Tag Archive | Jodi Picoult

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

Jan11

Wow – So Powerful

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult is a powerful contemporary novel opening in March 2020 and moving forwards as the world dealt with the COVID pandemic.

Jodi Picoult focuses in on a couple, who are a microcosm for the experiences of many. Living in New York City, a doctor finds all of his leave cancelled as he faces the COVID outbreak in the hospital. We witness his life of PPE, hard work, impossible situations and sadness.

In contrast we see his partner, an art expert, trapped in the beauty and tranquility of the Galapagos Islands. But paradise can soon become a prison when you are trapped there with no flights in or out. “When you’re stuck in heaven, it can feel like hell.” We see the kindness and compassion of a local community.

The hospital is in contrast to the islands. Here it is hell on earth as bodies pile up and COVID takes hold. The experiences traumatise both staff and the patients who do recover. Survivors search for answers, trying to make sense of experiences that cannot be explained.

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A Spark Of Light by Jodi Picoult

Aug2

I’ll Always Carry You

A Spark Of Light by Jodi Picoult is a contemporary novel set in a women’s clinic. It concerns the themes of pro-life and pro-choice. I found it a difficult read because the unborn babies have no choice, they are at the mercy of their mother’s choices.

I think Jodi Picoult is an excellent author and I always enjoy her books with their twists that I never spot coming! A Spark Of Light was excellently written but it was a hard read for me.

The plotline is brilliantly constructed as the novel opens and then works backwards in time so we can see what caused the characters to make the decisions they made. The story does come full circle with the epilogue at the end.

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Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Jan30

Powerful

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult is a contemporary tale of racial injustice, hate and love. It is  ordinary people just trying to do their jobs and making a difference in the world. “I’ll make the money… you make the difference.” I loved the book. I have yet to read a book by Jodi Picoult that I do not like. She always writes cracking stories, always with an unexpected ending that I never see coming, even though I know there will be some sort of twist!

Americans fought the civil rights battles in the 1950’s and 60’s but much to my sadness, the war still rages on today in some people’s heads. Jodi Picoult portrays this racial prejudice that haunts some sections of American society. “The only race that matters is the human race.” She shows the need to open one’s eyes to the racial injustices that still exist in this world. We are to spread the message of love not hate. The calm, professional attitude of the midwife is sharply contrasted with the hot headed white supremacists in the book. “Anger… is a renewable source of fuel.”

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