Search - My Sister's Keeper

OK,I'm in the minority here in thinking this book was only so-so. There were certain parts of the book that had me in tears, and then there were other parts that just didn't seem to fit into the whole book. The story is told from a bunch of different perspectives, but I almost wish they'd just kept the POV within the family and possibly the lawyer and judge. With all the different narratives, you get bits and pieces of peoples' lives, and sometimes I feel that leads to distraction. I loved the flashbacks or the pieces of family history- those, I felt, added to the whole complexity and dynamic within the family. BUT, why was there so much time spent on the lawyer and his ex? SUre, their romance was a sweet side story, but it really took up too much of the plot. Also, we have this whole mystery going on about the lawyer's medical ailment that really adds zilch (and, to be honest, pales in comparison to Kate's leukemia).

I guess what I'm trying to say is, when the story is told from the eyes of the family, it is intriguing. When narrative switches to someone outside the family, it starts to plod. Jodi Picoult is extremely good at capturing emotions and the tiny nuances within the not-so-perfect family. But this just isn't her best book.

This book has so many dimensions! A true page-turner that makes you think about your life as a mother and as a sister. The last 10 pages truly make the book.

There had been so much hype around this book because of the movie that I tried to keep my expectations in check. And I'm glad I did. While I enjoyed the book, I felt like the author just kept adding more and more lines to draw things out. What was said in 50 pages could have been said in 30, in my opinion. I just kept thinking, "get to the point, already!" Scenes were drawn out when they could have been more economized, is all I'm saying. Anyway, I did enjoy the book for the most part. I was definitely ready for it to end. And boy, what an ending! IT WAS NOT BELIEVABLE, and that part stuck with me for awhile. I kept telling myself, "well, that's what fiction is all about, Tammy." But, I dunno....I came to like the ending after it settled with me. Suspension of disbelief, they say.....

Really well written book about a family that seems believable, coping the best they can with a bad situation. The ending hits like a ton of bricks. The whole premise of the book really makes you think about the moral implications of some of the scientific advances we have today.

This was the first Jodi Picoult book I read and oh boy was it a real stinker! I can't think of any other books that I hate as much as this one. The writing is trite and predictable. The characters are stereotypical and flat, for example you have a firefighter dad and of course he has to have an arsonist son (insert eye roll). The ending was ridiculous and a complete cop out! Honestly the only reason I finished the book was because I wanted to know why the lawyer had a service dog. What could have been an excellent story in the hands of a more capable author is butchered by Jodi Picoult. Why she has such a rabid lemming following is beyond me.

Jodi Picoult has a gift to be able to describe the human condition. This book was enthralling. The characters were likeable to the point you were worried about them. The situation felt real. I am a cancer survivor and could identify, and being a mother made my heart break a few times. I have never seen the movie so all i know is this book and it was outstanding as is all her books.