Keeping Faith
by Jodi Picoult
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Book Reviews of Keeping Faith
Book Review: Eh...
Summary: 3 Stars
While I enjoy (greatly) Picoult's ability to make the reader see "the other side" of situations, I can't say that I'm a huge fan of her writing. I feel that she takes the easy way out when it comes to developing her central characters here. For example, I had a really difficult time getting through the beginning of the book -- Mariah had me wanting to put the book down and never pick it back up. The only word that kept going through my mind was "pathetic". It's as if the author wanted to draw her in the most extreme light possible so that her transformation throughout the novel would seem all the more amazing. If anything it had me wanting to shake the woman, were she real. I was literally uncomfortable while reading about her because I disliked her so much, to the point of disappointment that the author couldn't take the time to make her character a bit more believable and less over-the-top. I mean, going to far as to have her rubbing the dent in the carpet out with her sneaker at her mother's house? Okay, I get it Jodi, she's high-strung and afraid of anything being less than perfect. You don't have to beat me over the head...Book Review: Riveting
Summary: 5 Stars
For a few years now, everywhere I go i see Jodi Picoult's books on the shelves, but never picked one up. Now that I did, I'm going to read them all!
i absolutely couldn't put this book down. Faith is a seven year old girl who parents are going through a messy divorce and suddenly she starts talking to God or her "Guard". I don't want to say too much more about the plot since I don't want to give anything away, but read this book!
I think that what I love the most about it is that your own perceptions of religion can influence what you think the truth in the book about Faith's experiences is (is she faking it or actually talking to God?) so two people could read this book and come away with very different conclusions. I was not raised in a religious background so found it very easy to relate to the characters, who are finding this all strange and unfamiliar and questioning their feelings on it throughout the novel. I still don't know what I think actually happened in the book!
Book Review: Well, I didn't hate it...
Summary: 3 Stars
...But, there was something about this novel that left me scratching my head. From the very beginning of this story straight through to the not-so-shocking conclusion, I felt like I was hit with one "extraordinary" coincidence after another. This wouldn't have been a bad thing if they'd all manage to tie into one another by the end of the novel. Instead, it felt more like each piece was separate from the underlying message Picoult was trying to get across (whatever that was).
It never felt like anything was fully fleshed out. I don't want to list too many examples because I don't want to fill this review with spoilers. But, the obvious religious angle, the miracles, the mother's history of depression and her later love affair with the teleatheist all played out for me in a giant muddle.
I feel like there was a lot of potential here and I don't 100% regret reading it. However, it certainly left me wishing it packed more of the typical punch of a Jodi Picoult novel.
Book Review: Riveting and fast pace
Summary: 4 Stars
I was very happy that I bought this book. Once I started, I literally could not put it down, and I finished it in less than 24 hours despite having to work and to tend to my nine month-old son.
What I liked about this book most is the development of Mariah's character. At the beginning, I just wanted to shake some sense into her, but it was nice to see her turn around, become stronger and fight for her daughter...
Millie was also another of my favorite character. She herself never stopped believing that her daugher had it in her to not only become stronger, but be there for her granddaughter.
However, I had some disappointment at the very end of the book. I felt a definite loose end, a sense of unfinish. It's like I sensed something else developping, and bam... the whole thing is cut off. This is why I did not rate it a full five star, which otherwise it would have deserved.
All in all, this is a book that I definitely would recommend
Book Review: Picoult is excellent
Summary: 4 Stars
Picoult is an excellent writer and develops her characters better than anyone I've ever read. The story moves quickly, and is fiercely entertaining. This book makes you think, and wonder, and question. Picoult has a gift for picking these types of topics. Her books are long, but she researches her subjects well to give you a full taste of the topic, but she lets you make your own mind up. The book is redeming and you fall in love with Faith, and all the main characters. The ending builds quickly and then at the end you are left with questions. I am not fan of that, I like to know what the author is trying to tell me, especially when I am that commited to a book (long). I still think her book My Sisters Keeper is better, but it's a masterpiece.
Read that one first if you have not. Keeping Faith is definitely worth while if not just for the beautiful writing of Picoult, but also for the journey she takes you on.