Turtles All The Way Down by John Green

Signed Hardback Edition

Turtles All The Way Down is the second novel I've read by John Green. I listened to the unabridged audio version of his novel, The Fault In Our Stars, in 2014 and loved it! So, when Turtles All The Way Down by John Green came out last year, I purchased a signed copy for my ever growing signed book collection... Unfortunately, I didn't read Turtles All The Way Down by John Green until now.

I'm once again amazed by John Green's writing. I am glad that I read Turtles All The Way Down. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters for this tightly written novel, which features a leading female character named, Aza, who has OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder). 

I feel like John Green did an awesome job of capturing what it must be like for someone with OCD to live with this particular mental illness. I think it is important to shed light on mental illness in general and help destigmatize mental illness in our society. So, I am happy to see a main character like, Aza, being portrayed in a novel to help give a better perspective on what life might be like for someone living with OCD. The following quote from Turtles All The Way Down really struck a chord with me as to how someone with OCD may feel: "True terror isn't being scared; it's not having a choice in the matter." page 22 of the hardback edition.

Yes, one of the biggest topics of Turtles All The Way Down by John Green is living life with OCD, but the book is so much more. So many passages in this book had me thinking deeply and that's what I love about really well written books. The main downside of this novel was that I felt like the ending was a bit abrupt and that things were wrapped up a bit too neatly. Otherwise a great novel.

The following is a plot summary for Turtles All The Way Down by John Green from Amazon:

Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis.

Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.

In his long-awaited return, John Green, the acclaimed, award-winning author of Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars, shares Aza’s story with shattering, unflinching clarity in this brilliant novel of love, resilience, and the power of lifelong friendship

Below is a YouTube video of John Green talking about what OCD is like for him and how he came to write Turtles All The Way Down. Bless, John Green for being open about his experience with OCD and creating a novel with a leading character struggling with OCD herself. Destigmatizing mental illness needs to be a must!!

I am giving Turtles All The Way Down by John Green a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!