2 STARS

That’s all I got. I can only give this book a solid 2 STARS. Not because it was a horrible book but because it was a simple-minded book. There’s zero depth. It is one of those books that you will forget. There is nothing memorable about this story.

Turtles All The Way Down was written by John Green, the author of The Fault In Our Stars. I call bullshit. There is noway on God’s green Earth that the same mind that created TFIOS could have written this book.

This review will be get messy so stop now if you’re an avid John Green lover and won’t be able to take it.

Let’s hear with the author has to say. . .

Synopsis

It’s quite rare to find someone who sees the same world you see.

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.

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I went to a local coffee house where my daughter meets with her tutor and took Turtles All The Way Down ready to enjoy my latte, banana, and book. I’m going to let you know that my latte was delicious. And that banana – perfectly ripe. The book. . . not that great. It took me forever just to figure out what the book was about. When I left the coffee shop at page 114 I told my husband the same thing.

By the end of the book I realized I was reading a story about a 16 y/o girl with a mental health disorder working her way through high. I can appreciate any story that addresses mental health in a positive way and this book did. It allowed readers to see inside of the mind of those who suffer with an illness that no one can see.

I don’t think we as a society take care of our mentally ill like we should. Many times we chose to ignore them. We dismiss their quirks as if they are irrelevant and I enjoyed the way John Green was able to write a story were those around Aza were understanding and didn’t place judgement.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Just, like, a little panicky.”

“Was it something that I did? Should I do-“

“No, it’s not about you.”

“You can tell me.”

“I have theses . . . thought spirals, and I can’t get out of them. I’m . . . this, like . . . this doesn’t get better. You should know that.”

“I’m not in a rush.”  – Davis/Aza

There is something to be learned there.

But. . .

. . .that was about the end of any enjoyment of the story.

Because there was no story!

I guess there was a wee bit of a story there. Davis Pickett’s billionaire father went missing the night before the authorities searched his mansion in hopes of finding evidence that he was scheming in someway. I can’t remember actually why at the moment. Davis happened to be Aza’s childhood friend and semi-neighbor. Aza’s best friend, Daisy, wants to find his father and turn him over to the police for the $100,000 reward. Um, okay. I guess that could work as a storyline if the writing is up to par but that is definitely not this book.

Here’s the thing that is bothering me. The book read more like a summery of a good book. It was like someone read a book that has one thousand pages about this exact same thing and decided to tell us what they read about. There were no details just words. It was as though I was reading a book written by a good storyteller pretending to be a writer. I know that sounds so bad. I feel twenty five percent bad for saying it but it’s how I feel.

All in all this book was a let down. It’s a shame that something so mediocre is being looked up as profound greatness. It’s the same thing as passing out participation awards to the losing teams. This is the kind of shit that keeps people from being the best because they are lied to and told that they already are. – Personal frustration with this day and age.

I mean seriously. . .

What The Fuck Is A Participation Award?

Do I recommend this book? Nope!

Will I read another book by this author? Most likely not!

I told you I was going to get messy with it and I did. Now, it’s time to clean up my mess, get pretty again, and read another book.

TTYL, lovers. . .

Follow all things messy. . .