This is my first time reading a John Grisham novel. Based on what I read from book reviews here in goodreads wherein sometimes reviewers compared auth...moreThis is my first time reading a John Grisham novel. Based on what I read from book reviews here in goodreads wherein sometimes reviewers compared authors or they sometimes mentioned their favorite authors, I had this idea that John Grisham wrote serious novels. I'm surprised to find out that this one was not a serious type of novel, but more of a light and humorous one. For me it is a light reading wherein you can read and enjoy it and not be stressed out (compared to Jodi Picoult's). There are parts that for me are really funny like there's this scene that they need to put a Russian doctor on the witness stand out of desperation.
What I really like about it is that I learned a lot of things about the legal system and about lawyers in America. How was it like working in a law firm and all these things lawyers do to make money. And the book also shows continuity because it does not stop from one case. So, I learned that in being a lawyer sometimes you will lose your case, but you can learn from your mistakes and win your next case. I also like the realistic portrayal of lawyers wherein there are lawyers who are almost perfect and there are lawyers who are not that good in litigation. Some only care for money and there are some who genuinely care for people. I still don't know if this is the best book from John Grisham, but this is the latest one so maybe if you are a John Grisham fanatic you really should read this. (less)
The story involves a very interesting rape case. This is my first time reading a rape case wherein there's a big part of me who thinks that the rape v...moreThe story involves a very interesting rape case. This is my first time reading a rape case wherein there's a big part of me who thinks that the rape victim is annoying and I am actually rooting for the rapist. The sweetheart defense is really strong and it's hard to tell who's lying and who's telling the truth. Jodi Picoult is really good at this and it really makes me think hard about what is really going on. There are a lot of twists and turns that makes the story more exciting and engaging.
I already read four of her books (My Sister's Keeper, Nineteen Minutes, The Pact and the Plain Truth) and it feels good that although there are a lot of elements that are still the same I still find this one interesting from her other works. What I like about it is that the plot is well thought out compared to Plain Truth, indeed its plot is very fluid. I like the comic strip parts of the books even though they are fillers, they are nice fillers. I like the Dante's references and how it connects with the storyline.
My only complaint is that I find the ending not satisfying because it lacks closure. I think Jodi Picoult's novels are limited with word count because the story is already really long and maybe she can't write the continuation anymore so it ended that way. I feel bad that there is no court drama in this novel and majority of it is focused on investigation. However, I still find this novel thought-provoking and well written. (less)
The book started a bit slow. Compared to the other Jodi Picoult books that I've read (My Sister's Keeper, Nineteen Minutes, The Pact) this seems a bit...moreThe book started a bit slow. Compared to the other Jodi Picoult books that I've read (My Sister's Keeper, Nineteen Minutes, The Pact) this seems a bit dragging and you probably be bored reading the first half of the book. The thing that I don't like about it is some of the parts of the book is irrelevant and is only there as fillers. Like for example, the paranormal aspect of the story wherein Katie can see her sister Hannah's ghost in the pond. The love story of Katie and Adam is also written poorly. Also, the flashbacks are written in italics that you can hardly read it.
Despite of those flaws, the second half is really interesting and fast-paced. The thing that I really look forward to is reading the court drama in every Jodi Picoult book. It makes you think hard and sometimes it's hard to not really get into it even though you know that it's just fiction. The ending of the story is probably one of the most disturbing and shocking endings that I've read. It is open-ended and it leaves a big question in the mind of its readers.
Spoiler....
At the end, we learned that Katie's mom was the one who killed the baby and she confessed it to Atty. Hathaway after Katie's trial (the decision of the court: Katie is guilty but she will not be put in jail but will suffer a sort of experimental house arrest). Technically, Katie is still free despite the fact that that was the verdict (seems like a victory in the part of the defense) but after the shocking confession of Katie's mom the lawyer was put in the pressure of telling the truth or just keeping it for the sake of everybody. And the story just leave it there with a little bit of hint that the lawyer might just keep it a secret because she has developed a bond in the family.(less)
Very similar to the anime. Truth be told, watching the Anime back then I am one of the few crazy people who thinks that Light's actions (killing crimi...moreVery similar to the anime. Truth be told, watching the Anime back then I am one of the few crazy people who thinks that Light's actions (killing criminals with the use of Death Note) is okay. If you ask me is it moral to kill criminals, I would say yes it is.
Back then when the anime series is really popular, my friends talk about it a lot and debated with it a lot. The majority thinks it is wrong to kill criminals and it's like I and only one of my friend feel like it is okay to kill them. They are actually shocked to learn that that was my opinion.
Actually that friend (who also agrees that criminals should be killed) really likes Light and she was the only Team Light because I have become Team L when Light kills Raye Penber. That was my only objection to Light's actions because in the process of this plan of his, he eventually kill the FBI agents in order to fulfill his goal. Which I think was really immoral (to kill innocent people).
I was actually rooting for Light at first and for me he's like an antihero hero of a story. But I just can't be okay with him killing the police so yeah Team L. (less)
This book has a very interesting protagonist/narrator. He loves prime numbers. He hates brown and yellow. He knows a lot about capital cities of diffe...moreThis book has a very interesting protagonist/narrator. He loves prime numbers. He hates brown and yellow. He knows a lot about capital cities of different countries. He finds it hard to understand human facial expressions, jokes and metaphors. Etc. Etc.
Actually if there's a real crime (not just a killed dog) and a bigger mystery and somehow a more complicated plot I'll give it 5 stars. But the story is very simple so just 3 stars. I still like it because I learned a lot about Math, Science, Sherlock Holmes, etc.
Also the atheistic comments and the dry humor makes it more compelling and enjoyable. (less)
I love this book. It's easy to read, straight-forward and memorable. I immediately fell in love with the story because of the characters. Atticus Finc...moreI love this book. It's easy to read, straight-forward and memorable. I immediately fell in love with the story because of the characters. Atticus Finch, Jem and of course Scout. It brings you back to your childhood when life is easy and you're always playing with your siblings, friends and neighbors. The time when you always look up to your parents and your parent/s will be your teacher, friend and role model. If you liked Tom Sawyer or the first half of The Book Thief you might like the first part of "To Kill a Mockingbird."
To be honest, reading the middle part becomes tedious and I just want something big to happen. So, I stopped reading for a while and watched Nikita (American TV Show). After I finished that, I resumed my reading and right then I couldn't stop reading because it became really interesting.
One thing that haunts me and angers me is that it doesn't end the way I liked it to be. Reading the first part, it felt like a fairy tale. I was really hoping that it will be a happy ending for Robinson. I felt like I was slapped by the author. This is the sad reality that she wanted me to read and to experience. I knew that it was obvious, the title itself is a foreshadowing. It's a tragic story of injustice and racial discrimination. I just felt really bad reading it especially the parts when a child read a current event about Adolf Hitler and what he's doing in Germany. In America the Whites discriminate the Blacks, in Germany the Germans discriminate the Jews.
This book is an eye-opener and I learned a lot of things. I hope that I'll be able to treat everyone equally without prejudice and discrimination. (less)
***Movie Update: I just saw the movie today and I have to say that it was so much better than the book! The pacing was great, the actress who played...more
***Movie Update: I just saw the movie today and I have to say that it was so much better than the book! The pacing was great, the actress who played Lisbeth Salander nailed the role and all the Financial Journalism nonsense was obliterated. Even the Blomkvist-Cecilia love affair was not seen. The movie has awesome camera shots and it was a very good adaptation of the book. Even made the book amazing in my eyes. Now I'm really confused why I don't think that the book was awesome when I read it. Well I'll just blame it on the author's writing. I'll caution on some disturbing rape scenes, nudity, foul language and violence on women though. (R-18 and not for sensitive audience.)***
Book Review: Caution: The book contains rape, incest and misogyny, if you don't like to read a book that sick and disturbing don't read this. Review may contain spoilers.
Pros: 1. The book is a mystery/crime/suspense/thriller ergo a breath of fresh air for a reader of paranormal, fantasy and romance genres.
2. The book has an interesting heroine in the name of "Lisbeth Salander" who was four feet 11, antisocial, anorexic and has no boobs, but inspite of that was an exceptional hacker with a photographic memory. Not to mention she got piercings and tattoos that's why she's so bad ass. (She's the girl with the dragon tattoo so to speak.)
3. Cool thing was the murderer uses Bible verses and then parodied it into his crimes.
4. The book also talks about hacking and you will also learn a thing or two about poisons.
Cons: 1. I hated books that have slow pace and definitely this book was slow as a slug. The action sets in only on the second half of the book.
2. Pointless, pointless details! The author would describe clothes, sandwiches, and writes just anything the character was doing (drinking coffee, jogging or reading a particular book).
3. The casual sex! Blomkvist would have sex with Berger and then later on would also have sex with Cecilia and then much later on would have sex with Lisbeth. Surprisingly no one got Syphilis at the end.
4. The book talks a lot about Financial Journalism wherein from the first chapter had irritated me because I don't have a f****** clue what they're talking about and I don't even care about Financial Journalism that it really makes me bored to sleepiness (I even skimmed on the epilogue because I really don't give a damn).
5. Plot too many (to put it simply).
6. Rape scenes of Lisbeth was SICK!
7. Predictable and cliche: - Blomkvist go to Martin's House - Martin locked Blomkvist on the basement - Martin was the murderer. - Just as about the murderer would kill Blomkvist, Lisbeth came. - Blomkvist was saved of course. - Martin escaped. - Lisbeth followed Martin's car on the road using her motorcycle. - Martin's car was hit by the truck (talk about ANTICLIMACTIC!)
8. The Mystery ended with this: Gottfried was a sick murderer, he loves killing women, he taught his son Martin about it too. Martin also loves killing women too. Gottfried rapes her daughter Harriet. Harriet killed his father. Martin witnessed the incident. Martin rapes her sister. Harriet cannot tell anyone about it because Martin would tell everyone that she kills their father. Harriet was not murdered when she disappeared on Hedesby Island, she only escapes, she was alive and she was living on Australia using Anita's identity. (I was disappointed by it because I was really expecting she was murdered and the murderer was a genius to hide the evidence, but it was just Harriet escaping WTF!) ___________________________________________________________________ I'm so happy I've found a copy on Booksale for only Php130.00!(less)
I don't know how to say this, but this book was certainly one of the books that I had read that left a huge impact on how I should see things. This wa...moreI don't know how to say this, but this book was certainly one of the books that I had read that left a huge impact on how I should see things. This was definitely one of those that I will always remember and never forget.
Truth is the book is depressing, while I'm reading it I'm feeling that the book lacks something and that was "humor." If I have to compare it to My Sister's Keeper wherein there are still dialogues that I've found humorous, this book has none of it. So if you are planning to read this, I better warned you that the book will make you feel depressed, guilty, angry, sick and hateful that you find yourself almost like you're suffocating.
There are moments wherein while I'm reading it I felt like having a dejavu because you can relate to the story. In all honesty there might be more of those moments in my life that I was the bully than I was the one being bullied. There is this scene in the book wherein Peter was pants-ed and humiliated in front of the cafeteria and that also happen in my school during High School days wherein a boy from our class suffers the same fate and just like Peter this boy was bullied every day of our whole four years in High School and what I did back then was I laugh at him like Matt, Josie and the others in the story did. When I think about it bullying was a reality, wherein it happens every day and as long as you’re the one not being bullied you don’t care because we are that selfish.
I loved that Jodi Picoult tackles controversial issues on her books and what I loved about her is she would give you the different perspectives of a story. Because of it the story was not just in the surface and you will realize that every character was complex, human and they are real, they are not one-dimensional.
I learned that one can never judge other person perfectly and without bias and prejudices. As long as you don't have the same experience, you can't understand someone. Maybe you could say that you empathize with the victims who died on the shooting, the victims who are not killed, but their whole lives have changed dramatically wherein they became paralyzed, traumatized or their appearance will not be ever the same because of the scars left by the gun shots. But in the other side you can also empathize with the killer who was being bullied and humiliated physically, emotionally, psychologically all his life.
I loved that the book made me think in a different way and not one-sided. I loved that at first I hated the killer, but as the story progress I learn to understand why he did the shooting and I realized that he was biggest victim of this all and how was life was really unfair for him.
I also loved the ending of the story unlike My Sister's Keeper wherein I really loathed the ending. I think that she ended it right and I loved that even though the ending was a sad one, but having Alex pregnant I think lessens the sadness of how the story ended because I think that the baby symbolizes a new hope for them. (less)
This is the thrid Jodi Picoult book that I've read. First of all, I'd like to thank Atty. Monique who gave me this book last Christmas. I used to read...moreThis is the thrid Jodi Picoult book that I've read. First of all, I'd like to thank Atty. Monique who gave me this book last Christmas. I used to read ebooks of Jodi Picoult and this is the first time that I read an actual JP novel. I've read My Sister's Keeper and Nineteen Minutes by the same author and what I realize is that Jodi Picoult is a formulaic author. She writes novels which are mostly medical, ethical and legal in nature and her books are mostly serious, heavy and infuriating. So, if you want to be relaxed or you want to have fun while reading (or what we called simply the pleasure readers) Jodi Picoult may be not be your cup of tea.
The Pact is very Jodi Picoult. Heavy drama, intense, thought-provoking and a type of story that you might feel angry or depressed while reading it. At first, I felt a little bored because I felt that the story is too slow at the beginning. It has a shock element at the beginning because it was a case of a Suicide Pact. The story is a sort of a puzzle and there are times that the author will bring you to what happen in the past. A little information is provided in the beginning and then as the story progress more and more information will be provided. As it progress, there is a doubt if what happen is a double suicide gone wrong or a murder. What I like about it is that, the whole truth is not revealed until the near-end of the story and even though I got the perspectives from a lot of characters I cannot somehow truly tell or understand what really happened and I can only speculate. This novel is also a mystery novel, so it's not like a 100% drama or love story.
I actually love this book because I learned a lot from it. I'm going to a law school this June and I'm not really sure if I know a lot about law and the judicial system. I'm a registered nurse and I felt that I have more knowledge about suicide and counseling. There is one part of this book that I can't forget, which in a room the lawyer, the psychiatrist and the client were there. It's told in the lawyer's perspective and somehow he thinks about what is the difference between how a lawyer talks to his client and how the psychiatrist talks to his client. The concern of the lawyer is to get the facts that he can use to defend his client while the concern of the psychiatrist is to know the feelings of his client. The lawyer is also afraid of getting the whole story because if the client admits or confesses the crime he might not be able to defend his client knowing too well that he's guilty. Actually I've experienced counseling and therapeutic communication before so it feels like the psychiatrist's actions for me is natural and what seems new is the lawyer's perspective about counseling. That's just one and I just learned a lot of things about how the justice system works and I gained a lot of insights and perspectives.
The only reason why I gave it four stars because I'm not convinced about the plot twist and the ending of the story. It seems unrealistic and contrived and I don't know why Jodi Picoult end it that way. I'll be happy if it ends the other way around. Maybe the author just want to leave a little bit of hope, but I wont be saddened if it ends with a tragedy.(less)
This book was totally amazing, though I will give it 4 stars because of what happened in the end of the book.
Anna was a genetically engineered baby so that in the future she could be use as a donor for her sister Kate who has leukemia. At first it was only cord blood, then she have to give her after a few years, lymphocytes, granulocytes etc., then a bone marrow transplant.
Anna was a little kid then so the decisions in these procedures well of course in her parents' hands. Now that her sister Kate has a kidney failure her mother asked her if she could donate one of her kidneys so that her sister could be save by death.
Anna then realizes that she had enough, she wants that she could at least have control over what would be done to her body because in the end, in a long-term run, having one kidney have risks. So Anna decided to sue her parents to have medical emancipation.
The conflict in this story was intense because now Anna should consider herself versus her family. Also Anna don't hate her sister Kate and that makes it more hard for her. And while I'm reading this book, I realized that, you know Anna's parents you can not judge them because I think that being a parent it's hard for them because they have to save Kate but it doesn't mean that they don't care for Anna, it's complicated.
Nevertheless I think the book shows and explains why does parents have to decide things like that, as I said earlier we can not judge them. And then Anna in the end have succeeded and she became emancipated, she no longer have to donate her kidneys. I love how does it happen in the court room, especially when they point out that this is not a case or whether or not Anna should gave her kidneys but instead Anna having choices and deciding for herself what's good for her body, because that's her body.
And then after that, after all the drama, the questioning of the court room, after Anna is finally free, she died on the same day that she was finally free. She died because of a car accident.
And I was like what the hell was that? I mean what's the point? It's like when I'm watching Final Destination when all these characters just die in stupid no reason at all way. It's just like that I really don't get what Jodi Picoult wants to point out, maybe because that would make the story unpredictable like "Got you! Bet you didn't see that coming!" or because it makes me sing that Ironic song of Alanis Morisette,"Isn't it Ironic? Don't you think?" or maybe she just want to end it with a bloody heavy drama we've seen in televisions that it's totally cliche.
Nevertheless I still recommend it, read it and you'll learn a lot of things. I'm a nursing student and last last year we've discussed this in Health Ethics actually but in truth I learn a lot of things while reading this than when I'm studying this in class. And if you're like a little bit hesitated especially if you don't like drama, drama, drama, there is a minor plot that has a romance in it.
So it's drama with a little bit of romance and some of the lines are still humorous but overall it's like a very serious and depressing book.(less)
I can't put it down and read it in one day. I remember my mom was mad at me because I'm like, "I don't want to eat yet, I'm reading a book!" After tha...moreI can't put it down and read it in one day. I remember my mom was mad at me because I'm like, "I don't want to eat yet, I'm reading a book!" After that I ate lunch, at our table while still reading and I'm holding the book in my other hand and holding the spoon in my other hand. That's how good this book is.(less)
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