Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

7 reviews

illgiveyouahint's review

challenging hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I really loved Aza's unique voice. It's clear that John has personal experience with OCD. The plot at first feels very John Green-esque until you realise the plot is not the point and it's only a means to an end. The first two thirds of the book were fine but felt kinda like any other John Green book but then the last third took up speed and really drew me in. Like this might end up being my favourite book of his after The Anthropocene Reviewed.
I'm glad this book exists so people can understand OCD a bit better.
Also there is just so many book references in this. That's such a John Green thing to do tbh

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Abandonment

Moderate: Death, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Forced institutionalization and Excrement

sydneylmeyer7's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, and Medical content

Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Car accident

Minor: Death of parent

vercopaanir's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I cried!  I loved being inside Aza’s head although it made my heart hurt for this fictional character sometimes.  It was interesting to experience someone else’s… experience, I guess, with OCD that is more debilitating than mine, because I was able to relate in some ways and not others.  I thought the friendships were very real and well-written.  Overall a good book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent

Moderate: Ableism, Death, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

When we find out what Daisy writes about Aza as “Ayalah” (not sure of spelling, I listened to the audiobook), it kinda pissed me off! That’s not a healthy friendship! I’m glad they made up but venting about how awful your best friend is in fanfiction (published, specifically) isn’t okay.

The whole thing is a spoiler, sorry.

jenna_justi2004's review

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

It felt so underwhelming. At first I related to Aza and I definitely do, I love her character development or lack of one. Like instead of her being perfect and you know healthy it’s realistic. I kind of feel the plot falls flat. Not much else to say I guess. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Alcohol

cstein's review

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This, to me, is such an important book. Though the plot itself may not be tremendously innovative, Green's descriptions of the emotional highs and lows of life with anxiety/OCD are at once nauseating, jarring, and comforting in their accuracy. The last few paragraphs gave me goosebumps. As with "The Anthropocene Reviewed," I am profoundly grateful for Green's work here. A rare reread.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm

Moderate: Death, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Dysphoria

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, and Alcohol

clapyourshands's review

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Ed: After mulling it over more, I decided that I loved it, and I think it’s the most sophisticated book Green has written by far.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Medical trauma

denizens98's review

challenging reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail