You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
Although I enjoyed this book mostly. I was surprised that early on I predicted the ending and that is not common with other books she has written. It's the first book that the instant I read the clue I knew. Now many other readers probably won't see it and the story is really good so I do recommend it.
There were things I really hated about this book: the constant reference to a "cure" for autism, the link to vaccination, the use of the out-dated and rejected term of Asperger's, the wildly incorrect idea that all autistic people have no empathy, the hideous use of functioning labels that invalidate the lived reality of autism, the validation of abusive, trauma-inducing ABA, the truth in the fact that the criminal justice system, whether in the US or elsewhere, is not a safe place for autistic people. That all said, Jodi Picoult writes in a compelling way that kept me reading, even when much of the book made for uncomfortable reading. Some of the depiction of Jacob definitely rings true, but it did feel at times that he was a textbook, tick all the boxes autist, rather than a more true to life varied mix of characteristics. I did see what really happened long before the end of the book and the reveal, but was disappointed that there was no resolution of what became of Jacob and Theo after the revelation of the truth.
Spent four hours straight just to finish this book!
***Spoilers below!!!
Love the expression of the characters' personalities in this book. I'm amazed again by her well researched ideas, in this case - asperger's and crimes. The story felt very real to me and I felt I could connect with the characters - a strength of Picoult.
Not my favourite book of Picoult's, but it was a page turner and I was engaged with every sentence of it! I was hyped up with the suspension of the crime, and I enjoyed how hints were slowly revealed. I was able to make several rather accurate predictions (in which I'm usually quite bad at it) and so I was a little disappointed with the ending. Not that it's bad, but Picoult's other book called 'Leaving Time' blew my mind with the crazy plot twists, and I held a similar kind of expectations with the book. I still loved the ending though, Jacob's brotherly love just melted my heart away. Picoult made human connections real and humble, which is beautiful.
There are a few things that kept bugging me though. Someone surely should have already asked Jacob the question of how did Jess die! At least her mother! It was just way too long and draggy to 'sit' through the entire trial and not hearing much from Jacob and Theo. Was Emma's love drama with Oliver necessary? What's the point of Henry, Emma's ex-husband coming over for? Though Emma's thought about 'the life that she could have had with Henry' was truly heart-breaking. It was heart-wrenching to see his ex-husband with his beautiful wife and two girls. But Henry hasn't been in Emma's life for so many years, coming over (and giving money to Theo) wouldn't really 'repay' for the absence of him in the family. This made me rethink about what a single mum once told me that her ex-husband was a good husband but not a good father.
***Spoilers below!!!
Love the expression of the characters' personalities in this book. I'm amazed again by her well researched ideas, in this case - asperger's and crimes. The story felt very real to me and I felt I could connect with the characters - a strength of Picoult.
Not my favourite book of Picoult's, but it was a page turner and I was engaged with every sentence of it! I was hyped up with the suspension of the crime, and I enjoyed how hints were slowly revealed. I was able to make several rather accurate predictions (in which I'm usually quite bad at it) and so I was a little disappointed with the ending. Not that it's bad, but Picoult's other book called 'Leaving Time' blew my mind with the crazy plot twists, and I held a similar kind of expectations with the book. I still loved the ending though, Jacob's brotherly love just melted my heart away. Picoult made human connections real and humble, which is beautiful.
There are a few things that kept bugging me though. Someone surely should have already asked Jacob the question of how did Jess die! At least her mother! It was just way too long and draggy to 'sit' through the entire trial and not hearing much from Jacob and Theo. Was Emma's love drama with Oliver necessary? What's the point of Henry, Emma's ex-husband coming over for? Though Emma's thought about 'the life that she could have had with Henry' was truly heart-breaking. It was heart-wrenching to see his ex-husband with his beautiful wife and two girls. But Henry hasn't been in Emma's life for so many years, coming over (and giving money to Theo) wouldn't really 'repay' for the absence of him in the family. This made me rethink about what a single mum once told me that her ex-husband was a good husband but not a good father.
I am not a huge Picoult fan but I find myself picking up more and more of her books. Most of the time we pick a book because we know how it will end or how we hope it will but with Picoult she chooses some very touchy subjects and tosses in a lot of human nature. People fasinate me and Jacob was a very unique charector. Learning about the way he see's the world was humors and enlightening at times. This book is about the journey and not so much about the end. I won't ruin it for you because I think if you know the end you won't want to read the book and you might feel let down. The journey is worth the taking, to see how much a family can be hurt by one another, the struggle of two teenagers who are brothers but look at the world so diffrently and a lawyer is taught real life lessons alont the way is worth the read.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I didn't finish. In fact, I got to page 51 of a very average book that really was going no where when the author decided to wade in on the do vaccinations cause autism debate. A debate fueled by a discredited quack doctor. I don't care if this is fiction or not. I don't care where this trash leads. I literally ripped the page from the book and tossed it in the recycling. I'm just glad it only took me to page 50 and I didn't waste any more time on this drival. And it was a book I picked up for 20p at the village jumble sale so not even a financial loss.
Picoult is hit or miss for me (generally like how she tells a story but now always the stories she chooses to tell), but this one was especially awful. I figured out how things would unfold with like 400 pages to go, there’s antivax nonsense in here, the ableism is justified left and right for the sake of “the trial” when literally no one actually asked or for Jacob to walk them through things.
Pretty good but not my favorite book by her. I'm always a little disappointed in her endings but she really gave some great insights into Asberger's Syndrome. One thing I love about Jodi Picoult is that you can be reading along, enjoying the story and then BAM! She really hits you with a brilliant insight. Worth the read just for those little jewels.
Very slow start but I enjoyed it more once she got into the meat of the story. Picoult isn't my taste, but I didn't mind reading it for book club. The only thing I didn't like about it is that they could have gotten to the bottom of what really happened much sooner if they'd simply asked Jacob to tell them exactly what happened.
slow-paced