Hi Everyone

My friend and I decided to read this together and we're about 5 chapters in. I was totally surprised by how dated the book feels! In the first introductions of Ellie she is putting a tape in in her car...a tape! Didn't we stop having tape decks in like 1995? And then later she is discussing how Katie's bedroom doesn't look like a teenagers because it doesn't have Leonardo posters in it.  Now, I had Leonardo posters in my bedroom when I was in like 8th grade...which was 1996-97 (think the wonderfulness that was Titanic).

So I was thinking OMG when did she write this...it doesn't seem right. Then I looked at the copyright which said that it was printed in hardback in 2000. so I imagine it was written around 98/99...so I guess that makes sense...but at the same time....Leonardo was already getting ousted by *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys....and the tape deck thing is still really throwing me off.

I guess she was writing for the times (late 90s) but it's just weird thinking that 10 years can feel like sooo long ago. Did anyone else notice this?

So, I'm retarded. I just realized that the story takes place in 93. okay the topical referrences are supposed to be dated. but now I'm wondering if Picoult wrote the book in 93 and just waited to publish it...I will say it's not her best in my opinion. Perhaps the publishers weren't sure about it at first...it just seems very random to set it in 93....

The 2003 car I just got rid of had a cassette player, and no cd player.

I also had a car from 2000 that had only a tape deck and no CD player so a book set in 1993 would really be on target with what you are saying.  I actually enjoyed that book a lot, but it was one of the first I read of hers.