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apryl_turner's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
laurenshikari's review against another edition
5.0
Gorgeous book! I adored the movie and considering the book has a different ending I wanted to give it a read. I was a bit put off at first by the different perspectives throughout the book but I ended up loving it.
robynlynn80's review against another edition
5.0
After about 2 months of hearing how great this book was and waiting for my library to get it in, a friend loaned me her copy. It was worth the wait. As always, Picoult writes an amazing, heartwarming story about family bonds and the lengths one will go to for love of another. If the ending doesn't make you cry, please check to see if you have a pulse.
alexad_3's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
this book…i can’t even begin to describe. the ending i just can’t even fathom, ill need to talk to the author about that because even reading the authors answer to the “why” for her ending i don’t completely understand.
elliec33's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
annies1's review against another edition
5.0
I love almost all of Piccoult's books. I listen to them often while on trips. Her particular way of writing a fictional account of modern day happenings is amazing. She does much research into locations and the subjects she writes about. Love her.
frankikaos's review against another edition
5.0
I don't usually read these types of books, I only picked this up because I found it ridiculously cheap at a charity shop and decided that it wouldn't be a waste if I never read it or didn't enjoy it.
Normally, I only read one book at a time- I like to get lost in the stories and I find that harder to do when I've got 2/3 completely different tales to read -but I thought I'd better have a quick flick through the first few pages just to see if I'd be able to work with it... And I got sucked in.
This is the first book in a long time that I've found literally unputdownable and, to be honest, it surprised me at first but, by the time I read the final page, I realised why- because it's bloody brilliant.
Yes, it's a very sad story- a child is dying, how can that not be sad? -but it's also a very real story, it's the sort of thing that you can imagine people going through, and that made it a better read.
The family in question all have their strengths and weaknesses, the mother, Sara, and the son, Jesse, are portrayed as both heroes and villains at times, but, ultimately, I fell in love with them all and cared deeply about what the outcome would be.
I liked the little side story going on with the lawyer and his ex-girlfriend- both thrown back together over the case the younger daughter, Anna, incites. It meant all the characters were more humanised and it gave a welcome relief to all the doom and gloom... The lawyer's dog, Judge, also added a little (accidental?) comedy at times.
The book raises a lot of issues- the youngest daughter was genetically created to be a perfect match to her sister so she could donate whatever was needed to keep her alive, when she decides she doesn't want to do it anymore because it's holding her back and only delaying the inevitable, she sues her parents for the rights to her own body- and all the way through I found myself questioning things- something may be right, something may be legal and something may be moral... But nothing ever seems to be all three.
I liked the writing style, each 'chapter' being set out from another persons point of view- Jodi Picoult manages to get into the heads of all the characters, regardless of age, gender or occupation, and breathe believable life into them. I also like how the majority oof Sara's chapters were focussed on the past, telling how she'd become used to living the life she had with her sick child- it really helped to show her character grow, how she went from reciting the past, constantly aware of Kate (her sick child) to being in the here and now, finally beginning to understand the wishes of Anna.
Some things are a little predictable but there are still a couple of twists and turns that took me by surprise.
Obviously, as expected, the book has a tragic ending but it was a different sort of tragedy to what I had expected- still, it made me tear up.
So to say this is a book that I wouldn't normally read, I thoroughly enjoyed it- it might not be one that I'll go back to again and again and again as it is a bit heavy going on the emotions, but it's definitely one I'd reccommend to others and, one day, revisit.
One last thing- it was suggested at the end of my copy of the book but just in case you read one where it isn't... Once you've finished reading, go back to the start and read the prologue again- now tell me, who's point of view is that again?
Normally, I only read one book at a time- I like to get lost in the stories and I find that harder to do when I've got 2/3 completely different tales to read -but I thought I'd better have a quick flick through the first few pages just to see if I'd be able to work with it... And I got sucked in.
This is the first book in a long time that I've found literally unputdownable and, to be honest, it surprised me at first but, by the time I read the final page, I realised why- because it's bloody brilliant.
Yes, it's a very sad story- a child is dying, how can that not be sad? -but it's also a very real story, it's the sort of thing that you can imagine people going through, and that made it a better read.
The family in question all have their strengths and weaknesses, the mother, Sara, and the son, Jesse, are portrayed as both heroes and villains at times, but, ultimately, I fell in love with them all and cared deeply about what the outcome would be.
I liked the little side story going on with the lawyer and his ex-girlfriend- both thrown back together over the case the younger daughter, Anna, incites. It meant all the characters were more humanised and it gave a welcome relief to all the doom and gloom... The lawyer's dog, Judge, also added a little (accidental?) comedy at times.
The book raises a lot of issues- the youngest daughter was genetically created to be a perfect match to her sister so she could donate whatever was needed to keep her alive, when she decides she doesn't want to do it anymore because it's holding her back and only delaying the inevitable, she sues her parents for the rights to her own body- and all the way through I found myself questioning things- something may be right, something may be legal and something may be moral... But nothing ever seems to be all three.
I liked the writing style, each 'chapter' being set out from another persons point of view- Jodi Picoult manages to get into the heads of all the characters, regardless of age, gender or occupation, and breathe believable life into them. I also like how the majority oof Sara's chapters were focussed on the past, telling how she'd become used to living the life she had with her sick child- it really helped to show her character grow, how she went from reciting the past, constantly aware of Kate (her sick child) to being in the here and now, finally beginning to understand the wishes of Anna.
Some things are a little predictable but there are still a couple of twists and turns that took me by surprise.
Obviously, as expected, the book has a tragic ending but it was a different sort of tragedy to what I had expected- still, it made me tear up.
So to say this is a book that I wouldn't normally read, I thoroughly enjoyed it- it might not be one that I'll go back to again and again and again as it is a bit heavy going on the emotions, but it's definitely one I'd reccommend to others and, one day, revisit.
One last thing- it was suggested at the end of my copy of the book but just in case you read one where it isn't... Once you've finished reading, go back to the start and read the prologue again- now tell me, who's point of view is that again?
cassiereadsromance's review against another edition
5.0
This was amazing, as expected from this author. I love Jodi Picoult even though she makes me cry. I saw the movie adaption of this book first so I thought I was prepared (since I cried like a baby). But no. This ripped my heart out and shredded it to nothing. Extremely well written and it sucks you in so you spend the whole day reading, then spend the night crying yourself to sleep.