Search - Keeping Faith

Although I tolerated this Picoult title better than THE TENTH CIRCLE, it was another one that I could have lived without. I just never connected to the characters, and couldn't get involved in the story like I did with MY SISTER'S KEEPER and NINETEEN MINUTES.

I know others have read this book and loved it, and I totally appreciate their opinions! For me, though, this one just wasn't a winner.

Not sure how I feel about this one. The story of a girl who, with her mom, walks in on her dad with another woman. The little girl starts seeing visions of God, can quote scripture, even though she has never been taught it, can heal, raise from the dead and has stigmata. The story weaves in an atheist television host, the grandmother, the Catholic church, Jewish priests and the firestorm that is created when people hear of the girl – Faith. I did enjoy reading the book, taking it for what it is – fiction. I know there are some controversial things in it, but Jodi Picoult can tell a good story and she always makes you think.

I was hooked within the first page of this book! Picoult has completely grasped the feelings of motherhood. This goes to the top of my favorite books by this author...right next to My Sister's Keeper. It's an amazing story of a mother's love for her child and incredible strength to protect her. It leaves you wondering a lot about your own Faith!

Picoult does a good job on taking on the topic of religion and faith without being too alleluia preachy or cynical atheistic. Interesting novel that shows the mother daughter bond over three generations and the lengths that motherly love will go to protect her child.

This book was a little dry at the beginning and took some time to get into. No big twists or Ah Ha moments. I do find that Picoult likes to let you finish or decide the ending and what really happened.

If you want to read her books in order:
Songs of the Humpback Whale
Harvesting the Heart
Picture Perfect
Mercy
The Pact
Keeping Faith
Plain Truth
Salem Falls
Perfect Match
Second Glance
My Sister's Keeper
Vanishing Acts
The Tenth Circle
Nineteen Minutes
Change of Hearts
Handle with Care
House Rules
Sing You Home

While it was worth reading, this was not one of Picoult's better books. It felt a little too after-school-special and formulaic. Her usual twisty endings felt forced and weak in this story. I still enjoyed it, but after reading some of her other works, this one left me a little disappointed and didn't have me asking as many questions of myself afterwards.