I have many favourite authors but Jodi Picoult still reigns supreme after many years of intruders trying to take her place. For me, she had a wobble with Change of heart, which I did not like at all and I saw on the loops that it divided her readers. I love Jodi because she always has a surprise around the corner that I don’t see coming but in Change of Heart I saw all the twists coming a mile off even the final one. I also didn’t like the lengthy conversations about religion which, in my mind, didn’t advance the story.
But that was only one blip and I have many favourites of hers incuding Second Glance with it’s haunting atmosphere. However, My Sister’s Keeper remains her supreme work, for me. I couldn’t put it down and was captivated by the characters. The twist at the end was heartbreaking but perfect. And that’s where the movie failed. It was quite faithful to the book with great performances but they changed the end and so removed the brilliant story arc that Jodi had created and undermined the meaning of the title.
For those of you who haven’t tried her, start with My Sister’s Keeper and I am sure you will be hooked. Next week I will let you know who is number two on my list of preferred authors.
Meanwhile, how about a picture of the bookcase in my study. This only displays a fraction of my books. The rest are on shelves in a cupboard and are far too messy to photograph and display in public.
Hi
I LOVE Jodi – I would have to say she’s the ultimate author, my total favorite. Also, like you, I believe My Sister’s Keeper is her best so far. When I went to see it in the cinema I started to well up at the beginning, because I knew what a journey we were going to go on. So sad. So perfect.
I enjoyed Change of Heart, I thought it an interesting ethical dilemma and that she handled it well. However, I was very disappointed with her latest Sing You Home which seemed to be much more about gay rights politics than a damned good story. I have no problem with infusing a novel with any kind of rhetoric, but I just got a bit bored by the end.
Lets hope her next one is a goody!
Louise, I haven’t read Sing you Home yet. I must admit I got a little worried about the direction she was taking after Change of Heart because of the pontificating about something she was obviously exploring herself. It felt self-indulgent. And it sounds like she has done that again in Sing you Home. She has always had something to say in her novels but she has usually been able to keep a good balance between that and the storytelling. I feel that balance is a bit off kilter now. I hope she finds it again.
Suzanne
It’s always nice to see someone who has more Picoult books on their shelf than I have!
Change of Heart was the first book of Jodi’s that I read and she still hooked me.
Toni
I remember you saying that you enjoyed Change of Heart and many others did too. I guess I just wanted her books to carry on in the same vein as always. She took me a little out of my comfort zone where she was concerned and I got the pip.
Suzanne