Rating: 
Summary: A Provocative Read
Review: I haven't been so excited about a writer since I first read Anne Tyler 15 years ago. Keeping Faith is truly a page-turner. What interesting and well-defined characters. I'm planning to read everything Jodi Picoult has written so far, and keep my eye out for anything she writes in the future.
Rating:
Summary: Grabs your heart at the word go!
Review: Once again, Jodi Picoult has written a masterpiece. One that not only keeps the reader enthralled but gets you thinking as well.Mariah White and her daugheter Faith have been through a lot but it is when they return home early one afternoon to find Mariah's husband in the bedroom with another woman that things really start to happen. This is not the first time that Mariah has gone through this with her husband but it is the first time that Faith has had to witness it. Mariah once again goes into a depression and Faith finds an imaginary friend to help her through the tough times. While imaginary friends are not unique, Mariah's Guard seems to be something entirely different. Shortly after the Guard comes to visit, Faith begins quoting the bible and is able to spontaneously heal people. This turn of events brings proclaimed aethist and anti-televangalist Ian Fletcher to the scene determined to discredit Faith and her supposed conversations with God. Along the way, Mariah, Ian and Faith must learn to trust one another, love one another and learn from one another as not only is Faith's health in question but Mariah's right to keep her child is questioned as her ex-husband takes her to court. All in all, there is more than one story written into Keeping Faith and how wonderful they all are. Jodi Picoult can write like very authors can - she keeps you on the edge of your seat while you fall in love with the characters and she makes then jump off the page as if you have known them for years. Her titles are always creative and have a double meaning which I simply love. If you enjoy Keeping Faith you should try The Pact and Harvesting the Heart - two of her other excellent offereings. Jodi is one of the most talented writers to hit the scene in ages - make sure to savor every last word!
Rating:
Summary: Makes you wonder
Review: In 380-ish pages that seem to turn themselves, Jodi Picoult makes readers stop and think about several issues as simple as mother-daughter relationships and as complex as God. Mariah White, for the second time in their marriage, catches her husband with another woman. The first time, she was pregnant with their daughter, Faith. The second time, Faith was with Mariah when Colin was caught in the act. The first time, Mariah tries to kill herself. The second time, Colin leaves and Faith's "Guard" shows up. The seven year old starts performing miracles, attracting media attention, develops stigmata and quotes the Bible, although she's never been subjected to it. Mariah tries to shield her daughter from the attention while trying to find out for sure what is wrong with her. The reader switches back and forth several times, wondering if Faith is seeing God or if her mother is seeking attention. The book ends with a custody battle between Colin and Mariah and the reader wondering how much "Faith" they really have and would have if in a similar circumstance. The book is filled with colorful characters, perhaps the best Mariah's hold-no-punches mother, Millie. A GREAT book that you won't put down, and won't forget after you do.
Rating:
Summary: Picoult is an amazing novelist!
Review: Plain and simple...Jodi Picoult takes my breath away. With each book she writes, Jodi Picoult just keeps getting better. Like KEEPING FAITH, the story of a little girl who seems to be a religious visionary, Picoult takes controversial topics and weaves incredible stories from them. KEEPING FAITH is not only a story of the love of a mother for her child, but an examination of the issues of religion, and the effects of media oversaturation. Picoult writes with an overwhelming grace, beauty and deep sensitivity, and her novels are always thought provoking. Picoult gives her loyal readers the gift they've always wanted with each new book. To those who have not had the pleasure of reading her books, pick up KEEPING FAITH. And then, do yourself a favor, and pick up the rest of her novels as well.
Rating:
Summary: A FASCINATING NOVEL
Review: Mariah White catches her husband with another woman (the second time during their marriage), her 7 year old daughter, Faith, witnesses the whole ugly scene. Mariah goes into depression and Faith retreats to a world of silence until she begins talking to her "imaginary friend". Mariah has little concern about the "friend" until her daughter begins reciting passages from the Bible, performing miracles and experiencing stigmata. Once the media hears of the little girl, they endlessly try to find out more, turning Mariah and her daughter's life upside-down. Mariah tries to find out what is happening to her daughter as well as shelter her from the frenzy caused by the media. Ian Fletcher is the newsman who broke the story about Faith and started out to expose her as a fraud. As he becomes involved with the White's, he begins believing that Faith may actually be God's messenger. The novel has several different themes...religion, media, and child custody. I have only read one other novel by Jodi Picoult, The Pact (excellent novel as well), but she is an auther whose talent is endless. She writes novels that are suspenseful, controversial, and powerful. Everything about this book works, the characters, the pacing and the plot.
Rating: 
Summary: Another great work by Jodi Picoult
Review: A very intriguing and thought provoking story. Try otherstories from this author such as The Pact and Harvesting the Heart...Ihave enjoyed all of this authors novels, however, the older titles are out of print and hard to find... END
Rating:
Summary: Jodi Picoult's best
Review: Just great. If I just loved THE PACT, KEEPING FAITH has surprised me for its wonderful story and style. Jodi Picoult has done its best here, and I expect her to keep like that! A book I strongly recommend to everybody, I couldn't stop reading until I finished it! Religion and family ties are difficult subjects, but the book is just great and YOU MUST READ IT!
Rating:
Summary: Making a bigger container
Review: In her book _Everyday Zen_, the author--Charlotte Joko Beck-made an interesting statement. When reality won't fit into the neat little box we've constructed, we must learn to make ABC. Make A Bigger Container. I kept hearing that phrase run through my thoughts as I read this book. After all, isn't that what Jodi Picoult is inviting us to do here? Or maybe it's more like Shel Silverstien's poem for children, "What If?" Here in _Keeping Faith_, it comes together with: What if...God will not be confined to the neat little package that I have made for Him? Can I think outside my box? What if God expects me to meet him on His Own terms? What if...the Almighty Lord of heaven simply showed up? Thanks, Jodi, for reminding us all of something important. Solomon said it well. The heavens, even the highest heavens cannot contain God. How much less my puny opinions about Him. But, actually, you mistreated me, in a sense. You see, I couldn't put your book down-reading one night until 4 AM-and then I had to go to work!
Rating: 
Summary: Good motherhood relationships
Review: I read this as part of an online book group. I thought it had some good motherhood themes, like the relationships between Millie and Mariah and then Mariah and Faith. I liked the relationship between Mariah and Ian. I didn't like the stigmata stuff and all of the uncertainity revolving around if it was true or not. I do look forward to reading more of Picoult's other works and have just decided that maybe this subject matter and I did not mix.
Rating:
Summary: Engrossing
Review: This was one of those books that I just couldn't put down. I found myself thinking about it while I was at work, wondering what would really happen...and what the truth really was. This is the first book by Picoult I've read, and I plan on reading the rest of her work after this. My only disappointment was that we never really found out what happened with Ian's brother...or why Faith's friend left her in the end. Perhaps I'll just have to re-read this one right away to find all the parts I missed. I highly recommend this book.
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