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cherbear's review against another edition
3.0
This was a predictably moving and emotional book, which was easily accomplished since the topic manner just screams tearjerker. Overall I would say that I liked this book, but sometimes I wonder if people (myself included) just like books that make them feel strong emotions, and the strongest and probably easiest emotion to get readers to feel is sadness. Sadness wrought through death and disease is even easier to accomplish.
That being said, this book looks at an interesting question, that of whether or not the courts can force to give someone, even a family member, something that is of their own body and which could potentially be life saving. Even though I thought the legal response was obvious, the moral dilemma was interesting. I found myself feeling for Ari. While I do feel that he was very wrong to deny his cousin the use of this potentially life saving cord blood, I didn't see him as a clear cut villain. It was as if he was committing to this fight against his better judgement. I would like to have been given a better picture of his background. His unreasonable fear of illness and his almost compulsive need to do everything to prevent such could be easily explained by a serious health issue experienced by himself or someone close to him in the past. Since we were given no explanation of where his somewhat crazy behavior came from we are forced to just assume him to be the bad guy. And while he is, his denial of this life changing cord blood can't be excused, it's important to note that he lost quite a bit as a result of this fight. Overall I found Ari one of the most interesting characters in the book.
That being said, this book looks at an interesting question, that of whether or not the courts can force to give someone, even a family member, something that is of their own body and which could potentially be life saving. Even though I thought the legal response was obvious, the moral dilemma was interesting. I found myself feeling for Ari. While I do feel that he was very wrong to deny his cousin the use of this potentially life saving cord blood, I didn't see him as a clear cut villain. It was as if he was committing to this fight against his better judgement. I would like to have been given a better picture of his background. His unreasonable fear of illness and his almost compulsive need to do everything to prevent such could be easily explained by a serious health issue experienced by himself or someone close to him in the past. Since we were given no explanation of where his somewhat crazy behavior came from we are forced to just assume him to be the bad guy. And while he is, his denial of this life changing cord blood can't be excused, it's important to note that he lost quite a bit as a result of this fight. Overall I found Ari one of the most interesting characters in the book.
janiceo's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting story but I couldn’t get past the fact that it was October 2010 in the second chapter and Mimi was pregnant but then it was early spring of 2011 and the baby was 14 months old. Messed up the whole timeline for me and I couldn’t get past it. Still trying to figure out what the judge’s side story added to the main story.
amorkelley's review against another edition
If u like Jodi Picoult, you will like this book.
stinamoore1971's review against another edition
2.0
The premise of the book and the ethics involved was a good plot line. However, the writing was lackluster and more like a basic synopsis of the facts rather than the heartfelt, emotional novel I was expecting.
rysmi's review against another edition
2.0
How to describe this book on one word, easy, MEDIOCRE. It had the potential to be truly interesting and a page turner, but the goals it aimed to achieve fell far short. The writing was horribly disjointed and failed to deliver the plot in a valuable way.
cherbear's review against another edition
3.0
This was a predictably moving and emotional book, which was easily accomplished since the topic manner just screams tearjerker. Overall I would say that I liked this book, but sometimes I wonder if people (myself included) just like books that make them feel strong emotions, and the strongest and probably easiest emotion to get readers to feel is sadness. Sadness wrought through death and disease is even easier to accomplish.
That being said, this book looks at an interesting question, that of whether or not the courts can force to give someone, even a family member, something that is of their own body and which could potentially be life saving. Even though I thought the legal response was obvious, the moral dilemma was interesting. I found myself feeling for Ari. While I do feel that he was very wrong to deny his cousin the use of this potentially life saving cord blood, I didn't see him as a clear cut villain. It was as if he was committing to this fight against his better judgement. I would like to have been given a better picture of his background. His unreasonable fear of illness and his almost compulsive need to do everything to prevent such could be easily explained by a serious health issue experienced by himself or someone close to him in the past. Since we were given no explanation of where his somewhat crazy behavior came from we are forced to just assume him to be the bad guy. And while he is, his denial of this life changing cord blood can't be excused, it's important to note that he lost quite a bit as a result of this fight. Overall I found Ari one of the most interesting characters in the book.
That being said, this book looks at an interesting question, that of whether or not the courts can force to give someone, even a family member, something that is of their own body and which could potentially be life saving. Even though I thought the legal response was obvious, the moral dilemma was interesting. I found myself feeling for Ari. While I do feel that he was very wrong to deny his cousin the use of this potentially life saving cord blood, I didn't see him as a clear cut villain. It was as if he was committing to this fight against his better judgement. I would like to have been given a better picture of his background. His unreasonable fear of illness and his almost compulsive need to do everything to prevent such could be easily explained by a serious health issue experienced by himself or someone close to him in the past. Since we were given no explanation of where his somewhat crazy behavior came from we are forced to just assume him to be the bad guy. And while he is, his denial of this life changing cord blood can't be excused, it's important to note that he lost quite a bit as a result of this fight. Overall I found Ari one of the most interesting characters in the book.
rachdieb's review against another edition
4.0
Moving, sweet, funny, inspirational. A serious novel that challenges every notion of family and the meaning of a life. The ending isn't quite as satisfying as I had hoped, though.
A definite recommendation.
A definite recommendation.
loudgls89's review against another edition
4.0
http://louiser89.com/2015/09/08/review-liz-rosenberg-the-laws-of-gravity/
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