Jodi Picoult Books Reading Group. discussion
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Handle With Care
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Misty
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Feb 10, 2010 08:24AM
I was the same way. I couldn't understand why she put in the ending like that. Just to make us want to throw the book across the room or something? The issue was already thoroughly brought up, and discussed. I was completely satisfied with both sides of the argument. Why on earth did it have to end that way. I had Handle With Care at a 5 Star, but the ending took it to a 2 Star. Ugh....
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I kinda thought thats what she meant by the ending too. The family had been through so much. And I think Charlotte had already learned her lesson. ie the scare during the trial. By the end she really was a changed woman. Charlotte always stood her ground that there is no way knowing Willow now she wouldn't want her alive, but at 12 weeks, knowing she might suffer a great deal if she makes it past birth. I dont think think there was anything wrong with her line of thinking. Doesn't matter whether you agree with abortion or not, she was saying she didn't want her child to suffer. And just like you said. Lots of parents have those thoughts all the time. My question what would have that done to Amelia, if this was real life? She was already very fragile, and now this ending really was because Willow was sent out to get her. I still stand by my 2 stars. It is a book that should be read no doubt. I would recommend it to any one. Id just tell them to stop reading about 20 pages short of the ending.
I agree, the ending was sad, but that is just the way Picoult writes... look at My Sister's Keeper- it ends in a similarly tragic way. Although I don't love the sad "twist" endings, I do love her style of writing- I love the court cases, and the way she tells the story from different points of view.
I find it peculiar that after having read My Sister's Keeper, I knew that the ending of Handle With Care was going to include Willow's death. It became apparent to me after reading the first few pages that the book would lead to her demise. What gave it away? The whole book was written in second person. Everything we read, was directed at Willow. I admit that at first I thought this was a eulogy of sorts, and being the optimist that I am, it had even crossed my mind that she would live until she was older, moved out, and this was a book of recipes and stories for her to peruse while she was living away on her own. In the back of the book, Jodi mentions that she saves Willow's point of view for last because she wants us to read this book as if we were in her position. I still think that Jodi might have wanted us to serve as the jury, because ultimately, Willow's opinion mattered most to Charlotte. Even though I sensed the ending several hundred pages before arriving there, I still can't get over the tragic ending. How ironic that all Willow ever wanted to do was skate or swim, and now that desire has killed her? Also, how amazing that she didn't break this time around? Instead she drowned, just like Amelia had drown in her blood, like Piper had drown in her remorse, and like Charlotte had drown in her sorrow.
I just finished the book and was completely caught off guard by the ending. WOW! I loved the book, but really didn't like the ending.
How ironic that all Willow ever wanted to do was skate or swim, and now that desire has killed her? Also, how amazing that she didn't break this time around? Instead she drowned, just like Amelia had drown in her blood, like Piper had drown in her remorse, and like Charlotte had drown in her sorrow.Monica - you are right on with the quote above.
I actually hated the mother - betrayal of a good friend is not acceptable ever!!! A lot of children who have siblings who are seriously disabled get - I don't want to say ignored - but ignored.
I can't get out of my head that Willow chose to die
I had figured that at the end Willow would die--the journal entries reminded me of Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas (by James Patterson), however, I didn't really get the feeling that she consciously wanted to die.Amelia was in a better place (physically and mentally) and her parents' marriage was more stable so I can't imagine that she wanted to die as that would totally send her family in a tailspin.
I thought perhaps she was feeling braver and since she had no incidents for a time period she thought she would take a chance and go on the ice.
Sean disappointed me as I think he should have not gone back to his wife.
Amy wrote: "Marti wrote: "How ironic that all Willow ever wanted to do was skate or swim, and now that desire has killed her? Also, how amazing that she didn't break this time around? Instead she drowned, just..."Amy - I think she climbed out onto the ice knowing she was killing herself... not that she would not have any options once the ice broke.
I don't think she knew she was killing herself. I think she just liked to skate and walk on the ice. It was unintentional.
It seemed that Charlotte was always somewhat jealous of her friend. Were you surprised she won her lawsuit? After Willow's death do you think Sean stayed with her?
Of course she was jealous! I don't think she should have won. I think that Sean probably stayed with her and the mourned together.
I think that this book was the most unoriginal Picoult book I have read. I have always been a fan of her works but I was left very disappointed by this book. It seemed to draw from The Pact and My Sister's Keeper. The ending was exactly that of My Sister's Keeper and I felt that the ending to that story was more thought provoking than this. That being said, I did enjoy that the book was written as though everyone was talking to Willow. I also enjoyed the use of baking terms within the context of the storyline. It just wasn't enough to make this books stand alone against all of her other books I have read (which is a lot!).
I am currently reading the book! I'm totally closing my eyes to all your comments! *Spoiler alert*But I WILL be back in a few days to discuss the book when I'm done with it!
Ta ta for now!
Caitlin wrote: "I think that this book was the most unoriginal Picoult book I have read. I have always been a fan of her works but I was left very disappointed by this book. It seemed to draw from The Pact and M..."Read the last bit of your comment :D Try House Rules :)
The book was amazing, and probably one of my favourites, but the ending was disappointing. I knew it was coming though, as it was in second person. Kind of a eulogy, so I started expecting Willow's death by the end of the first chapter. It was classic picoult, with her usual addition of something close to the character, and the final recipe was quite poignant. It really drew you into the emotion and suffering of a heart-broken mother and I really enjoyed the second person.
I agree with Nikita -- I just can't hate JP's endings -- they are all about Irony and are intended to throw us off track but really make you think. That's why I like JP so much, I think about her books long after I have read them and put them down. I have a fellow teacher who refuses to read anymore JP after being side blinded by "My Sister's Keeper's" ending she hated it and won't read any more of JP's books. I remember while I was reading "Plain Truth" And I kept thinking it was one character and it was really another and the ending shocked me within the last page or so. I remember telling my students that I was down to the last 4-5 pages and figured that the surpise ending wasn't going to happen but JP did it to me AGAIN!
just finished it. It's an amazing book, well-written and well-thought. I can't say I hate the ending, but I surely wish that it wasn't the case. JP is full of surprises, but the ending is not one I would have wanted. =(Poor darling Willow.
I loved this book! So far it's one of my favorite's by her. I was surprised by the ending (as I am by most of her endings) I wish she would have ended it differently but it's still one of my all time favorite books. I love how she does such thorough research on the subject matter in her books.
I enjoyed this book from the first page until last. At first, I thought it was going to end with happy ending and so on. I was wrong. I was shocked by the ending. Well, I really like Willow's characteristic because she make me realize that life is worth to live. :) Jodi Picoult's writing always amuse me. I learn so much about health issue from her books.
Tanrak, I agree. I will read some of the passages aloud to my husband & he always comments about how he learns more from me reading Jodi Picoult's novels than he did in school.
I do get kind of tired of Jodi's endings that seem to be more predictable (sad) than truly impactful...like she has lost her touch for awhile.
Handle with Care..... I had a great urge to throw this book out of my window after finally finishing it, but then I realized that I couldn't. One, because then I'd still have it, it'd just be sitting in my backyard. Two, I had to pay 19.99 for it.
I'm really glad I came to this discussion today, because I was just thinking about this book. I read it a few weeks ago, and the ending it still in my head. I must say- first off, if you have a child with a disability, you have a child- in the flesh. So going on with a wrongful birth lawsuit will hurt the child, just as it hurt Willow. I understand that Charlotte had alot of debt and there was ALOT that needed to be paid for, but if it came down to me suing my best friend for not telling me about the condition of my child sooner, and making my child believe I wanted them dead, or finding another way to pay- I would've chosen another way to pay. Charlotte not only lost her best friend, but everyone hated her, knew she was in it for the money, and she severely hurt Willow emotionally. Am I the only one who thought the trial was bull, especially when people would come out and ask straight up -"if you had known sooner, would you have aborted Willow?" and she NEVER directly answered, but in court you would have to. I think Charlotte was too self righteous, similiar to the Character "Nina" in Picoults book "The Perfect Match". I also felt really bad for Amelia, because she got the short end of the stick all the time, but I do have to admit- when she admitted that she rather be an ass just to live up to her reputation, she annoyed the hell out of me. The book brought out ALOT of emotions, and it's the first book that has ever made me cry (the part where they are in the courtroom showing the video of Willows daily life). I have to say- I HATED the ending, but the book was so brilliantly written, I couldn't help but love it overall. The one thing that still blows my mind is the very ending what Charlotte does, it makes no sense to me whatsoever. Also, the whole Ice situation, I agree with alot of you on that- if that were real, Sean should've put up a fence or something, or at least have enough common sense to NEVER let a child with OI go outside in the snow, or go near the slippery ice- WATCH THEM!
I believe that the horrible ending was an important partg because its really saying..that was all foe nothing. Everyone hurt, and friendships ruined, marriages, literaly everythinh runined. All for nothing.
I definitely agree Cece. I have strong feelings on the book, the ending still blows my mind.
SPOILER to my Sister's KeeperI agree Cece--similar to the ending of My Sister's Keeper (the book). Sometimes (just as in real life) so much time is wasted trying to "gain" something and then everything is lost.
I am trying to think if there have been any JP "moms" that I liked--maybe Lacy (Peter's mom) in Nineteen Minutes except she didn't seem to see the bullying he suffered even from his own brother. JP very eloquently captures the dark parts of the moms--the parts that are usually hidden from public view.
Amy wrote: "Ok, I just finished reading Handle With Care, just a few minutes ago, and though I love the book, I HATE the ending. Has anyone else read it? I am trying to understand why Jodi Picoult wrote the en..."I also hated the ending and was so mad at Jodi for ending the book in that way. I was thoroughly shocked and disappointed and thought it very unnecessary to end that book in such a tragic way.
**SPOILER ALERT** I was SO very upset after completing this book. I felt like I had just wasted my time. I mean, after all Willow had endured and then she dies anyway and so young?! I am really glad I have read through the comments because it sheds a new light on why the author may have ended the story this way. And I need to keep in mind that this is fiction. Which is hard to do because the characters are so relatable.
