From the Bookshelf of Jodi Picoult Books Reading Group.…

Lone Wolf

Jodi Picoult

Start date: May 4, 2013

Finish date: June 30, 2013

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Why we're reading this: May/June Read-Along
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What Members Thought

Sep 12, 2012 Ramona rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Picoult surprised me with this one. Half-way through I thought I would probably wind up giving it a three-star rating, but she finally came through for me toward the end of the book. Though this didn't seem to be her usual line of story, it was unique in its own way. As I reflect, the time that Luke spent with the wolves told me a great deal about how loyal and yet how brutal the wolf can be. When you stop and think about it, they are more like humans than we think except their loyalty to the pa Picoult surprised me with this one. Half-way through I thought I would probably wind up giving it a three-star rating, but she finally came through for me toward the end of the book. Though this didn't seem to be her usual line of story, it was unique in its own way. As I reflect, the time that Luke spent with the wolves told me a great deal about how loyal and yet how brutal the wolf can be. When you stop and think about it, they are more like humans than we think except their loyalty to the pack is stronger & their brutal decisions greater. For example, once a wolf is evicted from the pack, there is no looking back. Luke says "it's not that easy for humans." One thing that Luke shares about the wolf that would be good for humans to learn is that "when you're a wolf, you live each day like it's the only one you have." Sounds strange I know, but my brain gets this. As we read about the seemingly close relationship between Cara & her father & about Edward & the distance between him & his father, one could almost envision a role reversal here. After all, who kept whose secrets? Edward seemingly leaves the family after his father supposedly rejects his coming out to being gay. Cara's mom, Georgie, moves on with a new husband & young twins. When Cara & her father are in a car crash, Luke is in a coma. So many questions--who was really driving, was Cara driving under the influence, will Luke regain consciousness, should the discontinuance of life support be considered? Edward stumbles upon a piece of paper his father had drawn up & signed & told Edward about when he was a teenager as Luke was about to leave home to live with the wolves that gave Edward guardianship to determine whether or not to remove life support should the occasion ever arise. Well, the occasion is here & Cara (almost 18) is livid that Edward, who has been on the other side of the world for years, can make this decision. What ensues is going back & forth from Cara's thoughts, Edward's thoughts, Joe's (Georgie's lawyer husband) thoughts & also Luke's story told in the first person about his time with the wolves which ultimately culminates in Edward & Cara going to court with Joe serving as Edward's attorney. What decision will be made & will it be the right one? One comment that Edward made that sticks with me as he is looking through their family photos is, "This is what I like about photographs. They're proof that once, even if just for a heartbeat, everything was perfect." Look back at photos & think about how true this is. The thoughts of Edward and Cara in the last chapters were so moving for me that I changed my mind to this being a four-star book. The Epilogue & Barney's story brought me full circle where I realized I had to be where I was to get to where I needed to be with this story of family & hard decisions. .? I also enjoyed the use of a few illustrations throughout the book. The inner covers of the hard copy are beautiful & the artist did a great job with the cover for the book. Another thing that makes this book special for me is that a friend had this copy signed at a book talk by Picoult. I only hope one day that Picoult visits near me in Florida so that I can meet & listen to her share about one or more of her books. ...more

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Mar 03, 2012 Jenn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle

I feel that Jodi has gone back to her roots in writing this one. It contains a very emotional court case and features the voice of many of the main characters. All of which are flawed in some way. Many are carrying terrible secrets. Except for maybe Joe, the father-in-law. His only fault seemed to be that he loved his wife too much and forever felt that he would lose her as he wasn't good enough.

Cara seemed like a very immature almost eighteen year old. It can never be easy to have to watch a p ...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Sheila rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

Some things stuck out. Like the character "Danny Boyle"... that name was in Mystic River. Plus Picoult ALWAYS used his whole name when talking about him. The main character having a TV show on Animal Planet (Steve Irwin reference?)

Otherwise great read! Was slow in certain areas and repeats of situations as different people talk in the first person (which all Picoult fan are used to). Great twists and turns as well! ...more

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Nov 23, 2012 Heidi rated it liked it

Not her best or my favorite. But good.

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Jul 31, 2012 Britta rated it really liked it · review of another edition

"It's a funny thing, how - no matter how much bigger I am than my mother - she still is the one holding me, instead if the other way around."

"...being a grown-up doesn't mean you're fearless. It just means you fear different things." ...more

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