Hi, everyone has been telling me that I should read Jodi Picoult books. Her books are not my usual genre but I am willing to give them a try. I have a couple of questions if anyone can advise me. First of all, can I just choose any book by her and start reading or do they go in some kind of reading order? And two, I would like suggestions from members who like her on what book is the best to read first. Thanks so much for any help. Ammie

She is my favorite author!  They don't have anything to do with each other. I read My Sisters Keeper first and was instantly hooked.  You can start with any and hopefully you will like them as much as everyone I have loaned mine out to.

Happy Reading!!!!!!!!

Ammie, I have been wondering the exact same things!

You can choose any of her books - there is no particular order. I believe the most popular one is My Sister's Keeper - I read Nineteen Minutes shortly after reading My Sister's Keeper and really loved them both. If you have a public library they are likely to have some for you to choose from. They are pretty heavy as far as topic and characters, but really make you think - things from Nineteen Minutes still get me every once in awhile.

Thanks everyone. I am going to give her a try. I am going to step out of my "box", so to speak and try something new.

Her books are all very different from each other.

My Sister's Keeper is most people's fave, so best to start with that one.

Her themes for each book are taken from news headlines and then woven into a fiction book as she imagines what might be behind each story.

When you say it's not your normal genre, what do you mean? With a little info, we might be able to suggest which would most appeal to you.

My next faves were Salem Falls and Plain Truth. I also liked Tenth Circle and Second Glance, but they are her most unusual fare so save for later.

Dictionary of Literary Biography on Jodi Picoult

"With ten novels published by the time she was thirty-seven, Jodi Picoult ranks among the more prolific and ambitious young American writers. She has been characterized by critics as a women's fiction author; she contests this label, however, citing her popularity with both male and female fans. Her novels cross many genres, including literary fiction, legal thrillers, psychological portraits, romances, and ghost stories. In reviews, her body of work, themes, and writing style have been compared to authors as diverse as Alice Hoffman, John Grisham, and Daphne du Maurier. As this varied group of comparisons suggests, Picoult creates a new reading experience for her audience with each book."

I am about to read Vanishing Acts and The Pact - looking forward to it. Check out her website at www.jodipicoult.com

All her books are pictured there and you can click on a description of each and see which appeals to you (but start w/my Sister's Keeper  :-)! Everyone loves this one.)

Enjoy!

The Pact...my first but definitely not my only Picoult book.  It's the one that got me hooked.  Bought it on a whim at a used book store several years ago.  Could not put it down.  Have since passed it on to several friends & it is on my keeper shelf.  I checked most of hers out at the library, but I will never part with my 'first.'

there was one or two books were she brought the characters from other books but it really doesnt have an impact only if you read them all which I did...my sisters keeper is the one to start with in my opinion..

I have one or two posted, yo ucan read them in any order.

My first run with Jodi was "Perfect Match". I found the book to be phenomenal and I was ushered into her world of surprise endings and questioning ethics. I followed with Plain Truth and The Pact and have since read nearly all her books. There is no order to read them in save for a few cross over characters. I hope you enjoy.

Did anyone see the lifetime version of Tenth Circle? Was that a joke or what? I really hope they do justice to the book in the new mvoie for My Sister'sKeeper.

I have to agree with Nancy.  The Pact was one that I just could not put down.

Vicki

The 10th circle movie was terrible, agreed.

Just finished the pact and loved it.

Oh

What about Cameron Diaz in My Sister's Keeper? I'm not hopeful.

I love this author and am working my way through her entire collection!

I found that, as some have metioned here, a couple of minor chracters do reappear and their storyline continues within entirely different novels. I am one of those people that am picky about that sort of thing and would have preferred to know this and read in order.

If you like to do it that way then be attentive to these books and read them in this order:

The Pact

Salem Falls

Nineteen Minutes

The  character is a lawyer that ends up representing some main characters in these books. Enjoy!! 

I wish I would have known that order a few months ago... I read Nineteen Minutes and had a feeling the characters were from other books but had no idea which ones. Oh well, I don't think it ruined anything :) I think I might go start another Jodi Picoult book right now...

Also, there is no way I am seeing the new movie. They try to make the end of the preview slightly more light hearted but I've read the book, so no thank you.

This has got to be her "cream of the crop" book!  I don't see how any other could equal or exceed this well written story!  One of my favorite reads this year.

I had heard she was a popular and good author, and one day ran across My Sister's Keeper and The Pact - both is excellent condition - in a thrift store.  I read and liked My sister's Keeper.  I thought Ms. Picoult did a good job with the different characters and their way of looking at the issue.  The ending shocked me.  On the other hand, I just couldn't finish the Pact.  The topic was too upsetting to me.  I posted both on PBS and they were taken pretty quickly.