Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult

15 reviews

kyrstin_p1989's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I had a bit of a tough time understanding time in this book, but based on the author’s descriptions of the concept of the multiverse and there being multiple planes of reality within which we and other versions of ourselves exist, I think it was meant to be a bit confounding. I loved the characters of this book and the way that Picoult talks about how love isn’t singular or static, how you can love more than one person at the same time, how you can not be with someone but still never fall out of love with them. I loved the conversations about death and how it should teach us something about life — they brought me some peace in my own grieving. This is the kind of book I wish I could experience again for the first time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Terminal illness, Infidelity, and Death of parent

Moderate: Fatphobia, Medical trauma, and Medical content

booksandcat's review

emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I initially really enjoyed the format of this book, but the way the two storylines intertwined towards the end left me wondering whether I'd understood the format correctly at all. I didn't feel much for any of the characters but I found the focus on Egyptology interesting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Terminal illness

adriennne's review

emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Grief, Infidelity, and Terminal illness

ambersbooks's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Struggled to feel an emotional connection, which has always been the appeal of JP’s writing for me. It finally hit during the last 50ish pages, but it wasn’t enough to rally the entire experience. Also, it’s been quite a while since an ending has left me feeling this dissatisfied. Oof. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, and Terminal illness

The plane crash is detailed enough that it could be triggering and

it happens both at the beginning and the end of the story

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eternalparadox's review

adventurous emotional informative reflective medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Instead of her usual switching POVS, Picoult takes this book through two stories, two choices, from one POV. I never found this confusing.  Per the usual, there is a lot of content throughout that pertains to the characters jobs and interests- this time those are Egyptology and quantum physics. While this text could be expansive at times, I found it really interesting and, as always, wonderfully steeped in metaphor. 

Picoult’s Book of Two Ways will get you thinking about your life and your choices and leave you rooting for everyone. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since I finished it. Once again, Picoult’s newest book seems to top her last. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Infidelity

Moderate: Chronic illness, Grief, Death, Terminal illness, and Medical content

Minor: Eating disorder, Addiction, Blood, Body shaming, and Child death

The book is sort of about death and the afterlife, but not in a fearsome or gruesome way