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nicoleolander's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Hate crime, Antisemitism, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Child death, Death, Grief, and Medical content
lcl_reads's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
As a Black woman living in the United States who has read several novels by Jodi Picoult, I was curious to consider how this one would be handled, particularly because of what I know of Picoult's background. I must admit, I was a little shocked when the first "nigger" was dropped, but as I read I appreciated the way Picoult confronted her subject head on and without flinching.
As I was reading, I felt a bit conflicted about rating the book. I really appreciated this part of the author's note at the end: " I was writing to my own community - white people- who can very easily point to a neo-Nazi skinhead and say he's racist... but who can't recognize racism in themselves." I think my conflicted feelings are because this book is not written for me.
This book was bold in its pursuit and the amount of research and thought Picoult put into the topic was evident to me.
Some critiques I've read of the book are that Ruth's story is not as developed and I actually appreciated that. I would have loved to have more of the respectibility politics, colorism, and relationships between Ruth, her mother, and her sister explored. I also think Picoult was smart in identifying that that was not her story to tell nor was that the point of this particular book.
I think it is important to remember that no book can be everything, so, yes, this book is not everything, but it is the story I think was right for Picoult to tell to the audience she has, from her position, with the support of the research she did and for what it is, it was executed as well as it could have possibly been.
As I was reading, I felt a bit conflicted about rating the book. I really appreciated this part of the author's note at the end: " I was writing to my own community - white people- who can very easily point to a neo-Nazi skinhead and say he's racist... but who can't recognize racism in themselves." I think my conflicted feelings are because this book is not written for me.
This book was bold in its pursuit and the amount of research and thought Picoult put into the topic was evident to me.
Some critiques I've read of the book are that Ruth's story is not as developed and I actually appreciated that. I would have loved to have more of the respectibility politics, colorism, and relationships between Ruth, her mother, and her sister explored. I also think Picoult was smart in identifying that that was not her story to tell nor was that the point of this particular book.
I think it is important to remember that no book can be everything, so, yes, this book is not everything, but it is the story I think was right for Picoult to tell to the audience she has, from her position, with the support of the research she did and for what it is, it was executed as well as it could have possibly been.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Religious bigotry, Cursing, Hate crime, Medical content, Medical trauma, Xenophobia, Violence, Racial slurs, Child death, Homophobia, and Death
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Suicide
craftyanty's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This book falls perfectly into place in the line of Jodi Picoult's books. The plot formula is typical of her work. So readers, like me, who tend to enjoy her books will likely enjoy this one as well.
As always, Picoult took on some really difficult topics in this novel, and she wasn't shy about building her characters. As a result, this was a very challenging book for me to read. I imagine it must have been difficult for her to write from the African-American character's perspective and from the white supremacist character's perspective, leaning on research and interviews to try to do them justice.
A few more notes...
-The book did have a "white savior" vibe to it, which interestingly gets called out within the book itself.
-I didn't love the ending. The twist felt too far-fetched and the ending was too neatly wrapped.
Ended up being 3.5 stars for me, but I think it'll spark some great discussions and bring some things to light for Picoult's readers.
As always, Picoult took on some really difficult topics in this novel, and she wasn't shy about building her characters. As a result, this was a very challenging book for me to read. I imagine it must have been difficult for her to write from the African-American character's perspective and from the white supremacist character's perspective, leaning on research and interviews to try to do them justice.
A few more notes...
-The book did have a "white savior" vibe to it, which interestingly gets called out within the book itself.
-I didn't love the ending. The twist felt too far-fetched and the ending was too neatly wrapped.
Ended up being 3.5 stars for me, but I think it'll spark some great discussions and bring some things to light for Picoult's readers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Child death, Violence, and Racial slurs
inirac's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Xenophobia, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Child death, Racial slurs, Death, Racism, Antisemitism, Grief, and Hate crime
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Blood, Self harm, and Medical trauma
lauragracel's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Child death, Racism, and Hate crime
lukel's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Child death, Racism, Suicide, Self harm, and Racial slurs
notlikethebeer's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I really don't know how to feel about this book! It is a book about racism written by a white woman, and that's major alarm bells from the start. However, I did appreciate the author's note at the end (which, having read some reviews, I actually read first) - that Picoult was aware that it was not her story to write, and that instead she wanted to write the story of someone like her, who might see themselves as anti-racist without acknowledging all the ways they betray this. That was a really interesting approach, although being white I don't feel that I can assess whether that's the 'right' one or not. I think that did lead me to wonder about the inclusion of Ruth's chapters - by writing them, Picoult was writing from a viewpoint that she explicitly said is not hers and that she will never truly understand; but equally, if she hadn't written them, I guess it would have been a way of erasing Ruth from a story in which she played a pivotal part. All this to say I don't know. I did really like the chapters from Kennedy's perspective, in large part because I could see myself and similar viewpoints through them; and I found the Turk chapters, particularly the early ones, interesting as an example of the ways that extremism can 'take hold' on an individual level. Equally, do Turk's chapters - and the humanising of Turk - belong in the same book that's about the harm caused to Ruth? And can it ever be okay for a white author to portray such vitrolic racism (and homophobia), even if it's in aid of not shying away from reality? I don't know. Something that did stand out, positively, was the "damned if I do, damned if I don't" that arose from the dual charges levelled at Ruth. Otherwise, there's little in this book that I really know how I feel about!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Homophobia
stephhamp's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I could not put this book down. But I also could not be more confused and conflicted about a book either.
As a black woman, I knew immediately that this book was written by a white woman. The thoughts and choices that Ruth made were beyond confusing. Infuriating at times. Even during the trial, Ruth's insistence to testify, seemed so out of character for any intelligent black woman to make. Why shoot yourself in the foot and admit to a lie of omission? Throughout the book, Ruth is playing a version of identity politics within herself. The belief that if she could just explain herself, she could just go home scot-free. I know Ruth is lighter skinned and the inclusion of colorism was a good touch, but she's an educated woman who went to Yale. Have you never seen a Law & Order show? You're a nurse in a hospital for 20 years, have you no idea how racial bias works and truly think you're the exception? That made no sense to me.
I did not like the fact that Picoult tried to find common ground with Turk's character. It's conflicting because while I don't think a white supremacist character should be written as sympathetic, I know in this world many people like Turk have been rehabilitated and changed, and that's a good thing. It won't erase their actions, but many people like Turk are trying to do good. It feels like by including Turk's backstory and the passages about his pain at losing his son, the reader was meant to feel sympathy. Why should I be sympathetic to him? I also did not like the big "twist" at the end when it was revealed Brit was half-black. It was meant to be this huge hypocrisy. "Oh you hate black people, but you are black." Unfortunately, many POC hats their race, and that comes out in a myriad of ways.
I think Picoult was trying to do something I hate. Trying to make a statement that we can all get along and change despite our politics. That is not true.
Kennedy was a realistic character, and I think the character probably most like the author. A grown woman who never really looked at race until she had to. Despite being a public defender. I don't think Jodi Picoult is a bad person, or a bac writer, quite the contrary. When I say I could not put this book down, I meant it. And I find this with all of her books that I've read so far. I plan to read more. I think her intentions and hopes were pure and good. But as a black intersectional feminist, the blind spots were very glaring.
As a black woman, I knew immediately that this book was written by a white woman. The thoughts and choices that Ruth made were beyond confusing. Infuriating at times. Even during the trial, Ruth's insistence to testify, seemed so out of character for any intelligent black woman to make. Why shoot yourself in the foot and admit to a lie of omission? Throughout the book, Ruth is playing a version of identity politics within herself. The belief that if she could just explain herself, she could just go home scot-free. I know Ruth is lighter skinned and the inclusion of colorism was a good touch, but she's an educated woman who went to Yale. Have you never seen a Law & Order show? You're a nurse in a hospital for 20 years, have you no idea how racial bias works and truly think you're the exception? That made no sense to me.
I did not like the fact that Picoult tried to find common ground with Turk's character. It's conflicting because while I don't think a white supremacist character should be written as sympathetic, I know in this world many people like Turk have been rehabilitated and changed, and that's a good thing. It won't erase their actions, but many people like Turk are trying to do good. It feels like by including Turk's backstory and the passages about his pain at losing his son, the reader was meant to feel sympathy. Why should I be sympathetic to him? I also did not like the big "twist" at the end when it was revealed Brit was half-black. It was meant to be this huge hypocrisy. "Oh you hate black people, but you are black." Unfortunately, many POC hats their race, and that comes out in a myriad of ways.
I think Picoult was trying to do something I hate. Trying to make a statement that we can all get along and change despite our politics. That is not true.
Kennedy was a realistic character, and I think the character probably most like the author. A grown woman who never really looked at race until she had to. Despite being a public defender. I don't think Jodi Picoult is a bad person, or a bac writer, quite the contrary. When I say I could not put this book down, I meant it. And I find this with all of her books that I've read so far. I plan to read more. I think her intentions and hopes were pure and good. But as a black intersectional feminist, the blind spots were very glaring.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Racism, Antisemitism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Self harm
cielo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Antisemitism, Gaslighting, Grief, Racism, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicide attempt, Xenophobia, and Violence
caseyleigh1024's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Hate crime, Death, Child death, Violence, and Homophobia