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My summary is very basic and does not do justice to Picoult's ability as a writer that builds complicated character that often represent the view points and arguments within society at large. It is worth the read. For the murderer, Shay Bourne, his desired penance or redemption, he would like to donate his heart to the other sister of his victim. Just remember it is a novel and the characters of fictional. This book tells the story about a simpleton and a vagabond so-to-speak who is on death row for the murder of a little girl and her step-father (a policemen).
Some say it is a rip-off of the green mile. it is so much more. I will say here are similarities, but entirely different styles of writing, character development, and implications. In my opinion books should be entertaining as well as educational and invoke emotion. Some may say that this is not her best work, but I have only read My Sister's Keeper, and The Pact, but I can say that I have recommended this book to several people who have enjoyed it immensely. So if you are a literary snob, I am sure that you can pick this and any book apart, but if you are someone who is a fan of books that are emotion-ridden, well researched, and have an ability to bring social and religious issues to the dinner table.
It tells the story through several points-of-view. It comments on the ethical and consistency of justice within the justice system as well as faith in people and God.The book discusses religion, the death penalty, forgiveness, truth, and faith. then by all means read this book. the murderer, his lawyer, his priest, and the mother. albeit they are not avid readers. I found myself looking up information about the Gnostic Gospels, Messiahs, and discussing the death penalty with family and friends.
The story evolves around the legal implications of organ donation, death row prisoner's rights, victim's rights, but underneath and further along. As always it is well researched, articulate, suspenseful, and satisfying.
The latter at least let the reader get a break from the annoying characters for a bit. I'm not sure what was worse - the cliched characters from a variety of literary genres (one lost her true love and continues to suffer, the other is the smart, fat, Jewish girl who gets the dreamy guy, another is the reluctant messiah) or the unskilled storytelling (the conceit was that, like The New Testament, it was told from four different points of view). The only point of view I thought was interesting was that of a prisoner suffering from AIDS who is a talented artist which gave me glimpses into life behind bars - but even that couldn't redeem this book as I had to force myself to trudge through the last 50 pages - my motivation being that I had another novel waiting for me once I finished this one. This is one of those books that inspires someone like me to want to become a writer. It's that bad.
The book is incredibly similar to Keeping Faith, and in fact brings in characters from that novel to "affirm" the situation. I am rarely moved to write a book review, but this is the first time a Picoult novel has literally had me setting the book down in anger. Picoult also paints the religious information with a biased brush, and has clearly not done her research with this novel, with argument fallacies abound.Overall, you may keep turning the page to see "how it ends" - but on the very last page, you will wonder if Picoult just needed 400 pages to fill a a bestseller bookjacket, or whether you read an actual novel. Using your own fictional characters to back up your own fiction - it was like a weird form of self-build up.The questions and issues felt so heavy-handed and strong that it read more like a political novel with an agenda than a story of a broken-hearted woman and daughter. Having read Plain Truth, My Sisters Keeper, Love Pact.and a plethora of others, Picoult was always my "go to" in a light read that was sure to be a page turner. However, this book was successful due to only her name - and if she isn't careful, perhaps all of her books will turn into the waste this was.Normally the plot feels suspenseful - this one feels needlessly dragged on.
Not me).It was entertaining, a quick read, and it was written better than a lot of pulp fiction out there. Along with the other reviewers, I have to say that this is not one of Jodi Picoult's best. Save it for one of her future (and hopefully better) novels. But check it out from your library--don't spend the money on this one. I am an avid Picoult fan, but when I finished this book, I was disappointed. The characters were not well developed, the twist that Picoult is so famous for was predictable, and the whole story seemed to be copying one of her previous books, Keeping Faith (and who was surprised to see Ian Fletcher show up in this book.
The plot was predictable at best and so slow. This is the first book of hers that I have been really disappointed with. Don't waste your time or money. I am an avid Jodi Picoult fan, but Change of Heart was a major disappointment. Read any of her other great books-just not this one. It never did. I kept reading to see when it would finally get better. I have read many of her books and love them.
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