Review by ianb - The Book of Two Ways

ianb 's review for:

The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult

4.0

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This is my first Jodi Picoult book and after seeing a couple of friends enjoy this one, I decided that I wanted to give this one a go and plot sounded like a great read for the summer months, and this is a book that really makes you think; it makes you stop and consider everything that multitude of possible paths set before us, the regret that can linger in the shadows of our choices, and the reality that each one of us will one day reach the end of our road.

This book centres around Dawn; she is walking a fine tightrope of balancing her life and career as a death doula, raising a daughter who has a body image issues as well as maintaining her relationship with her husband of some 15 years Brain and living a complacent life. However, hidden away is Dawn’s dream of pursuing a career in Egyptology. That she spent semesters of her collegiate life immersed in the tombs, recovering mummified remains, and deciphering hieroglyphics. In that period of her life, Wyatt dominated her heart.

This story flips between time and place, from both past to present until the 2 come to a collision and decisions must be made as to what Dawn wants from her life. Picoult writes about the simple complexities of just being a human and about the choices that we all make, the people that matter in our life. This is richly descriptive and heavily detailed, multilayered storytelling, thoughtful, insightful and well written on life's deepest questions but will not be for everyone. An emotionally satisfying and touching novel that I recommend highly to others.

Content Warnings