Justine's Thoughts: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Nineteen Minutes
By Jodi Picoult

Pages:

455

Book Description (from Goodreads):

On Peter Houghton's first day of kindergarten, he watched helplessly as an older boy ripped his lunch box out of his hands and threw it out the window. From that day on, his life was a series of humiliations, from having his pants pulled down in the cafeteria, to being called a freak at every turn. But can endless bullying justify murder? As Picoult attempts to answer this question, she shows us all sides of the equation, from the ruthless jock who loses his ability to speak after being shot in the head, to the mother who both blames and pities herself for producing what most would call a monster. Surrounding Peter's story is that of Josie Cornier, a former friend whose acceptance into the popular crowd hangs on a string that makes it impossible for her to reconcile her beliefs with her actions.

A quote:

Ask a random kid today if she wants to be popular and she’ll tell you no, even if the truth is that if she was in a desert dying of thirst and had the choice between a glass of water and instant popularity, she’d probably choose the latter.

Any thoughts:

In Nineteen Minutes, Jodi Picoult’s excellent style of story-telling is revealed once again. Through this, the plot gives a feel of a cause that goes on for a long period of time, and effects that in the end suddenly trigger the horrific action of a young victim of bullying.

This may be my favourite by Jodi Picoult so far. The novel starts out with what happened before the event of the school shooting, with Picoult leaving out specific details that is meant to be revealed in the end. Afterwards, she manages to delve into the topic of bullying from the very beginning of Peter’s life, explaining what one may encounter as a child. It is amazing how Picoult also writes from various points of view. What I think is important is how we see how the parents of Peter are going through, and how they may be coping. The other characters are interesting, and although there are many, we get used to them as more of them are mentioned.

Jodi Picoult reveals the truth of everyday life, as she does in all her novels. I could not help but think of my high school life after reading Nineteen Minutes. This is definitely a novel that would stick with me for a long time. Through an emotional and intelligent way of story-telling, Jodi Picoult brings out the reality of bullying and its significant effects.

Justine's Mini Thoughts: Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

Change of Heart
By Jodi Picoult

Pages:

447

Book Description:

One moment June Nealon was happily looking forward to years full of laughter and adventure with her family, and the next, she was staring into a future that was as empty as her heart. Now her life is a waiting game. Waiting for time to heal her wounds, waiting for justice. In short, waiting for a miracle to happen.

For Shay Bourne, life holds no more surprises. The world has given him nothing, and he has nothing to offer the world. In a heartbeat, though, something happens that changes everything for him. Now, he has one last chance for salvation, and it lies with June's eleven-year-old daughter, Claire. But between Shay and Claire stretches an ocean of bitter regrets, past crimes, and the rage of a mother who has lost her child.

Would you give up your vengeance against someone you hate if it meant saving someone you love? Would you want your dreams to come true if it meant granting your enemy's dying wish?

A quote:

When you're different, sometimes you don't see the millions of people who accept you for what you are. All you notice is the person who doesn't.

Any thoughts:

Jodi Picoult is wonderful. She always tackles strong subjects like an expert. In Change of Heart, she successfully dives into religious and political beliefs through the topic of the death penalty, exploring the opinions of many sides. It’s complicated, really, and I almost put the book down in the very beginning. But as I read more about Shay, and how much of a mystery he is, I wanted to find out in the end if his last request is fulfilled. He is the man who is convicted of murdering a child and a police officer, and waits for his execution in jail. Somehow, he performs “miracles” while in jail, and this catches my attention because of the question if whether or not those miracles can be scientifically explained. It’s interesting, yet it also touches the topic of religion, as some townspeople believe that he is the Messiah. All in all, this novel is thought provoking; Picoult leaves many questions unanswered, questions that some people would be reluctant to answer.

Justine's Thoughts: My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Here's a review I promised. :)

My Sister’s Keeper
By Jodi Picoult

Pages:

423

Book Description (from Goodreads):

Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate -- a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister -- and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.

A quote:

Where are words, when you need them?

Any thoughts:

Wow, is all I have to say right after I finished it. My Sister’s Keeper is one stunning piece of work that I must read it again. I even found out that the quote “You don’t love someone because they’re perfect. You love them in spite of the fact that they’re not” originated in this novel! Jodi Picoult is brilliant, I say!

One thing that I loved was the constant switching of point of views. Every chapter it is different, and there are several characters who get the chance to speak and voice out their side of the story. It may be confusing and may take some getting used to at first, but it eventually becomes easy adapting to the way they tell it. The purpose is to prepare the reader for the case in the end of the story, which is all too suspenseful that I could not stop reading.

There are two main sides of the story, and at times I find it difficult which one I should side with (I was neutral most of the time). There is one being Sara’s side, the mother who would absolutely do anything for her dying child and the other being Anna’s side, who is Sara’s youngest daughter, the one who filedsthe case for medical emancipation. It is all too big of a web to explain everything, but that is the point of it. Most characters don’t really explain why they’re doing what they’re doing, such as why Anna files the lawsuit and why Campbell Alexander, the lawyer, makes up a variety of excuses for his service dog. It is only near the end when we finally see things clearly.

My Sister’s Keeper is definitely one that would make you think hard. There are times when characters such as Anna and Brian, the father, would insert short, meaningful passages. Brian has a hobby of using his telescope to look at the stars at night and when he would tell stories about stars, gods, or goddesses, I would find myself asking, “Why did Picoult include this passage?” And then I would pause so I could deeply analyze the meaning.

Needless to say, this novel is very knowledgeable. From the detailed medical information, the ethical and moral issues, to the law-related concerns, I was just marvelled. It takes time to absorb all of it, causing one to feel touched because of the subject matter.

The movie, on the other hand, made me bawl. I watched it first (*ahem* this one is an exception to my oath which claims to always read the book first then watch the movie) and watched it again whilst I was in the middle of the novel. There are several differences, the major one being the end, which was completely different from the book. I’m beginning to think that moviemakers want their movies to have pleasant endings, because it is the very opposite from the book, which was just shocking. I still liked the movie, however. Cameron Diaz is one great actress and played the role of Sara really well. The others were quite amazing too. I pictured each of them as their own character while reading the book and they all fit their roles nicely. I would most likely see it again whenever I need my fix of sadness, because it can surely make a person cry enough tears.