Aza just happens to know this criminals son; can she put together the missing pieces and claim the financial reward?

 

I didn't feel that the back story to the missing Criminal was given enough information however this didn't effect my interest in getting to the end to see how it all unravels.

 

As the book went on, I felt the storyline of finding a missing criminal which it began with seemed to trail off and the main focus of the story became Aza's relationship with her mental health issues and her friends.

 

Again the ending lacked detail and didn't conclude properly in my opinion due to what I thought would be the main storylines gradual disappearal throughout. I wanted to know the ins and outs of the 'missing person' story as well as the conclusion; I wanted to hear about the effects this had on other characters; instead you're left with a vague disappointing ending on all characters' emotions and future regarding this plot.  

 

 

 

I feel that Green gives Aza's anxiety and OCD a voice superbly. Struggling with mental health issues and anxiety myself, I feel that John Green has described and voiced these feelings in such a way that I have never been able to myself.
 

 

Although the book is focused on mental health and anxiety, it still had a good balance of humour and light-heartedness about it.


One of my favourite things about this book is that in no way does it glamorise mental health, anxiety or OCD. I feel that Green has written about these difficult subjects in a way to awaken the readers awareness on these issues but not wish to experience them if given the choice. Mental health issues are brutal, agonising and difficult to live with and Green demonstrated this throughout Turtles All The Way Down.

 

 

 

This book is definitely worth a read. I feel that a lot of younger readers will relate to Aza when comparing their own anxieties , friendships and the pressures of young adult lives growing up in todays world.

Its definitely aimed at younger readers and isn't too taxing to read, however I feel people of all ages struggling with mental health issues will relate to Aza whilst reading this book.

 

 

 

 

 

Have you read it?  Let me know what you thought in the comments below!!