Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by mrs_a_is_a_book_nerd
Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
3.0
I am a HUGE fan of Jodi Picoult's work--I've read most of her previous books and I read everything new she writes. I'm completely awed at her talent for taking contemporary issues and weaving a compelling and insightful narrative around what is clearly credible, informed, and deep research.
This book is no exception. It just feels a little more "fantasy-esque" than my taste for fiction typically indulges. I loved the moments of criticism and satire that she used to describe the behaviors of many members of the American public, as well as our "un-leader", during the COVID-19 outbreak and ensuing months of uncertainty and devastation. I loved the narrative arcs with Finn and with Gabriel. And I don't doubt that the premise she uses to link the two are real: scientifically and anecdotally documented. It just didn't work for me. I lost investment in the protagonist's story as that thread unwound to an ending that--while I'm sure was intended to validate the experiences of people who have lived such realities--I found just a bit too cliche' or novice for what I've come to expect from Picoult's work.
It's well-written with compelling characters and a dynamic protagonist. It just didn't leave me mulling my view of the world at the end.
This book is no exception. It just feels a little more "fantasy-esque" than my taste for fiction typically indulges. I loved the moments of criticism and satire that she used to describe the behaviors of many members of the American public, as well as our "un-leader", during the COVID-19 outbreak and ensuing months of uncertainty and devastation. I loved the narrative arcs with Finn and with Gabriel. And I don't doubt that the premise she uses to link the two are real: scientifically and anecdotally documented. It just didn't work for me. I lost investment in the protagonist's story as that thread unwound to an ending that--while I'm sure was intended to validate the experiences of people who have lived such realities--I found just a bit too cliche' or novice for what I've come to expect from Picoult's work.
It's well-written with compelling characters and a dynamic protagonist. It just didn't leave me mulling my view of the world at the end.