Plain Truth
by Jodi Picoult
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Book Reviews of Plain Truth
Book Review: An enjoyable read for Picoult fans
Summary: 4 Stars
While the character development, plot and Picoult's usual writing flair - along with her ability to find a unique, interesting "slice of humanity" twist (in this case the world of an Amish girl accused of a crime)- made this an enjoyable, above- average read, there were a couple of things that made this one not quite up to her previous My Sister's Keeper: A Novel and Nineteen Minutes works, for me.
- The dots don't quite connect as well as some of her other works.
As always with her books, there's a few little surprise twists and an ending based upon characters keeping secrets until the end. But in this one, if you think too much about some of the action and the ending after you're through, despite the explanations, it doesn't quite add up with how the characters have been portrayed. I'd give an example, but can't do so without a spoiler. So, will just say the ending is particularly bothersome in this way.
- Then there are the parts where the dots are connected too well.
Much of the book is spent in working through a trial that grows a bit repetitive and tedious.I love trial driven books. But, in this case, all the "surprise" revelations and twists about the case are discovered and told to you prior to the trial. So, the court scenes mostly become a re-hash of things you've previously learned.
Still, the upsides outweighed these downsides. And, it was an overall engaging, interesting read that mostly kept me turning the pages.
Bottom Line: Though it's not her absolute best, ff you generally enjoy Picoult, you're probably going to enjoy this one too.
Book Review: Riveting, but it's just TOO MUCH
Summary: 4 Stars
First off, this is a fascinating story, well told. Ms. Picoult's writing style is attention-grabbing. I listened to this as a recorded book, in the car -- I can't tell you how many times I park, but sit and keep listening, because I'm not ready to leave the story!
BUT, that said, this story goes beyond the suspension of disbelief stage. There are just TOO MANY twists to the story. My dad was in a B-17 during WWII, so I wanted his opinion when "Memphis Belle" came out -- he said that perhaps many of the depicted events could happen to a crew during an entire tour of duty, but there was NO WAY they could all happen on one mission. In that fashion, I would say there are too many events that happen in "Plain Truth" to be believable -- and that is really a shame, because it starts out VERY believable.
Furthermore, the ending is shocking, but also vague. My wife and I listened to the last chapter together, and we disagreed over what "really" happened in the story in not one, but TWO ways, items that had no further clarification, and were really just left hanging. She asked if I was satisfied with the ending, and I said I couldn't believe that x happened and y didn't, and she said that no, x didn't happen but y did (obviously, I don't want to give spoilers).
After 14 CDs, and WAY too many plot twists to keep the story believable, I'm disappointed with how many characters get left with their endings or their next steps untold. On the other hand, the characters whose "end games" are told, the stories are either outlandishly unbelievable or overpredictably milquetoast. Grrrrr.
Still, I totally enjoyed listening - the readers were excellent - and I look forward to listening to more of Ms. Picoult's books.
Book Review: Judgment without mercy will produce evil
Summary: 5 Stars
An excellent story in an Amish setting. It's annoying when writers insert details about the Amish that don't ring true for those of us who know the Amish and how they live. This novel was devoid of those errors. It truly depicts the way the Amish think, live, and interact. Jodi Picoult did an excellent job researching and describing to readers the Amish and their way of life.
At first, I thought she had made one mistake: that of the Amish attitude toward life and death. (To them the killing of animals has no negative connection with the value of human life. Instead, it is a job to be done to help nurture human life.) I had been under the impression that all Amish valued human life very highly. As the daughter of a man who used to be Amish, I frequently heard that we were not to eat the blood and were to throw it out, because "the life is in the blood." After reading this novel and discussing it with others, I found that some Amish girls who get pregnant out of wedlock, secretly get abortions--something that would otherwise be unheard of among the Amish--because of the shame of being punished, ostracized, excommunicated and shunned for their sin.
Ms Picoult, then, has done us all a service to show us that evil (to the Amish abortion is murder) can exist or even be brought forth in a group that is so focused on legislating morality. It is a reminder to all of us that judgment--or even too harsh a penalty--without mercy is likely to produce evil.
Well done Jodi Picoult!
Waneta Dawn is the author of "Behind the Hedge, a novel" a story of a Mennonite family living in an Amish/Mennonite community. Visit www.wanetadawn.com to read chapter one.
Book Review: Plain Truth
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a compelling, attention grabbing, gripping novel. A particular reason this book is fascinating is because you learn a lot about a culture most people don't know about. This book is written in a way that makes you want to keep reading. I found this book hard to put down. Jodi Picoult is brilliant.
This story begins on an Amish farm in Pennsylvania. Like normal Amish Families, The Fishers own a farm and must get up every morning to perform their chores, but on one particular morning a new born baby is found dead in the barn and no one knows whose baby it is.
All of the signs show that the baby belongs to the Fishers daughter who is 18. But she denies it because if the baby was hers that would mean she would break the Amish code and would be shunned by her family, which is the worse punishment for an Amish person. Also she is being charged for murder. The Fishers Daughter, Katie needs a lawyer now. Ellie hatchway is chosen to represent her. Ellie must live with the Fishers on their farm so she can learn about the Fisher's culture and incorporate it into the case. While she lives on the Farm she befriends Katie and uncovers many secrets that Katie has been hiding that would ultimately shun her from the Amish Community.
Jodi Picoult writes this novel in a way that is educational and informative, but also this novel becomes a mystery story that you can't put down. There are many surprise findings that will shock you.
This novel was so good I would recommend it to anyone, especially if you are looking for a quick read.
Book Review: Anyone remember 'Agnes of God'?
Summary: 3 Stars
That was a play about a young nun who supposedly murders her newborn. A female shrink appears to determine if she is sane and/or guilty. Very similar! Especially in the early chapters, I couldn't get past the similarities. The Amish girl keeps denying she was even pregnant altho she was taken to the ER for post-delivery complications.
This continuing denial makes no sense in the story. The girl is not portrayed as insane or mentally deficient. She lives on a dairy farm and knows more about childbirth than most people. I assume the author is using this device to "keep us in suspense" about the girl's true nature, but to me it's just annoying. In the end, the girl tells the truth and a mystery remains, one that would have been far more intriguing and believable than the stupid denials.
As a Lancaster native, I believe the author has captured some of the elements of Amish life. It truly is another world. The girl's simple goodness changes the lawyer's life (which certainly needed changing!). What I wish the author would have done more of, is to contrast the two environments: Amish farm and worldy courtroom. To do that by adjusting what she writes about and how she writes it would have been fascinating. Too often, the story breaks down into just a young career woman trying to succeed and find love at the same time.
The twist ending comes so abruptly, the shock value is minimal. The story could have been much stronger as pure suspense, without the true romances sidetrips.