Vicki Mock
asked:
I'm very nervous to purchase another Jodi Picoult book. She was always my favorite author. However her last to books where so bad and more of a lecture or text book than an enjoyable novel I hate to waste anymore money on her writing. Has anyone here read her last couple of books as well as this one? Is this up to her previous standards?
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Wish You Were Here,
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Wendy
Don't buy it, check it out from the library. Not as bad as Book of Two Ways but still not like her older books. And if you're not ready to relive the beginning of Covid then definitely skip.
Terry
I'm extremely disappointed in her recent works as well. She used to be one of my favorite authors. Can't she even come up with a new idea? Her shameless use of the John and Yoko Ono story was terrible!!!!!
Glenys White
I totally agree. I didn't even finish the last book, and I have been a voracious reader of her books in the past.
Sophie Caliendo
Unbelievable. Where are all the high ratings coming from? In the Book of Two Ways and Wish You Were Here I felt that I was back in school being preached by a boring professor with statistics that no one cares about. I couldn't wait to get this book. I bought it the first day it came out. OMG I couldn't go beyond 100 pages. Next time I'll wait a year before and if I buy one of Picoults books. So Sad.
Jen
I wouldn't bother with this one...
Ann
Read it. I don't think you'll regret it. I read in less than a day, couldn't put it down.
Val Robson
I didn't get on with the Book of Two Ways but couldn't put down Wish You Were Here. I read the second half until the early hours of the morning. My only proviso is if you have lost someone to covid, or are squeamish about too much medical information this is not for you.
Judith
NO, this book is not up to Picoult's "old" standards. Small Great Things, and My Sister's Keeper are the 2 most outstanding books from her earlier and best work. More recently, her writing has been over-researched & tedious...namely Book of Two Ways, & Leaving Time, where you have to search for the storyline in a maze of too much information. Spark of Light is just plain awful, DNF. This book is all over the place & premature since Covid is still raging.
Marie Aliotta
I agree with you. Her books are taking on more of a political view. She writes on current topics and she likes to show her liberal views and some hatred in her prose. I'm tired of authors like her and Stephen King (I haven't read anything he has written in the last 20 years) using their novels as a bully pulpit.
Cardmaker
If I were you, I'd wait until I could get it from the library or borrow it from someone else. I bought it and after reading it felt like I'd wasted my money.
Kathie
I have read all of her books, I think she puts more research in her books than most fiction authors. She does have a liberal lean so if that bothers you, it might be a problem, like a Spark of Light, although I thought she covered both sides of abortion. I liked her last book but I love archeology so it was very interesting. I can't wait for this book!
Christine
I also was very disappointed with this book, as I have always loved her writing. Covid is real and many people have had devastating experiences and lost loves ones to be sure. To say the last couple of years have sucked for the world would be an understatement. But covid also became very politically polarizing and after reading this book, I could tell which side of the divide Jodi was on.
I kept reading( even after wanting to put it away) because as a fan of Picoult I felt it would wrap up nicely and I would be satisfied with the ending..... but it never really wrapped up nicely. It felt like Jodi was purging her own demons from the pandemic and being extremely preachy....like if Jodi saw me on the street without a mask I'd get a very snarky lecture.
It seemed very disjointed, (and maybe that was the point). There were parts of the story where I thought, "Okay here we go, now it will make some sense and all these different parts will start to tie together", but it just seemed to keep going in unexpected directions. And can I say, I ended up not liking the main character very much.
I kept reading( even after wanting to put it away) because as a fan of Picoult I felt it would wrap up nicely and I would be satisfied with the ending..... but it never really wrapped up nicely. It felt like Jodi was purging her own demons from the pandemic and being extremely preachy....like if Jodi saw me on the street without a mask I'd get a very snarky lecture.
It seemed very disjointed, (and maybe that was the point). There were parts of the story where I thought, "Okay here we go, now it will make some sense and all these different parts will start to tie together", but it just seemed to keep going in unexpected directions. And can I say, I ended up not liking the main character very much.
Roberta
Do not buy it, do not borrow it. Page 159 and I quit! I wanted to like it, had some interesting discussion about Toulouse Lautrec but the rest was the same old predictable, drivel, indicative of Picoult's latest books.
Sally
I, too, have been disappointed in her last few books, but this one was excellent. It touched my heart in a way that her earlier works always did. For me, nothing will top My Sister's Keeper, but Wish You Were Here was excellent.
I don't think it's too early to write about Covid, especially since so many people still think it isn't a big deal.
I don't think it's too early to write about Covid, especially since so many people still think it isn't a big deal.
Karen Silverman
I did not care for the insertion of her liberal politics; leave it out of your books. A disappointment for me.
Patti
I did not like it. She needs to keep her preachy political comments to herself and just try to write a good story. I could barely get through the last half.
Cindy
I'm another reader who finds the author's recent work disappointing because I was such a fan for many years (Small Great Things was a fantastic read). I could not get even 50 pages into Book of Two Ways, but I did finish Wish You Were Here although it was a struggle.
Julia
Don't buy it!! I am halfway through listening to it. It is a timely story about Covid, but I am so turned off with the arrogant and brashish nature of the main character in the book. She is a tourist and has that "I am better than you" attitude - towards the locals, while being stuck on an island on vacation. And then she has all the answers to the problems of a teenage girl she meets while waiting for a flight home. Really irritating.
Debrah Roemisch
I loved this book--it was up to her previous standards in my opinion. I did borrow it from the library, though I usually do that for fiction books.
Heather
Don't bother! I made the mistake of buying this and I want my money back.
Molly
I only buy one author's books (not Picoult). The rest I borrow from the library. I gave this book 4 stars (with reservations - maybe 3.5?) Definitely worth reading. The folks who complain of this author's "preachiness" are revealing something thin-skinned about themselves. There wasn't lecturing or moralizing in this book. There were only facts.
Nancy
I got about three-quarters of the way through and just tossed in the towel. Glad I got it from the library. I'd suggest doing the same.
Wendy
I enjoyed this one a lot more than The Book of Two Ways. I found the amount of Egyptology information overwhelming in that one and distracted me from the story. As a retired RN who worked in ICU for 14 years, the medical concepts discussed in Wish You Were Here were interesting to me. I’d recommend it.
I do agree her books have changed but we all change over time.
I do agree her books have changed but we all change over time.
Bret Kramer
I wish I would have read your question before I started the book because it would have reminded me why I went away from this author. I'm 1/3 into this and I'm regretting starting it. Ms. Picoult is a great author but her inability to accept the existence of multiple viewpoints on a topic leads you to a feeling of defensiveness if you aren't with her. Hearing the point of view as part of a dialog with many points of view is easy to do and I enjoy it, but reading a book, you are locked in to just what the author is saying and when you aren't on that path it is tough to continue. Her description of COVID reminds me of Captain Tripps and Flagg from the Stand. It's just too much.
Megan Logsdon
I typically love the research behind Jodi's books and really enjoy her showing both perspectives. Unfortunately, she didn't do this in Spark of Light--it was very one-sided and that's the last one I read. I'm hoping this one will be better but I think it's a bit soon for this topic.
Sue
Book of Two Ways and Wish You Were Here arent in the same universe.
I could barely hang on to BoTW but couldnt get enough of WYWH. Those are my only two Picoult books - I gave her another shot and I am glad I did.
I could barely hang on to BoTW but couldnt get enough of WYWH. Those are my only two Picoult books - I gave her another shot and I am glad I did.
Heather Smith
I agree 100%! I have refused to buy her last few books, and as soon as I read what this one was about, I couldn’t believe it?!?! Who wants to read a book about covid…and relive that unnecessary nightmare??? Same thing with some TV shows…like Greys Anatomy?! Reading and watching TV, especially fiction, are often suppose to be a welcome escape from reality! Obviously it’s your own choice whether to read it or not, but wonder if her sales will slip on this one!
Dawn Billings
Holy smokes, I thought it was just me. I have to agree I've been very disappointed after last 2. I"m going to give this one and a try and see if she wins me back.
Kelly France
She's got an ax to grind! And grind it she does. No more Jodi Picoult for me. :(
Linda Eguchi
I've read two of Jodi Picoult's books--Small Great Things and Wish You Were Here. Small Great Things was a "3" for me. Wish You Were Here was a "2." Awful. This is likely the last of her books I read. From what I gather, Picoult picks an "issue" and then builds her narrative around that. The issue becomes primary as opposed to real character development and an interesting narrative. I was hooked by the initial premise, but WYWH was "smarmy", really cringeworthy. She does a lot of informing, definitely not what I'm looking for in a novel, and It's all information that I'm already aware of, which is just annoying. I skimmed the last 100 or so pages. It never got better. Actually, it got worse. I could go on and on, but I think I made my point. Read something better.
Deb
I came here because I am having a hard time finishing this book as well, which is a huge bummer because I have been such a fan of JP. That said, her last book to really capture me was Leaving Time. Sadly, I'll have to put this one aside even though I am nearly halfway.
Chris
Read this one. It's good. Initially I did not want to read about covid since we are still living it in January 2022 but it really is a good read after you get through the first 3-4 chapters. Go to the library to get it.
Mo
Get it from the library.
Cindy Mecham
No, it is not. A lecture done passive aggressively. It is nothing but an immersion into Covid-19 when it was at it's worst in NYC. If you are looking to escape this is not your vehicle for sure.
Dani
I borrowed it from the library and I enjoyed parts of the book, but I was disappointed at how the speech "therapist" was portrayed, given that I believe Jodi Picoult does a lot of research for her books...just not sure who her source for speech pathology was, it missed the mark for me (I've been in the field for almost 30 years, work in an ICU, have been in the thick of Covid), and feel the profession could have been portrayed better. I didn't appreciate the insertion of her politics, favoritism towards certain celebrities, as well as the parallel to the John Lennon/Yoko Ono story either (as mentioned by someone else too), it could have been a great story without these elements scattered through the book. I have been a huge fan of some of her other books and have read every one, so wish this had been a better read this time too.
Jackie Latham
I'm nervous also. I love her books but the last one I didn't even bother with. I have it on hold at my library so we'll see if I read it or not.
Brianna Miller
I've found her books to be hit or miss as well. Some of them have been amazing, some I didn't care for at all. This one I really liked. (My other favorites have been Leaving Time, The Pact, and My Sister's Keeper, if that helps you at all).
Jan Pelosi
The Book of Two Ways was a total snoozer. I couldn't even finish it. But I'll give her another shot.
Ginny Iannelli
I agree. She was my favorite, but sadly no longer is.
Dana
Wow. I’m surprised by the poor reviews. This is my first book by Jodi Picoult and I was totally enthralled. The graphic descriptions of medical procedures and the hospitals in New York were heavy but the storyline was fascinating and the structure of the novel was clever. I am a fan and look forward to reading more of her works.
Susan Dermott
I liked this one a lot! I did not care for Book of Two Ways at all.
Wyma
I really liked this book and it was mostly because it was set during the Covid years. I appreciated learning about the ways a person could experience Covid, how she responded to her hallucinations, and what her fiance-doctor's life was like. I did not care for the ending; it did not logically follow the rest of the story which was as realistic as one would want a romance to be.
Emelyn Lee
She was always known for her technical jargon/terminology since My Sister's Keeper. I liked that she was willing to tackle controversial current issues and didn't always resort to the courtroom as a backdrop. My favourites were from the early 2000s till 2016 or so.
But nowadays she seems to prefer the multiverse route and shoehorning way too many sub-topics per novel...
She did have some extreme misses recently too, to the point they were hardly promoted/sold anywhere. Something about wolf boys and mermaids...
But nowadays she seems to prefer the multiverse route and shoehorning way too many sub-topics per novel...
She did have some extreme misses recently too, to the point they were hardly promoted/sold anywhere. Something about wolf boys and mermaids...
Susan Senior
Yes, I believe it is. If in doubt check it out from your local library. The explanation about Covid patients and treatments is an eye-opener. The dreadful toll on doctors and nurses is clearly explained.
Part 2 was intriguing. Cannot say it was pleasant reading but nevertheless
it was powerful.
Not many authors could tell this story. Jodi Picoult aced it!
p.s. I am now even more careful to sanitise my hands, avoid crowds and always wear a mask!
Part 2 was intriguing. Cannot say it was pleasant reading but nevertheless
it was powerful.
Not many authors could tell this story. Jodi Picoult aced it!
p.s. I am now even more careful to sanitise my hands, avoid crowds and always wear a mask!
Doris
This book was not up to the same caliber of writing that one expects from Jodi Picoult.
Penny Simmons
JP was once one of my favorite authors.....until the latest two books. These are not up to her earlier standards.
jennifer Daisy Head
Don't buy it. It is exactly like all of your concerns. I wish I hadn't bought it. Sadly I think this author is done. Try Kathleen glaskow.
_joyce
Borrowed. Good book, better than Book of Two Ways (the only one I couldn't figure out)
Karen Malin
Try this book. It's much better than some of her more recent works, even if there were a few things that bothered me about it. I really enjoyed this story.
Liz
I’m reading it now. The verdict is still out. Lol. I’ll keep you posted,
Carmen
As Wendy said: sign up at your local lending library. Most now have online lending. I pass most of my Kindle books from the libraries through Amazon, but they have a Libby app that lets you read books right on your phone or Ipad. I belong to 2 libaries so if one doesn't have the book the other one does.
Kim Carter
I enjoyed this one a lot more than book of two ways or spark of light. I think you’ll prefer it too as it’s much simpler & less research thrown in your face!
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