From the Bookshelf of Nothing But Reading Challenges…

Small Great Things

Jodi Picoult

Start date: December 12, 2016

Finish date: December 31, 2016

Discussion: Books of the Month

Why we're reading this: December 2016 Anything Goes BOM
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What Members Thought

Dec 05, 2016 Kirsten rated it really liked it

Shelves: reading-with-catherine, made-me-cry

I am so impressed with Jodi Picoult. This is only the 3rd of her books I've read. I didn't like this one as well as Leaving Time, but it was still very powerful.

In her afterword, she says she hopes she doesn't offend any African Americans. She said she meant this for white people so they can see just how the deck is stacked in their favor.

It is a very powerful book with some wonderful female characters. People that are trying not only to do the right things, but trying to make a difference, but ...more

11 likes · Like · see review

Apr 27, 2017 Judy rated it really liked it

Listening to this book about racism, white supremacy, and prejudice was difficult at times. I don't see myself as a prejudiced person, but after listening to this book, I recognize that some of my behavior might be interpreted as such. I need to work on some modifications. Jodi Picoult's books always seem so timely and this one is no exception. I got home from teaching my night class last night with about 20 minutes left in the book. Yep, I sat out in the driveway and listened until it was over. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

May 12, 2017 Carrie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: american, tear-jerker, death, contemporary, audiobooks, multiple-points-of-view, social-issues, lawyer, racism, 500

The book is told through multipule pov, with Ruth the main, Kennedy her lawyer and Turk the father of the deceased baby. Ruth is a neonatal nurse, who has been accused of the death of a new born baby. Same baby she has been told she is no longer assigned too because she is not white. The parents are both white supremacists and she is African American. The story line is fact moving and the whole book held my attention from start to finish. With twists and turns that I did not see coming and end t ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 23, 2019 Jen Ifer's Inklings rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-books, library, read-in-2019

I'm not even sure where to start with my thoughts on this book. I think it's a powerful look at racism in all forms - blatant and inherent.

It's hard to understand the ways that (us) white people are racist when we don't think we are or we actively try not to be. It's not intentional and that is harder to grasp and understand as a white person. We have to do better and part of that is recognizing that everyone has some bias in them.

I have a lot of thoughts on this book but I'm not sure I'm read ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 22, 2016 Rebekah rated it liked it

Shelves: genre-book-club, genre-contemporary, genre-drama, genre-realistic-fiction, genre-novels, genre-adult, genre-adult-fiction, genre-womens-fiction-chick-lit, genre-fiction, nbrc-bom-br

This was a good read and a challenging topic for this author to address. Things moved a little into the unrealistic and schmaltzy area, but still interesting

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