My Sister's Keeper: A Novel

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It's a hit!

Although I love to read, I don't find every book I pick up is so engrossing that I can't put it down. My S's Keeper surprised me in more ways than ... (show more)

Although I love to read, I don't find every book I pick up is so engrossing that I can't put it down. My S's Keeper surprised me in more ways than one. I couldn't wait to finish it. I was turned off my the topic, yet intrigued. I was pleasantly surprised with how well Picoult molded the characters and made you understand everyone's point of view. Then about 5 pages before the end, I'm slapped in the face with an unexpected ending that makes me think that Picoult truly believes the world is a horrible place and that bad things happen to good people. Did I like the book? I think so, but I'm feeling like I broke up with a guy, sort of empty and sad, looking where to pick up the pieces.

Then, I heard the movie has a different ending. I don't think I can go see it for a fling, to get more book out of the book. (show less)

 

 

by Facebook User

No, it's a flop!

This was recommended by a friend who loves Jodi Picoult. The movie was coming out so I wanted to read it. She loaned it to me, and after a small ... (show more)

This was recommended by a friend who loves Jodi Picoult. The movie was coming out so I wanted to read it. She loaned it to me, and after a small false start, I dove into the book. It had me turning pages pretty quickly and I stayed up late the second night to finish it. When I got to the end, frankly, I was angry. Was the book well written? Yes. Were the characters 3 dimensional? Yes. Was the subject matter intriguing and though provoking? Yes. Did the ending suck beyond all I could imagine? Yes. This was the biggest cop-out ending I have ever read in my life. I felt manipulated and cheated. I wanted to throw the book in the trash when I was done, but I had to return it to my friend who was anxiously awaiting my thoughts.

I'm still going to see the movie, but it better end differently!!! (show less)

 

 

by Cari Gisler Oliver

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  This book by Jodi Picoult is rather different to what I usually read, which tends to be S-F, fantasy and detective/crime thrillers. I read the blurb on the back and I thought it was an interesting idea, and the ethical issues it brings up sold me on reading it.

  It's about a family whose eldest daughter suffers from a very aggressive form of leukaemia, and they choose to have another child, genetically compatible with her, in order to help her fight against the cancer. A designer baby if yo... (show more)

  This book by Jodi Picoult is rather different to what I usually read, which tends to be S-F, fantasy and detective/crime thrillers. I read the blurb on the back and I thought it was an interesting idea, and the ethical issues it brings up sold me on reading it.

  It's about a family whose eldest daughter suffers from a very aggressive form of leukaemia, and they choose to have another child, genetically compatible with her, in order to help her fight against the cancer. A designer baby if you like. At first Anna their donor daughter's birth provides cord blood to help put Kate into remission. As she grows older, however, blood and bone marrow are needed when Kate relapses. Unlike the cord blood donation, these are invasive, painful procedures and pose some risk to Anna. But Kate's life is at stake. At 13, Anna's kidney is needed and it is at this point, that Anna gets herself a lawyer and asks to be medically emancipated from her parents.

  The story is told from various viewpoints, in first person, and jumps around in time periods for the backstory.

  I thought it was well-written, as all the characters of the family were sympathetically portrayed and you could understand and empathise with them. The pulls between wishing to save a sibling & wishing to be free of obligation, the difficulties of living in a family which has started to implode from the perpetual stresses, fears and demands of the sickness of one member were all well-drawn.

  I felt that the plotline with the lawyer, Campbell, and the guardian ad litem, Julia, was totally superfluous. The love story/mystery ailment just seemed unnecessary and I found myself flipping through those bits..

  The book was all about choices over your own body, parent/child relationships, and how to balance the needs of one child against those of another. It threw up some interesting questions. Ultimately I think it failed to deliver: I suspected the twists and felt the ending was a complete cop-out. That said, it was a good premise and well-written. (show less)

   

   

  by Liz Adams on May 25, 2008 at 06:14PM

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  After all the hype, the novel was a disappointment, really.

  Positives first:

  I loved the flow of the novel, I loved the way Jodi Picoult makes her reader think from every character's point of view using narratives rather than just tell a story and leave us to choose sides.

  The subject matter is complex yet well handled and delved into in just the right detail.

  Half way through the book, I was thinking this must be the best novel I've ever read; when I approached the last chapters, I foun... (show more)

  After all the hype, the novel was a disappointment, really.

  Positives first:

  I loved the flow of the novel, I loved the way Jodi Picoult makes her reader think from every character's point of view using narratives rather than just tell a story and leave us to choose sides.

  The subject matter is complex yet well handled and delved into in just the right detail.

  Half way through the book, I was thinking this must be the best novel I've ever read; when I approached the last chapters, I found myself visualizing how this story would end and the most obvious scenario was the one that had me rolling my eyes at the sheer cliche factor... and to my horror, that's exactly how it ended.

  Reading pleasure aside, I was left feeling unsatisfied and unhappy I had even bothered to read through the whole book and wasted a day on it. (show less)

   

   

  by Facebook-gebruiker on Jun 13, 2009 at 08:41AM

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