A review by april_reads
The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

 
The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult is a fascinating exploration of how life can take two different paths that ultimately converge into one. 

The novel begins with our main character, Dawn, surviving a plane crash in which most of the passengers perish. While being evaluated at the airport, she’s asked where she wants to go. Instead of returning home to her husband and child, she impulsively chooses Egypt. After such a traumatic event, all she can think about is the career she left behind as an archaeologist and the man she once loved. Determined to finish what she started, she embarks on a journey back to her past. 

At the same time, we see an alternate version of Dawn’s life, where she returns home to her husband and child. Her marriage is in a dark, fragile state, and she struggles with the choices that led her to this point. In this life, she works as a death doula, guiding families through terminal illness and advocating for those at the end of their lives. Surrounded by death, she finds herself questioning the life she has built and the paths she didn’t take. 

By the end of the book, I wanted to throw it across the room—but I also understood that this frustration is part of its brilliance. We all make choices without knowing what dominoes will fall. 

This is a superbly written story, though it leans heavily on discussions of archaeology and Egyptian history, which some readers may find dense. However, I truly enjoyed it and will forever wonder about that ending. 
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