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Vanishing Acts
Vanishing Acts
Author: Jodi Picoult
New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult is widely acclaimed for her ability to tap into the hearts and minds of real people. Now she explores what happens when a young woman's past -- a past she didn't even know she had -- catches up to her just in time to threaten her future. Delia Hopkins has led a charmed life. Raised in rural ...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780743454544
ISBN-10: 0743454545
Publication Date: 3/1/2005
Pages: 432
Rating:
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 453

3.9 stars, based on 453 ratings
Publisher: Atria
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

soraidh avatar reviewed Vanishing Acts on + 20 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 24
Every time I pick up a book by Jodi Picoult I am amazed all over again. She writes like I imagine I can, with a deft twist of plot and an even defter (more deft) turn of the phrase. As I read her books I find myself wishing I had someone I could stop and share a sentence or paragraph with. Her writing makes you want to call up your best friend and say, Listen to this, isnt this the most fabulous thing youve heard?

Delia Hopkins dreams of a lemon tree and from there starts a story that spins her world out of control. Soon she finds herself in Arizona with a young daughter, an alcoholic fiance, and the man whose presence has completed the triumvirate of friendship since childhood. With her world tipped upside down and sideways Delia has to work her way through to the other side; while she learns that it isnt the memories of our lives that are the most important thing.
Fulltimer avatar reviewed Vanishing Acts on + 179 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 18
This is the first Jodi Picoult book I read and half way through I ordered all the others available on PBS. This is an amazing author and I wish more people wrote like her. Each chapter is through the eyes of one of the main characters and it makes the book so much richer and we understand so much more because we see the same story through different eyes and this gives us the story as a whole instead of from only one perspective. You will think you know exactly what is going on in this book and then it twists just a little and changes everything.
obsidianfire avatar reviewed Vanishing Acts on + 133 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 14
I almost put this book down when I found out what the father did, because I was scared it would have a horrible ending. I'm so glad I kept reading. Great book. I couldn't put it down, and there were many twists and turns along the way. This is my first book by her, and I'm now sure it won't be my last.
c-squared avatar reviewed Vanishing Acts on + 181 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
Told from the POV of all the main characters, this classic Jodi Piccoult book makes you ask yourself what you'd be willing to do to protect your child. A tear-jerker & a page turner to the end.
reviewed Vanishing Acts on + 102 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
This is another wonderful book by Picoult: lyrical, touching, frightening, sensible and sensitive, thought-provoking. Full of well-drawn, real characters and specific details of place that take you on that journey, too. A joy.
Read All 296 Book Reviews of "Vanishing Acts"

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daedelys avatar reviewed Vanishing Acts on + 1218 more book reviews
This was an okay, even though it was an earlier publication by the author. However, if I continue to run across a pattern of lack-of-originality by the author, I may have to abandon reading future novels. The book is filled with cliches we've already seen on television programs. I honestly think Picoult would make a great politician due to her ability to appeal to mainstream by sensationalizing tragedies we've seen in the media.

There were some parts that dragged out and were filled with fluff that makes you think the author writes her books hoping that they are made into movies for tv. It definitely had too many filler pages with nonsense. Including how to make meth with pretty detailed instructions so that readers can play "Breaking Bad" the home game. :P She also manages to plagerize herself by reusing a prison inmates suicide in another book.

Overall, I finished this because I had nothing better to do. Luckily, I've read later novels by the author and haven't minded them.
reviewed Vanishing Acts on + 39 more book reviews
This was the first Jodi Picoult book I read. I was completely caught up in it and couldn't put it down. Thus began a long, long relationship with Jodi Picoult novels. This is one of her best!!
reviewed Vanishing Acts on
A relational story with many interesting questions. Has a soap opera quality.
reviewed Vanishing Acts on
It was not my kind of book
daedelys avatar reviewed Vanishing Acts on + 1218 more book reviews
This was an okay, even though it was an earlier publication by the author. However, if I continue to run across a pattern of lack-of-originality by the author, I may have to abandon reading future novels. The book is filled with cliches we've already seen on television programs. I honestly think Picoult would make a great politician due to her ability to appeal to mainstream by sensationalizing tragedies we've seen in the media.

There were some parts that dragged out and were filled with fluff that makes you think the author writes her books hoping that they are made into movies for tv. It definitely had too many filler pages with nonsense. Including how to make meth with pretty detailed instructions so that readers can play "Breaking Bad" the home game. :P She also manages to plagerize herself by reusing a prison inmates suicide in another book.

Overall, I finished this because I had nothing better to do. Luckily, I've read later novels by the author and haven't minded them.
reviewed Vanishing Acts on + 22 more book reviews
Another good read by Jodi Picoult. Her novels are written to make you think about different issues. The issue in this one is one of what would you do if your life isn't really what you thought. How do you deal with all of the ramifications of discovering who you were(or are)? You get to know each of the main characters as they tell their stories and there is an unexpected twist at the end.
Readnmachine avatar reviewed Vanishing Acts on + 1435 more book reviews
Not necessarily one of Picoult's best, but it's a well-written and engaging story, if somewhat predictable.

A young woman's life is turned upside-down when she discovers the father she loves has been lying to her for 28 years about her own history.
ncbones avatar reviewed Vanishing Acts on + 17 more book reviews
Loved this book and author's style ... could feel and relate to the characters and story.
reviewed Vanishing Acts on + 17 more book reviews
This was soooo good! You definitely do not expect what happens! I love all Jodi Picoult books so far!
daedelys avatar reviewed Vanishing Acts on + 1218 more book reviews
This was an okay, even though it was an earlier publication by the author. However, if I continue to run across a pattern of lack-of-originality by the author, I may have to abandon reading future novels. The book is filled with cliches we've already seen on television programs. I honestly think Picoult would make a great politician due to her ability to appeal to mainstream by sensationalizing tragedies we've seen in the media.

There were some parts that dragged out and were filled with fluff that makes you think the author writes her books hoping that they are made into movies for tv. It definitely had too many filler pages with nonsense. Including how to make meth with pretty detailed instructions so that readers can play "Breaking Bad" the home game. :P She also manages to plagerize herself by reusing a prison inmates suicide in another book.

Overall, I finished this because I had nothing better to do. Luckily, I've read later novels by the author and haven't minded them.
reviewed Vanishing Acts on + 46 more book reviews
This was my first Jodi Picoult novel; I am hooked. It provided an intense development of characters and life-affecting situations. I highly recommend it.

Book Wiki

Common Title
Original Publication Date (YYYY-MM-DD)
People/Characters
Delia Hopkins (Primary Character)
Andrew Hopkins (Major Character)
Sophie (Major Character)
Eric (Major Character)
Fitz (Major Character)
(Show all 12 People/Characters)
Real Places

Genres: