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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this book; wanted to rate it 4.5 stars but it was worthy of the round-up-to-five in this case. The only thing I had a problem with was how many characters there were and how quickly they were introduced - it was hard to keep some of them straight for the first portion of the book. We had a Lucy and a Lia, a Rod and a Ross, an Ethan and an Eli - it was a lot of characters, but similar names weren't helping to keep things straight.
I liked that the story has a twist that actually involved a portion of the plot being relayed from the perspective of a character in the 1930s. as well as the connection between the eugenics of that time and some possibilities that come with modern-day fertility clinics.
Parts I liked:
Shelby loved words, but she would be the first to tell you they had a habit of letting you down. Most of the time, the words that were not written were the ones you needed most.
Could you love someone so much that, even without meaning to, you hurt them?
Spencer says that some women are meant to change the world, while others are meant to hold it together. And then there are those of us who simply don't want to be in it, because we know no matter how much we struggle, we can't comfortably fit.
I know that my actions don't follow logic; that harming myself puts my infant in danger too. But somehow, when it is just me and the dark and the night and a blade, reason never counts. I have tried to tell this to Spencer, many times. "But I love you," he says, as if that should be enough to keep me here.
Happiness comes easier to some people than others. Ross wants to be happy; he wants it more than anyone I've ever met. But asking him to actually find his way there ... well, that's like asking him to spread his arms and fly. He just can't, is all."
People work too hard to figure out the meaning of their lives. Why me, why now. The truth is, sometimes things don't happen to you for a reason. Sometimes it's just about being in the right place at the right time for someone else."
I liked that the story has a twist that actually involved a portion of the plot being relayed from the perspective of a character in the 1930s. as well as the connection between the eugenics of that time and some possibilities that come with modern-day fertility clinics.
Parts I liked:
Shelby loved words, but she would be the first to tell you they had a habit of letting you down. Most of the time, the words that were not written were the ones you needed most.
Could you love someone so much that, even without meaning to, you hurt them?
Spencer says that some women are meant to change the world, while others are meant to hold it together. And then there are those of us who simply don't want to be in it, because we know no matter how much we struggle, we can't comfortably fit.
I know that my actions don't follow logic; that harming myself puts my infant in danger too. But somehow, when it is just me and the dark and the night and a blade, reason never counts. I have tried to tell this to Spencer, many times. "But I love you," he says, as if that should be enough to keep me here.
Happiness comes easier to some people than others. Ross wants to be happy; he wants it more than anyone I've ever met. But asking him to actually find his way there ... well, that's like asking him to spread his arms and fly. He just can't, is all."
People work too hard to figure out the meaning of their lives. Why me, why now. The truth is, sometimes things don't happen to you for a reason. Sometimes it's just about being in the right place at the right time for someone else."
There are so many characters, but Picoult manages to tie all their stories together, to show how their lives intertwine. This is much more than a ghost story or mystery. The supernatural and the natural mix seemlessly.
The last chapter was the best part of the book. Overall the book was too long, poorly paced, chapters were entirely too long and there was no clarity or demarcation between any of the time periods or character plots that made the plot confusing at times
This haunting novel explores love in its many forms through the use of those of us here on earth and those who just can't seem to leave. Ms. Picoult's story-telling is far-reaching and thoroughly enjoyable in this unexpected delight! I loved her character development and envolvement.
An odd tale of a chose that's haunting a small Vermont town. Not Ms. Picoult's best.
Just started this one... I find myself getting very "Sixth Sense" with it, trying to figure out if any of the characters are actually ghosts. We'll see!
The idea of the story was intriguing, but the storytelling was so trite. Everything was so easily unraveled, with blatant foreshadowing. The suspense was badly done, the aha moments were cliche, and I will be sure to steer clear of other Picoult novels in the future.
3.5 stars. I love Jodi Picoult books, but this was definitely longer than it needed to be. A little slow going in the beginning which is why it took me so long to read. Then near the middle it got interesting and kept my captivated through until almost the end. The very ending wasn’t what I expected and honestly would have been happy with it ending earlier.
Since I really enjoy books based on paranormal activities, ghosts, and the like, this book was an easy read for me. I like how the author wove several character stories together to show how what happens to us is not coincidental, but a plan coming together.