Small Great Things in Around the World in 80 Books

Jul 14, 2018 Amy rated it really liked it

I finished this book a few months back. I really like this author and I thought this was one of her best. Without giving spoilers, I think it gives an accurate representation of racism and white supremacy. It turned my stomach that’s for sure.Picoult is great at making people think deeper about relevant issues in society. Her books are not fluff. I highly recommend this book. Why did I not give it 5 Stars? For me, technically, it dragged in some spots where I would have preferred the story to st ...more

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Feb 17, 2017 Kay Green rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: bookclub, r-s, rereading

This is my most favorite book since reading Nightingale summer of 2015. I loved the reading experience: what it taught me, how it challenged me to think differently about racism and white privilege - all wrapped up in an amazing story. I always think that for me to love a book I have to care deeply about the characters - I cared so much about Ruth, Edison, Kennedy and her family, Ruth's mama and even the judge and Odette. But then there were characters that I despised horribly. I listened to the ...more

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Sep 28, 2017 Diane rated it really liked it

4.5 stars. An African American labor & delivery nurse is banned from caring for a baby on the request/order of his white Supremicist father, and a note goes into the baby's file that no African- American personnel are to touch the baby. The next day, the infant goes into distress and dies. She could lose her license by not attending to the baby, or open herself up to undefined trouble if she ignores her supervisor's directive and the patient request.

Ruth Jefferson has her master's in Nursing fr ...more

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Jan 18, 2017 Sunflower rated it really liked it

Shelves: e-books, fiction-read-2017

As you would expect from a book by this author, it has the potential to keep you up at night to find out what happened next. Jodi Picoult tackles not only racism but our inbuilt prejudices which are below the surface, using the flashpoints of a dead baby, a black neonatal nurse, and a white supremacist couple. Told from 3 different points of view, which never becomes intrusive, this book covers a lot of ground with well fleshed out characters. It is never in doubt who is on the side of right, bu ...more

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Jan 24, 2017 Tanya rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. In every book Jodi Picoult writes, I feel some kind of connection that draws me in to root for the character and peaceful resolution. I loved the detail of every character in this book, even if I didn't actually like person. One passage that especially brought me to tears was the following, which happens immediately after Ruth arrived at the hospital where her mom has been taken after her two strokes (which lead to death):

"Some kind nurse has left the body for me. I go into the small curtained In every book Jodi Picoult writes, I feel some kind of connection that draws me in to root for the character and peaceful resolution. I loved the detail of every character in this book, even if I didn't actually like person. One passage that especially brought me to tears was the following, which happens immediately after Ruth arrived at the hospital where her mom has been taken after her two strokes (which lead to death):

"Some kind nurse has left the body for me. I go into the small curtained cubicle and sit down beside her. I take her hand; it's still warm. "Why didn't I call you last night?" I murmur. "Why didn't I go visit you this past weekend?"
I sit on the edge of the bed, then tuck myself myself under her arm for a moment, lying with my ear against her still chest. This is the last time I will have to be her baby.
It's a strange thing, being suddenly motherless. It's like losing a rudder that was keeping me on course, one that I never paid much mind to before now. Who will teach me how to parent, how to deal with the unkindness of strangers, how to b humble?
You already did, I realize.

And another passage that inspires me to think about my path that had been created:

She walks toward m. "Look at you," Ruth sneers. "You're so proud of being a public defender and working with people of color who need your help. But did you ever think our misfortune is directly related to your good fortune? Maybe the house your parents bought was on he market because the sellers didn't want my mama in the neighborhood. Maybe the good grades that eventually led you to law school were possible because your mama didn't have to work eighteen hours a day and was there to read to you at night, or to make sure you did your homework. How often do you remind yourself how lucky you are that you own your house, because you were able to build up equity through generations in a way families of color can't? How often do you open your mouth at work and think how awesome it is that no one's thinking you're speaking for everyone with the same color skin as her? How hard is it for you to find a greeting card for your baby's birthday with a picture of a child that has the same color skin as her? How many times have you seen a painting of Jesus that looks like you?" She stops, breathing heavily, her cheeks flushed. "Prejudice goes both ways, you know. There are people who suffer from it, and there are people who profit from it. Who died and made you Robin Hood? Who said I ever needed saving? Here you are on your high horse, telling me I screwed up this case that you worked so hard on; parting yourself on the back for being an advocate for the poor, struggling black woman like me...but you're part of the reason I was down on the ground to begin with. "

Powerful. This book had so much courage in it. I am ready already to read it again! ...more

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May 01, 2017 Kim rated it it was amazing

I often read books that teach me something I didn't know before. This riveting book reminded me to acknowledge the things that I don't want to know. Unlike most of her books - this book didn't have a "catch your breath" moment. Every chapter was crystal clear & if you were paying attention - you might have an idea about where the story line was going. And yet - you still had to squirm a little & take the trip with this author. There are some books which you want to read & some that you need to r ...more

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Oct 01, 2018 Carol rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Maybe a bit contrived (especially the surprise twist at the end) but, oh how the message of this book is needed in our nation. Kudos to Picoult for tackling racism and developing the characters which were relatable, if not always believable. I read "Waking Up White" by Debby Irving this summer so the themes were similar and so I wasn't surprised to see Irving was a consultant. This book that was hard to put down. ...more

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Nov 30, 2020 Anu rated it really liked it

The author did her research and even included a bibliography at the end of the book. For a fictional book that’s quite rare, but there was a good reason: she’s white, but she wrote from the perspective of a black woman - not everyone appreciates that. To be fair, she also wrote from the perspective of a male white supremacist... I enjoyed the story a lot, it kept me hooked until the end.

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Dec 10, 2019 Liz rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

“There is a fire raging, and we have two choices: we can turn our backs, or we can try to fight it. Yes, talking about racism is hard to do, and yes, we stumble over the words - but we who are white need to have this discussion among ourselves. Because then, even more of us will overhear, and - I hope - the conversation will spread”

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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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