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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
The Storyteller
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult displayed a riveting novel that told multiple stories throughout the story. It first starts out with a shy girl who lives as a baker and still suffers from her mother’s death that happened three years earlier. Later she runs into an older man in his nineties who she befriends. Afterward, he tells her he was a former Nazi and wants her to kill him because of the actions he made. She decides to call the police and later gets directed to the FBI. Sage, the main character, gets the old man to tell his story which leads into a section on the book about him. Then, the only way to convict the man is to speak to Sage’s grandmother who was a Holocaust survivor and who lived in the same camp. Almost half of the book was the grandmother’s life experience before the war and during the war. Periodically in The Storyteller, portions of a fictional novel the grandmother wrote before and during the camps would appear. There was always a cliffhanger at the end of the excerpt which kept the reader attached to the story to see what happened next. The end of the book is full of plot twists and events that no one would ever expect happen.
Jodi Picoult described each event so precisely, it seemed like she could have been a survivor herself. It forced the reader to realize the little things we take for granted and how much they would affect us when they are gone. If I would rate this book I would give it 5 out of 5 stars because of how it could draw you in emotionally to a point where you could not put it down.
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult displayed a riveting novel that told multiple stories throughout the story. It first starts out with a shy girl who lives as a baker and still suffers from her mother’s death that happened three years earlier. Later she runs into an older man in his nineties who she befriends. Afterward, he tells her he was a former Nazi and wants her to kill him because of the actions he made. She decides to call the police and later gets directed to the FBI. Sage, the main character, gets the old man to tell his story which leads into a section on the book about him. Then, the only way to convict the man is to speak to Sage’s grandmother who was a Holocaust survivor and who lived in the same camp. Almost half of the book was the grandmother’s life experience before the war and during the war. Periodically in The Storyteller, portions of a fictional novel the grandmother wrote before and during the camps would appear. There was always a cliffhanger at the end of the excerpt which kept the reader attached to the story to see what happened next. The end of the book is full of plot twists and events that no one would ever expect happen.
Jodi Picoult described each event so precisely, it seemed like she could have been a survivor herself. It forced the reader to realize the little things we take for granted and how much they would affect us when they are gone. If I would rate this book I would give it 5 out of 5 stars because of how it could draw you in emotionally to a point where you could not put it down.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Every time I read one of Jodi Picoult's novels, I feel like I walk away knowing so much more about a subject than I ever did. I mean this in a good way. The only problem with this situation was that it is about my most hated part of history because it just raises such anger inside me. I was reading this book at dinner and I got to Minka's section and towards the end of it, I wanted to puke because of what I was reading and eating. The two did not mix. The story of Minka is so strong and so enraging. Jodi really makes you feel like you are facing these horrible men yourself.
I am not sure how a big a fan I am of Sage as a character for a couple of reasons. 1) She complains about the scars on her face and how she cannot be out in public, and yet, she has a job at a town favorite bakery. 2) She was practically breaking up a marriage and that is something I morally cannot get behind. Even though, yes, Adam was cheating right along with her; he was not the main character of the story.
The ending was a typical major twist, except I did not see this one coming at all. I was totally shocked.
I love Leo's character. I am a criminal justice minor and so in some of the legal parts of the book, I was nodding and I responded to some of Sage's questions before poor Leo could. Sorry man. ;)
Over all, I loved this book. Although, I do think Minka's section was a little long, I do not feel it would have been wise to shorten it. She was the key to the whole story and so all of her section was necessary.
I am not sure how a big a fan I am of Sage as a character for a couple of reasons. 1) She complains about the scars on her face and how she cannot be out in public, and yet, she has a job at a town favorite bakery. 2) She was practically breaking up a marriage and that is something I morally cannot get behind. Even though, yes, Adam was cheating right along with her; he was not the main character of the story.
The ending was a typical major twist, except I did not see this one coming at all. I was totally shocked.
I love Leo's character. I am a criminal justice minor and so in some of the legal parts of the book, I was nodding and I responded to some of Sage's questions before poor Leo could. Sorry man. ;)
Over all, I loved this book. Although, I do think Minka's section was a little long, I do not feel it would have been wise to shorten it. She was the key to the whole story and so all of her section was necessary.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this when it first came out, pre-ordered and started this at midnight! It was a much anticipated read for me and didn't disappoint.
Jodi is an amazing Author and I love all of her work but this book has a special place in my heart.
Jodi never backs away from controversial subjects but also puts so many different points of view onto it through her characters that she never leads you into believing what she wants you to but rather lets you process and decide how you would feel and react.
This book is special to me as her descriptions of Sage baking and the process is so researched and well done! I am a baker by trade and will nit pick if description aren't right or when people lump bakers with the equivalent of chefs or cupcake makers, baking bread is an art and you can't learn how to do it from a recipe the descriptions were spot on and made me appreciate my job just that little bit more. Also I have fallen asleep on the flour bags before and let me tell you it is not as comfy as you'll imagine.
These stories intertwine to make a hopeful and heartbreaking conclusion that is such a great journey and read!
Highly recommended!
Jodi is an amazing Author and I love all of her work but this book has a special place in my heart.
Jodi never backs away from controversial subjects but also puts so many different points of view onto it through her characters that she never leads you into believing what she wants you to but rather lets you process and decide how you would feel and react.
This book is special to me as her descriptions of Sage baking and the process is so researched and well done! I am a baker by trade and will nit pick if description aren't right or when people lump bakers with the equivalent of chefs or cupcake makers, baking bread is an art and you can't learn how to do it from a recipe the descriptions were spot on and made me appreciate my job just that little bit more. Also I have fallen asleep on the flour bags before and let me tell you it is not as comfy as you'll imagine.
These stories intertwine to make a hopeful and heartbreaking conclusion that is such a great journey and read!
Highly recommended!
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love this author and this story was both hard to read and hard to put down.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
...
My fingerd hovered for ages above the keyboard when trying to write this review. After I finished this about around 1.30am last night, I was still too stunned and emotionally wrecked to write anything coherent. Totally disrespectful of my need to sleep, this book pulled me deeper and deeper into its hold and even after I finished, it still wouldn't let me go.
JP writes about topics that seemed mundane but her way of words and her ability to present to the readers both sides of every story, for me, is one of the reasons she is one of my most respected authors. As with her many books, she showed us that black is not always the opposite of white and all the grey areas in between shift and simmer until one is not sure where the white starts and where the black ends. Can a person still be essentially a good person even if he has committed many atrocities for parts of his life? Can good and kind acts for half of one's life erase out the horrible act committed in the other half?
Reading this book made me feel so helpless and mad that despite what history has taught us, mankind is still hell bent in making all the same mistakes.
My fingerd hovered for ages above the keyboard when trying to write this review. After I finished this about around 1.30am last night, I was still too stunned and emotionally wrecked to write anything coherent. Totally disrespectful of my need to sleep, this book pulled me deeper and deeper into its hold and even after I finished, it still wouldn't let me go.
JP writes about topics that seemed mundane but her way of words and her ability to present to the readers both sides of every story, for me, is one of the reasons she is one of my most respected authors. As with her many books, she showed us that black is not always the opposite of white and all the grey areas in between shift and simmer until one is not sure where the white starts and where the black ends. Can a person still be essentially a good person even if he has committed many atrocities for parts of his life? Can good and kind acts for half of one's life erase out the horrible act committed in the other half?
Reading this book made me feel so helpless and mad that despite what history has taught us, mankind is still hell bent in making all the same mistakes.
I love the way Jodi Picoult writes and this book was amazing despite the fact that it was horrendously sad. I wept over several sections of the book, which is always a sign of a good read. Keep 'em coming, Jodi. ;-)
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes