While my
favourite book genres are fantasy and dystopian, I do have the occasional ‘grown
up’ book that I read. For me, a lover of easy to read, easy to follow, nothing too
complicated books with possible sequels and a twist of the supernatural or
magical, a ‘grown up’ book is what normal people probably just call ‘general fiction’,
perhaps ‘contemporary fiction’. You know, books that are about real life, with
plausible situations, characters you might actually bump into on the street, laws
and politics, and big words. Lots of big words. Normally it’s difficult for me
to get into a book like that, but not with Jodi Picoult’s books. I find that
once I start one of her novels, not only can I not put it down, but I find
myself thinking about it days after.
My first
Jodi Picoult book was probably the most famous: My Sister’s Keeper. It was our
year 13 (last year of high school) novel to read and then study, and while My
Sister’s Keeper is actually one of my least favourite books of Picoult’s, it
was the one that sparked my interest. Since then (6 years ago), I think I’ve
read about 11 of the 22 she has published so far. Today I thought I’d share
with you my 3 favourite novels.
Neighbours
since forever ago, Chris and Emily’s long ‘girl/boy girl next’ friendship
turns into something more. They are inseparable, they are soul mates. It comes
as the most shocking news from the hospital one night when they call to say
that Emily is dead: a gunshot to the head. There’s one single bullet left in
the gun that Chris had taken from his father’s cabinet when he left to meet
Emily that night. Chris says that that bullet was meant for him, but the detective
on the case can’t help but wonder about the truth behind the suicide pact. This is an incredible story about families in
anguish, about how well we know people, about the bonds of friendship, about
love.
In the
state of Pennsylvania, a dead infant is found in the barn of an Amish
community. Two things are then discovered: the baby’s mother was unmarried 18
year old Amish girl, Katie, and the baby’s death was not natural. Katie denies
giving medical proof that it is her baby, and is arrested for her murder. Defence
attorney Ellie Hathaway takes on Katie’s case, but soon realises there are so
many more challenges than that of her other cases. A clash of cultures, of
life-views and of a whole other world emerge and Ellie begins to truly understand
what it’s like to live in Amish community. Another great story of
relationships, love and loss, community and family pressure and sacrifices. It’s
also a great insight into a little bit of the Amish way of life, something that
Picoult portrays very well.
June Nealon’s
world is shattered when her husband and daughter are killed. Shay Bourne, their
killer, is now the first death-row prisoner in New Hampshire in 69 years.
Eleven years on death row and finally a date has been set for his execution. His
last request? To donate his healthy heart to June’s other daughter, Claire, who
has a terminal heart condition. With the
assistance of Maggie Bloom the lawyer, Father Michael the priest, and Ian
Fletcher, a character from another of Picoult’s books, Keeping Faith, events unfold in the court room and secrets are
unearthed. An interesting look into religion and faith, and also the death penalty, this
is a very moving story, and Picoult, as she always does, handles every aspect
of it wonderfully.
One of the
things I love about Picoult’s novels is that they are told from varying points of
view. Each book has 4 or 5 main characters that tell their story, alternating
chapters. It’s something that Picoult does extremely well, and it definitely
helps to understand the characters and their actions a lot more. I also love the occasional cameo appearances
from other characters in other books. I do find, however, that I can only read
one of her books, then I need about a 6 month break before I can read another.
There’s only so many ‘grown up’ books you can read in a row.
Images from Good Reads. Links in title of book.
