House Rules
discussion
Hello? What Happens to Jacob?!!!!!?
date
newest »
newest »
House Rules is my first Jodi Picoult's read and may be my last . i enjoyed the books 547 pages , until the end- i am unsure whether Jacob accidentally killed Jess or found her dead and cleaned and what was the outcome from the court ? i don't mind a book that leaves an ending for the reader to ponder but this is not one of those stories . Very disappointed like i have wasted my time
I just wanted to see if the boys got a punishment or not for covering up what happened! It was a very sudden inconclusive ending!
I absolutely hate books that leave you hanging. Makes me feel as though I wasted my time. I love Jodi's work but I'm all set on this one. Definitely WILL NOT recommend it to anyone.
Rachael wrote: "Is nobody else wondering who the 'I' was at the end of the last case study about Jacob's trial? I cant get it out of my head! Who was the person saying 'I would do it all again@'?? Also, i LOVED th..."so agree that is driving me crazy....it is sort of a cheap shot!
Could the i at the end of the book be the mom? This is driving me crazy.
most probably, nobody gets convicted because neither; Jacob or Theo, committed the murder.
Not only what happened to Jacob--but what about Theo? He should be charged with B&E! I read this book for book club. We had a really good discussion. I sure know more about Asperger's Syndrome than before.
I had a feeling that Picoult let the book end where it did so we readers could have the illusion of a happy ending, or, in other words: She didn't want to go through with what she created!I mean, let's face it.. We now know that Jacob didn't commit murder. We also know that Theo didn't commit murder. However, the jury doesn't know that yet. The family is on their way to the courthouse to finally reveal the truth, but - what if the jury doesn't believe it? What if they believe that, on last minute, the brothers came up with a nice little story to save Jacob's ass? They could still decide he is guilty based on the evidence that was already presendet by the prosecution. But let's pretend that justice is always fair and they really decide that Jacob is not guilty of commiting murder - still no happy ending!
Jacob meddled with the evidence. Jacob hasn't only meddled with the evidence, he did it in order to incriminate someone else.
Theo is guilty of breaking and entering not only into Jess' house, but other houses, too. He stole things from this houses. Surely, this has to come out now.
I doubt that Jacob would be given a prison sentence, probably he'd be allowed to be out on probation, but he'd still have a criminal record. About Theo, I'm not so optimistic.
I liked the book but I hate when books end with unanswered questions. I wonder how often cases with asperger's are in court and if they are allowed concessions.
If you go to the FAQ section on her page she says the hidden message is: "You’re thinking neurotypically, not like a kid with AS! Jacob tells you all along that the story will end when he proves his innocence to you…and so it does. Realistically, Theo’s information would lead to a mistrial, and the brothers would both be free to go."
Michelle wrote: "If you go to the FAQ section on her page she says the hidden message is: "You’re thinking neurotypically, not like a kid with AS! Jacob tells you all along that the story will end when he proves hi..."I've read that on her page, too, but I think Picoult is a little naive there on the legal part.
Katherine wrote: "I fit the profile of Emma. I am a single mom, have a son with Asbergers who is 16 and a son three years younger. The father is in my son's life, but he is in denial and ignores his condition. I ..."How can you say it was unrealistic when you yourself said you found many similar quirks to that of your sons and Jacob's? Besides, every family dynamic is not going to be the same as your own. I for one, definitely saw and felt the unconditional bond between Jacob and his mom. It was realistic in the way Emma did wonder about Jacob and wether he committed the crime or not, and how she struggles with her integrity and truth and doing what's right, to that of keeping her child safe, and loving him regardless. If there was one thing I did n't question, was that Emma loved her son. And throughout, that has always been put to the test. Her sacrifices are real. Just as much as Theo's insecurity and him growing into himself or Jacob's anxiety and struggle to perceive the world as others see it.... Jess, The friend, Oliver, The Stranger.... There's reality threaded right through and through.
As for the main plot, it's that of a Murder case.
That alone might make you find it to be "unrealistic" perhaps. As this story unravels, you see the moments pass as they occur. It's not just a random skip over.
With no offence intended, Could it be that you find this a unsatisfying read solely because Jacob did n't get enough closure with his family after the shocking truth of the events were unveiled, and as a mom yourself,that unsettled you?
Suzanne wrote: "Somebody please reassure me that I'm not the only one who is pissed that she didn't tell what happened to Jacob- as in: actual verdict & sentence.Love me some Jodi Picoult, but I will tell everyo..."
You are not alone. You are not the only one that wanted to know what happened to Jacob.
i went searching for missing pages when i got to the ending i thought id missed a few on my kindle. , not the best ending to a book
I absolutely hate it when writers leave us hanging...whether it's in a movie, show, or a book. 'House Rules' was no exception. There was no closure and that was super disappointing. I'd like to think that neither Theo nor Jacob got sentenced to prison. After all, neither of them committed murder. But they did withhold evidence and tampered with a crime scene. For that, I'm sure they will receive some sort of punishment in court. But still...it feels incomplete. Of course, the identity of the person who wrote "I'd do it all over again." remains a mystery and I hate it. It's confusing.
I like a good story. But I always need the ending to be nicely wrapped up in a neat bow.
Picoult answers this on her FAQ page.
this was my first Judi Picoult read and my last. Hate these kind of endings. Feel so let down
I am confused, maybe my eReader is not working right. The last section in my book is Emma kissing Jacob goodnight. Did she ever explain the whole situation?
Did anyone read the little case blurbs from other cases that were scattered throughout the book? Or does anyone kind of remember what I'm talking about? Well after the last page of the actual book book there is another case blurb about this actual story. In that it says that neither Jacob nor Theo were found guilty of anything, but that many people still had doubts.
I can't agree with all of you. For me this is good end, like in CSI when we know all details story is finished. The fans of "Law & Order" and "The Practice" probably even can tell you what will happen with Theo. Cases was very predictable, yes but Jodi Picoult want to make us to like Jacob, wich can't be possible from moral point if we think he is the murder. Probably Theo will have problems because the father of Jess, but he is a minor so this will help. Jacob obviously is not guilty because of the new facts, and can receive only doubled work with Dr. Morano for some period. Unfortunately Oliver is so weak lawyer, but will be good stepfather I'm shure! And Henry hope to support Theo in his case like for Jacob, but I believe his new wife soon will start make problems, so poor Theo will be ignored again. I don't see anything which isn't logically predictable, so don't feel it necessary to be written.
I'm thinking community service for both boys. Jacob would possibly get a longer cs sentence than Theo, for two reasons:(1) Jacob tampered with the scene, though it turned out NOT to be a crime scene; (2) Jacob is legally an adult, Theo is a minor. On second thought, Theo's b&e might have earned him an equal cs sentence to Jacob's, if that were the ruling. I wonder how the investigation would've gone differently if Jacob hasn't cleaned up and moved Jess's body. I wonder if the investigation of Jess's boyfriend, Mark, would've been continued to trial. Or, would Jess's death been ruled accidental from the start. Of course, this would be a _completely_ different book! ;-)
Disappointed with this book. Cant believe she would just leave the reader hanging in the end. If this is her style, I wont bother reading anymore of her books.
I just read it because it is on The Best Seller Code list. There are plenty of opinions about the book already, so I don't need to add anything. I agree that it's longer than it needs to be, too pedantic -- both on forensics and Aspbergers. The plot cheats in that the characters don't communicate effectively. I agree also with the opinions about characters having their own chapter and font: is an omniscient point of view more work to write ? I would have preferred a more realistic ending: not what happened to Jacob, but wasn't Theo culpable in Jess's death ?
I was very disappointed with the ending! I don't think either of the boys killed her. I felt one ran out when he saw her naked and the other found her already dead. Very frustrated. Will not be reading any other books of hers because I do not like these kind of endings!SV in Missouri
Jacob will get a sentence why you say well obstruction with justice, tapering with evidence, assaulting an officer of the law not to mention Theo: brake and entering, withholding evidence so they will be both doing time and yes even though Jacobs disability.
Never, in this 500+ page book, did anyone ask Jacob why he killed Jess, to which he would have said, "I did not kill her". Staggeringly poor communication with Jacob, from everyone who knew he had Aspergers and that he talked in a very literal manner. Nobody ever asked, "Jacob, did you kill Jess?" Amazing. In the aftermath, Theo goes to prison for manslaughter. Jess fell because he startled her, while robbing the house. Jacob does 10 yrs for tampering with evidence at a felony crime scene, and for falsely setting the blame on Mark. Oliver is disbarred as a lawyer for shameful preparation of a client in a felony case and for wasting the courts time and money. He has had it with the whole family and leaves Emma to become a pizza delivery man for the pizza shop below his apartment. Emma goes back to writing her column and becomes a closet alcoholic.
There, now you have an ending.
all discussions on this book
|
post a new topic
Love me some Jodi Picoult, but I will tell everyo..."
Oh okay, so it's not just an error in the epub book I downloaded, then. It really did "end" this way. That's ridiculous! Is there mention anywhere of a sequel or something?