“We never really talked much or even looked at each other, but it didn't matter because we were looking at the same sky together, which is maybe even more intimate than eye contact anyway. I mean, anybody can look at you. It's quite rare to find someone who sees the same world you see.”
This quote, wow. It represents such an important theme in Turtles All the Way Down, but one that is pretty toned down. That's why I felt I should bring it to light. This theme, of course, is relation and/or connection. This theme is well-developed, although somewhat untouched, which is good. It's not common in the majority of YA novels, or at least, not in any I've read.
Aza, in the novel, struggles with finding people who understand her and see things the way she does. In this simple passage, a very important thing is demonstrated. This is that she has felt, in both the past and the present, a connection to Davis Pickett, one that is very strong and is the first thing she brings up - or feels - when Daisy mentions him.
As the novel progresses, the tension between Davis and Aza, one that is created by old memories and romantic feelings that remain unexpressed, in fear that they won't be excepted or understood by one another. Though, as they spend more and more time together, either alone, with others, or through the phone, the connection grows and the tension lessens. Throughout this, the theme lays untouched, but there nonetheless. Green does a good job at bringing it up, but then dismissing it, so unless you are really involved in the text, you do not realize it, but you know something is there.
In Green's other books, he normally makes the themes he delivers very clear. However, the themes in Turtles All the Way Down, are very calm and not in-your-face-obvious. The ones he tries to express the most are the faintest, providing an artistic feeling throughout the entire novel.
Therefore, this quote stands out and is very important when it comes to this novel.
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