Jodi Picoult Archives - Sustainable Sue

One of my favorite authors

Second Glance – Jodi Picoult

Rating: 3 stars

Cliff Notes: I did not love it as much as most Jodi Picoult books, mostly because I hate a happy wrapped up ending. I thought for sure we were going to be looking at four deaths, then nope.

Full Summary: What amazes me most about this author is the sheer depth of research she does for each topic. This book was no exception. The knowledge of ghosts and paranormal activity was very real and made for an interesting read. What does not make for an interesting read for me is a dopey love story. There was a bit too much of that for me.

By Susan Sanders|2019-12-12T19:24:56-05:00July 10th, 2019|Mental Well-being|0 Comments

Songs of the Humpback Whale – Jodi Picoult

Rating: 4 stars

Cliff Notes: Accidental unicorn. This was a reread, but I did not realize it until too far in. I figured if I forgot so much I might as well redo it.

Full Summary: I like how this was written backwards. I remember when I read it the first time that I was confused for quite a bit of the first half of the book. Which is probably why I don’t remember so much of it. This barely counts as a reread.

I like how much this book honors young love. Love when you are a teenager is different. It is often dismissed as puppy love or not “real” love. It might not be a love you can base a future on and God help me if I would have married a person who liked who I was when I was 15 or expected me to stay that poor same young woman. But those first loves are big and deep and real. Jodi Picoult does a wonderful job of presenting it in this novel.

Songs of the Humpback Whale Jodi Picoult

By Susan Sanders|2019-12-12T19:29:42-05:00June 20th, 2019|Mental Well-being|0 Comments

Where There’s Smoke – Jodi Picoult

Rating: 5 stars

Cliff Notes: A prequel – YAY!! But a short story – boooooo. I always want more Jodi Picoult.

Full Summary: This is listed in Goodreads as Leaving Time 0.5. Basically it is a story that leads up to the book Leaving Time, which I have reviewed previously.

By Susan Sanders|2019-12-12T19:30:02-05:00June 19th, 2019|Mental Well-being|0 Comments

Salem Falls – Jodi Picoult

Rating: 5 stars

Cliff Notes: Besides Addy being a worthless ding dong, I loved this book.

Full Summary: I kept waiting for the twist (and brashly called it incorrectly about halfway through this book). When the twist I anticipated did not happen, I was satisfied with the twist we were given. And by “satisfied” I simply mean from an entertainment point of view. The new twist was disgusting from a human being point of view.

I am so angry at teenage girls who are manipulative and brutal to peers and “friends.” You know how mean girls are made – by watching women be mean to each other. And mean girls grow up to be mean women. Ladies – WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS!

I am so angry at false reports of rape. It makes it so hard for the truly injured girls and women. It makes it so hard for truly caring adults to interact with youth because of suspicion founded on lies. One false report out of a hundred actual rapes turns the tide of public opinion that “most reports are false.”

Then to adults who actually ARE predators. Take them out back.

By Susan Sanders|2019-12-12T19:31:53-05:00June 8th, 2019|Mental Well-being|0 Comments

Shine – Jodi Picoult

Rating: 4 stars

Cliff Notes: Jodi Picoult at her best. I am always amazed at the level of research she does for her books.

Full Summary: I think this is an important read for people who think racism is a thing of the past. Yes, the publication date is 2016 but nothing has changed since then – well, gotten worse if anything.

Reader beware – this is SHORT – 42 pages, 1 hour audiobook – 30 MINUTES IF YOU ARE ME LISTENING DOUBLE SPEED. I was sure my phone had messed it up and cut me short.

By Susan Sanders|2019-12-12T19:32:52-05:00June 2nd, 2019|Mental Well-being|0 Comments

Harvesting the Heart – Jodi Picoult

Rating: 5 stars

Cliff Notes: Alternating point of view is a favorite style of mine. I don’t need a huge twist to enjoy this author. The ending was very satisfyingly ambiguous.

Full Review: One thing all reviewers of this book will agree on is that it is not like the other ones. And really, people – if all of her books were similar you would be ranting about a cookie cutter approach. It is OK to think a character is whiny and not want her to get what she wants. It is ok for a character to change her mind and grow within a book – even if it not how you would have grown.

I just enjoy listening to someone else’s story. I don’t need to try to figure it out ahead of time or have the characters do what I would have done. Books are an escape for me and that is why I enjoy reading this.

By Susan Sanders|2019-12-12T19:35:48-05:00May 14th, 2019|Mental Well-being|0 Comments

Leaving Time – Jodi Picoult

Rated: 5 stars

Cliff Notes: I loved this book. I love this author. Now I love elephants. Great twist, one of her best.

Full Review: Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors. Whenever I see a book of hers come up on my holds list at the library I know I am in for a treat. When I see she has a new release I automatically add it to my To Be Read (TBR) list because, well – she does not disappoint. This book did not disappoint!

You always know you are in for a Twist. Not just a twist, but a Twist. Sometimes a TWIST. My sister-in-law had read one of her books and passed it along to me when we were at the beach one summer vacation. I hit the TWIST and shouted, “NO WAY!!! OH MY GOSH!!” and she just cracked up laughing and announced to the group that I had just hit the part where [blah blah blah]. That is a Jodi Picoult book for me. Some readers do not have that experience and that is because they are more “Sherlock Holmes / Harriet the Spy” than I am. I am more “let the book happen to me” than to try to sleuth out the clues dropped by the author. I don’t want to figure out the TWIST, because then it just becomes a plain old twist.

By Susan Sanders|2019-12-12T19:37:18-05:00May 8th, 2019|Mental Well-being|0 Comments