BOTM November 2017: Turtles All the Way Down

[Ayla]

"Turtles All the Way Down" is the BOTM of November, for the theme/genre "Just-released"!
You can find the guidelines here.

Please sign up in this thread, if you want to join the readalong.


Turtles All the Way Down

So the idea of a 'Book of the month' is sort of a read-along. The BOTM thread (this one) will be for the people who want to do the read-along and share their thoughts after each goal (November 8/9 - I just read till chapter 2 and my thoughts are .... etc.). Spoilers must be marked of course!

Reading schedule
November 3/7 - Time to get your copies!
November 8/9 - read until (incl.) chapter 2
November 10/11 - read until (incl.) chapter 5
November 12/13 - read until (incl.) chapter 8
November 14 - Time to catch up!
November 15/16 - read until (incl.) chapter 11
November 17/18 - read until (incl.) chapter 13
November 19/20 - read until (incl.) chapter 15
November 21 - Time to catch up!
November 22/23 - read until (incl.) chapter 17
November 24/25 - read until (incl.) chapter 19
November 26/27 - read until (incl.) chapter 22
November 28 - Time to catch up!
November 29/30 - read until (incl.) chapter 24 (Book finished)
December 01 --> Time for more discussion :) This is also the best moment for people who have already read the book before to join in!

Discussion questions November 8/9 :
1) Have you read any other books by John Green?
2) What are your expectations for this book?

Feel free to answer these questions and start a discussion with each other! :)



Have fun :D

[Ayla]

To everyone: mark your spoilers once you share your progress and/or want to discuss!

Participants:
Annemarie _ Iris _ Hayli _Ana _ Christabelle _ TH _ Yocheved _ Alma _ Me (I'll join later on, as soon as my copy has arrived!)



Discussion only:
Figgy _ Becca

[Figgy]

I actually just finished reading this one yesterday, but interested in discussing and seeing everyone's progress.

[Ayla]

Figgy wrote: "I actually just finished reading this one yesterday, but interested in discussing and seeing everyone's progress."

Yayy! Hope you liked the book and I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts! :)

[Bec]

Finished this last week - but I’ll join in on discussion

[Annemarie]

I will participate in this readalong. I never did this, do I'm curious how I will experience it :-)

[Emily]

I'm in! hope I'll keep up :)

[Hayli]

Interested in joining as well! :)

[Ravenclaw251]

I'm interested in joining!

[Christabelle]

Count me in!

[Ayla]

Becca (becandbones) wrote: "Finished this last week - but I’ll join in on discussion"

Added you! Glad to hear you're joining the discussion, Becca :)

[Ayla]

Annemarie wrote: "I will participate in this readalong. I never did this, do I'm curious how I will experience it :-)"

Thank you for joining Annemarie! I'm sure it won't disappoint you! :)

[Ayla]

Iris wrote: "I'm in! hope I'll keep up :)"

Yay! I added you :)

[Ayla]

Hayli wrote: "Interested in joining as well! :)"

Yasss, Hayli, so glad you're in!! :)

[Ayla]

Ana wrote: "I'm interested in joining!"

Okay! I added you to the list of participants! :)

[Ayla]

Christabelle wrote: "Count me in!"

I added you! Thanks for joining, Christabelle :)

[Ilsen]

I won't be joining this month not because of the book because I haven't read this one and actually my friend has it so I don't have to buy it myself. I just don't think I have enough time to buddy read like I used to and I'm so behind on all of my readings. Last month was a mess. I didn't even finish one book. As of right now, I won't be reading any BOTM and it makes me sad. :( Hope everyone has a fun time reading it though!

[Tal]

I'll join if I can get the book in time.

[me]

Count me in!

[Alma]

Sign me up :)

[Ayla]

Ilsen wrote: "I won't be joining this month not because of the book because I haven't read this one and actually my friend has it so I don't have to buy it myself. I just don't think I have enough time to buddy ..."

Ahww, Ilsen! :(
It's not a problem though, good luck with all of your readings and take your time! <33

[Ayla]

TH wrote: "I'll join if I can get the book in time."

Yay, thanks for joining! Don't worry if you can't get the book in time, you could always join in later on :)

[Ayla]

Yocheved wrote: "Count me in!"

Thanks for joining! I added you :)

[Ayla]

Alma wrote: "Sign me up :)"

Yayy! Added you :)

[Annemarie]

Is this also the place for the discussion?

I'm going to start reading now......

[Ayla]

Annemarie wrote: "Is this also the place for the discussion?

I'm going to start reading now......"

Yes, this is also the discussion thread!
You can just share your updates in here ((November 8/9 - I just read till chapter 2 and my thoughts are .... etc. Spoilers must be marked of course!) and discuss and comment on each other's updates :)

[Ayla]

So I'll try to add some discussion questions in here, to make the discussion easier for all of you! I'll add them as soon as I caught up with the reading, since I haven't got my copy yet.

Discussion questions November 8/9 :
1) Have you read any other books by John Green?
2) What are your expectations for this book?

Feel free to answer these questions and start a discussion with each other! :)

[Bec]

1) I've read a fair few Green books, but not all of them.

2) I've already read the book - but I do know that I was cautious going into it just bc Green books are always a hit or a miss for me.

I mean I loved Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars, but I DNF'd An Abundance of Katherines and Paper Towns (the book AND the movie) out of pure boredom.

So while I was hoping it was gonna blow me away I was also super braced to not like the book.

[Bec]

Also important question: has anyone read Zombicorns? Just realized it's a green freebie.

[Christabelle]

This will be my first John Green novel and I’m not sure what to expect!

Becca, how were you introduced to Green’s books?

[Ayla]

Becca (becandbones) wrote: "1) I've read a fair few Green books, but not all of them.

2) I've already read the book - but I do know that I was cautious going into it just bc Green books are always a hit or a miss for me.

..."

I've heard that a lot, those mixed opinions on John Greens' books!
Did you like this book though? :)

[Ayla]

Becca (becandbones) wrote: "Also important question: has anyone read Zombicorns? Just realized it's a green freebie."

I have heard of it, but it didn't really grab my attention I guess...

[Ayla]

1) I haven't read any of John Green's books yet, so this is going to be the first one!
2) I don't really have any expectations, since I've heard so many mixed opinions about John Green's books. But I really hope I will like it! I have heard most of his books are a bit slow-paced, which isn't really my thing, but we'll see!

[Bec]

Ayla (ParadisePinkPages) wrote: "Becca (becandbones) wrote: "1) I've read a fair few Green books, but not all of them.

2) I've already read the book - but I do know that I was cautious going into it just bc Green books are alway..."

Not my favourite Green book and I did have a massive rant at one of the characters 2/3 of the way through (you'll see) but yeah I gave it 4 stars!

[Figgy]

Discussion questions November 8/9 :
1) Have you read any other books by John Green?
2) What are your expectations for this book?

1) I haven't read any other John Green books, and for years I actively avoided and was incredibly put off by them (TFIOS and Paper Towns specifically) because I worked in a bookstore when TFIOS came out at the movies and they released the new PT cover, so those two were EVERYWHERE I looked and the two people kept telling me I HAD to read, regardless of my taste or reading mood.
Funnily enough these are the two I ended up acquiring (one for free from a publisher's event, and one as a discounted/damaged copy from said store where I worked) though I have yet to read either.
The publishers sent this one unsolicited which is how it came to be in my possession.

2) I've already read this one... I was wary before starting, due to aforementioned issues, but I always try and read the first page/chapter when titles come through to see how I connect with them. I was intrigued by the concept, as someone who has struggled with OCD and anxiety her whole life, and the first chapter definitely appealed. I was also looking for an audio book for my car, since finishing the previous one, and really liked the narrator's voice.
So, I guess you could say I went in wary but hopeful, and for the most part I enjoyed myself.
Not a book to change my life, and I connected with the OCD portrayed in The Rest of Us Just Live Here rather more strongly... So it's not even my best OCD-related book, but a good one nonetheless.

[Ayla]

Becca (becandbones) wrote: "Ayla (ParadisePinkPages) wrote: "Becca (becandbones) wrote: "1) I've read a fair few Green books, but not all of them.

2) I've already read the book - but I do know that I was cautious going into..."

I'll definitely read your review, once I finished this book! :)

[Ayla]

Figgy wrote: "Discussion questions November 8/9 :
1) Have you read any other books by John Green?
2) What are your expectations for this book?

1) I haven't read any other John Green books, and for years I activ..."

Yess, at one point TFIOS was just everywhere! My library (where I work) owns like a million copies of these books and I still need to put some back (that were handed back in) frequently!

I'd like to read "The Rest of Us Just Live Here" soon as well. I read Under Rose-Tainted Skies a while ago, which also includes a mc who is struggling with OCD (and agoraphobia and anxiety), so I'm curious to see how this book handles the topic.

[Ayla]

Update

I will upload some more discussion questions asap, but I need to catch up with the book (which arrived this weekend) myself first, so I can come up with some discussion questions relevant to the story :)

How are you all doing, is everyone on schedule?

[Emily]

No not on schedule but planning to catch up today :)

[Chloe]

I recently finished this book so I won't say anything yet other than I loved the story.

1) Have you read any other books by John Green?
Yes, I've read The Fault in our Stars and Paper Towns.
2) What are your expectations for this book?
I didn't have any expectations for this book because I knew I would most likely love it.

[Bec]

How is everyone doing with this book? I would love to know what everyone thought because it took me a long time to decide how to rate it.

[Figgy]

Becca (becandbones) wrote: "How is everyone doing with this book? I would love to know what everyone thought because it took me a long time to decide how to rate it."

I gave it 7/10 (or 3.5/5) because I enjoyed it but it wasn't exactly the best book (or the best anxiety/OCD/mental health book) I've read.

[Bec]

Figgy wrote: "Becca (becandbones) wrote: "How is everyone doing with this book? I would love to know what everyone thought because it took me a long time to decide how to rate it."

I gave it 7/10 (or 3.5/5) bec..."

That's a pretty similar feeling I ended up with. It wasn't a favourite Green book, it wasn't a favourite mental health rep book. But it had lots of good things and was generally enjoyable.