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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a rough book to read. The story opens up with a high school shooting. The author then employees an interesting time structure. The chapters alternate between following the teenage shooter from birth until the shooting and then the events after the shooting. This is an effort by the author to demonstrate that this teenage shooter wasn’t destined to commit this violent crime; rather, many things played a factor including bullying, parental neglect, and easy access to guns. Nothing excuses the violence, but it can help explain it. The author also puts on full display the heartache and pain the shooter caused his victims and their families.
If you were ever bullied in school, this book will likely trigger those memories. It did for me.
Despite the difficult topic, I thought the author handled it deftly. I can’t say I enjoyed the book but I’m glad I read it. I won’t soon forget it.
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is one is one of the most important books you can read. It is all consuming. I really love a book that challenges how you think. This book is incredibly wordy. I mean this as there are so many characters and a lot of perspectives. BUT it comes together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Classism
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
I have never read a Jodi Picoult novel before and if I am being honest, the only reason I read Ninteen Minutes was because it is a banned book. Apparently, the most banned book in the US, in fact. It had vibes similar that of the Netflix series, Adolescence. Thought provoking in the sense that many factors are responsible for an action which has raw, gut wrenching and devastating outcomes. What I couldn't get past though, was despite the serious of it theme, Nineteen Minutes still had that feel of a piece of clichéd fiction with predictability and corniness. The writing lacked that crispness and controlled feeling I would have expected from an experienced writer. Instead, it was verbose and so much of it was unnecessary. I get that it was probably there to give the story and characters depth but it just didn't! There is so much hype around Jodi Picoult but I don't think her style of books are for me. She reminded me of Colleen Hoover - massively popular for so but not for my tastes.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes