Small Great Things in Crazy Challenge Connection

Feb 07, 2018 Martha rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, big-books-18, read-2018, read-women-18, unreadshelf2018

Blaaaahhhh this was another book where I hovered between three and four stars (even down to two stars briefly), I'm really struggling with it. I think it's a 3.5, but I had to round it upwards because if I'm being totally honest, I could not put it down.

Small Great Things is the story of Ruth, an African-American nurse who is accused of killing the baby of a White Supremacist; Turk, the White Supremacist who is looking for vengeance after the loss of his son; and Kennedy, the public defender ass Blaaaahhhh this was another book where I hovered between three and four stars (even down to two stars briefly), I'm really struggling with it. I think it's a 3.5, but I had to round it upwards because if I'm being totally honest, I could not put it down.

Small Great Things is the story of Ruth, an African-American nurse who is accused of killing the baby of a White Supremacist; Turk, the White Supremacist who is looking for vengeance after the loss of his son; and Kennedy, the public defender assigned to Ruth's case.

What stopped this from being a proper four-star rating was ultimately the way in which she chose to tell this story. Firstly, the use of a White Supremacist as one of the central characters. This viewpoint is so extreme it's basically a stereotype. It's not that I don't know that people like that exist, but just that if one is writing a book about race, having a white supremacist as a central character doesn't add any value - of course he's going to be racist! That's not raising any awareness about unconscious bias, it's a foregone conclusion. My fear would be that it would allow some readers to sit back in a smug way thinking, "well, I know I'm not racist because I'm nothing like him!" and any of the subtle racism would never seem as damaging in comparison, which undermines the potential power of this book. It also reinforced my suspicions about Picoult's motive in writing this novel. I find Picoult to be quite formulaic - take a controversial and/or highly emotive issue (children with cancer, suicide, rape, race), shock readers, throw in a twist or two, move onto the next controversial issue. White Supremacist + African-American nurse + dead baby?! Ultimate shock factor.

As the story progresses, we do start to see more examination about the more subtle racism through the interactions between Kennedy and Ruth. This was much more interesting because this is the kind of racism that will be exhibited by a far greater number of people. When this relationship was developing in the middle of the book I was at a solid four stars, despite the occasional eye roll about the constant forced introspection of EVERY character, a style which Picoult seems to favour.

What threw me into confusion was the last few chapters. (view spoiler)

After I finished this book, I read the Author's Note and came to the conclusion that Picoult's intention in writing this book and the breadth of research she did on the subject was ultimately commendable. I found it interesting that Picoult says her audience is other white people, because nothing will change until white people admit their own bias - which I fully agree with. I read this in a readalong with some friends on Instagram, and it has sparked a lot of debate.

Ultimately, even if it was following Picoult's trademark shock formula, and even if the ending waaas ridiculous, if this book gets more white people talking about race, then that's an achievement. ...more

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May 21, 2018 Anne ✨ Finds Joy marked it as x-dnf

For some reason I had a hard time with the first person point of view with these characters.. it was not feeling authentic for me.. too much tell, not enough show. I was listening on audio, and it felt odd. I may try again in book form later, as reviews were so good from others.

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Oct 10, 2016 Nikki rated it really liked it

I received this book for free from a goodreads giveaway.

Wow this book was really good! I have read a few of Jodi Picoult's books before, and have liked them all. I was a little hesitant about this book because of the race issues. This book is about Ruth, an african american nurse being accused of harming a white supremacists baby. The white supremacists end up suing her. Ruth ends up with a white lawyer. Ruth tries to show Kennedy that everyone sees in color, and what white privilege really mea ...more

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Sep 25, 2017 Kristin rated it really liked it

Shelves: literary-fiction, 4000-books

This is one of Jodi Picoult's best books except for one thing: the ending ties up everything in a neat package which doesn't fit with the realism that precedes it.
Picoult succeeds in bringing all sides of a hot button issue to her readers. In this case, it is racism. Her novels brings validation to African Americans and a soul-searching teaching tool to whites. This book provides interesting discussions for a book club. ...more

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Apr 08, 2017 Jackie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: edingus, w2017-finished, 2017-aty-52, book-clubs, the-life-of-a-book-addict, kindle-books, 400-to-500, library-books, doorstops, where-s-your-card

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