Turtles All the Way Down by Emma Riemenschneider

Again and Again

emma_riemenschneider — 2023-11-06 16:34:49 UTC

Textual Evidence: "I think and I think and I think" (Green 92).

Question 1: Why do you think the author keeps repeating this?

The author uses these words again and again throughout the book to show how Aza is always anxious. It also helps the readers understand how Aza functions and processes things.

Question 2: What does this lead you to think about what is going to happen later in the story?

It leads me to think that something may happen in the book where Aza will have a breakthrough and somewhat overcome her anxiety and thoughts.

Memory Moment

emma_riemenschneider — 2023-11-06 16:44:03 UTC

Textual Evidence: "And I wanted to tell him that even though I'd never been in love, I knew what it was like to be in a feeling, to be not just surrounded by it but also permeated by it, the way my grandmother talked about God being everywhere" (Green 150).

Question 1: What memory came to the character's mind? Aza was looking back on her past and realizing that she had never really been in love, just surrounded by others who were in love.

Question 2: Why do you think this memory is important to the character or the story?

I think it is important because Aza will realize that she needs to open up and be content with others to feel loved.

Tough Questions

emma_riemenschneider — 2023-11-06 16:44:28 UTC

Textual Evidence: '"He looked up at me. 'Have you ever been in love, Aza?'"

Question 1: What did you wonder about when you thought about the question?

I wondered what Davis was thinking in his mind when it led him to ask Aza that question. It also made me realize that Davis is trying to get to know Aza more as the story continues.

Question 2: How is this question important to the story and how do you think the character will answer it?

Aza had to think about the question thoroughly later on, which led her to a thought spiral.

Words of the Wiser

emma_riemenschneider — 2023-11-06 19:10:16 UTC

Textual Evidence: '"...Wealth is careless—so around it, you must be careful'" (Green 95).

Question 1: What advice or insight did the wiser character share?

Aza's mom gave Aza advice to be careful with Davis, as he and his family have lots of money.

Question 2: What inferences can you make about how this will affect the character who received the advice?

Aza will feel a little more cautious with her choices with Davis and the situation with his dad. Even though Davis and his family have lots of money, she will know to not use Davis for his money.

Contrasts and Contradictions

emma_riemenschneider — 2023-11-06 19:35:35 UTC

Textual Evidence: "'You're so stuck in your head,' she continued. 'It's like you genuinely can't think about anyone else'"(Green 140).

Question 1: What was unexpected about the action/feeling?

Daisy normally does not act like this, but Aza was pushing her not to spend her reward money from Davis unwisely.

Question 2: What inferences can you make about why the character would act this way?

Daisy is slowly losing patience with Aza, as Aza is always worrying about herself and trying to control what Daisy does.

Aha Moment

emma_riemenschneider — 2023-11-07 19:22:10 UTC

Textual Evidence: "I told myself to be in this moment, to let myself feel his warmth on my skin, but now his tongue was on my neck, wet and alive and microbial, and his hand was sneaking under my jacket, his cold fingers against my hair skin. It's fine you're fine just kiss him you need to check something it's fine just be fucking normal check to see if his microbes stay in you millions of people kiss and don't die just make sure his microbes aren't going to permanently colonize you come on please stop this he could have campylobacter he could be a nonsymptomatic E. coli carrier get that and you'll need antibiotics and then you'll get C. diff and boom dead in your days please fucking stop just kiss him JUST CHECK TO MAKE SURE" (Green 152)

Question 1: What realization came to the character's mind?

Aza is in the middle of kissing Davis and she thinks about all the germs and her thoughts begin to spiral.

Question 2: What inferences can you make about what the character will do now or think now?

Aza will stop kissing Davis, and isolate herself.

Work Cited

emma_riemenschneider — 2023-11-07 19:23:06 UTC

Green, John. Turtles All the Way Down. Penguin Books, 2017.