Rachael’s Comments (group member since Aug 26, 2012)

Rachael’s comments from the Jodi Picoult Books Reading Group. group.

The warm fall day starts like any other at the Center—a women’s reproductive health services clinic—its staff offering care to anyone who passes through its doors. Then, in late morning, a desperate and distraught gunman bursts in and opens fire, taking all inside hostage.

After rushing to the scene, Hugh McElroy, a police hostage negotiator, sets up a perimeter and begins making a plan to communicate with the gunman. As his phone vibrates with incoming text messages he glances at it and, to his horror, finds out that his fifteen-year-old daughter, Wren, is inside the clinic.

But Wren is not alone. She will share the next and tensest few hours of her young life with a cast of unforgettable characters: A nurse who calms her own panic in order save the life of a wounded woman. A doctor who does his work not in spite of his faith but because of it, and who will find that faith tested as never before. A pro-life protester disguised as a patient, who now stands in the cross hairs of the same rage she herself has felt. A young woman who has come to terminate her pregnancy. And the disturbed individual himself, vowing to be heard.

Told in a daring and enthralling narrative structure that counts backward through the hours of the standoff, this is a story that traces its way back to what brought each of these very different individuals to the same place on this fateful day.

Jodi Picoult—one of the most fearless writers of our time—tackles a complicated issue in this gripping and nuanced novel. How do we balance the rights of pregnant women with the rights of the unborn they carry? What does it mean to be a good parent? A Spark of Light will inspire debate, conversation . . . and, hopefully, understanding.


*****


Hello All,

Sorry I have been so late on getting this post up. My personal life has been crazy lately, so I have not got much time to jump on goodreads. This is going to be a more laid back read a long since I did not have time to organize it and find people to be discussion leaders. Read the book at your own pace and leave your thoughts as you go along. Please leave the page number in your post just so there are no spoilers for people that haven't made it that far. I have started A Spark of Light and I have to admit this so far has been a hard read. I'm trying to come into this book with an open mind. I knew the topic beforehand, but I'm trying not to let my own opinion cloud my enjoyment of this book. I watched an interview with Picoult and she said she would explore both sides and she is doing a really good job so far. I will leave more of my thoughts as the discussion gets started, but feel free to leave spoilers in your comments just give a heads up on the page number.

Heather wrote: "bit late but I have to express my emotions somewhere!! OMG they were ghosts the whole time!!! wow!!! The scene where they were having their moment under the tree with the mushrooms!! and where she ..."

I'm glad to see that you enjoyed Leaving Time. It has been so long since I read the book that I don't remember the answer to your questions, but I'm thrilled to read your post and see that you enjoyed the novel so much.

What would you guys think about doing another read along that doesn’t involve a Jodi Picoult book, but an author similar to her?

Rich wrote: "Questions:
1. In book, Scottish weddings Are sealed with a blood vow. Could this help a marriage to survive, having a marriage scar?
2. Jamie said “you only fall in love once, he had his time”. Is ..."

1. I don't think that a marriage scar is going to make you any more commited to your marriage because you have to make the marriage work. You have to want to be married to that person.

2. I think for some people this is totally true and for other people they fall in love multiple times or don't find the right person the first time and finally find the right person in their second marriage. It really just depends.

3. I think in Jamie's case he definetely was blind by the love he had for Maggie and he wanted to do whatever she wanted. He didn't want to see her suffer any longer. I think love makes people do things they wouldn't normally do, but I still believe that the choice Jamie made was extreme as far as "love is blind" quote.

Rich wrote: "I just finished today. I am going to post a few discussion questions as per group read outline.

My thought on the verdict. I was a bit shocked he was not found guilty of something and maybe gotten..."


Too be honest I found the ending somewhat predictable. I really felt like there was no way the jury was going to convict him even though he clearly commited the crime.

Hello All,

I'm excited to announce that Jodi Picoult's publisher has contacted me and would like to host a Small Great Things Giveaway once again. This time for the paperback release.

I will be hosting the giveaway over on my blog: https://rachaelc94.blogspot.com/2018/...

The post is not live yet, but will be up early tommorrow morning, so enter over there if you are interested. This is for US residents only. I do ask that if you already own a copy of Small Great Things that you do not enter the giveaway, so people that have not read the book have more of a chance to win.

Also be sure to check out what readers are saying about Small Great Things: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ffpvq...

Hayley wrote: "I’m also half way through and looking forward to seeing what comes next...

I agree with you both about marriage being 50-50, there has to be give and take on both parts.
My favourite character s..."

Nice to see you join in Hayley. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts about the book as you make it through the book.

Rich wrote: "Excellent comments Racheal. You really went to work on reading this. I am only about half way done. I will keep in mind your motive consideration as I read. I look forward to see how the trial goes..."

I use the bookout app to track my reading and this book took me 12 hours to read. I think it would have taken me longer to read, but I'm trying to get rid of my library pile before March because I'm reading books I own the whole month of March. I only have 8 days left to read like four books.

I finished Mercy and I'm so excited to finish discussing the book with you guys. I had some issues with Mercy, but overall I did end up enjoying the book. I read it pretty quickly and spend a lot of my evening time reading Mercy, so that is a sign of a good book.

A thing that Jodi Picoult always gets me thinking about is motive. Specifically in this book I'm interested in the motive of Jamie and Cam. I think some of the questions were answered towards the end of the book, but I think some was left up to the imagination also. I would have loved to find out what happened with Mia, but the more I think about it she was a really minor character in this story and more so when she had no involvement with Cam or Allie.

I won't spoil the ending, but I'm super excited to discuss it down the road.

I'm totally with Rich on marriage is a 50-50. If you are always the one doing the work for the relationship then it probably isn't a good relationship, but there should always be a give and take.

I think Allie saw in Jamie the love she wants from Cam, so that is why she was willing to risk her relationship with her husband to be apart of Jamie's defense.

Allie was my favorite character throughout the book. I think she was loyal to her husband, helpful to Jamie, and all around just a good person. I enjoyed her character.

Okay I finally made it to 120. Here’s my questions:

Who is your favorite character so far?

What do you think possessed Allie to help Jamie before she even knew him?

Jamie told Allie that marriage is never 50-50 do you agree?

Rich wrote: "Rachael. Sounds good. To me that part of story is not whether he is guilty by the law but whether he is morally in the right or wrong. Can he possibly be found not guilty (or limited punishment) if..."

I think part of my problem with the book so far also might be the idea behind it. I don't think it is right that he killed his wife for any reason. I would feel endlessly guilty because what if she could have got better. Miracles happen every day, but I'm also trying to see his point of view from the other side because there are times where you have to watch the ones you love suffer and they suffer for a long time. I can see how he wouldn't want her to go through with it. Like any other Jodi Picoult book there is always a lot of thinking and wondering.

Lorri wrote: "Rachael wrote: "I’m 60 pages in. So far mostly confused about what this book is about. I mean in my mind he has admitted to guilt, so where is the story. We will wait and see. I have a four day wee..."

Hi Lorri. Good idea. I updated the dates since I got a late start on the book. I'm trucking along now. I will come up with my questions within the next couple of days for the first section. I'm intriqued, but so far mostly confused.

Rich of course this is a read along and it is meant to be a place to discuss the book. I put that there so people that have not read the book know that there are spoilers when opening the thread. Try to put what page number you are at, so if I’m not there I can skip that post, but otherwise this thread is a free for all.

I’m 60 pages in. So far mostly confused about what this book is about. I mean in my mind he has admitted to guilt, so where is the story. We will wait and see. I have a four day weekend, so I’m going to try to catch up.

Sorry guys kind of failing at this read a long right now. I'm finishing up another book that I started and I still haven't started Mercy. I'm planning on it being my next book.

I'm going to start Mercy tomorrow. I'm ready to get this discussion rolling. Sorry I'm a couple days late.

Welcome all!

I have updated the post to include the page numbers. We are going to be reading around 100 pages a week. Feel free to read ahead, but try not to spoil for other people.

I will be the discussion leader for the first week and Lorri has volunteered for the 2nd week. The discussion leader will post 2-3 questions for the group to discuss during th week.

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 that he'd grant all her wishes, even her wish to end her life. And when an inexplicable attraction leads to a shocking betrayal, Allie faces the hardest questions of the heart: when does love cross the line of moral obligation? And what does it mean to truly love another?

Praised for her "personal, detail-rich style" (Glamour), Jodi Picoult infuses this page-turning novel with heart, warmth, and startling candor, taking readers on an unforgettable emotional journey.

February 12-17 pg 0- pg 120 Beginning of Chapter 7 Rachael
February 18-24 pg 121- 212 Beginning of Chapter 12 Lorri
February 24- March 3 pg 213- 322 Beginning of Chapter 18 Rich
March 4-10 pg 322- 400 End of the Book

I have finished Vanishing Acts. I enjoyed the book. I was happy with Andrews ending, but not as much with Delia’s. Despite Eric’s problems I still think he was trying to be a good fiancé and father. She needed to do what is best for her, but I think it will completely ruin Eric’s friendship with Fitz.

I think she felt some sort of loss having no mother growing up that she wanted to prevent other people from the loss she felt.

A question I wanted to ask is who is your favorite point of view?

So far I would have to say Andrew because his chapters are the key to finding out the motive behind the kidnapping. I also like Eric’s chapters. I think he is slowly figuring out his flaws and how he can remedy them.