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A review by canibehonest
The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult
3.0
The writing in this book was exquisite. This was my first read of a Jodi Picoult book. I was impressed with Picoult's ability to write so precisely and thoughtfully on the emotions that would be present in a person experiencing the things that Dawn does in this story. The story itself was unique and definitely gripping. Pulling the reader write into the lives of the key players, with strong emotion.
That being said...I was NOT in love with this book.
Besides the fact that the entire premise makes me deeply uncomfortable, the entire book was just SO depressing.
I mourned for dying patients. I mourned for dying mothers. I mourned for lost love. I mourned for lost opportunity, for the life not chosen. There was a lot in this book that would resonate with people that feel that they have missed out on life. That they somewhere took a wrong turn and have ultimately ended up in a reality that could have been so different had they made different choices. There are probably very few people out there that can say they have lived a life totally free from regret, but many still end up satisfied. Dawn is in a relationship with a man that loves her, that understands her to the very depths....and it just isn't enough. I think the dose of reality that she is hit with when she gets home is surreal, but less explosive than could ever be possible in the real world.
At one point in the story, Dawn says that she has put everyone first her whole life. But the end of the tale leaves the hearts of everyone she cares about in absolute tatters. I think that there are people in the real world that also use this excuse to do things to caring partners that really aren't justified. In this way, I suppose it was humanizing. But I didn't like being a party to it and I couldn't really identify with her reasons, which made me just not like the story, in general.
I think most of all, I was disappointed with the ending. There is literally no conclusion. What does she choose? The reader will never know.
That being said...I was NOT in love with this book.
Besides the fact that the entire premise makes me deeply uncomfortable, the entire book was just SO depressing.
I mourned for dying patients. I mourned for dying mothers. I mourned for lost love. I mourned for lost opportunity, for the life not chosen. There was a lot in this book that would resonate with people that feel that they have missed out on life. That they somewhere took a wrong turn and have ultimately ended up in a reality that could have been so different had they made different choices. There are probably very few people out there that can say they have lived a life totally free from regret, but many still end up satisfied. Dawn is in a relationship with a man that loves her, that understands her to the very depths....and it just isn't enough. I think the dose of reality that she is hit with when she gets home is surreal, but less explosive than could ever be possible in the real world.
At one point in the story, Dawn says that she has put everyone first her whole life. But the end of the tale leaves the hearts of everyone she cares about in absolute tatters. I think that there are people in the real world that also use this excuse to do things to caring partners that really aren't justified. In this way, I suppose it was humanizing. But I didn't like being a party to it and I couldn't really identify with her reasons, which made me just not like the story, in general.
I think most of all, I was disappointed with the ending. There is literally no conclusion. What does she choose? The reader will never know.