Comments on: Review – My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult

By: Book Review #2: My Sister’s Keeper | Whirl of Thoughts

Book Review #2: My Sister’s Keeper | Whirl of Thoughts — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:24:25 +0000

[...] more? Healthline and Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’? both reviewed My Sister’s Keeper. If you read, or are reading My Sister’s Keeper, then [...]

By: Sheila DeChantal

Sheila DeChantal — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:27:49 +0000

This was my first “Pee-Coh” book (LOL – I too have been pronouncing it wrong all this time thinking I was all that….)
I really enjoyed the book and have reads several others by her, I think my favorite being Nineteen Minutes. You are correct in saying that she has a certain theme that she sticks with and while some books I have really enjoyed, her latest, Handle With Care – felt to me very “My Sisters Keeperish”.
Have you seen the movie yet? They did a wonderful job of capturing the emotions of the family as they went through this… it was very emotional, and in other parts I felt they did not pull in what the book was trying to say. I enjoyed it and did not mind that the ending changed – although I think I prefer the book ending.

By: Tif

Tif — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:07:39 +0000

I really enjoyed the book when I read it, but I have only read it the once. I can see how it would not be as intriguing or thought-provoking the second time around. You know the ending and that would just be looming over me the entire time! I do agree with you on the ending though. Anyways, if you are interested in my review . . . http://tiftalksbooks.blogspot.com/2008/04/my-sisters-keeper-by-jodi-picoult.html

By: Carrie

Carrie — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:52:07 +0000

I pretty much agree with everything you said… but I’m still going to give Handle With Care a try!

By: melanie

melanie — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:10:02 +0000

I totally agree with you on her books – I haven’t read this one (or the last few) because I felt like the formula was getting stale. Plug in the hot button issue and end with an annoying twist…but the movie looks good. This is one instance where I will gladly watch the movie and not read the book first (or at all).

By: Kari

Kari — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:29:58 +0000

Ugh, I actually threw this book across the room when I finished it. The ending made me so mad. I agree with you in that it was such a cop out.

Generally, I enjoy Picoult books. Sure, she is not too subtle with the deeper meaning of her characters and plots (definite WHAM potential in every story), but I let it slide. Her books are very well researched and I finish them without feeling like I just spent time on a fluff piece. Read many of them and you’ll start to be unable to distinguish one from the other, because she follows such a format (agreed, Kiki). And generally, because she writes on such grey area, the endings are unpredictable.

But this one. UGH. I hear the moving ending is different.

By: Tara

Tara — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:02:48 +0000

I think you are right, Picoult’s books don’t hold up well to a second reading. When you know the outcome, the rest of the book’s ‘faults’ become more obvious, I think. Interesting point you made about the ending, I hadn’t thought of it like that and you make a valid point. I also think Picoult’s quality has diminished somewhat; I enjoy her older books more. Having said that, I’ve heard her speak twice and she seems like an amazingly down to earth person, great mom, and a fun person to have for a friend.

By: Jenners

Jenners — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 01:31:48 +0000

So I’ve totally been pronouncing her name wrong … thanks for the info.

I remember really like this book, but I don’t feel the need to reread it … and like you said, some books are better left unread. I think you did a good job with your review, and now I too wonder if I would like the book as much now that I’m reading a bit more broadly than before blogging.

By: Jeane

Jeane — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:49:28 +0000

I felt the same way you did about the ending. (I really like how you made the spoilers white text, what a great idea, I’m going to use that next time I want to talk spoilers in a review). Picoult’s writing just doesn’t work for me anymore- and I’m glad to know how to pronounce her name right, by the way!

By: Kiki

Kiki — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:37:20 +0000

I read this one a few years ago for book group–a bunch of Catholic women,. Caused quite a stir and I got yelled at! i find her writing so formulaic, after two or three books, just dull.

I knew how her name was pronounced because we have a family at out church and school with the same last name from Louisiana–the French pronunciation. But most people insist on pronouncing it the other way, so…what can you do?