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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
I typically love all Jodi Picoult books, but this one was too heavy on the educational aspect. The actual story about the people is so good... but I found myself muddled down by all the research. She’s still an amazing storyteller... just a little too much for my taste this time.
Jodi is by far one of my favorite authors but this book was almost like reading a textbook at times. I found myself skimming the Egyptology at times to try and get back to the story. Also, that ending….
I hate to say this, because I usually love Jodi Picoult’s books so much, but this was my least favorite of all that she’s written. I probably would have given it fewer stars, but I can tell she did a ton of research about Egypt and I respect that hard work. What I didn’t enjoy was Dawn, the main character. She was so unlikeable and incredibly selfish. It almost seemed like the book encouraged infidelity if it’s “what makes you happy.” And the numerous graphic sex scenes were just too much. I felt so bad for her husband. This fell way below what I expect from a Jodi Picoult book. I would not recommend it.
Another fantastic Jodi Picoult novel. I had no clue what this was about and I am so happy I went in blind. I loved the Egyptology woven through this, I understood nothing about the physics woven through. The writing was superb and the story was creative and heart wrenching. Hands down, one of her best.
It seems I keep getting disappointed by this author’s books and now because her storytelling isn’t absolutely amazing, but because I can’t connect to her other works the way I did with nineteen minutes.
This had seemed really interesting and I always love the concept of two timelines because the what ifs are always so fascinating. Maybe it was the Egypt focus that didn’t really interest me too much, but the chapters were long. And it really took so long to finally get to the juicy parts of the story. But the thing is that this is the author’s strength. I just personally didn’t connect with the plot and the characters this time around.
I would understand the appeal of the Egyptian lore woven into this plot, but it often felt like I was reading a textbook of information. But to be fair, the pictures included were actually a really cool feature.
The whole morale of the story is that our lives could’ve gone in so many different directions depending on what choice we make. But we have to live with those choices. And while I’m all for a long lost love, I hate the way that this was done. I do not like a cheating trope (which was done both emotionally and physically) and I never feel it is justified for anything.
The whole Meret being Wyatt’s daughter was unexpected, and kinda makes it as if Dawn and Wyatt have to be together now. Like “oh would you look at that, another clue the universe is giving us telling us that we should be together”.
I will not stop trying to read more books from this author, but I did seem to be disappointed every single time.
This had seemed really interesting and I always love the concept of two timelines because the what ifs are always so fascinating. Maybe it was the Egypt focus that didn’t really interest me too much, but the chapters were long. And it really took so long to finally get to the juicy parts of the story. But the thing is that this is the author’s strength. I just personally didn’t connect with the plot and the characters this time around.
I would understand the appeal of the Egyptian lore woven into this plot, but it often felt like I was reading a textbook of information. But to be fair, the pictures included were actually a really cool feature.
The whole morale of the story is that our lives could’ve gone in so many different directions depending on what choice we make. But we have to live with those choices. And while I’m all for a long lost love, I hate the way that this was done. I do not like a cheating trope (which was done both emotionally and physically) and I never feel it is justified for anything.
The whole Meret being Wyatt’s daughter was unexpected, and kinda makes it as if Dawn and Wyatt have to be together now. Like “oh would you look at that, another clue the universe is giving us telling us that we should be together”.
I will not stop trying to read more books from this author, but I did seem to be disappointed every single time.
2022: Not my most favorite Picoult ever
Maybe I'm just out of practice from reading Picoult novels, but this was an especially confusing one to start out with. There is just a LOT that happens in the first 50 pages! None of the several storylines continue for more than a couple of pages before I am either whisked away to another continent or timeline or characters or WHEW it was just a lot to jump into.
Picoult's novels tend to have hyper-specific subjects that her characters know a lot about, and there seemed to be several competing subjects in this one. It was jarring to jump from Egyptology to being a death doula to Brian's knowledge about quantum physics. So much info!
I think I agree with Dawn's choice in the end, but it was REALLY hard. If we hadn't discovered more information about some genetics, I would have had even more to grapple with in this book. That being said, this was a toughie. Not as light of a beach read as you might think going into it!
Maybe I'm just out of practice from reading Picoult novels, but this was an especially confusing one to start out with. There is just a LOT that happens in the first 50 pages! None of the several storylines continue for more than a couple of pages before I am either whisked away to another continent or timeline or characters or WHEW it was just a lot to jump into.
Picoult's novels tend to have hyper-specific subjects that her characters know a lot about, and there seemed to be several competing subjects in this one. It was jarring to jump from Egyptology to being a death doula to Brian's knowledge about quantum physics. So much info!
I think I agree with Dawn's choice in the end, but it was REALLY hard. If we hadn't discovered more information about some genetics, I would have had even more to grapple with in this book. That being said, this was a toughie. Not as light of a beach read as you might think going into it!
I generally love quantum physics, mysticism, talk of the meaning of life and death, a good love story. But this book. I enjoyed the book at the beginning and liked the main character Dawn. But as the book progressed, I started to like both the book and Dawn less and less. Ugh that ending was maddening. I think the author realized she couldn’t wrap it up in a satisfying. meaningful way. So she just didn’t wrap it up at all. Blech. And without giving spoilers, I just do not get some of her choices. They don’t feel authentic to me. I was pretty disgusted with and pissed off at Dawn by the end. I liked the way the book explained some aspects of quantum physics, which is the only reason the book held onto 3 stars instead of 2 for me.
I normally love a Jodi Picoult book but I just couldn't with this one. I was lost in the Egypt scenario and the detail that ensued. Some chapters had me hopeful and then I was thrown into another chapter that read like the encyclopedia. It just wasn't for me, I honestly struggled to finish this book. I'll definitely look forward to Jodi Picoult's next read as I'm usually her biggest fan. Thank you to Netgalley for the early review of this copy for my honest review.
incredibly well researched and incredibly human. the book of two ways explores life, death, love and loss in ways that all meet in the middle. this was a somewhat challenging read due to all the egyptology knowledge and physics being thrust at me but it made so much sense for the plot itself. i loved these characters, dawn felt so human and raw. the ending was a little frustrating bc cliffhangers are CRUEL but <33 what a book