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A review by pandemonicbaby
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I so rarely feel seen by a book like this.
Usually, when characters with OCD show uo in media, they're made fun of for their quirkyness. We never get to see what the world looks like for them, and their concerns are always dismissed by other characters and by the narrative itself.
Aza's struggles with crippling intrusive thoughts and compulsions felt very real, and I found myself comparing my own personal struggle to hers.
This book didn't show a solution to Aza's problems, a magical way to solve everything and "be normal". But it did show that life goes on, and that things can get better, and that being with the people you love can at least help attenuate the suffering, even if just a little, because one of the worst things about OCD is that it makes you believe you are left to suffer alone, with no one to understand you or help you. And true, most people don't understand, but they can try their best to be there for you when you need it.
I thought this was a very tender story about a first love, about friendships and trying to find peace within yourself. It's not an easy journey, but it's not one that you have to do alone.
Usually, when characters with OCD show uo in media, they're made fun of for their quirkyness. We never get to see what the world looks like for them, and their concerns are always dismissed by other characters and by the narrative itself.
Aza's struggles with crippling intrusive thoughts and compulsions felt very real, and I found myself comparing my own personal struggle to hers.
This book didn't show a solution to Aza's problems, a magical way to solve everything and "be normal". But it did show that life goes on, and that things can get better, and that being with the people you love can at least help attenuate the suffering, even if just a little, because one of the worst things about OCD is that it makes you believe you are left to suffer alone, with no one to understand you or help you. And true, most people don't understand, but they can try their best to be there for you when you need it.
I thought this was a very tender story about a first love, about friendships and trying to find peace within yourself. It's not an easy journey, but it's not one that you have to do alone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Blood, Vomit, Grief, and Toxic friendship
The main character struggles pretty heavily with mental health in this book, and although there are no attempts of suicide or explicit suicidal thoughts, there are some thought spirals and intrusive thoughts and depictions of panick attacks that might trigger some people.