Search - The Tenth Circle

After hearing a lot about Jodi Picoult, I decided to give one of her books a try. "The Tenth Circle" was the first one that I had the opportunity to read, and I have to say that I was slightly disappointed, after all the good things I had heard about her. I thought the book started out excellent - characters and themes that the average person could relate to. However, there were parts of the story that I found just too hard to believe and too unrealistic for me to relate to. I understand that this is a work of fiction, but the second half of the story just seemed so out of place and like a completely different story than the first half of the book. I thought the transition between the two was very awkward. Overall, I still thought the book was a decent read, and I will give some other Jodi Picoult books a try in the future.

Couldn't really get involved with the book. The characters were distant and not likeable. It wasn't even really a study in teh darker sides of human nature because there was no revelation to any of the characters...no epiphany. They just kept wandering around making their lives more complicated damaging the lives of those unfortunate enough to be around them. The ending was supposed to be a plot twist, but I was not shocked or amazed...I really just didn't care.

The premise was promising, and the storyline started out to be very engrossing. I found the whole parallel of Dante's circles of hell with what the father was going through to be very clever and interesting. I thought the concept of using cartoons, since the father was a comic artist, interspersed throughout the book was fresh and new. But overall, there was something missing, a link that would somehow pull it all together. Even though the characters were complex and had intriguing backgrounds, I just couldn't connect with any of them, especially Trixie. Maybe if I could have felt some sympathy for her, there would have been that emotional attachment to a character to help, but instead I felt nothing. Overall, the story seemed too long and drawn-out and then abruptly came to an unsatisfying end. While Jodi Picoult remains one of my favorite authors, this particular book was not.

I enjoyed this book although the ending left a bit to be desired. It just needed more..I dont know how else to say it. It was not as great as most Jodi Picoult books I have read.

Very good book. About the troubles of a teenager with troubled parents. Must read book.