Harvesting the Heart

Dealing with the past

Before I begin, I have to say that I'm very biased when it comes to Ms. Picoult. I first saw her at a book signing for Nineteen Minutes and instantly liked her. Since that book signing, I've read nine of her books, with the intention of reading her entire collection. Having said that, I have to say the first part of Harvesting the Heart was extremely difficult for me to get into. I never thought of putting it down or reading another book. At times I had to force myself to read and looking back, I'm glad that I did.

I don't want to say too much about the storyline and when things began to pick up for me, (may be a spoiler for some) but after a certain event happened, I couldn't stop reading. After I finished reading the book, I thought about my feelings regarding the first chapters. When Paige and Nicholas first meet, they are from different worlds. He has had everything handed to him and she has given up a dream that she feels she doesn't deserve. Despite their differences, they fall in love and decide to marry. During the early years of their marriage, I consider Nicholas to be extremely selfish and Paige to be very passive. Even for them, it was hard for both of them to be with the other. So, I'm wondering, as the reader, was it hard for me to be with them as well.

As I mentioned earlier, Paige comes to a crossroad in the marriage where she has to choose to move ahead or finally deal with the past she left behind. She makes a decision, that will set in motion events that will determine the fate of her marriage. Harvesting the Heart, for me, was typical Jodi Picoult. I finished the book with many questions and could not stop thinking about the characters. Actually, what was missing was a trial scene. Having read most of her recent books first, it was nice to go back and read one of her earlier works. Ms. Picoult has grown as a writer, however even then she knew how to tell a story.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Harvesting the Heart review

'...Watching as blood vessels were clamped off and sewn, or were cauterized, filling the operating suite with the smell of burning human tissue. He waited until the vein was settled in solution for its later use. Then, stepping up to the patient, Nicholas took a deep breath. ' This quote is from the novel, Harvesting the Heart, by Jodi Picoult. This rollercoaster plot dives into the life of a young woman, Paige, and man, Nicholas. Nicholas is struggling the hard road of being the top cardiologist at the local hospital in Boston, and Paige is left wondering after her abortion, where her mother disappeared to. These two meet in the middle of all this and emotionally fall in love. I thought the point of view of this story helped define the image I got with Nicholas's and Paige's thoughts flowing continuously every couple of chapters. Though Paige's thoughts were dramatic and exaggerated, I enjoyed much more of Nicholas's side of the story. His side was thrilling and intense, and the reader will never know what he would do next. Jodi Picoult's novels are always detailed and good reads, but compared to other her other novel's, Harvesting the Heart, is around average. Harvesting the Heart is still a good book about commitment and a young marriage. I suggest anyone in their free time looking for a realistic fiction plot, pick up this novel and enjoy.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Not what I expected

I have read many Jodi Picoult books but this one was so hard for me to get into. Probably took me about 2 weeks or more to read it when usually I can finish one of her books in a night. Not until the last few chapters was I not able to put it down. Overall not terrible just not my speed.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

This One Touched A Nerve!

Hmm. Where to begin with this one?
I have so many thoughts to sort through with this one. Here is my stream of consciousness...

First and foremost,
HOW THE HECK DO YOU LEAVE YOUR 3-MONTH OLD BABY?
FOR THREE MONTHS!?!?!?!

Leaving your baby at such an age is unfathomable to me, let alone for three months. A day or two? Okay. A week even, to collect yourself? Okay. But three months?

And I nearly died when Paige made the phone call to Nicholas and admitted to herself that she didn't take into consideration the ramifications her absence would have on Nicholas and his job. And while Paige's character didn't strike me as self-centered, that is SO SELF ABSORBED! How could it not dawn on her what she was doing and how her actions would affect every one else?

And the whole mood of the book was so forgiving and understanding towards Paige. Even Nicholas's parents - who, of all people, I would have thought the opposite. After all, she up-and-left their precious only-child and prodigy son, jeopardized his career and his ability to do his job and be successful, which apparently is what they're all about. But no! They liked Paige because of it, decided she was good enough for Nicholas because she ran away - because she had the balls to stand up to him.

Does that make any sense? I had a hard time wrapping my head around it.

I didn't hate Paige. But I did think she did some REALLY stupid things. And Nicholas did aggravate me, but I could empathize with him.

This is why, if you don't live near family (or don't talk or interact with family), and you have a baby - it is IMPERATIVE to have a support system in place, or consciously work towards establishing one. The fact that Paige only had three phone numbers in her address book was a huge red flag. I realize Nicholas wasn't home very often due to his career, but he still should have seen the warning signs. And Paige should have put her strong will (which apparently is not lacking in every other area of her life) to good use and used it to help herself before she got to the point of running away.

I AM glad she found her mother and resolved issues that were in her past, but I guess what it comes down to is that there could have been a better way to do it.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

omg! Am I the only one who ABSOULUTELY lovedd it?

ok, I'm probably a lot younger the the others who wrote a review '13'but I personally LOVED this book. It kinda did take me awhile to read but I swear the descriptions and everythingg were great// I could see like a movie rolling in my head as I read it! This was the first Jodi Picoult book I've ever read but still. And yes I was a bit disappointed at the end, only because I wantedd to know more. Max was in the hospital and came out of surgery fiine, but did Nicholas and Paige work things out? Other then that WOW':

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I don't believe in titles.

This book gratified my and ripped me apart. Picoult's words are a part of me, her use of language a constant thought in my mind. I've wanted to write [ publish ] all my life. I think i adored this book so because it touched me personally, as my other favorites do. It is one of the books i hold closest to my heart and my bedstand, for a late read, perphaps a friend, for some lonely night.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great book.

Jodi Picoult is awesome! This book is as great as all her others, if you are a fan of hers or even if you're, its a good read.

HIghly recommend

Excellent as always.

one of my favorite jodi books, a must read!

GREAT BOOK A MUST READ!

I have read most of Jodi Pocoults books and have loved them. Don't know why I haven't read this book earlier. Was not crazy about the ending, the book is over 400 pages and the end just left me wanting more......MUCH MORE! I could not put this book down.....even at work. :-)

Couldn't put it down

For her first novel I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. This book has a much lighter storyline than her recent novels. This is a much quicker read that had me hooked in the first chapter.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Disappointed !

Harvesting The Heart was Jodi Picoult's worst book in my opinion. Unlike her other books this one didn't have the page turning drama and I had to force myself to read it sometimes. I would recommend this book to someone who is looking for a peaceful read about common family problems that a young man and woman is going through.
The book is about a young girl named Paige that is struggling with the fact that her mother left her when she was five. She decides to give up her dreams as an artists and runs away from home. She meets a man named Nicholas who comes from a totally different world than Paige. Nicholas has everything handed to him since he was a baby and Paige a girl who's lost with no where to go in life. Despite the fact that they are two different people, they fall in love. When they decide to get married and when Paige gets pregnant none of them are ready for that kind of responsibility. The book covers every problem and drama that can happen to a young couple like Paige and Nicholas. Paige realizes she isn't ready to be a mother and Nicholas works hard for his career to grow as a cardiac surgeon, which leaves Paige and the baby always alone at the house. The ending in the book disappointed me because it was very expected something that surprised me since all of her other books have very surprising endings. Even though this is Picoult's worst book, I HIGHLY recommend that people read all of her other books because she grasps you in every book and page making you never want to put it down. Because this is Jodi's second novel its very hard to criticize her writing style since all the books she has written after that have been best sellers. This book shows how much she has improved as a writer and how much her writing style has changed for better.

Only Picoult book that has left me disappointed

I have read almost every single Jodi Picoult book and always tear through them eagerly and wanting more. This time I was highly disappointed. The topic, though based upon morals and ethics like most her books, was lacking luster. None of the characters were likeable, nor could you identify with anyone. I normally purchase every Picoult book because I know I will want to reread it at some point, or loan to a friend, this one I just want to return. I definitely would not recommend this, she has so many other wonderful books, this one just missed the mark somehow.

Picoult style is begining to devlope

This was only jodi picoult's second novel. if you have read other books by her u will probily notic like my how her style( found in her later books) is just staring to show traces in her work.

The story is good but not as intising as some of her others. Hearvsting the Heart is not a page turner however it has a realistic point of view and is a easy to follow read.

Harvesting the heart

An amazing read!!! Grabs you at the very beginning and never lets go!!!

A touching story that pulled me in.

I loved this book. It was such a touching story. I was so captivated by the characters that I just let myself get lost in the story. It only took me a few hours to read it.

The character development was great. I loved Paige and Nicholas. Even the secondary characters were great. I had great images of them all, and I could even hear the accents in their voices as I read. I think Nicholas comes off as being a bit superficial and at times a real jerk but I almost understood where he was coming from and felt that he was justified in his actions (sometimes).

The story was very good. Picoult did a great job with the narration changes, which I think can sometimes make a story seem choppy. The changes didn't affect the flow of the story at all.

The story spans quite a bit of time, and I found myself forgetting that so many years had passed but that didn't really take away from the story.

I really liked this one. It wasn't an excellent book, but it was pretty good. It was a quick read and it was easy to attach to the characters. If you like chick lit this is a good one to pick up. This was the first of Picoult's books that I've actually read, but I've added her to my list of favorite authors.

Great book!!!

Great Book!!!

Harvesting the Heart, by Jodi Picoult is a touching and sincere novel about the passionate relationship between mother and child and the true beauty and hardships of growing up and responsibility.

This compelling story is about a young girl named Paige who is thrust into motherhood at a very young age. She had a powerful relationship with her mother but was only left with a few vivid memories of her when she walked out on the family when Paige was five. As Paige grows up she begins to struggle with the memories of her past and finding her own self worth. After she leaves behind her ambitious dreams to become an artist and marry a doctor, she runs away from her past and finds herself in Massachusetts where she carries with her a weighted secret. Becoming a mother isn't easy for Paige, and based on her past she is constantly doubting her own abilities to mother a child of her own. Paige wonders how she can possibly be a mother to a child when she barely had a mother herself. She feels she is incompetent for the job and leaves her husband and son, just as her mother did years before. As Paige continues to look for wholeness and identity, she discovers the bitter-sweet marvel of benevolence, motherhood, and the difficulties of growing up and the responsibilities that come with it. She learns that with every hardship and struggle, there is a new open door waiting to be uncovered. Paige realizes that the only way to find herself is through the nurture of her son, and through love and compassion she finds her way to a more fulfilling and wholesome life. A life that her mother always wanted for her, and that she always wanted for herself.
The common themes in this book portray conception, growth, and discovery of one's self worth. In harvesting the heart, Picoult explores the fragile ground of human emotion and the power of love that mends fear in vulnerability, pain and broken hearts. It is a rich novel that any mother, or child, can have tender and understanding relations to.

Enticing!

Thrilling and emotional. A good look into not-so perfect families a mother who feels overwhelmed.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Harvesting The Heart

Not my favorite of Jodi's