Sing You Home in Jodi Picoult Books Reading Group.

Jan 05, 2011 Teresa rated it it was amazing

By Jove, or should that be, by Jodi, goddess of modern-day storytelling, she’s done it again! In Sing You Home, Jodi Picoult has covered the four E’s “educate, entertain, engage and enthuse” and has created a belter of a story which genuinely fits the description “unputdownable”.

This will be a short but sweet review as I don’t wish to include spoilers which would mar future readers’ enjoyment. The story is told from three different perspectives, Zoe Baxter, a musician and music therapist, her hu
By Jove, or should that be, by Jodi, goddess of modern-day storytelling, she’s done it again! In Sing You Home, Jodi Picoult has covered the four E’s “educate, entertain, engage and enthuse” and has created a belter of a story which genuinely fits the description “unputdownable”.

This will be a short but sweet review as I don’t wish to include spoilers which would mar future readers’ enjoyment. The story is told from three different perspectives, Zoe Baxter, a musician and music therapist, her husband Max, a landscape gardener and Vanessa Shaw, a high school guidance counsellor who enlists the services of Zoe to use music therapy with one of her students. Somehow these three fairly ordinary individuals become enmeshed in a legal battle involving the three frozen embryos which were left in storage after Zoe and Max’s many failed attempts at IVF. As in many of Jodi’s novels, there are difficult social issues but in Sing You Home, I think she’s done her best work and topics as diverse as infertility, gay rights, music therapy, Christian beliefs, discrimination, the role of the family, relationship choices are seamlessly woven together.

It’s not all black and white though – whilst it is clear that the author doesn’t hold much “faith” with extreme religious fanaticism, we do see a more subtle, multi-tonal representation of those who have been “saved”. I learned a lot about the difficulties faced by those undergoing IVF, the dashing of hopes and dreams. I was made more aware of the hardship faced by those in same sex marriages in what we would assume to be a more liberal 21st century. I realised how hard it must be to leave the supportive community of fellow Christians if you feel you can’t make it on your own. Yes, indeed, my mind was truly boggling after reading this book, in a good way!

This review is based on an advance electronic version provided by www.simonandschuster.com. It’s definitely a sign of a great book that I was willing to stay up to the wee small hours reading this on my laptop! I eagerly await the publication of the “real” book, 1st March in the US and 12th April in the UK when I will also be able to listen to the cd which accompanies the ten tracks/chapters of the novel. I’ve been interested in music therapy for a while and I look forward to hearing the voice of Jodi’s friend, Ellen Wilber who will be Zoe’s voice. Picoult fans, you are in for a treat!

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Jun 20, 2011 Megan rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2011

I always love Jodi for her fast paced (I have read ALL her books) stories and unpredictable endings. In the first few chapters my jaw literally dropped from how cliche the characters lives evolved. It breaks my heart to read about women who have trouble getting pregnant, as half of my married girlfriends are struggling with this now. But to divorce and become gay in the blink of an eye?! I know it happens but in the book it was just so damn quick!
I do enjoy the courtroom scenes though. Some of ...more

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Apr 21, 2011 Sue Seligman rated it really liked it

So far I am on p. 100 of Jodi Picoult's latest novel.I didnt know what to expect because the reviews and comments that I have read on this site and others have been mixed. After seeing her at t book-signing/brunch in March, I was excited to dive into this book. I have read almost 100 pages in a couple of hours, and I know it's going to get even more intense. This novel concerns many topical and important issues, including infertility, relationships, fundamentalist religion, homosexuality, gay ma ...more

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Mar 04, 2011 Jenn rated it really liked it

As always, a really quick read (at least for me) by Jodi Picoult. I found this had a different type of ending than most of the books I've read by her, but it was a happy one. Multiple tough issues were handled: lesbians, miscarriages, IVF, and embryos. I think thus is the first book by Jodi that I didn't cry at, and I think I missed that part. ...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Shauna McClure added it · review of another edition

The timeline was unbelievable to me, but otherwise I enjoyed it.

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Dec 20, 2010 alisonwonderland (Alison) rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2011-publication-date, book-with-soundtrack

Typical Jodi Picoult for me - which means I had a hard time putting it down and I cried several times. I haven't yet listened to the accompanying CD ... ...more

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