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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The author always does a thorough job of researching her novels and not only sharing the story, but also facts and backgrounds about very interesting topics. Agreeing with other reviews, this at times read too much like a textbook and I found myself getting lost in the parts that were very Egypt and archaeology heavy. However, I loved the characters, the story and the choices along the way. The timeline was unique and kept me guessing until it all unraveled at the end. I must admit there were parts I thought, ‘please don’t do that to us’ and Jodi seemed to hear my wishes. But wow, that ending…
slow-paced
Wow. This book was just fantastic. I finished it in TWO days because I just had to know what was going to happen! The idea of a "do over" is what pulled me into this book, and I was hooked by the rich storylines and Jodi Picoult's savage attention to detail (which we all know she is the queen of). Dawn Edelstein is a graduate student at Yale with a promising career as an Egyptologist when her life is unexpectedly derailed. She leaves her colleague, Wyatt Armstrong, and career in Egypt. The rest of her life follows a different path: becoming a "death doula," marrying another man, and having a daughter. Until Dawn is in a plane crash...and her last thoughts are of Wyatt.
It is at this point that Picoult takes us on two journeys of Land and Water as Dawn experiences two very different futures. The stories are woven through Egyptian stories and mythology with quantum mechanics sprinkled in to "prove" the idea of multi-universes. (I mean, really, just how amazing and talented is Jodi Picoult that she makes me feel like an expert?!) To top it off, there is a twist that made me gasp out loud.
I know some readers are feeling as though it is rather academic, but isn't that what we've come to expect from Jodi Picoult? She will give us the entire story without sparing any details. I wonder if some of that is due to "Covid brain?" I had to refocus a few times (I'm so distracted by everything going on!), but it was precisely those details that bring the story to life.
Don't let anything keep you from reading this book! It's truly magic.
It is at this point that Picoult takes us on two journeys of Land and Water as Dawn experiences two very different futures. The stories are woven through Egyptian stories and mythology with quantum mechanics sprinkled in to "prove" the idea of multi-universes. (I mean, really, just how amazing and talented is Jodi Picoult that she makes me feel like an expert?!) To top it off, there is a twist that made me gasp out loud.
I know some readers are feeling as though it is rather academic, but isn't that what we've come to expect from Jodi Picoult? She will give us the entire story without sparing any details. I wonder if some of that is due to "Covid brain?" I had to refocus a few times (I'm so distracted by everything going on!), but it was precisely those details that bring the story to life.
Don't let anything keep you from reading this book! It's truly magic.
Powieściami Jodi Picoult zaczytywałam się jako nastolatka, dlatego gdy zobaczyłam jej najnowszą książkę, sięgnęłam po nią z dużym zainteresowaniem. Chciałam się przekonać, czy styl autorki po tylu latach wciąż będzie do mnie trafiał. “Księga dwóch dróg” wprawdzie znacząco różni się od książek, które pamiętam z przeszłości, ale ogólnie mi się podobała.
To solidna powieść obyczajowa z elementami refleksji na temat śmierci, miłości, życiowych wyborów oraz ich konsekwencji.
Fabuła sama w sobie lekko trąci Harlequinem albo filmem z taśmowej produkcji kanału Lifetime, za to jest sposób w jaki została poprowadzona, w nawiązaniu do pojawiających się w tekście twierdzeń fizyki kwantowej dotyczącej welowymiarowości, zrobił na mnie pozytywne wrażenie.
Szczególnie zainteresował mnie zawód głównej bohaterki, która jest doulą od umierania, ułatwiającą w przeróżny sposób ostatnie dni swoim klientom. Natomiast część dotycząca poprzedniej profesji Dawn i fragmenty związane z egiptologią były dla mnie przytłaczające. Widać, że autorka wykonała ogromną i rzetelną pracę zagłębiając się w temat, ale książką nic by nie straciła na okrojeniu ciekawostek związanych ze starożytnym Egiptem, a wręcz przeciwnie - stałaby się łatwiejsza w odbiorze.
To solidna powieść obyczajowa z elementami refleksji na temat śmierci, miłości, życiowych wyborów oraz ich konsekwencji.
Fabuła sama w sobie lekko trąci Harlequinem albo filmem z taśmowej produkcji kanału Lifetime, za to jest sposób w jaki została poprowadzona, w nawiązaniu do pojawiających się w tekście twierdzeń fizyki kwantowej dotyczącej welowymiarowości, zrobił na mnie pozytywne wrażenie.
Szczególnie zainteresował mnie zawód głównej bohaterki, która jest doulą od umierania, ułatwiającą w przeróżny sposób ostatnie dni swoim klientom. Natomiast część dotycząca poprzedniej profesji Dawn i fragmenty związane z egiptologią były dla mnie przytłaczające. Widać, że autorka wykonała ogromną i rzetelną pracę zagłębiając się w temat, ale książką nic by nie straciła na okrojeniu ciekawostek związanych ze starożytnym Egiptem, a wręcz przeciwnie - stałaby się łatwiejsza w odbiorze.
Definitely a 3.5, which I wish we could do. I was very interested in the story, even if the non-linear narrative was confusing at times. The information about Egypt and the tombs of the Kings was fascinating, it overwhelmed the narrative at times. I know two that the lack of a definitive ending was probably not popular with fans of the author. I chose however, to end it in my mind, the way I would of liked it to turn out. (No spoiler alerts, and I am not saying what I chose) I would read this author no matter what book she wrote, so I am really glad that I stuck with it and think you will be too.
emotional
informative
reflective
LONG novel but further convinces me that Jodi picoult is one of the most intelligent authors of our generation - how could someone possibly write so much about Egyptology?! The death doula aspect nearly brought me to tears several times too, and thought I had sussed the timeline but clearly hadn’t. Really beautifully written. Tried reading the physical book twice but couldn’t get into it, but the audiobook was great.
DNF
I struggled with the topics in Jodi Picoult's fall release, The Book of Two Ways. I always appreciate Picoult's ability to incorporate a wide variety of issues and themes into her novels, but this one just had too much?! Philosophy, hieroglyphs, symbolism, and a lot of scientific information...it felt like brain overload for me and I just don't have the capacity right now. I appreciate her efforts, it just distracted me from the storyline too much and I had to put it down.
I struggled with the topics in Jodi Picoult's fall release, The Book of Two Ways. I always appreciate Picoult's ability to incorporate a wide variety of issues and themes into her novels, but this one just had too much?! Philosophy, hieroglyphs, symbolism, and a lot of scientific information...it felt like brain overload for me and I just don't have the capacity right now. I appreciate her efforts, it just distracted me from the storyline too much and I had to put it down.
Overall, a compelling read. Sometimes it was a little too heavy and dense for my taste on the Egyptology subject matter and the different timelines often confused me. Yet, I could not put it down, especially the last half of the book.
3.5 ⭐️ - felt much longer than it needed to be. Maybe I’m just not as curious about Egypt as she was