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popcorndiva's review against another edition
2.0
*Spoiler Free Review*
Before I start, I do want to say I am a pretty big fan of Jodi Picoult. I read and loved The Pact, My Sister’s Keeper, and Change of Heart. So, I expected to love this book, too. Unfortunately, that just wasn’t the case.
I’ll admit, the first red flag for me was the inclusion of Wicca. I do not practice, but I was heavily intrigued by it when I was younger. I loved what Wicca stood for and I finally thought I found a religion that could work for me. But it turns out I’m not meant to be a religious woman. Still, I am immediately critical of how Wicca is portrayed in books, movies, tv, etc. While I think Picoult did a fair job with the subject matter, I can’t help but feel that this book would leave readers with a negative taste in their mouth about Wicca and Witches.
Then we had a little dose of instalove which was when I decided that I was probably not going to be a fan of this novel. I’ve always loved the way Picoult takes her time to build relationships, tensions, and characters, but that talent was not evident here. I did not see much of a buildup at all for the main relationship in this book, though I did enjoy the small amount of buildup to Thomas’ relationship. I think because I did not connect with the main relationship on the novel, I was much more critical of the characters and their choices.
Let’s just talk about these characters for a minute. To be quite honest, I didn’t like most of them. Selena was charming, but she was a minor character with little attention. Addie was alright, at times. There were moments in the book where I thought “Yes, Addie! You go girl.” But there was significantly more instances where I just thought “Dear God, how could anyone ever think or behave this way?” Jack, oh don’t get me started. Picoult wants us to feel sorry for him and root for him, but I didn’t quite care what happened. I felt like his character was inconsistent from one scenario to another and a lot of his choices did not make sense. But the moment that made me hate Jack was on pages 248 and 249. I really hate that I hated all of these characters. I wanted to feel for the characters, but they were all bland or inconsistent or flat out not developed. For as much time as she spent giving flashbacks to Jack’s life he should have been a very believable and developed character, but instead he was inconsistent and unlikable.
I do have to give credit where credit is due. Jodi Picoult can capture my attention. Her plots are always interesting and while the actual events of the story where predictable; the elements of the story were somewhat unique. Her other novels feature much more unique, not to mention less predictable, plots. Even though I predicted just about everything, I still wanted to finish the story simply because I haven’t seen another book like this. I do want to say the very last thing that happened I did NOT see coming but I also think the last plot twist was unnecessary and just didn’t work. I understand what Picoult was trying to do, but I think that plot twist should have been explored more because to include something like that as the line last on the book seems like a nice way to explain away Gillian’s behavior when you’ve written yourself into a corner. I just wasn’t convinced or shocked. I was more annoyed than anything with that.
So, it’s 2 stars for me. It might have been 3 if I wasn’t experienced with Jodi Picoult’s fantastic writing. But, knowing what this novel could have been just made the letdown that much worse. It’s still a good read for a rainy day, but I wouldn’t really recommend it. If you want to read something by Jodi Picoult I recommend Change of Heart, The Pact, and My Sister’s Keeper.
Before I start, I do want to say I am a pretty big fan of Jodi Picoult. I read and loved The Pact, My Sister’s Keeper, and Change of Heart. So, I expected to love this book, too. Unfortunately, that just wasn’t the case.
I’ll admit, the first red flag for me was the inclusion of Wicca. I do not practice, but I was heavily intrigued by it when I was younger. I loved what Wicca stood for and I finally thought I found a religion that could work for me. But it turns out I’m not meant to be a religious woman. Still, I am immediately critical of how Wicca is portrayed in books, movies, tv, etc. While I think Picoult did a fair job with the subject matter, I can’t help but feel that this book would leave readers with a negative taste in their mouth about Wicca and Witches.
Then we had a little dose of instalove which was when I decided that I was probably not going to be a fan of this novel. I’ve always loved the way Picoult takes her time to build relationships, tensions, and characters, but that talent was not evident here. I did not see much of a buildup at all for the main relationship in this book, though I did enjoy the small amount of buildup to Thomas’ relationship. I think because I did not connect with the main relationship on the novel, I was much more critical of the characters and their choices.
Let’s just talk about these characters for a minute. To be quite honest, I didn’t like most of them. Selena was charming, but she was a minor character with little attention. Addie was alright, at times. There were moments in the book where I thought “Yes, Addie! You go girl.” But there was significantly more instances where I just thought “Dear God, how could anyone ever think or behave this way?” Jack, oh don’t get me started. Picoult wants us to feel sorry for him and root for him, but I didn’t quite care what happened. I felt like his character was inconsistent from one scenario to another and a lot of his choices did not make sense. But the moment that made me hate Jack was on pages 248 and 249. I really hate that I hated all of these characters. I wanted to feel for the characters, but they were all bland or inconsistent or flat out not developed. For as much time as she spent giving flashbacks to Jack’s life he should have been a very believable and developed character, but instead he was inconsistent and unlikable.
I do have to give credit where credit is due. Jodi Picoult can capture my attention. Her plots are always interesting and while the actual events of the story where predictable; the elements of the story were somewhat unique. Her other novels feature much more unique, not to mention less predictable, plots. Even though I predicted just about everything, I still wanted to finish the story simply because I haven’t seen another book like this. I do want to say the very last thing that happened I did NOT see coming but I also think the last plot twist was unnecessary and just didn’t work. I understand what Picoult was trying to do, but I think that plot twist should have been explored more because to include something like that as the line last on the book seems like a nice way to explain away Gillian’s behavior when you’ve written yourself into a corner. I just wasn’t convinced or shocked. I was more annoyed than anything with that.
So, it’s 2 stars for me. It might have been 3 if I wasn’t experienced with Jodi Picoult’s fantastic writing. But, knowing what this novel could have been just made the letdown that much worse. It’s still a good read for a rainy day, but I wouldn’t really recommend it. If you want to read something by Jodi Picoult I recommend Change of Heart, The Pact, and My Sister’s Keeper.
jbarr5's review against another edition
4.0
Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult
Jack St. Bride is back in a small town, teaching after having been released from prison, a crime he didn't commit.
Addy runs the Do or Die restaurant and appliances are failing....and she has to bail her father out of jail and things get worse.
Story also follows teen girls who have formed a magic circle and they make things happen. Lots of colorful characters in town keep this book moving along.
Also goes back in time to previous years so you gain the knowledge of what has already happened to the characters.
One policeman finds out about Jack's past and makes sure everybody else knows....love the trial and how they are able to find the clues to solve the mystery. so intense and so many little details.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Jack St. Bride is back in a small town, teaching after having been released from prison, a crime he didn't commit.
Addy runs the Do or Die restaurant and appliances are failing....and she has to bail her father out of jail and things get worse.
Story also follows teen girls who have formed a magic circle and they make things happen. Lots of colorful characters in town keep this book moving along.
Also goes back in time to previous years so you gain the knowledge of what has already happened to the characters.
One policeman finds out about Jack's past and makes sure everybody else knows....love the trial and how they are able to find the clues to solve the mystery. so intense and so many little details.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
kerism22's review against another edition
3.0
This book finds Jack St. Bride in the small town of Salem Falls. Recently released from jail, Jack has nowhere to go. His past catches up with him and he finds himself once again charged with the rape of a teenage girl.
This book made me think about how things aren't always how they seem and that there are always 2 sides to every story.
Picoult always ends her books with a twist, but I will say that I totally knew how this one was going to end. I don't care for her endings as I prefer everything to be wrapped up nicely at the end. Yet, I continue to read her books.
This book made me think about how things aren't always how they seem and that there are always 2 sides to every story.
Picoult always ends her books with a twist, but I will say that I totally knew how this one was going to end. I don't care for her endings as I prefer everything to be wrapped up nicely at the end. Yet, I continue to read her books.
jennilynft's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the plot, but thought the content was a little juvenile for Picoult (compared to the only other book I've read- My Sister's Keeper). Also, as a prior English teacher that taught The Crucible at least 10 times, I'm not sure how I feel about the close parallels between the characters/relationships/plot in that work and in this work.
Overall, it was a good, quick read, but not as highly developed as I expected after reading the extremely complex story of My Sister's Keeper.
Overall, it was a good, quick read, but not as highly developed as I expected after reading the extremely complex story of My Sister's Keeper.
itzreibrary's review against another edition
5.0
so far this is the greatest book Jodi Picoult has wrote in my opinion. Everything's fit, including Jack St Bride foolishness to make him get into trouble with those girls lol
nikitajosephine's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. All of the characters are memorable. It is a tough storyline but very well done.
milktoast's review against another edition
2.0
picoult is my guilty pleasure author. Her books are not that great but they are just so damn readable. I was really uncomfortable with the idea of a main character who's totes innocent but just keeps getting charged with sexual assault because those teenage girls just lie so much, but while Picoult has many weaknesses, she is pretty good at spinning complex narratives.
hoserlauren's review against another edition
4.0
When Jack enters the small town of Salem Falls, he's just looking for a fresh start. Just released from jail for sexual assault on a minor, a crime he did not commit, he wants to be in a place where no one knows about him. Jack ends up finding a job as a dishwasher at the local diner, run by Addie. Addie herself has a pretty bleak past, with her daughter being the product of a rape and then dying at an early age. The two become friends quickly, then lovers, and they learn about each other's past.
Others in Salem Falls are not happy that a convicted rapist is in their town and set out to scare him away. Jack ends up in pretty much exactly the same situation he was when he was charged with sexual assault, in this story of what happens when you are wrongly accused and convicted of a crime you did not do.
Picoult's stories always have good character development and lots of drama. I hadn't read one of hers for a while, so it was a nice break from the other books I've been reading, but I find that I can never read too many of her novels close together because there is so much drama. This book, like all her others, was very easy to get in to and had me completely engaged. I was frustrated for Jack and the injustices he was experiencing. There was a good twist at the end that I didn't see coming, but that made complete sense.
Others in Salem Falls are not happy that a convicted rapist is in their town and set out to scare him away. Jack ends up in pretty much exactly the same situation he was when he was charged with sexual assault, in this story of what happens when you are wrongly accused and convicted of a crime you did not do.
Picoult's stories always have good character development and lots of drama. I hadn't read one of hers for a while, so it was a nice break from the other books I've been reading, but I find that I can never read too many of her novels close together because there is so much drama. This book, like all her others, was very easy to get in to and had me completely engaged. I was frustrated for Jack and the injustices he was experiencing. There was a good twist at the end that I didn't see coming, but that made complete sense.
yuusasih's review against another edition
3.0
3,5 stars.
Tema yang diusung bagus dan menggunakan sudut pandang yang tidak biasa dalam mengupas kasus perkosaan. Biasanya cerita-cerita bertema perkosaan mengambil sudut pandang korban perkosaan, tapi di sini mengambil sudut pandang tertuduh--yang sebenarnya bukan pemerkosa. Cerita ini menunjukkan celah dalam pengadilan dalam kasus perkosaan, terutama bias sebagian besar perempuan bahwa "perempuan yang diperkosa tidak akan berbohong." Nyatanya, di sini diceritakan ada gadis-gadis yang memalsukan pengaduan kasus perkosaan hanya karena alasan sepele. Ide ini menurut saya menantang gerakan anti kekerasan seksual pada perempuan yang tengah deras digalakkan di seluruh dunia, dan sebenarnya tricky sekali mengulas masalah ini, tapi bukan Jodi Picoult kalau tidak mengupas antitesis dari isu-isu di seluruh dunia.
Meskipun begitu, saya bacanya skimming karena, yah, kalau tahu Jodi Picoult, penjelasan soal masalah persidangannya selalu terlalu detil sampai bikin bosan. Terlebih lagi, menurut saya terlalu banyaknya pov kurang bisa dieksekusi dengan baik. x__x
Tema yang diusung bagus dan menggunakan sudut pandang yang tidak biasa dalam mengupas kasus perkosaan. Biasanya cerita-cerita bertema perkosaan mengambil sudut pandang korban perkosaan, tapi di sini mengambil sudut pandang tertuduh--yang sebenarnya bukan pemerkosa. Cerita ini menunjukkan celah dalam pengadilan dalam kasus perkosaan, terutama bias sebagian besar perempuan bahwa "perempuan yang diperkosa tidak akan berbohong." Nyatanya, di sini diceritakan ada gadis-gadis yang memalsukan pengaduan kasus perkosaan hanya karena alasan sepele. Ide ini menurut saya menantang gerakan anti kekerasan seksual pada perempuan yang tengah deras digalakkan di seluruh dunia, dan sebenarnya tricky sekali mengulas masalah ini, tapi bukan Jodi Picoult kalau tidak mengupas antitesis dari isu-isu di seluruh dunia.
Meskipun begitu, saya bacanya skimming karena, yah, kalau tahu Jodi Picoult, penjelasan soal masalah persidangannya selalu terlalu detil sampai bikin bosan. Terlebih lagi, menurut saya terlalu banyaknya pov kurang bisa dieksekusi dengan baik. x__x