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Product Reviews:
My Sister's Keeper: A Novel |
Rating: 1 (out of 5)
Summary: AMAZING book, however the ending RUINS it
Comments: Like many other reviewers, I would like to reiterate that this book is wonderful. Jodi weaves a web of conflict that is both beautiful and terrible, where the answers are never right and never wrong. I applaud her for her characters that come to live inside of you, characters you learn to love and hate. When it comes down to it, the book teaches many lessons about the human condition. I cried a few times and stayed up almost all of the night trying to get to the end.
That being said, the ending was so bad that I want my night back. I wish I had never read this book and would discourage anyone from reading it. The ending to this book is like in a soap opera when they bring dead characters back to life. It's just plain terrible and I will not ruin it for anyone whose curiosity has been piqued by this review.
Please, for your own sake though, do not read this book. I say this with the best intentions. You will come to hate the author and I am sure she has other great books.
By the way, it says in an included interview with Picoult at the back of the book that her12-year-old son read this book and was crying at the end. He incredulously asked her why it had to end that way. She responded it was the only ending that really made sense. I definitely disagree. |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: Read it
Comments: Having not read any of Joid Picoults other books and hearing all the hype i was a bit sceptical. however the book has really made me question some of my beliefs that I thought were so obviously well founded. Definately a tear jerker for me, however that could have been due to the impact on my thinking. The end is slightly disapointing however surprising. It would have been great to have a happily ever after ending. |
Rating: 4 (out of 5)
Summary: Riveting yes, however.....
Comments: Picoult is a marvelous story teller with an incredible knack for pulling you over to her own prejudices on an issue. The book was a page turner. I started it late Friday night and completed it by 4:30pm on Sunday. I needed to know what would happen to Anna's court case while strongly leaning towards her right to her own body. I alternated between anger and understanding of a mother caught in the trap between the life of1daughter and the right to a normal life for the other. I was angry that the parents allowed their son to go so far over the edge without really even noticing. Yes I was totally caught up in the plot and wanted Anna to win her case.
What was irritating was Picoult's inability to speak with different voices while using this method of story telling. Each chapter was told through the voice of a different person involved in the unfolding drama; a great technique if you can pull it off. While she threw in a few vulgarities that might be expected of a delinquent boy; she still came across as Jodie Picoult telling the story and pretending to be a boy.
Anna's lawyer, though coming across as a callous, self centered individual in the narrative, I instinctively knew was not the 'monster without feelings' that was being portrayed and waited for the time when his true character would be exposed. This was done in a contrived manner complete with the drama of a grand mal seizure on the court room floor; and finally revealing the reason for his faithful service dog, Judge. As a reader you knew that this was coming and I wish that the author had got it out of the way to begin with. It was not an essential part of the plot, and came close to upstaging the vital parts of the story. I do not believe that e character in a book has to equally share the stage with the others. I would have liked to have spent more time exploring the son, Jesse's psyche than the lawyer's.
Having got that criticism out of the way; would I endorse this book?
Yes indeed. The subject matter that it covers is vital in today's society of shifting values and cutting edge technology. It certainly kept me reading when I had other things to do. I am taking it to my neighbor right now. |
Rating: 4 (out of 5)
Summary: More than I had hoped for!!
Comments: This book is written beautifully. It started with a single story line (a family conceives another child to be a donor match for a sick1- however have no fear...this is no plot spoiler!!) so I wondered how a whole book could be written on this1theme. It is to this author's credit that it did indeed take a whole book to explore this theme and others that were intertwined. I found it sensitive and thought provoking, and unlike another reviewer, enjoyed alalmost all e page. It has inspired me to read more from this author- she deserves all the kudos she has gotten for this!! |
Rating: 1 (out of 5)
Summary: She Lost Me
Comments: I enjoyed nearly the entire book. Until I got to the end. (This next part contains spoilers..) Okay, this was where she lost me. It turns out the lawyer has epilepsy and has a seizure in the courtroom. Then, he drives Anna home and they get in a car accident because he gets hit by a drunk driver and she gets killed. All right, that would never happen. Why? BECAUSE IT'S AGAINST THE LAW FOR AN EPILEPTIC TO DRIVE AFTER HE HAD A SEIZURE!!!!!!!!Anna's father was the Fire Chief. He would certainly have known that. The lawyer would have known that-a seizure equals an automatic revoking of your driver's license. The judge would have known that-and anyway, even if that wasn't the case (which it is) whose parents are stupid enough to let them get in the car with an epileptic who just seized driving? Sorry, however Picoult and her editor dropped the ball on this one. A little more research, please. |
