Nineteen Minutes in Jodi Picoult Books Reading Group.

Jul 01, 2008 Cindy rated it really liked it

Shelves: cheezits-bookclub

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

Well, this book took me all of a week from beginning to end. For the most part, I enjoyed it. There were some parts that started to drag -- you know those parts -- where you sort of "skim over" the text just looking for important words in case you need to know something in the future. But, those were VERY few and far between mainly because Jodi moved from character to character so easily.

As far as the characters go, I found it very difficult to identify with Peter. I can' WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

Well, this book took me all of a week from beginning to end. For the most part, I enjoyed it. There were some parts that started to drag -- you know those parts -- where you sort of "skim over" the text just looking for important words in case you need to know something in the future. But, those were VERY few and far between mainly because Jodi moved from character to character so easily.

As far as the characters go, I found it very difficult to identify with Peter. I can't imagine school life being SO BAD that you feel that the only way out is to grab a couple pistols and shotguns and start taking out the assholes in school. I would just say -- "this is so wrong, I need help." And Josie, the female lead in the book...I thought she was a crybaby for the longest time. Oh, so pretty, popular, likable, all she did was bitch that her mom didn't understand her, didn't know her at all, her boyfriend was hot but was an asshole for the most part in my humble opinion. That part where they have sex and he slams his hand over her mouth to keep her from objecting -- hell no. Had that been me, he would have been short a penis after that!

Peter's family is one piece of work, too. I, as a parent, cannot comprehend the loss of a child. However, if you do lose a child, you do not alienate one because of the loss of another. It is NOT okay to compare the living to the dead. You can never live up to the dead -- and it's not healthy to idolize the dead. Dad decided that it would be a good idea to get Peter into hunting. Mom is so smothering that it made ME uncomfortable. However, as a parent, you DO snoop on your children if you think they are acting strange. You DO ask questions, you DO check up on what they are watching, who they are with, and what they are doing on the computer. If you can't figure the computer out, or anything else for that matter, you find someone who can. Mom had no idea that he was planning anything -- and he had the makings of a BOMB in his closet! Dad was, for the most part, oblivious to Peter at all. He had his favorite and his favorite died tragically. THAT is probably the one thing that garnered any sympathy at all from me for Peter. The fact that the person that he knows his parents "loved more" was a major bully to him -- his big brother. The person that was supposed to protect him no matter what. The person who he looked up to called him "homo" and "fag" all the time. The one person who he thought would be there for him -- shit on him constantly. The person he was constantly compared to turned out to be a drug addict and was lost forever in tragedy -- like some martyr.

There were parts of the book that steered you in the direction of pity for Peter. I could NOT do that. I just couldn't. I've been bullied, picked on -- who hasn't? I was BY NO MEANS, in any way, shape, or form a part of a "popular" crowd. I didn't have the looks, the money, or the family to be popular. So, I was unpopular and picked on. But there were kids who were picked on in my grade/high school who had it REALLY BAD. If it were today, I could totally see some of those kids bringing sawed off shotguns to school! Seriously. However, the kid who was picked on most is now an extremely well paid archaeologist who heads up the Archeology Department at some college out in California. All the popular kids have are pictures of them in their cheerleading and football uniforms and memories. Who really had the last laugh? That kid in my school could have been Peter, but Peter chose the wrong way out. He took the life of someone else's child to make his better. Or so he thought it would be better.

However, saying all of this makes for a good book. Jodi Picoult's character development is fabulous, and that's an understatement. She is one helluva writer. She evokes emotions that you are forced to face so that you can continue reading -- you HAVE to continue reading, you have no choice. She throws questions out there that make you think -- how would I do that? What would I say? What would I do? Why would anyone think that doing this is completely okay?

To me, the ending was more than predictable, but that's just me. So, I say again, I liked this book. I usually read books that are strictly brain-candy for me. Books where I can just read and not really think. This was a book that was a thinker but that I read and enjoyed -- but I wouldn't re-read it. It left me unsettled -- but it made me give my boys A LOT MORE HUGS. Good, tight-squeeze hugs! Because you never know what's going to happen in the future, do you?

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Mar 03, 2008 Jaymie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-2008, read-2023

Every child in high school should read this book.

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Mar 20, 2008 Kelly Jones rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: series

I am absolutely loving this book right now. Another one of her books I can't put down... but this is getting a bit ridick. I have a dissertation to write!!!

Im just closing in on Part II. I know something big is going to happen soon. I love all the small sections, great characters, and different points of view but I have a feeling I am going to have a love/hate relationship with the ending.

Good rec Regina for the book club. Regan you need to pick this one up if you are still on your Picoult kick! ...more

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Mar 07, 2008 Christy rated it it was amazing

A strong, solid Picoult about the repercussions and implications of a tragic school shooting. Loved the story, the attention to detail, the raw emotion conveyed through the characters, but I'm getting a tad weary of the formulaic "adolescent encounters trouble, bending into ethical dilemma, leading to tired legal dispute, finishing with the unveiled 'twist' at the end". ...more

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Jun 10, 2008 Stephanie rated it really liked it

As usual, I always love Jodi Picoult. This story is about a high school shooting in a small town and how it affects its inhabitants. As a Mom, it was really easy to identify with the Mom of the shooter and always wondering what she had done wrong, how did this happen, etc... It dragged a bit at times which is why I didn't go the full 5 stars. ...more

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May 03, 2008 Jenn rated it liked it

Not my favourite Picoult book. I knew there was something odd going on and I ended up being half right. I didn't feel very sorry for Peter. He shouldn't have ever killed all those students. Then again, maybe I just don't understand what it's like to be bullied that much. ...more

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