Turtles All the Way Down by John Green - GBR - Starting January 1st 2021

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

It all begins with a fugitive billionaire and the promise of a cash reward. Turtles All the Way Down is about lifelong friendship, the intimacy of an unexpected reunion, Star Wars fan fiction, and tuatara. But at its heart is Aza Holmes, a young woman navigating daily existence within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.

In his long-awaited return, John Green shares Aza's story with shattering, unflinching clarity.

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green will be our 1st GBR for January 2021.

Please read at your own pace, and hide any spoilers ☺ You are welcome to join at any time during the month ☺

Happy Reading Everybody!

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Pre-Reading Questions -

Anybody got any thoughts on this one before we start?

Has anyone read anything similar to this before?

Anybody read anything else by this author previously?

[Audrey]

I've been recommended this book so many times that I'm going to be so disappointed if this isn't what I'm hoping it will be. My sister was also somehow able to get a signed copy of the novel for me so whether I like this or not it will most likely still rest on my bookshelf. Surprisingly this is going to be the first time that I'm reading anything from John Green.

[Ashley W]

I can say I have never read anything like this. It sounds like such an eclectic books with a lot of story elements. I have read The Fault in Our Stars, and I cried for days whenever I thought about it. It was very well written, so I'm pretty excited to start this one.

[Fany]

I have read Looking for Alaska by John Green, and it left me with a lot of things to think and reflect about. I read quite a lot in this genre, though I have been reading in other genres recently so it will be nice to go back to contemporary.
So, really, excited, have an idea of the genre but don't really know what to expect.

[Tyler_zakiyareadsbooks_]

I've also read Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars (both left me contemplating for hours after, even days and in floods of tears) finally ready to go for my third John Green book!

[Ashley W]

Chapter 6
(view spoiler)[ Daisy is one of my favorite new characters ever. I love the pic conversation. I feel so bad for Aza and her issues. That must be miserable. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Chapter 9
(view spoiler)[ Davis sounds miserable, even when he had his father. so lonely and I feel so sorry for Noah.
I love Daisy's one liner quotes. Applebee's best. haha (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Chapter 13
(view spoiler)[ All this talk of microbes and everything is getting gross. I hate thinking about it. It makes me feel worse for Aza. I would hate it if my brain worked like that. Turning something like a kiss into that just ruins it. I would have felt so weird taking Davis's money. They're basically getting paid to not talk. I think it's great that he is so supportive of her. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Chapter 17
(view spoiler)[ Daisy loves Aza. She would hate to think that her stories hurt her feelings. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ Well, that was a sad ending. I knew their dad would probably be dead, but I was hoping he wasn't even if he would just go to prison. There was closure in the book though, with Aza and her understanding what her future could be like, knowing she would struggle but accepting it and knowing how to deal with it. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ashley wrote: "Chapter 6
[spoilers removed]"

I'm glad you like Daisy, she's pretty funny

[Aly]

This is my first John Green book. I've been wary since I think they all seem sad but I'm jumping in.
Ch 6 (view spoiler)[ I don't like all the thoughts of infection and pus and throwing up, ew. I do feel bad that Aza has anxiety and OCD and her mom doesn't really understand her. Daisy seems fun and she tries her best to help Aza (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ashley wrote: "Chapter 9
Davis sounds miserable, even when he had his father. so lonely and I feel so sorry for Noah.
I love Daisy's one liner quotes. Applebee's best. haha "

I feel bad for Noah too. Poor kid

[Aly]

Ashley wrote: "Chapter 13
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I agree it's very gross. Poor Aza and other people that have intrusive thoughts like this, it would be difficult to function. And taking the money does seem like it would make everything weird (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

I'm going to stop reading this, it makes me feel ill listening to Aza's thoughts about infection and all that stuff.

[Jennifer]

Ch 6 (about 25%) - (view spoiler)[ I'm feel like we have barely started to get to the meat of the story, which I am hoping is about Davis and Aza. Her "issues" seem nearly insurmountable. I can't imagine trying to have a relationship with someone that is constantly going down a rabbit hole of negative thoughts. It should be interesting to see what happens with her. As for Davis, I am kind of hoping that they find his dad if he and his brother might end up kicked out of the house and lifestyle they are used to. Something tells me that if Dad was seen in the bushes on Pirate Island in his pajamas, he probably isn't alive. I was expecting the girls to find his body the entire time they were on the river. (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer]

Ch 11 (47%) - (view spoiler)[ I didn't really like the mom until this moment when I saw myself in her. Damn John Green! (hide spoiler)]
Ch 17 (73%) - (view spoiler)[ UH YEAH! she is a threat to herself. I am right there in the spiral with her and I don't like it. I really thought this book was going to be about how she and Davis overcame her mental issues to have a nice romance. THAT is definitely not happening. (hide spoiler)]
Finished - Well damn, I'm not sure what to think. (view spoiler)[ Clearly this is an amazing book. The way the author captures the mania of her condition is brilliant, and I definitely felt like I was right there with her in those moments. Further evidence that this was brilliant is that I felt uncomfortable the entire time - leading me to believe that I was getting the message. But....did I like the actual story? Not particularly. Though the mystery of Davis's dad disappearing plays a part, it was pretty insignificant. The same with her budding romance with Davis. These parts of the plot have a purpose, but they weren't the purpose of the story and I think I might have liked it better if they were.

Still amazing. Still brilliant. But not entertaining.?.? Ya know what I am trying to say? (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer]

Aly wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Chapter 6
[spoilers removed]"

I'm glad you like Daisy, she's pretty funny"

I liked Daisy too, though, I did think it was pretty crappy later when (view spoiler)[ we found out that she was dissing Aza in her fan fic. (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer]

Ashley wrote: "Finished
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ It was a pretty muted ending. I think we are supposed to be happy that she seems to be getting better even if the things happening around her are not ideal.

Regarding the Dad - I found it weird that it wasn't explained how/why he died exactly. It said from exposure - but why would the guy leave in the middle of the night in his pajamas, go through a sewer and decide to camp out there for a few days? It makes no sense and I kind of needed to understand that part. It was a let down not to have all the answers there. (hide spoiler)]

[Aaron]

Jennifer wrote: "Ch 6 (about 25%) - [spoilers removed]"

Chapter 6
(view spoiler)[ I hope Aza and Davis get together and it works out but that Aza’s anxiety isn’t “cured” or anything by the end because of the relationship. That would be a bit unrealistic. I’m hoping the mystery aspect starts to pick up soon as well. This book is quite short so there isn’t long to get through everything. I could see the ending to this being rushed. (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer]

Aaron wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Ch 6 (about 25%) - [spoilers removed]"

Chapter 6
[spoilers removed]"

Aaron - I agree, if it cured everything, it would be a disappointing and unrealistic solution.

[Aaron]

Chapter 12
(view spoiler)[ Aza must be exhausted from thinking so much all the time. I feel for her. This book is making me feel jumpy. I cut my finger on a can yesterday and her talking about infections isn’t helpful at this point in time. (hide spoiler)]

[Aaron]

Chapter 19
(view spoiler)[ I expected to hear more about Davis’s dad by now. There isn’t much of the book left. I thought there’d be more of either a mystery or romance story line but it’s been mostly Aza in her head. (hide spoiler)]

[Aaron]

Jennifer wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Finished
[spoilers removed]"

It was a pretty muted ending. I think we are supposed to be happy that she seems to be getting better even if the things happening around her are not ..."

Done
(view spoiler)[ especially when it was a guy with lots of cash. He could have escaped to literally anywhere. Surely being caught by the police is better than dying in the sewer. It wasn’t the most exciting ending I have ever read. (hide spoiler)]