- Shopping Bag ( 0 items )
Most Helpful Favorable Review
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
Change of Heart
Ms. Picoult knows how to pick them. She takes a topic and truly makes you think. I wished at times to have Shay's perspective but then this book probably wouldn't have been so powerful. The different view points got a lot across and I was so enthralled with this book. I...Read More
Ms. Picoult knows how to pick them. She takes a topic and truly makes you think. I wished at times to have Shay's perspective but then this book probably wouldn't have been so powerful. The different view points got a lot across and I was so enthralled with this book. It tested the limits of even my beliefs but I realized that is what she wanted to do. She wants to make you think about where you are and have you come to your own conclusion. She never says what is right or wrong and that's why I come back to this author time and again.
Maggie had to deal with the faith she had and a client who really didn't want help. He had things figured out just wanted to go through with them. Father Michael say things that even he wasn't sure were happening. Lucius, the cell mate next to Shay, was shocked by all that he saw. June doing her best to deal with the deaths of her loved ones wasn't sure she could accept the one thing that could keep her life going.
This is one book that will keep you turning pages from every point of view. It does test boundaries but like every other book I have read by her truly makes you think. This is definitely going on my list of favorites for just how open she is with all sides of the issue. I can say I am not for the death penalty but I can see in which instances it might be the only way. Ms. Picoult really does her work and it shows on each and every page.Show Less
Maggie had to deal with the faith she had and a client who really didn't want help. He had things figured out just wanted to go through with them. Father Michael say things that even he wasn't sure were happening. Lucius, the cell mate next to Shay, was shocked by all that he saw. June doing her best to deal with the deaths of her loved ones wasn't sure she could accept the one thing that could keep her life going.
This is one book that will keep you turning pages from every point of view. It does test boundaries but like every other book I have read by her truly makes you think. This is definitely going on my list of favorites for just how open she is with all sides of the issue. I can say I am not for the death penalty but I can see in which instances it might be the only way. Ms. Picoult really does her work and it shows on each and every page.Show Less
posted by Tidbitsofscott on September 8, 2009
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Most Helpful Critical Review
4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Thumbs down...
Not her best book- I have read mostly all of her books and was put off by this one. Didnt keep my attention vs. her other novels where I was able to relate more throughout the entire book.
posted by 2770761 on March 9, 2010
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.-
Anonymous
Posted September 8, 2009
I Also Recommend:
Change of Heart
Ms. Picoult knows how to pick them. She takes a topic and truly makes you think. I wished at times to have Shay's perspective but then this book probably wouldn't have been so powerful. The different view points got a lot across and I was so enthralled with this book. It tested the limits of even my beliefs but I realized that is what she wanted to do. She wants to make you think about where you are and have you come to your own conclusion. She never says what is right or wrong and that's why I come back to this author time and again.
Maggie had to deal with the faith she had and a client who really didn't want help. He had things figured out just wanted to go through with them. Father Michael say things that even he wasn't sure were happening. Lucius, the cell mate next to Shay, was shocked by all that he saw. June doing her best to deal with the deaths of her loved ones wasn't sure she could accept the one thing that could keep her life going.
This is one book that will keep you turning pages from every point of view. It does test boundaries but like every other book I have read by her truly makes you think. This is definitely going on my list of favorites for just how open she is with all sides of the issue. I can say I am not for the death penalty but I can see in which instances it might be the only way. Ms. Picoult really does her work and it shows on each and every page.8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged. -
Anonymous
Posted March 9, 2010
Thumbs down...
Not her best book- I have read mostly all of her books and was put off by this one. Didnt keep my attention vs. her other novels where I was able to relate more throughout the entire book.
4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged. -
Mickfin
Posted February 7, 2010
My favorite by Jodi
I LOVED this book. It kept me reading and intrigued. I love the fact that the story is told from each persons perspective. It really makes you stop and think. I had trouble relating to the mom though. As a mom myself, I would have done it in a heart beat. No pun intended.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged. -
lerryngal
Posted March 4, 2010
Tedious and hard going!
This is my first book by this author, and I must admit I was put off by the similarity to "The green mile". I was disappointed, and abandoned the book half way through.
I also found myself getting a bit bored with the meticulous attention to every tiny detail. When I read a fiction novel I look to be entertained, not educated! If I needed to know the finer details of how the heart works, and life on 'death row' I would buy text books on those subjects.
I feel that way too much attention to details a little tedious to say the least.2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged. -
Anonymous
Posted April 1, 2008
Disappointed
I've read all of Jodi Picoult's book. She is one of my favorite authors. I have to say I was disappointed with this one. Not much of a story of what actually happened in her househould and to close to the move Walking the Green Mile. I read it though because I kept thinking, it will get real any minute but it never did. Oh well, I'm sure they can't all be great.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged. -
Anonymous
Posted June 22, 2010
Interesting story despite strong similarities to The Green Mile
I've read several Jodi Picoult books over the years, and generally enjoy her approach of using several different viewpoints to tackle controversial subjects. While the novel did borrow heavily from Stephen King's "The Green Mile" and was filled with the standard Picoult preachiness at times, I did still find it enjoyable, thought-provoking, and, bottom line for rating purposes--a page turner. I do have one criticism in that many times the various narrators would describe Shay as someone who could not seem to string together two coherent sentences, but then when dialogue is provided of him talking to them, this does not appear to be the case at all. Sometimes in the story Picoult shows him rapidly jumping from one subject or thought to another (usually to illustrate the narrator's just made comment that he can't string sentences together), but more often than not he speaks in completely coherent paragraphs staying on the same subject matter. There were a lot of sub-stories going on in each of the narrator's personal lives, which added additional interest, and not all seemed to be resolved, but isn't that like real life? Comparing it to some of her other books, I would say it is not on par with Nineteen Minutes but head and shoulders above The Tenth Circle. A good and worthy read overall.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged. -
"All You Got To Do My Friend Is Lend A Helpin' Hand...In The Ghetto..."
I have to preface this review by saying that I love Jodi Picoult's books! I'm a belated, but staunch supporter of her books and writing style, although after several of them, I'm starting to see the formula raising its hairy eyeballs. And, that's saddens me because I suspect she's smarter and better than that. Nevertheless, of her books so far, this is my least favorite...it's "The Green Mile," on cold syrup.
A young man (a carpenter, no less) is accused, convicted and sent to death row for the rape and murder of a child, and murder of her step-father. As appeals and time leads up to his actual execution, he is shown to be a Saviour figure to the death row inmates, the media, jail staff and the community. He mysteriously calms the hearts and minds of fellow death row companions, heals them and hands off a miracle or two with few words, and humility. His main goal is to give his heart away.
This, as I said, isn't one of my favorite Picoults. The plot runs too slow and wordy for my tastes. Religion really is not the problem here...it's just a story a little too long in the tooth and a little too old hat.
Ms. Picoult might do better with a creative idea that doesn't hang on a recent national event, national medical scrutiny, current national crime or an old movie. I know she's a wonderful writer...she's got the books and credentials to prove it. And I love her other books, so far!
If you're out there, Jodi, please give us something more which is not taken and revamped. I know you can do it because I've read it. For instance:
What's really up in New Hampshire? I used to live in Hanover, so, believe you me, I know there are some very tasty bits of interest up in that community that would make for some great storytelling! Just don't write about the tragic death of two professors and you'll be home free!
Respectfully yours, Humbee1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged. -
Predictable
This was the first book I read by Picoult and I will tell you I was truly disappointed not only did the story drag a bit but the feeling that I was reading "The Green Mile" was very strong and it at first gave me an instant distaste for the writer herself. I wound up enjoying the book half way through the middle and when I say enjoying it wasn't one of these books where you become attached it was just ok reading. I think the only thing that actually kept me interested was the different type of religious views being that it is one of the things I enjoy studying. However other than that I felt no attachment to the characters the story was predictable and the ending left me unsatisfied. I will try and read another of her books soon and hopefully it will not leave me with the same opinion of the writer that I have now.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged. -
Clever Title
Worth reading if you like her other stuff. Heavy on the religion but not preachy. Not a terribly surprising ending, but good. Worth the time.
*SPOILERS*
Jodi sure does have a thing for transplants.1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged. -
eddirector
Posted March 3, 2009
Predictable
I think Jodi Picoult is one of the best authors I've found lately, and enjoy the way she can turn both a phrase and a plot. This book however, is much too predictable. The title gives away the ending, plain and simple, and takes the punch out of all the events leading up to it.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged. -
Anonymous
Posted May 6, 2008
A reviewer
I have read, and for the most part, loved, all of this author's work. I bought this book on the day of its publication, eager to read it. I was sadly disappointed in this book. Very little character development and the story was a bad re-make of 'The Green Mile'. Don't waste your money or time on this book.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged. -
Anonymous
Posted April 19, 2008
Reminded me of Green Mile
Before she even referrenced the title in her book I thought it reminded me of the Green Mile. In addition one of her characters is named Dufresne, a character name from Shaw Shank redemption both books were from Stephen King. I would recommend not wasting your time on this novel but definitely read her prior works. Hopefully this was just a glich.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged. -
Anonymous
Posted April 8, 2008
Not very good
I was terribly disappointed in this book. I love the authors other books, but this one was awful. It was so predictable from just a few pages into the book. The story jumped around too much with too many different plots trying to tie into one storyline. I finished it only because I paid good money for it. I hope her next efforts are better.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged. -
Anonymous
Posted April 15, 2008
Change of Heart
About Jodi Picoult? I gave this book a try, and I have to say, her writing style and quality is on par with the novels that give mass market fiction books a bad name. This is dime store, bad Lifetime movie of the week writing. Thumbs down.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged. -
Anonymous
Posted April 7, 2008
High hopes were dashed
I love Jody Picoult and rush to get her latest novel, but this one left me very disappointed. I actually began reading something else while I was reading this, something I rarely do, because it just didn't hold my attention. While I like her style of writing from many perspectives, several of the characters were not very well developed and a few were not even realistic. I also figured out, very early on, the reason for the murder--no big twists here. Sorry to say, not one of best by a long shot and I would not recommend starting out with this one or you might not read any of her others which are great.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged. -
Anonymous
Posted April 10, 2008
A great disppointment from one of my favorite authors
I was looking forward to this novel as I do with every one of Jodi Picoult's new books, but found it to be quite annoying and a ridiculous departure from her other works. I felt like I was reading a Stephen King book and I feel some of her more recent books have not been as good as her earlier ones. I had no desire whatsoever to read so much about religion and the Messiah but after all, it was one of Jodi's books so I kept on going. Although Jodi's intelligence and wit still come through on many pages, especially with Maggie Bloom, the core of the book was just not something I liked at all. I have been reading her books from her very first one - before anyone even knew who she was - until this last one and this was definitely the worst of all her books. Such a disappointment.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged. -
Anonymous
Posted April 12, 2008
Between 'Poor' and 'Disappointing'
I am an avid reader of Jodi Picoult's books. Jodi Picoult puts a lot of research into her books and it shows. I enjoy reading her controversial topics because they make you think. This book, however, was very disappointing.Too much jumping around. Covering too many issues/topics and not delving into any of the topics deep enough except the religious angle...which was way over the top for me. I would not recommend this book.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged. -
Anonymous
Posted April 15, 2008
Oops!
A rare miss by a very talented writer. The plot was thin and uninteresting and the characters were paper-thin with little or no substance or likeability. If you are a first time Picoult reader, don't let this failure deter you from trying her other novels.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged. -
Anonymous
Posted April 11, 2008
A Let Down
Jodi Picoult is my favorite author.Although this book was not among her best.I didn't like all the focus on religion. It was too eerily similar to The Green Mile.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged. -
Anonymous
Posted April 11, 2008
Change of Heart
I've heard a lot of build up for this writer, but everything I read by her feels the same. This is the first book by her I've actually been able to finish, so it's the only one I can review. It was still a terrible book. All of her characters are bland and unrealistic, and all of her ideas are very cliche and weak and ill-researched!
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
