Rating: 
Summary: I am a huge Jodi Picoult fan.
Review: I have now read three novels by Jodi Picoult and have loved every one. This is a good book about relationships, motherhood and the choices we make. The book centers around Paige and Nicholas Prescott. Paige is a co-dependent mother who has recently given birth to a son, but who seriously doubts her abilities as a parent. So, she leaves her son with his father for a time and goes off in search of answers about herself, her mother and her life. As we as the reader travel with Paige throughout this journey of self discovery, we find out that Paige is indeed a strong woman in her own right. Nicholas Prescott is a Cardiologist at the top of his game, he is very stoic however and has a bit of a God complex. He goes through a transformation of his own and soon we are able to get a glimpse at what at his good qualities as well and also see what agood father he is. This is a good book to curl up with on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Ms. Picoult is a masterful writer who gets the reader involved in the lives of her characters and really makes you care about them. More than once since finishing this book, I have wondered how Nicholas and Paige are doing.
Rating:
Summary: The Pact
Review: I have read every single book Jodi Picoult has written. I am on my way to purchasing the eleventh, My SIster's Keeper. This woman is absolutely amazing. Well, The Pact is about two teenagers, a boy and a girl, who grow up living next door to eachother. Well, the lovestruck teens decide to make a pact and commit suicide together. The story unfolds the truth behind their 17 years together, from being infants in joint cribs to becoming highschool seniors! Picoult throws in a courtroom dramam that keeps you turning the pages!
Rating:
Summary: A beautifully moving book
Review: I just finished HARVESTING THE HEART and I was moved to tears. This is a beautifully written, deeply affecting book about a young woman's struggle with self-doubt and her coming to terms with herself and her past. I'm constantly amazed by Jodi Picoult's writing, and look forward to reading more of her work.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, something different!
Review: I loved the format of the book - knowing Paige's thoughts, then Nicholas's. Different and wonderful. I fell in love with the characters and was glad to see them progress and sad to see them go.
Rating: 
Summary: Published by Penguin?
Review: I think Jodi Picoult's "Harvesting the Heart" is at its best when describing the rigors of caring for a newborn. Her writing here is as close to immediate and powerful as she gets, putting us smack dab in her protagonist's scuffed slippers; colic, sore nipples and all. Unfortunately, the rest of this ambitious, unwieldy story is bogged down by over-writing and tedious, stereotypical characters who, for all their clever idiosyncracies, remain flat and contrived. Picoult tries hard--too hard--to combine plot elements as diverse as heart surgery, horse shows, sketching, photography, Catholicism, even Navajo healing, and the result is a clunky, self-conscious narrative that educates but does not convince. Because the book was a Penguin I kept with it, waiting for it to get better, but was disappointed that it didn't rise to the standard I expect from this (normally) excellent publisher. "Harvesting the Heart" would make a good supermarket paperback, something to read on the beach, perhaps; but if you are looking for a literary novel of young motherhood--something with fresh, vibrant writing--you won't find it here.
Rating:
Summary: Published by Penguin?
Review: I think Jodi Picoult's "Harvesting the Heart" is at its best when describing the rigors of caring for a newborn. Her writing here is as close to immediate and powerful as she gets, putting us smack dab in her protagonist's scuffed slippers; colic, sore nipples and all. Unfortunately, the rest of this ambitious, unwieldy story is bogged down by over-writing and tedious, stereotypical characters who, for all their clever idiosyncracies, remain flat and contrived. Picoult tries hard--too hard--to combine plot elements as diverse as heart surgery, horse shows, sketching, photography, Catholicism, even Navajo healing, and the result is a clunky, self-conscious narrative that educates but does not convince. Because the book was a Penguin I kept with it, waiting for it to get better, but was disappointed that it didn't rise to the standard I expect from this (normally) excellent publisher. "Harvesting the Heart" would make a good supermarket paperback, something to read on the beach, perhaps; but if you are looking for a literary novel of young motherhood--something with fresh, vibrant writing--you won't find it here.
Rating:
Summary: The Ethos and Pathos of Motherhood
Review: I took "Harvesting the Heart" on vacation and enjoyed this tale of motherhood no end. Picoult's thorough research really shows in the marvelous descriptions of cardiology, drawing, and the equestrian arts! But most notably, she knows how to evoke the agony and ecstasy of motherhood; how we loose some self when we give life to another. I'm moving to her other novels with great anticipation.
Rating: 
Summary: Didn't measure up to other reviews
Review: I was disappointed in this book. It captivated me until the very end, but I was left unsatisfied. I can really ring with the dilemma and issues that Paige faces, yet I waited for her husband to measure up to her level of self- awareness. It didn't seem to me that he was ever going to tell her how much he loved her. I was left with the sense that he would never fully appreciate her, nor forgive her completely. The book is very touching and real, capturing true emotions, and feelings, but left me unhappy and unsatisfied.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book. Long, but interesting, absorbing not too heavy
Review: I was impressed with this book. It had some good things going on inside. Interesting points of view, issues, challenges, solutions. Fresh approaches to tired themes. Not classic literature, but worth a read.
Rating: 
Summary: Every mother I've met who's read the book connects with it.
Review: I wrote HEART after having my first child, and feeling completely overwhelmed---in retrospect, it was a cheap alternative to psychological counseling, I think...which is why so many mothers I've met are moved by the story of Paige and Nicholas. I used to dream about leaving my son with my husband when I went grocery shopping...and then I'd just keep going! After speaking to other women who'd harbored the same secret thoughts, I decided to create a character who might actually do it. HEART has turned out to be quite a favorite of book discussion groups, because of the issues raised regarding motherhood and marriage. I'd love to hear comments from readers!
|
