Mercy
by Jodi Picoult
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Read in April, 2007
"Loving her was a little like taking the same seat day after day on a commuter train - you couldn't imagine how it might feel to be in the row behind, you could swear that the dimensions and hollows of the seat were made just for you, you came back to it repeatedly with a whoosh of comfort and relief that it was still available."
"You know it's never fifty-fifty in a marriage. It's always seventy-thirty, or sixty-forty. Someone falls in love first. Someone puts someone else up ...more
"You know it's never fifty-fifty in a marriage. It's always seventy-thirty, or sixty-forty. Someone falls in love first. Someone puts someone else up ...more
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Read in March, 2008
Jodi Picoult is probably one of my favorite authors, including Jane Austen, of course. I love the way her books grab a hold of you and don’t let you go. But probably my favorite thing is that she tackles tough moral issues in her novels.
Summary Off Of Back Cover: “The police chief of a small Massachusetts town, Cameron McDonald, makes the toughest arrest of his life when his own cousin Jamie comes to him and confesses outright that he has killed his terminally ill wife out of mercy.
N...more
Summary Off Of Back Cover: “The police chief of a small Massachusetts town, Cameron McDonald, makes the toughest arrest of his life when his own cousin Jamie comes to him and confesses outright that he has killed his terminally ill wife out of mercy.
N...more
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Read in July, 2008
recommended to Marika by:
Sherarecommends it for: Danica, Shannon
In this Picoult novel, Jamie McDonald brings his terminally ill wife to a small Massachusetts town in order to end her painful suffering by granting her request to be killed. Jamie's cousin, Cameron, is the police chief in the same small Massachusetts town and, after Jamie confesses to his wife's murder and is put on trial, Cameron watches as members of his community are divided by Jamie's courageous, yet questionable, act of mercy.
This novel left me in a heap of emotional distress as my ow...more
This novel left me in a heap of emotional distress as my ow...more
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Read in January, 2008
Mercy??? This book should have been named Selfish. I mean, I get it, I get it -- by the end, the title is more than understandable, the way it ties into pretty much every storyline -- but overall I was semi disappointed in this book. I think the main reason for my disappointment stems from the fact that I couldn't STAND Cam. He is every wife's worst nightmare: lying, cheating, the works. I was so disgusted with him, and so indifferent toward the other characters, that for the first t...more
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"I know you love me. The question is, how much?"
This is the second Jodi Picou't's book that I read. I must say, the question asked above is the most intriguing part of the book. It kind a makes you thinking..whether loving someone means willing to do anything for that someone in any consequences?
Mercy tells the story about Jamie and Maggie, a husband and wife who truly loves each other and meant for each other. Maybe because of that love, Maggie knew when her body simply couldn...more
This is the second Jodi Picou't's book that I read. I must say, the question asked above is the most intriguing part of the book. It kind a makes you thinking..whether loving someone means willing to do anything for that someone in any consequences?
Mercy tells the story about Jamie and Maggie, a husband and wife who truly loves each other and meant for each other. Maybe because of that love, Maggie knew when her body simply couldn...more
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[close] Police chief of a small Massachusetts town, Cameron McDonald makes the toughest arrest of his life when his own cousin Jamie comes to him and confesses outright that he has killed his terminally ill wife out of mercy.
Now, a heated murder trial plunges the town into upheaval, and drives a wedge into a contented marriage: Cameron, aiding the prosecution in their case against Jamie, is suddenly at odds with his devoted wife, Allie -- seduced by the idea of a man so in love with his wif...more
Now, a heated murder trial plunges the town into upheaval, and drives a wedge into a contented marriage: Cameron, aiding the prosecution in their case against Jamie, is suddenly at odds with his devoted wife, Allie -- seduced by the idea of a man so in love with his wif...more
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Read in July, 2008
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
women
After reading many of Picoult’s books, I enjoyed “Mercy” very much! It was almost as catching as “My Sister Keeper”, to my opinion the best so far. The reviews I’ve read turned me off, so I kept leaving this one behind even when I specifically wanted to read another of J. Picoult’s books.
"You simply can not define freedom to someone who did not realize they were caged."
I could hear all the married women angry at Cam´s infidelity. Then again, those women who have be...more
"You simply can not define freedom to someone who did not realize they were caged."
I could hear all the married women angry at Cam´s infidelity. Then again, those women who have be...more
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Read in May, 2008
Synopsis
Cameron MacDonald is both the chief of police in the Massachusetts village of Wheelock and the reluctant figurehead chieftain of the MacDonald clan, which immigrated there in the late 1700s. Thus it is to Cam that his cousin Jamie turns after he accedes to his suffering wife's wish and helps her to die. Cam, who longs to travel and free himself from his family obligation, arrests Jamie for first-degree murder but then hires a lawyer for him. On that same day, exotic young Mia wanders i...more
Cameron MacDonald is both the chief of police in the Massachusetts village of Wheelock and the reluctant figurehead chieftain of the MacDonald clan, which immigrated there in the late 1700s. Thus it is to Cam that his cousin Jamie turns after he accedes to his suffering wife's wish and helps her to die. Cam, who longs to travel and free himself from his family obligation, arrests Jamie for first-degree murder but then hires a lawyer for him. On that same day, exotic young Mia wanders i...more
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Read in June, 2008
The interwoven stories of two married couples--Cam and Allie versus Jamie and Maggie. Love and betrayal are major themes that weaves around the main story of a man who loves his wife so much that he kills her.
Jamie MacDonald's wife is dying from multiple cancers and is in a gerat deal of pain. She does not want to suffer anymore, but refuses to kill herself. Instead, she asks Jamie to kill her. Jamie honors maggie's wishes and then is overcome with grief and remorse. He confesses to her...more
Jamie MacDonald's wife is dying from multiple cancers and is in a gerat deal of pain. She does not want to suffer anymore, but refuses to kill herself. Instead, she asks Jamie to kill her. Jamie honors maggie's wishes and then is overcome with grief and remorse. He confesses to her...more
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Read in June, 2008
recommended to Mary by:
Ruth, Barbrecommends it for: Barb, Ruth, Emily, Barb, Cati, Doris
There are not enough stars to tell you how much I loved this book! I never wanted it to end. I fell in love with all of the characters. The Scottish background was a plus also. I would have taken care of Jamie and made sure he was okay. Cam I got mad at right away when Mia came to town! I will be looking to read more of her books. I was at the hospital last week to have blood taken and a lady sitting next to me asked if I had read Harvesting the Heart by JP. She said it was very good. I...more
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Read in April, 2008
I didn't know if I ought to finish this book, concerned as it was primarily with adultery and its affects. That's in nearly every book I read, and, as a religious person, it bothers me. Should I be reading such a thing? I'm reading all of Ms. Picoult's works now though, and as I questioned myself, I was already hooked into the storyline. That is was more an issue in this novel made me wonder. At the end, I can only say, that much more was involved in this love story concerning couples, and t...more
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Read in April, 2008
Another volume in my Picoult obsession... I'm starting to see the formula: ripped-from-the-headlines story; three or four characters presenting their point of view; a trial. Even knowing sort of what to expect, I still get caught up in the narratives.
I think I had the most visceral response to this book out of five or so others I have now read... I felt for the wife of the police and clan chief, who loved her husband more than he did. But also for her husband, who was so caught up in his att...more
I think I had the most visceral response to this book out of five or so others I have now read... I felt for the wife of the police and clan chief, who loved her husband more than he did. But also for her husband, who was so caught up in his att...more
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Read in July, 2007
"Police chief of a small Massachusetts town, Cameron McDonald makes the toughest arrest of his life when his own cousin Jamie comes to him and confesses outright that he has killed his terminally ill wife out of mercy.
Now, a heated murder trial plunges the town into upheaval, and drives a wedge into a contented marriage: Cameron, aiding the prosecution in their case against Jamie, is suddenly at odds with his devoted wife, Allie -- seduced by the idea of a man so in love with his wife tha...more
Now, a heated murder trial plunges the town into upheaval, and drives a wedge into a contented marriage: Cameron, aiding the prosecution in their case against Jamie, is suddenly at odds with his devoted wife, Allie -- seduced by the idea of a man so in love with his wife tha...more
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Read in June, 2008
Those of you who know me, know that I'm a HUGE Jodi fan. I convince everyone I speak to about books to read her. I'm usually a fairly slow reader but I find myself not being able to put down her books and living fully each moment and turned page. I had the same expectations for Mercy. I was disappointed. Looking at the story line from a non-Jodi perspective, it's a good book. But it's totally not Jodi-esq. It's a story of a woman who is confronted with analyzing her own marriage and what's impor...more
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Read in April, 2008
Quite a good read for me, there hasn't been a JP book that I've really disliked. I found this one less gripping than 19 Minutes, Keeping Faith or another of my favourites, Second Glance. I don't always have to like the characters in a book (Notes on a Scandal is a personal favourite and I detested both leading protagonists) so this didn't put me off but I found the narrative rather disjointed and whilst I could appreciate the magical,whimsical elements I didn't think they blended effortlessly ...more
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Read in July, 2008
recommended to JANSARA by:
PICOULT BOOKrecommends it for: JODI PICOULT BOOK LOVERS
THIS IS A TRUE LOVE STORY. IT BRINGS UP A LOT OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF LOVE. HOW MUCH LOVE IS TOO MUCH, THAT IT CAN TAKE YOU PLACES YOU WOULD NEVER GO AND DO THINGS YOU WOULD NEVER DO??? (JAMIE) THERE IS ALSO THE KIND OF LOVE, WHERE YOU LOVE THEM SO MUCH AND YOU KNOW IT WILL NEVER BE WHAT YOU WANT AND NEED, SO YOU LET IT GO AND WALK AWAY (MIA) THERE IS THE KIND OF LOVE WHERE YOU LOVE THEM SO MUCH BUT YOU NO LONGER LIKE THEM AS THE PERSON YOU ONCE KNEW. (ALLIE) AND THEN THERE WAS CAMERON, IN LO...more
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Read in June, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in June, 2008
recommended to Ruth by:
Read the book jacketrecommends it for: Mary, Barb, and Emily
Jodi's books are always interesting (yes, we're on a first name basis because I have read three or four of her books). She does very nice character development and you really want to know how they are all going to wind up. I was not able to renew this online and since I had been trying to read so many books, I needed to return it. I couldn't find anyone else with the book so I requested one via interlibrary loan. Guess what?! The next morning they called me with a book. It was the same one...more
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Not my favorite of hers, but to be fair it was written over 10 years ago and I don't know that she'd found her voice yet. The topic seemed clear cut: guy mercy-kills his terminally ill wife, goes on trial. What I wasn't expecting was that the side plot about the town's police chief having an affair would take over the whole book. I'm known to get turned off by any plot line that offers sympathy to a cheater, but I stuck with this one and have found myself rethinking the ending over the past few ...more
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 3.54 (2119 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 3.55 (2085 ratings) number of reviews: 231popular shelves
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quote
"You know it's never fifty-fifty in a marriage. It's always seventy-thirty, or sixty-forty. Someone falls in love first. Someone puts someone else up on a pedestal. Someone works very hard to keep things rolling smoothly; someone else sails along for the ride."
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