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nancyflanagan 's review for:
House Rules
by Jodi Picoult
Picoult seems to be stuck in a formula: Kid with Desperate Condition changes Family Dynamic, Plus a Trial.
So why give it four stars? Because there's something compelling about Picoult's formula--you always want to know how the story turns out, and there are always a handful of interesting one-off characters lurking about: The 28-year old farrier-turned-lawyer. The detective who could have been Emma's boyfriend. The borderline Asperger's Dad. The social skills coach who doesn't have enough self-confidence to see that her "boyfriend" is a loser. And the most interesting character, Theo.
But really--Picoult should change it up a bit. Her earlier books, equally well written, went exploring more often. "Songs of the Humpback Whale," for example. Picoult feels paralyzed, since "My Sister's Keeper." She can do better.
So why give it four stars? Because there's something compelling about Picoult's formula--you always want to know how the story turns out, and there are always a handful of interesting one-off characters lurking about: The 28-year old farrier-turned-lawyer. The detective who could have been Emma's boyfriend. The borderline Asperger's Dad. The social skills coach who doesn't have enough self-confidence to see that her "boyfriend" is a loser. And the most interesting character, Theo.
But really--Picoult should change it up a bit. Her earlier books, equally well written, went exploring more often. "Songs of the Humpback Whale," for example. Picoult feels paralyzed, since "My Sister's Keeper." She can do better.