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The Pact

by Jodi Picoult (Goodreads Author)

3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 · rating details · 127,453 ratings · 6,654 reviews

When the midnight calls come in from the hospital, no one is prepared: Emily is dead at seventeen from a gunshot wound to the head, inflicted by Chris as part of an apparent suicide pact. He tells police the next bullet was meant for himself. A local detective has her doubts. And the Hartes and Golds must face every parent's worst nightmare and question: do we ever really...more

Published 2009 by Allen & Unwin (first published April 22nd 1998)

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Jul 20, 2007 Jackie rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Lorelle

I am probably the only person in the world who HATED this book with such a white hot hate that you almost wonder if it was just the opposite. I'm reviewing it for the sake of Lorelle since it is the book that drew me into the lovely book club that I survived (or survived me) for several fun years.

To sum up, I wanted to tell the main character's girlfriend (I've forgotten all of their names, mercifully), to "get over yourself!!" I'm not giving anything away when I reveal that the "pact" of the ti...more

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Apr 28, 2008 Katherine rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the first Jodi Picoult book that I have read. I admit that she is a good writer and I found myself unable to put the book down; however, I felt that there was a lot lacking to make this a solid GOOD book. In my opinion, though this book was supposed to be a drama/love story, it severely lacked drama. I felt it was worthy of three stars rather than two solely because I completely fell in love with the main character, Chris Harte. He was the only character that I felt was well-developed an...more This is the first Jodi Picoult book that I have read. I admit that she is a good writer and I found myself unable to put the book down; however, I felt that there was a lot lacking to make this a solid GOOD book. In my opinion, though this book was supposed to be a drama/love story, it severely lacked drama. I felt it was worthy of three stars rather than two solely because I completely fell in love with the main character, Chris Harte. He was the only character that I felt was well-developed and the least bit interesting. If every man could be like this 18-year-old boy, the world would be a much better place. On the opposite side of the spectrum I found myself abhorring his girlfriend, Emily Gold, with her mother, Melanie, taking a close second.

The basic plot of this book was two children, Chris Harte and Emily Gold, growing up together as neighbors and best friends. They were inseparable and starting dating around the age of 15 and 14, respectively. By the age of 17, Emily was dead and Chris was on trial for her murder due to an apparent suicide pact gone awry. The trial that takes up at least half the book and then there's a predictable ending. The only true thing that kept me interested in this book was the fact that every other chapter told an account of the past, explaining the circumstances that lead us to this suicide pact (I was curious!).

There were a few glaring problems with this book, at least for me. There were several issues that were touched upon, but then never resolved or explained. At times, I felt that the maturity of Chris and Emily's relationship was extremely unbelievable. Most importantly, I felt that Chris and Emily were not a good couple. Chris is obviously a very caring, devoted and sensitive boy. He was completely in love with Emily. Emily, on the other hand, turns out to be weak and completely self-centered. She doesn't even consider how ending her life will affect other people. Though her issues were legitimate, I don't think that she was deeply scarred enough, nor was her situation grave enough to feel that suicide is her only way out. I feel that she needed a good thrashing to snap out of her funk and realize that the world does not revolve around her. Heck, I probably would have shot her as well.

Overall, it's not a bad read, as Jodi Picoult is an excellent writer. It is entertaining, though somewhat under-developed. It's not a book that upon finishing I find myself wishing that I had those two days of my life back; however, if her other books following the same vein of this one, I will quickly retire from reading her work.(less)

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Katherine I'm not discounting the incidence of depression, nor am I discounting the occurrence of suicide. What I am discounting is the situation in this book....more
Oct 21, 2009 08:49am

Hasna "Most importantly, I felt that Chris and Emily were not a good couple. Chris is obviously a very caring, devoted and sensitive boy. He was completely...more
Mar 06, 2013 05:29pm

Jun 11, 2008 Stacey rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I liked this better than My Sister's Keeper as a whole, although I have some of the same complaints about it. This author is a master of making you believe in a story that makes exactly no sense and making you care about characters who behave like retards. If I thought about any of it for very long, it was all mind-numbingly stupid. But I have to admit that the story is engrossing and satisfying in the end.
PS--this is not a book for the bashful; there's a lot of sex in it, of the awkward teenag...more

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May 28, 2008 Khaya rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mysteriesthrillers

How did three of my friends end up reviewing this book on the same day, especially when at least two of them didn't read it that recently? Did I miss a review contest or something?

Anyway, I couldn't resist adding my opinion to the pile. This was my first Jodi Picoult book, and as I read it, I was captivated. She chooses good topics, and her writing really pulls you in. At the time, reading her can feel intellectually stimulating as her books raise interesting psychological questions.

However, the...more How did three of my friends end up reviewing this book on the same day, especially when at least two of them didn't read it that recently? Did I miss a review contest or something?

Anyway, I couldn't resist adding my opinion to the pile. This was my first Jodi Picoult book, and as I read it, I was captivated. She chooses good topics, and her writing really pulls you in. At the time, reading her can feel intellectually stimulating as her books raise interesting psychological questions.

However, there's something about Jodi Picoult's books that makes them fall short of actual literature, no matter how stimulating and readable they are in the moment. I've thought a lot about what that might be, and discussed the topic at length with my sibs. In "The Pact" in particular, reading other reviews (especially the one in "The New York Times") helped me formulate my thoughts.

Although "The Pact" touches on a variety of psychological issues, Jodi deals with them more superficially and appears to be concentrating her energy on the trial scenes, so that this reads more like a legal thriller than like a psychological study. For example, the enmeshment of the two families, and its effect on Chris and Emily's relationship, was an interesting topic which had the potential to be dealt with more deeply. What's it like to be in a relationship that almost feels forced by the other person's constant proximity? What does it do to you when you're feeling ambivalent about the relationship but feel like you can't get out without hurting two whole families, much less your boyfriend himself? I felt that Jodi paid lip service to this dilemma but could have addressed it in more depth.

Additionally, as many people have pointed out, Emily's suicidality seemed a bit unfounded. It's true that the molestation incident was traumatic, but many people survive years of repeated molestation, sometimes by family members who are meant to keep them safe, and are less profoundly scarred. I wish Jodi had delved more deeply into Emily's character and made the road to suicidality more complex and therefore, believable. And does it make sense that her attentive parents never suspected her suicidality, or tried to address it in any way? Did she never give them any signs? I'm reviewing this in retrospect about 10 years after I read it, so it's possible I'm not remembering certain details; however, I think my general sense of superficiality in this area is more or less accurate.

Lots of goodreads reviewers complain that Emily was weak and unlikeable, which to me attests to how undeveloped her character was. This would have been a better book had Jodi developed her more and made her stronger, even if the basic premise had been the same.

I gave it four stars, and I still feel it was a better book than most three-star books, if for no other reason than its high level of readability and unputdownableness (great word, huh?). I thought "My Sister's Keeper" was a little better, though still not great literature. I'd still read Jodi over a Harlequin any day, but unfortunately that's not saying a whole lot.(less)

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Dec 22, 2012 Jule rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2008, favorites

Gosh, I want to hate her for writing books like this...

Throughout the whole book, I was thinking about what rating to give it, because there were parts that blew my mind and others that were just very slow, yet significant for the storyline. I even caught myself thinking: "Ha, she forgot to mention that" but then it happens on the last page. ;)
The end of "The Pact" convinced me again though that I can't give this book less than 5 stars. There aren't many books where I really sympathise or feel w...more

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Apr 11, 2008 Donna rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I knew the premise of this book was teenage suicide but I still found it very disturbing. As a mother I could not imagine anything more devasting then the loss of your child, by whatever means.

Picoult's sequence of events was intersting - the timeline moved back and forth so that the reader was able to get a sense of how close both families were. I was not able to relate to Emily's pain at all. Yes, she was sexually abused as a child in a fast food restaurant, but if she was as smart we are led...more

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Dec 14, 2007 Britta rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"He kissed her so gently she wondered if she had imagined it."

"To say there had been a loss was ludicrous; one lost a shoe or a set of keys. You did not suffer the death of a child and say there was a loss. There was a catastrophe. A devestation. A hell."

"[He] closed his eyes. How could he convey to someone who'd never even met her the way she always smelled liek rain, or how his stomach knotted up every time he saw he shake loose her hair from its braid? How could he describe how it felt when s...more

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Sep 11, 2009 Brad rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Stephen, Marcicle

Recommended to Brad by: Chris Simkulet

Shelves: doing-the-dishes, mystery

***Not sure about spoilers here. I think I danced around things pretty well, but you may want reconsider your decision to read further in case I messed up.***

I am a bit disappointed. I was so close to loving this novel and its author, and I really did want to love them, but the denouement really let me down.

In the two books I've read now, Jodi Picoult sets out to deliver a big twist that will knock us on our asses. But she telegraphs the big twist in a way that removes any possibility of surpri...more ***Not sure about spoilers here. I think I danced around things pretty well, but you may want reconsider your decision to read further in case I messed up.***

I am a bit disappointed. I was so close to loving this novel and its author, and I really did want to love them, but the denouement really let me down.

In the two books I've read now, Jodi Picoult sets out to deliver a big twist that will knock us on our asses. But she telegraphs the big twist in a way that removes any possibility of surprise. This could be seen as a bad thing, a failure on her part, but she does such a magnificent job of building our suspense in anticipation of that moment, that guessing the moment ahead of time is almost part of the fun. We know the shark's going to take the girl's leg off, the fun is in the expectation of when and how.

The Pact: A Love Story sets up a suicide pact between a pair of young lovers, but only one of them takes a bullet and the other ends up on trial for murder. From the outset we know that Emily's suicide is far more complex than Chris lets on, and the "truth" that we are destined to hear is fairly easy to guess, but the telling is compelling. Picoult prepares us for the big reveal by taking us through a decade of her main characters' lives, making us care for them, forcing us to empathize with them regardless of their actions. Picoult trusts that we will recognize their complex moral lives, the good and the bad in all of them, as something we all share whether we choose to believe it or not.

All of this makes the revelation at the heart of The Pact highly satisfying. By the time we discover what really happened on the night of the suicide, it has become impossible to judge those involved because we know too well what brought them to their actions. But therein lies the problem.

We are close to these people because we have read their thoughts. We know things about each of them that they choose to hide from the people in their lives, truths that are never revealed to anyone in the story. We have seen their lives through their eyes, so we understand their pain, their motivations, their choices as though we are them. But then Picoult allows her jury to make a decision that can only be made by someone reading her book -- not by a juror witnessing the most bizarre of all trials.

What Picoult asks us to believe is one ask too far. The result of the trial simply cannot be, and I felt sucker punched by the ending. I wanted something more akin to reality, I guess, and I would have loved Picoult for delivering. Instead, she gave me a Hollywood ending tacked on to a fine little piece of thought provocation, and I find myself continuing to withhold the love my mother so badly wanted me to feel for Picoult.

I like her, but somewhere along the line she's going to have to give me what I need for me to love her. (less)

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Jan 26, 2008 Vanessa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Great book about the struggles of being a teenager. I read this with my youth book club. They loved it, but you know teens, they like the dark stuff.

The Pact: A Love Story, by Jodi Picoult

We read this book as a part of our high school book club. By far, it was one of the student’s favorite books. They really related to the content. I had about 8 students, 7 girls and one boy read this book with my co-sponsor and I. My co-sponsor finished the book first and when I finally finished it, I called he...more Great book about the struggles of being a teenager. I read this with my youth book club. They loved it, but you know teens, they like the dark stuff.

The Pact: A Love Story, by Jodi Picoult

We read this book as a part of our high school book club. By far, it was one of the student’s favorite books. They really related to the content. I had about 8 students, 7 girls and one boy read this book with my co-sponsor and I. My co-sponsor finished the book first and when I finally finished it, I called her right away. We talked on the phone for about an hour and a half. We discussed the book’s ending, our relationship with the characters, and the controversial subject matter of the book. It was a great book to read with young people, as it afforded them the opportunity to discuss their own issues in life.

What is it about???

It is about two families, neighbors. The families are born around the same time allowing the mothers to become especially close. The first born children spend every waking minute together, it is almost as if they are siblings. So when they are teenagers, no one is surprised when the two fall in love. And the question becomes, is love enough to heal all wounds? Can we love too much or be smothered by another. This is a book that deals with teenage suicide, and the effect such a tragedy has on everyone involved. Jodi Picoult does a good job of creating characters, and allowing the reader to see the connections between human beings when such a disaster occurs.

The book left me wondering, how would I handle it? What went wrong, and what could have been done to help? A question I posed to the students was: “Was Chris right in not reporting his girlfriend’s feelings of suicide to an adult?” Surprisingly, the kids felt he was justified in keeping her secret. I hope that as a result of reading the book, they have realized that sometimes the biggest gift you can give a friend sometimes comes in the form of what looks like betrayal.

I recommend this book. I enjoyed it, although it was quite heartbreaking in moments. I am currently reading another book by Picoult called My Sister’s Keeper. It seems that Jodi Picoult has continued to push the envelope with thought provoking and controversial topics. I am enjoying her writing very much.

(less)

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Nov 30, 2007 Lain rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After you've read a few Jodi Picoult books, you come to expect certain things. A compelling, flashpoint topic (teen suicide, stigmata, school shootings, sexual abuse, etc.) that rips a small New England community apart. Courtroom drama. Finely wrought family dynamics. A maverick lawyer, a quirky judge, and a lot of angst. Tons of plot twists and turns.

All of the above were present in "The Pact," a story of the death of a teenage golden girl, with her longtime boyfriend accused of the murder --...more

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Apr 07, 2013 Virginia Megson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I chose to read this book as i knew it was a romantic novel which is my favourite genre. It is fulled with friendship and love and reminds you of the importance of having family and good friends.

This book completes the 'male main character' off my board. This was a good option to pick for myself as usually when i am reading a romantic novel it is from a females perspective. This made the book a lot different to other romance stories.

This book follows the lives of two teenagers- Emily Gold and Ch...more I chose to read this book as i knew it was a romantic novel which is my favourite genre. It is fulled with friendship and love and reminds you of the importance of having family and good friends.

This book completes the 'male main character' off my board. This was a good option to pick for myself as usually when i am reading a romantic novel it is from a females perspective. This made the book a lot different to other romance stories.

This book follows the lives of two teenagers- Emily Gold and Chris Harte who have known each other since birth. They grow up together as best friends and in high school their friendship blossoms into something more. Suddenly bad news arrives- Emily is dead from a gun shot wound. The police doubt it was suicide, and now Chris is on trial for the murder of his beloved girlfriend.

My least favourite character in this book was Emily Gold. I felt she was very selfish when she killed herself. She should have reached out for help when she needed it. Emily wasn't thinking about anyone but herself. She had a bright future ahead of her that she sadly wasted. I also didn't like how she expected Chris to shoot her. Emily wasn't thinking about how he would have felt when she died knowing that he had killed her. I think this is horrible event to have happened and Chris should of spoke up about how Emily was feeling and her plans about killing herself because then she might of still been here today if he had.

My favourite quote from the book was 'you don't love someone because their perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that their not'. I think this is a good quote that you don't have to be perfect to be loved and that everyone is different in their own way.

This book really made me think about teen suicide and the countless what ifs family and friends would of felt after there loved one killed themselves. I think this would be a good book for teenagers to read so they know that this would be a selfish thing to do to their families. This story also made me think of my family and friends and how important they are in my life. (less)

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Dec 07, 2008 Tony rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: awesome-books, books-that-made-me-cry, the-best-of-the-best

Often times as readers we feel "set" in our ways when it comes to reading. I have patrons that come into the library and will take one look at a book and say, "I don't read books with violence in them" or "Women authors aren't really my thing". I can't blame them, but, as a librarian, I can encourage them to explore. Also, I have to encourage myself to explore. This is how I came upon the works of Jodi Picoult.

From a glance at the cover you would almost be willing to dismiss her as another roman...more

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Jan 11, 2010 Rose Ann rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. OMG this book drove me CRAZY!!! But I loved it...lol

Let's see...where do I start?
I was frustrated with all the characters for different things...

Melanie...for burning Emily's diary, which may have helped with the trial, and also maybe she should have told the police about the watch. Also her lack of communication with her husband Michael, and also burning Emily's photos.

Michael...for turning to Gus....did not like where I thought that was going to go....thank God it didnt.

Gus....for turning to...more

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Oct 09, 2007 Sonya Simmons rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone

I picked up this book based on recommendations from friends. I already loved Jodi Picoult from My Sister's Keeper, The Tenth Circle, and Nineteen Minutes. Yet again, she did not disappoint.

I don't know what to say about the book without sounding hokey...it is a great story about teen love and commitment.

I am always amazed at how deeply I feel I know Jodi's characters. Right now Chris is sticking in my mind and how often I just wanted to shake him and say "Tell someone! Don't be a hero!" But, i...more

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May 28, 2008 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book, as my favorite of Jodi's, stands in for the whole Picoult oeuvre, which I read mostly over the course of one summer and which is the proving ground for the split in my reading personality -- snob vs. storylover. Picoult is sentimental, always takes on at least one Issue, and pretty much smacks you at the end of each chapter, if not each section, with pithy Theme Sentences, but she manages to avoid after-school specialiness almost totally (no, I don't know how that's possible). She als...more

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Feb 20, 2009 Elin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'll admit that Picoult can tell a story and keep me interested, but she has some seriously annoying writing tics that almost made me stop reading. Some examples: "...,' he said softly"; "...,' she said thickly"; and (my favorite) "...,' he said, his eyes shining." Blech. Spare me! If only I had a dollar for every time I had to read one of these trite phrases. Is there not some other way to convey that someone is speaking softly than by saying "softly"?

Also, someone needs to re-edit this book b...more

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May 21, 2008 Erik rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book had a few moments I enjoyed, mostly end-of-chapter character introspection, but overall I didn't care for it. It seemed that all of the big, dramatic scenes involved circumstances that were too convenient. Actually, a lot of things seemed too convenient and not always consistent with the characters. I skimmed that last 100 pages (I don't enjoy courtroom dramas and this one rehashed a lot of things I'd already read). Nothing surprised me, and I suppose that had a lot to do with why I di...more

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May 28, 2008 Andrea Rockel rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Not my favorite JP book, but still an interesting read. I picked it up at EdMcKay without even reading the back, that’s how much I like Jodi’s writing, but this one is a little different than her others that I’ve read so far. It’s about a pair of teenage lovers, and what starts out looking like a failed suicide pact and turns into something much more complicated. Worth reading, but not one I’ll probably read again.

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May 12, 2009 Brandie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Brandie by: Kasi Lou

Shelves: read-2009

Wow. This story was intense. Had me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I'm gonna say this is my favorite Picoult book so far. And a great book club choice - can't wait to discuss at our meeting!

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Mar 26, 2012 NJ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Picoult Readers, everyone

Recommended to NJ by: Kim

Shelves: courtroom-drama, hurts-my-happiness, i-recommend, so-this-is-love, ebook, must-haves-slash-wishlist, well-this-is-actually-something-new, reviewed-uhm-sort-of

This book is what I consider a greater Picoult book - a work that has and will forever define Jodi as an author. The style is unquestionably hers.

What I love most about this book - and of her others as well - is the amazing courtroom drama (I'm obviously a sucker for that stuff). Her plot is also really great: socially relevant and unique at the same time. I can't say I loved her characters though. There is not one character (well, save for Kate and Thomas - who did very little in the book) that...more

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May 19, 2009 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: lost-sleep-over-this, books-i-own, books-that-linger

I bought this book merely because a girl in a bookstore approach me and asked me if I would like to buy her copy off her. She said she loved the book and she wanted money to buy another one of Jodi Picoult's books. I hadn't ever read anything of Picoult's before, I'd only heard that if you read My Sisters Keeper you should keep a box of tissues handy. I said yes, because hey its not every day that someone approaches me in a bookstore and I like a bit of spontaneity.

It took me a while to bother...more

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Nov 16, 2008 Laura-Jane Barber rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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

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Apr 09, 2008 Mrs. Bowers rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Picoult fans

The only reason I'm giving this book three stars instead of two is because I fell in love with the main character, Chris Harte. He was well-adjusted, loyal, and genuinely in love with his girlfriend Emily. Within the first few pages of the novel (or if you take the time to skim the blurb on the back), you discover that Emily dies as a result of an apparent suicide. The book spends the rest of its time detailing the absolute devastation Chris has to ensue -- it isn't enough that he has lost the l...more

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Jan 25, 2008 Erin rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: book-club-selections

I hated this book. I was especially angry that I couldn't find it at the library and had to go all over looking for it, and all that effort was wasted. I'm not sure exactly why we read it for book club, because the main female character was the complete opposite of strong. She was mealy-mouthed and pathetic, but I got the feeling that we, the readers, were supposed to sympathize with her anyway. As opposed to the author implying, "here is a despicable example of a woman, one who gets pregnant an...more

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Feb 20, 2008 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, 2007

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I really enjoyed "My Sister's Keeper", so I decided to read another one of Picoult's book. She has a lot to choose from, but I decided to go with this one because it sounded the most interesting. It's about two families who live next door to each other in a small town in New Hampshire. One of the families has a daughter named Emily and the other family has a son named Chris. They're about the same age and they grow up being really close, almost like brother and sister. They start dating when the...more

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Sep 04, 2007 Brandi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I just finished this book and I read it over the course of 3 days. I couldn't put it down, I HAD to find out the ending. I even found myself occasionally skipping a paragraph or two at a time just so I could read it faster. I'd realize what I'd done, stop, and go back and read the paragraphs that I'd skipped. Needless to say... it was a page turner.

It followed the story of a boy and girl, lifelong loves since the day they were born. I must say, I was hooked from page 1. Here is an except from t...more

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Nov 30, 2012 Sammantha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: tear-jerkers, romance-love, crime, young-adult, heart-felt

By far my favorite book of Jodi Picoult's. I thought Plain Truth was my number one, but after reading The Pact, I've found a new number one! At first I wasn't sure that I would like the way the book was laid out with the "Now" & "Then", switching back and forth. But I came to realize after I was continuing to read and finished the book, thats what made the book so great. I loved going back "Then" because it gave you the truth and a walk through their life and how they became to where they ar...more

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Apr 15, 2008 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I searched for the book on Goodreads, I was surprised it had a subtitle of "A love story," and had to go look at my copy to see if it was there. But it's there, though in very small (and light-colored) print. I'm not sure if it would have changed how I felt about the story if I'd thought of the subtitle when I was reading it.

Jodi Picoult has a way of getting under my skin with her writing, and this book is no exception. It's a story of "true love" and teenagers and sex and does any parent r...more

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Apr 17, 2012 Bethica rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: couldnt-finish

I picked this one up at the bookstore a while ago and just got to it since my Kindle's down and out. It started off with all kinds of excitement, but after a bit, it just drug on and on.

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Nov 20, 2011 Beverly.reid rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Pact was the first Jodi Picoult book that I have read, and I have to say that I was impressed. It touched subjects which are difficult to say the least. The Pact is a Romeo and Juliet type love story in which next door neihbours/best friends Chris and Emily eventually become lovers. Emily is killed in an alleged suicide pact, leaving Chris (as expected) accused of murdering her. The remainder of the book describes Chris's experiences in jail while awaiting trial, as well as the trial itself....more The Pact was the first Jodi Picoult book that I have read, and I have to say that I was impressed. It touched subjects which are difficult to say the least. The Pact is a Romeo and Juliet type love story in which next door neihbours/best friends Chris and Emily eventually become lovers. Emily is killed in an alleged suicide pact, leaving Chris (as expected) accused of murdering her. The remainder of the book describes Chris's experiences in jail while awaiting trial, as well as the trial itself. Intertwined with this storyline, Picoult also describes the circumstances which ultimately led to Emily's death, as well as the deteriating relationship between Chris and Emily's parents (formerlly best friends, but now distant due to Chris' alleged murder).
Many complaints regading Picoult's work involve Emily's character. She is described by other reviewers as weak, self absorbed, and so on. Perhaps she was weak, but a problem that may seem trivial to some is unbearable to others. I actually enjoyed her character (and for those who referred to her as weak may have forgoten scenes of her chilhood, where she was just as eager to jump in, to accept dares, and so on, as Chris) and could understand why she commited suicide. Other than the scene in McDonalds, as well as another particular spoiler), the pressure of being the lover of a boy who is practically your brother, as well as living to the expectations of parents who are EXPECTING you to marry could cause someone to consider suicide.

I also, despite enjoying Chris' character, found it rather unrealistic that an 18 year old could act and speak the way Chris does. Picoult's description of his first moments in prison, as well as his adaptaion to prison life,however, was very believable and well written. I was also frustratd with Melanie, and found her irriatang, even though I understoo the reason why she acted like such a bi**c to Gus. All in all, it was a good read and I would definately be reading more of Picoult's work in the future.(less)

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Best Sellers Bo...: * Is Chris Guilty of Murder?	8	16	Apr 28, 2013 06:39am
Best Sellers Bo...: * What is the meaning of blank scrap of paper?	9	18	Apr 26, 2013 06:01am
Best Sellers Bo...: * Is Melanie Justified In Her Reactions Towards The Hartes Following Emily's Suicide?	5	10	Apr 24, 2013 07:07pm
Best Sellers Bo...: Do You Believe Emily's Only Option Was Suicide?	10	15	Apr 24, 2013 07:06pm
Best Sellers Bo...: Hartes and the Golds	7	10	Apr 24, 2013 07:03pm
Best Sellers Bo...: * Does this book make you angry	5	17	Apr 24, 2013 06:46am
Best Sellers Bo...: * Do You Believe Prison Has An Effect On Chris?	1	7	Apr 13, 2013 08:05am

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About Jodi Picoult

Picoult was born and raised in Nesconset on Long Island, New York. Her first story, at age 5 was "The Lobster Which Misunderstood." She studied writing at Princeton University, graduating in 1987, and had two short stories published by Seventeen magazine while still in college. Immediately after graduation, she took on a series of miscellaneous jobs, from editing at a textbook publishing company t...more

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“I, um, I have this problem. I broke up with my boyfriend, you see. And I'm pretty upset about it, so I wanted to talk to my best friend. [...] The thing is, they're both you.” — 1,352 people liked it

“I love you," he whispered, and that was the moment he knew what he was going to do. When you loved someone, you put their needs before your own. No matter how inconceivable those needs were; no matter how fucked up; no matter how much it made you feel like you were ripping yourself into pieces.” — 749 people liked it

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