The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult - 4 stars

[Ellen]

After a near-death experience in a plane crash, Dawn Edelstein realizes that her life path may not be the one she was meant to be on. Yes, she loves her husband Brian and their 15-year-old daughter Meret, but when her life flashed before her eyes she was transported back to Egypt and the man she left behind; Wyatt. As a Yale undergraduate in Egyptology Dawn had been part of a crew at an important archaeology dig. At first Dawn and Wyatt were contentious with one another mostly due to their jealousy over each other's careers. In time their love of their work brought them more closely together and they fell passionately in love. Back at home Dawn's mother had been placed in hospice care and Dawn had no choice but to leave Egypt behind to return to Boston for her mother's last days and to care for her much younger brother. During her long days at the hospital Dawn was comforted and befriended by Brian, a man who was visiting his dying grandmother. Knowing her life in Egypt was done, Dawn eagerly fell into a relationship with Brian.

Dawn began a new career as a death doula, one who assists those who are dying with whatever the patient believes needs to be accomplished before their death. All of these patients and Dawn's own experience with the plane crash lead Dawn to consider her own mortality and the paths she could have chosen. She knew that Wyatt was still working at the archaeological dig and fifteen years after she left Egypt, Dawn found herself back at the sandy ruins. Was this where she was always meant to be?

I mostly enjoyed the book although I have to say the sheer amount of Egyptian archaeology information became a bit overwhelming at times. The story itself is a good one about a woman trying to discover her true path in life and the characters are well-rounded and interesting. It's an intriguing premise.

[Amy]

Oh I just loved this one! it totally stayed with me. Write to me privately to tell me your thoughts about the end!