“Anyone can look at you. It is quite rare to find someone who sees the same world you see.”
John
Green has done it again. After six years of silence (two movies and more in the
making), Green returned with story of Aza Holmes. And I have literally just
finished reading the book. So my judgment might be a little foggy at the
moment.
I didn’t
finish writing this piece last night because I was feeling overwhelmed. Overwhelmed
by the story, the characters, the emotions it stirred up inside of me and given
how involved I get with the books I read, for a minute I became Aza. I could
understand the inner workings of the sixteen year old who feels trapped inside
of her head. It was perhaps one of the more relatable things I have read in
recent times.
I know
the book cover is not much to write home about but if you read the book, the
cover starts making sense towards the end. (I will talk about that towards the
end of this piece. I’m trying to keep the first half as spoiler free as
possible.)
When
we meet Aza it is at a time when her best and most trusted friend, Daisy
Ramirez insists they try to find the fugitive billionaire Russell Davis Pickett
because a reward of $100,000 has been announced for anyone who gives them a
lead. Aza used to be friends with his son Davis when they were little and Daisy
thinks it’s time to put that acquaintanceship to good use.
John
Green has fleshed out the major characters in the story – Aza, Davis, Daisy,
Aza’s mother – really well. His writing is something that pulls you and doesn’t
let go off you until he’s done telling his side of the story. However, it was
difficult for me to finish the book as quickly as I usually devour his books
because some of Aza’s inner monologue was rather difficult to get through.
Overall,
if you have loved John Green, go ahead and read this one. He truly has
surpassed himself in Turtles All The Way Down and I am waiting for his next
read.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
The book
cover borrows from the fact that Aza is constantly caught in the spiral of her
thoughts. If you’re familiar with the story of turtles from your childhood,
then you would know where the book borrowed it title from. And no, it’s not
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Although I am sure that thought had crossed all
our minds. I should also add here that
the tuatara plays a rather important role in pushing the story forward. Even if
it isn’t how we had guessed the tuatara would become important, you know?
What made
the book both ten times better and a hundred times sadder was the fact John
Green drew from his own experiences while writing about Aza. I can only imagine
what it must have felt like for him, growing up feeling he’s trapped inside his
head with nowhere to run. I am glad he got better and I am glad that he uses
his voice to help the countless others who still feel pretty trapped inside of
their heads even now.
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