Plain Truth

published	2004 by Atria
binding	Hardcover
isbn	0743275012 (isbn13: 9780743275019)
pages	416
description	From the bestselling author of My Sister's Keeper comes the riveting story of a murder that shatters the picturesque calm of Amish country -- a...more [close] From the bestselling author of My Sister's Keeper comes the riveting story of a murder that shatters the picturesque calm of Amish country -- and tests the heart and soul of the lawyer defending the woman at the center of the storm. The discovery of a dead infant in an Amish barn shakes Lancaster County to its core. But the police investigation leads to a more shocking disclosure: circumstantial evidence suggests that eighteen-year-old Katie Fisher, an unmarried Amish woman believed to be the newborn's mother, took the child's life. When Ellie Hathaway, a disillusioned big-city attorney, comes to Paradise, Pennsylvania, to defend Katie, two cultures collide -- and for the first time in her high-profile career, Ellie faces a system of justice very different from her own. Delving deep inside the world of those who live "plain," Ellie must find a way to reach Katie on her terms. And as she unravels a tangled murder case, Ellie also looks deep within -- to confront her own fears and desires when a man from her past reenters her life. [close]
date added	12-20-06 edit book

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Terri Ann rated it:

03/20/08

bookshelves: reviewed

Read in March, 2008

This is a difficult book to rate in a similar, though less extreme, fashion as was The DaVinci Code. Compelling story, poor writing. I selected this book from the paperback table in Maui because of Ms. Picoult's pedigree, Yale and Princeton, an interest in the story line, and an attraction to her, that should we crosspaths we'd become quick coffee frieds.

She's also written 14 novels and been given awards for her entire body of work. Thus, I was shocked by the writing style, which was overly...more This is a difficult book to rate in a similar, though less extreme, fashion as was The DaVinci Code. Compelling story, poor writing. I selected this book from the paperback table in Maui because of Ms. Picoult's pedigree, Yale and Princeton, an interest in the story line, and an attraction to her, that should we crosspaths we'd become quick coffee frieds.

She's also written 14 novels and been given awards for her entire body of work. Thus, I was shocked by the writing style, which was overly expository and suggested to me a screenplay, rather than a novel. Rather than generating ideas of what the main characters would look like, I rather quickly cast Laura Linney and Oliver Platt in my mind's eye. So many of the passages suggested stage direction rather than supporting the storyline.

The writing also suggested Ms. Picoult was very proud of her research into the Amish (Plain people), and neonatricide. The material wasn't well integrated into the story. It felt as though a narrator would occasionally step out on stage and read from a written page, some notes on one of Ms. Picoult's research topics. Having some knowledge of the Amish, which I assume is an average amount for a relatively well-read America, I found the Amishness of the book far too elementary, so much as to explain that there are Amish people in Pennsylvania, they drive buggies, and where plain clothing. Rumspringa seems even to have entered into common cultural understanding. The constant use of some Dietsch (Amish German dialect) words, noted in italics, in the midst of "translated" Dietch conversations was trite and annoying.

On the other hand, the story of neonatricide (murdering one's one newly born child) was novel, and I enjoy any fiction to do with the Amish.

Oh, and the resolution of court case was dissappointing.

On a side note, we should have all realized how atrocious the writing in The DaVinci Code was going to be from the title. Properly, it should be The Leonardo Code. The selected title means "The From Vinci Code". Da Vinci is not a last name.

So, great beach read, somewhat of a page turner, not nearly as cloying as The From Vinci Code, but it was no Tom Robbins....less

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Jami rated it:

11/18/07

Read in November, 2007

I really enjoyed this book. In fact, I could hardly put it down from the minute I started reading it. I think Picoult has a genuine talent for writing and coming up with unique story ideas.

SPOILER AHEAD!

There were a couple of things that bothered me at the end, though. I had pretty much figured out halfway through the book that Sarah had been aware of her daughter's pregnancy and was the one who had hidden the dead infant. I really felt, though, that it was inconsistent of Sarah ...more

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4 comments

Angeld01 rated it:

06/13/08

Read in June, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

This book was so good - but as I have come to expect from Jodi Picoult.

I have ready reviews that classify her a pulp, or in the same class as a John Grisham novel...and I think that's really unfair. Jodi is always good...even when she's just okay (as in Sister's Keeper). And while a lot of her themes come from headlines (she's like the novel versions of Law and Order) they always have a different twist that takes a lot of sensitivity and creativity.

The Plain Truth was no exception. Al...more

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Anne rated it:

07/16/08

Read in July, 2008

This one is about an 18-year old unwed Amish woman, Katie, charged with murdering her newborn child. At first, Katie cannot acknowledge that she was even pregnant. She has no memory of how she got pregnant, of giving birth, or of anything that happened to the baby afterwards. Crack-defense attorney and distant non-Amish relative, Ellie, agrees to represent Katie. As part of the Court's agreement to allow Katie out on bail while awaiting trial, Ellie has to move to the Amish farm and adjust to a ...more

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1 comments

Maggie rated it:

11/01/07

Read in November, 2007

Dear Miss Richard,
The book I’m currently reading is called Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult. It’s about an Amish baby that’s found dead in a barn who might have been killed by its own mother, an eighteen-year-old Amish girl named Katie Fisher. Ellie Hathaway ends up becoming Katie’s attorney for the case after she arrives at her aunt’s house for a visit. There’s one huge snag in this case: Katie won’t admit she had the baby. She denies giving birth over and over and OVER! This is jus...more

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Anemone rated it:

01/16/08

Read in January, 2008

I thought this book was pretty crummy even though it was a page-turner. I really wanted to know what happens to Katie, and what happened to the baby so I kept reading, but I didn't really enjoy the experience--I won't be reading again. Too much filler, not enough book.

Specifically:
* It's set among the Amish. However, I get the feeling the author doesn't really understand them, she just thought it'd be a cool setting. That irritates me.
* It's full of overused elements, such "city...more

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

1 comments

Barbara rated it:

12/16/07

bookshelves: 2008

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in December, 2007

recommends it for: anyone interested in good character development

I finished this at about 1 am this morning! That and the excessive amount of snow outside are why I am not at church. Well, that and the fact that I am going to a Christmas party this afternoon as well as grocery shopping and that’s enough time to leave Peggy Sue at home alone. But I digress.

I loved this book. One of Picoult’s strengths is her character development and cd was outstanding in this book. She clearly does good research too. I’ve read quite a lot of fiction about the Amish ...more

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L rated it:

02/04/08

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in February, 2008

recommends it for: Picoult fans and those always meaning to try one

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

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Josi rated it:

06/29/08

bookshelves: josi-recommends-it

Read in June, 2008

recommends it for: Anyone that wants to learn more about the Amish

I wish I could give this 3.75 stars, but I can't. This is the story about a dead infant found on an Amish farm. A big-city attorney takes the case and ends up moving onto the farm for several months in order to allow the girl accused of the murder of the baby to be let out on bail. My favorite thing about this book was the bird-eye view into the Amish culture, Picoult actually did live on an Amish farm for a week as part of her research for the story. It's a fascinating religion and I loved lear...more

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Megan rated it:

(review of isbn 0671776134)

07/17/08

bookshelves: books-read-in-2008

Read in April, 2008

Synopsis
Philadelphia defense lawyer Ellie Hathaway retreats to her great Aunt Leda's home in Paradise, PA, to get a break from her high-pressure job. Almost at the same time that she arrives, a dead baby is discovered in the barn of an Amish farmer. A police investigation reveals that the mother is an 18-year-old unmarried Amish girl, Katie Fisher, and that the infant apparently did not die of natural causes. Even in the face of medical proof that she recently gave birth, Katie denies the murd...more

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Kipi rated it:

(review of isbn 0671776126)

01/12/08

bookshelves: fiction

Read in September, 2007

recommended to Kipi by: Haylee

My daughter mentioned to me that she had read several of Jodi Picoult's books and said that she thought I should read one. I have to admit that I had seen the books before, but they just didn't appeal to me; however, on Haylee's recommendation I gave this one a try. Wow. I literally could not put it down. I read until 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning several days in a row, only stopping when I could not keep my eyes open any longer. Ms. Picoult is a brilliant writer who can draw her reader into ...more

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Dawn rated it:

11/17/07

Read in November, 2007

recommends it for: Anyone who is interested in Amish life and isn't bothered by language

This was an interesting book. Having read "My Sister's Keeper" (and loving it), I was excited to get into another Jodi Picoult book (and to get away from Jane Eyre for awhile).
I was somewhat surprised at the language, but otherwise, the book was really good.
This is the story of Katie, an Amish girl who wakes up one morning and finds that she is standing accused of murdering her newborn son. Trouble is, she doesn't remember being pregnant and doesn't remember giving birth. It is als...more

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

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Jenny rated it:

11/25/07

Read in November, 2007

This is the second Jodi Picoult book I have read and there seems to be a common theme...the twist at the end. I will not give it away, but there definately was one in here. The twist might make you a little mad, just like it did in the other Picoult book, My Sister's Keeper.

I thought I knew about the Amish before reading this book, but really I had no clue. Much of their culture is explained in the book and it's very interesting. The author did a ton of research on the "plain".
...more

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Carol rated it:

03/13/08

Read in March, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

1 comments

Rosey rated it:

11/26/07

Read in November, 2007

Jodi Picoult had done it again. This is one another awesome book of hers, one of morality. Mix the Amish, a murder of a newborn, and a courtroom, and you will have gotten served a fabulous dish, Picoult-style. To add the icing on the cake, there's also romance involved.

Ellie grew up with summers at Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and little did she know that one day her legal work would lead her right back to her roots. As a part of the bail agreement, Ellie was to be 18-years-old Katie's gua...more

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Amy rated it:

(review of isbn 1416547819)

04/28/08

Read in April, 2008

recommended to Amy by: I did! And then Steph picked it for April Bookclub.
recommends it for: easy-to-please readers.

Like all of Jodi Picoult books, this is a very gripping story. You get so enthralled by her writing. It is apparent that Jodi does thorough research before writing a story, and that is what makes the material so rich. Jodi also manages to weave several genres in one novel...so if you like detective-like mysteries/courtroom dramas/love stories, read her books. You also learn a lot from a different corner of the world, regardless of where her stories take place.
They are great escapes from realit...more

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Stephanie rated it:

08/13/07

Read in July, 2007

I loved, loved, loved this book. It gave me a pure insight into what the Amish really live like, seeing as J.P. actually lived with an Amish family while researching this book. That's another thing I love about her books; her research is so detailed and so finely tuned that when you read her books, you feel like you had done the research yourself.

We open up with Katie going into labor, although she's not mentioned by name. J.P. gives us a little tidbit of information that isn't fully disc...more

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Emily Ann rated it:

(review of isbn 0671776134)

09/02/07

bookshelves: 2007, fluff, mystery

Read in September, 2007

I've read one other Picoult book, and may well read more. She doesn't write high literature but she's a talented author in that she manages to create very real, very believable characters and put them in extraordinary situations . . . just ordinary people who have their world turned upside down - and some how have it become a lot richer, much more three dimensional than, say, something like a Law & Order episode, which is the closest analogue.

This novel dealt with an Ami...more

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Elizabeth rated it:

05/01/08

Read in May, 2008

I reread this book for my book group. This is the first Jodi Picoult book that I read. I remember enjoying it very much. I have terrible retention so I remembered very little. It was like a brand new book the second time around! I liked it. My book group is interested in the Amish culture and this book taught us a lot about it. We were pleased that Picoult took the time to do extensive research about the Amish before writing this. She also lived with them for a spell. The book has lots of t...more

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Andrea rated it:

(review of isbn 1416547819)

04/12/08

bookshelves: drama, mystery

Read in April, 2008

recommends it for: friends

This books is about an Amish girl who is accused of murdering her newborn baby. Picoult is an artist at weaving a tale so deep and layered. This particular book drew me in quickly. I have been interested to know what will happen, but at the same time I do not want to finish this book. Picoult's characters are always very relatable and I find myself involved in their well-being.
I enjoyed this book through to the end. I was a little disheartened with the ending and feel the need for more cl...more

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1 comments