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jabulani 's review for:
The Book of Two Ways
by Jodi Picoult
I enjoyed this plot and appreciated the research that went into Egyptology, as well as quantum physics and even modern art. It fleshes out the characters well, and I was definitely swept away by the MC’s relationships in both timelines. I’m also biased in that I love books with multiple timelines for the same characters.
I had conflicting feelings about the ending, but I like that the ending and the story as a whole has kept me thinking and wondering even after finishing the read. I did root for a particular outcome, but I understand the ending chosen and it does fit with the theme of the book.
A few things that irked me (similarly in other books by same author):
-There is a vast departure in behavior of the MC. The choice near the end that the MC makes relating to the promise she makes to a dying client (not a spoiler, MC is a death doula) is a prime example. It felt incongruous to the character, and anathema to someone in the caregiving industry who loves her job and her clients. From a healthcare standpoint, I couldn’t reconcile this decision in the book.
-The author mentions someone “speaking Filipino.” The Philippines have many languages like Tagalog and Ilocano. Maybe I’m unfamiliar with them being all lumped together, but as an Asian reader, it rankled a little.
Overall, I love that the author often tackles timely and/or controversial topics (like with Small Great Things and Nineteen Minutes), and appreciate the amount of research she puts into her books. But in some cases, it’s quite apparent that research can sometimes still fall short of the authenticity of a lived experience.
I had conflicting feelings about the ending, but I like that the ending and the story as a whole has kept me thinking and wondering even after finishing the read. I did root for a particular outcome, but I understand the ending chosen and it does fit with the theme of the book.
A few things that irked me (similarly in other books by same author):
-There is a vast departure in behavior of the MC. The choice near the end that the MC makes relating to the promise she makes to a dying client (not a spoiler, MC is a death doula) is a prime example. It felt incongruous to the character, and anathema to someone in the caregiving industry who loves her job and her clients. From a healthcare standpoint, I couldn’t reconcile this decision in the book.
-The author mentions someone “speaking Filipino.” The Philippines have many languages like Tagalog and Ilocano. Maybe I’m unfamiliar with them being all lumped together, but as an Asian reader, it rankled a little.
Overall, I love that the author often tackles timely and/or controversial topics (like with Small Great Things and Nineteen Minutes), and appreciate the amount of research she puts into her books. But in some cases, it’s quite apparent that research can sometimes still fall short of the authenticity of a lived experience.