From the Bookshelf of Diversity in All Forms!…

Turtles All the Way Down

John Green

Start date: May 1, 2018

Finish date: May 30, 2018

Discussion: Monthly Group Reads

Why we're reading this: May is Abilities/Disabilities.

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

[close] May is Abilities/Disabilities.

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

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What Members Thought

Nov 13, 2017 Matthew rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, gr_awards_2017, 2017, young-adult, library

This book was a fun audiobook experience as my wife and I listened to about 45 minutes of it together every night. I think this is a great activity for book loving spouses!

Partway through this book I thought I was going to give it an "okay, but didn't really blow me away" 3 stars. However, I think that the last 3rd of the book really brought things together in an interesting way.

At first, the book seemed like it was trying to be too many things at once. Click here for a video from my Goodreads This book was a fun audiobook experience as my wife and I listened to about 45 minutes of it together every night. I think this is a great activity for book loving spouses!

Partway through this book I thought I was going to give it an "okay, but didn't really blow me away" 3 stars. However, I think that the last 3rd of the book really brought things together in an interesting way.

At first, the book seemed like it was trying to be too many things at once. Click here for a video from my Goodreads friend Hannah and go to 7:16 - she does a great job describing how this book is many different things. However, after finishing the book and showing the video to my wife, we agree that whether it is intentional or not, the many different directions this book goes is a great representation of the anxiety of the main character.

Another thing that really raised my enjoyment of this book is that the entirety of the events take place within about 20 minutes of my house. Also, almost every major landmark described in the book can be seen from my office window. When a book hits that close to home, it means a bit more. (view spoiler)

A comparison - tell me if you agree. A John Green teenage conversation:

Girl: My heart is torn asunder with thoughts of my most eloquent yet deeply morose love interest. He is so elegantly handsome, but very humble because:

A. He is an artist
B. He is extremely wealthy but loves the simple things like fast food and independent rock music
C. He is misunderstood
D. Or, because every JG novel has lists!

Boy: You can overcome yourself with my constant caring. I immediately like you and would die for you even though we have nothing in common. Look up into the sky and behold Ursa Major, Casseopea, and Polaris as they cross the zenith of Saturn. Later I will read you the poem I wrote about this inspired by the works of William Shakespeare.

A teenage conversation when I was a teenager.

Girl: 'Sup?

Boy: 'Sup? Wanna go out?

Girl: Ewww!

Boy: 'Kay, whatever!

The End

Last, but not least, the Tuatara (read the book, it will make sense)

...more

195 likes · Like · see review

Jun 06, 2018 Mariah Roze rated it really liked it

Shelves: diversity-in-all-forms-book-club

I read this book for the Goodreads' Book Club Diversity in All Forms! If you would like to participate in the discussion here is the link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I have not been into reading Young Adult that much lately. However, I really enjoyed this book. The author focused largely on mental health and loss instead of focussing on dating and crushes. I enjoyed this story a lot. It really kept my interest and I desired to keep reading it.

I highly suggest this book to anyone th ...more

28 likes · Like · see review

Oct 14, 2017 Sandra (LadyGrey Reads) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2017-book-of-the-month, 5-star-favorites, audio-books, book-of-the-year, 2017-2018-reads, 2017-ya-bookclub, 2017-top-ten

True terror isn’t being scared; it’s not having a choice in the matter.

Have I ever told you guys that when I finished The Fault in Our Stars I actually threw it into a wall?
If this had not been an audio book... I probably would have done the same here. JESUS BLOODY CHRIST MY FEELS!

In this book, we follow Aza Holmes, a teenager who suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder. Her best friend, Daisy, urges her to help solve the mystery of a missing billionaire - as there is a hundred-thousand d ...more

20 likes · Like · see review

Oct 22, 2019 Melania 🍒 rated it liked it

3.25|5

• Book Riot’s 2019 Read Harder Challenge - 13. A BOOK BY OR ABOUT SOMEONE THAT IDENTIFIES AS NEURODIVERSE •

9 likes · Like · see review

Jun 09, 2019 Zephyr rated it really liked it

Shelves: possible-book-club-books, everyone-should-read

This is a book which I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to better understand anxiety disorders, particularly OCD but not exclusively so. John Green's eloquent descriptions of what it is like to be constantly berated by one's own brain are as close to describing what it is like as anyone could get in writing. I reference passages from this book now to describe my own anxiety to people who don't quite understand.

That being said, if someone with an anxiety disorder does not think they can ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Nov 11, 2017 Cecily Black rated it it was amazing

Yes!! I am so happy that I read this book. I am a huge John Green fan but for the last few novels of his that I have read have all been the same type of lead character, and I am glad that there was a switch up for this novel.
I identified the most with this novel and with Aza, though my mental issues are different than hers I completely understand her and a lot of what she is going through.
I was just so happy with how much I loved this book!

Below is a quote that really resonated with me, I hav ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 24, 2017 Toni FGMAMTC rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, mental-health, neurodiversity

This is a story of a mystery, romance, and friendship that would be interesting as is, but it also includes issues about mental health. All the bits were good, and it goes a long way to showing what it feels like in someone's head with a difference they cannot control. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 10, 2020 Marsalene rated it really liked it

I haven't read a John Green book in forever. The last book I read by him was The Fault in Our Stars and that still remains to be one of my favorites by him. But I think this book is becoming another John Green book that I like. I enjoyed the characters and the implementation of mental illness and how it can indirectly and directly affect every aspect of your life whether that is intentional or unintentional. Lovely lines and even lovelier perspectives about our world and the mediocrity of it yet ...more

Like · see review