Monday, November 17, 2008

Harvesting The Heart - Jodi Picoult




I don't know why I continue to read her books when I know they are just going to make me angry. I have read a few of her other books (Mercy, 19 Minutes) and everytime I finish them I am angry at humanity. This book was no exception. This book centers around a young girl named Paige who runs away from home to spare her father the humiliation after she has an abortion, she meets a young med student Nicholas, marries him (way to young in my opinion) and begins the life she never seems to want. She gets pregnant and has to try and raise this child scared that she will be a bad mother because she has never had a role model (her mother left when she was very young). Her husband is selfish, egotistical, self-righteous and pretty much an annoying character. I found myself so mad when I read this book because he was such a bad guy and the wife is just drowning in her life. Paige leaves her family for 3 months to find her mother. Obviously this causes problems - but she comes back a better person.

I pretty much hated this book. I think I hate her books because they pretty much describe real life and how shitty people can be. Its depressing. I like reading sad books, not depressing ones. Its not badly written, just not my thing. I think I will leave her other novels on the shelf for a little while.

I don't even know if I should give it any stars...

4 comments:

Bybee said...

I was furious with the mother in My Sister's Keeper. Then I was furious with Jodi Picoult for the way she resolved that story. Haven't read her since.

myza said...

I think I go back to reading her books because they give me such strong emotions. Some books do nothing for me while others make me rant to my husband about how I don't understand why the author would do what they did!! I haven't read My Sisters Keeper...but I did read Mercy which made me think to much about relationships and trust and how the main female character could be sooooo weak.

Bybee said...

Also, she had a subplot involving the girl's lawyer that didn't add anything to the story.

Did the book group read any Picoult during your tenure and before mine?

Lotus Reads said...

Myza, I think I know what you mean. Picoult's subject matter tends to be very compelling but leaves you feeling angry, confused and drained. I have never read any of her books but when my mom was visiting us two years ago I gave her a vopy of "My Sister's Keeper" and she was visibly upset after the read, vowing never to touch a Picoult again!

BTW, love your blog!