Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing!
Review: I was so keen to get started on this new Jodi Picoult, that I actually started reading it in the store before I bought it, so you can imagine my disappointment when I got down to the serious business of reading it! I found the story line predictable, the characters very flat, and overall, the whole novel was pedestrian. The "made for t.v." version of Wicca that was presented in the novel did nothing to improve my view of the story, and generally, I would have expected better from a writer of this calibre.
Rating:
Summary: Formulaic, cardboard characters
Review: What a disappointment. I've read many of Jodi Picoult's books and loved them. Salem Falls is completely plot driven. The characters all fall into place in a direction, but they have no depth. I wish i knew more about Jack St. Bride and Addie. What does Addie look like, sound like, think about other than Chloe and her father? why does Jack love her -- this isn't clear, other than she accepts him. Everything is predictable, way too many similes, too wordy. Very, very disappointing.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Bad for "Crucible 2000"
Review: A friend of mine passed this book on to me knowing my daughter was appearing in her high school's fall play of "The Crucible". The similarities with this book are there - girls flirting with witchcraft, an anti-hero who becomes isolated in his own community yet at the center of the story, a justice system that shows itself to be less than ideal.Without giving too much away, Jack St. Bride is a convicted sex offender who, upon moving to Salem Falls, has to report himself to the police under Megan's Law, an actual statute. Unfortunately for ol' Jack, even if he is a decent soul on the inside and innocent of the original charge, his charm and boyish good looks, ala a young Redford, make him a marked man. He gets a job in a local diner and begins an affair with Addie, the female owner. Still, things would have been ok if it weren't for a sweet young thing named Gillian, who not only poisons her own father with pills from his own pharmeceutical company, but then seduces our anti-hero Jack, to boot! And just to compund matters, Jack, inadvertently, runs into a group of the local gals running stark naked around a bonfire while celebrating a witch (wiccan?) festival. One thing leads to another and guess who is accused of Gillian's rape? And this is only half of the story. The trial consumes us the rest of the way. Arthur Miller would have been proud. I liked the setting and the way the story unfolds. It would have been so easy to allow the witchcraft element to take over, but instead, it remains as a mist that envelopes a story that turns into a mystery, a romance, and a court room drama. The characters however, outside of Jack and Addie, are somewhat cardboard. Jack's own mother is too stereotypical and the attorneys and the private investigator read like I could have written them. Still, to my mind, it is the relationship between Jack and Addie that saves the day. It is somewhat tender and, at times almost innocent. I would have given this book another star except that it seemed, because Jack and Addies's relationship is done so well, as the story unfolds, it can't quite make up it's mind whether it is a love story or a court room drama. Still, if you're heading to Nags Head or the Cape, this is a good one to take with you.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing special
Review: I was hoping for more from Jodi Picoult after reading her other books. This is a pedestrian plot with unremarkable characters and an outcome that is predictable. By the time I waded through to the end, I was skimming the pages to finish it. I didn't particulary like or dislike any of the characters and I found the plot lacked believable substance. I should have foreseen it when a recently-released prisoner was picked up by a cab driver and taken to an idyllic destination where he immediately melded into the landscape. I know that Picoult can do better and I am eagerly awaiting her next effort.
Rating: 
Summary: Salem Falls -- I really enjoyed this book
Review: I have not been impressed with Jodi Picoult's past work, but Salem Falls kept me on the edge of my seat. I found the novel to be suspenseful right up until the very end, when the verdict of the trial was released. Picoult mixed emotions well and really helped her characters display the true meaning of love, trust, and support. She made me feel as if I were suffering all along with Jack and I was so happy with the outcome of the novel, although it was a little predictable.
Rating:
Summary: I really wanted to love this book !
Review: It pains me to rank this book with just 3 stars because I think so highly of Jodi Picoult. She is a kind, generous, and talented author who always finds time for her readers. But this book just isn't up to the quality of writing of which I know she is capable, like "The Pact". (I sound like a teacher, don't I?) The bare bones are there--it is a page-turner, for sure-- but it seemed as though I were on an out-of-control train. The writing is formulaic, the plot is a tired one, the book skitters from one topic to another, and the ending is both rushed and predictable. It seems as though Picoult could not decide whether to write a police procedural, a trial book, or a romance. Consequently, all three are intertwined and leave the reader wanting more of something. The courtroom scenes were not at all believable. I think that it is a rare writer who can write courtroom scenes that are both realistic and interesting because trials can be very boring and tedious. To her credit, Jodi did give the reader a true sense of how lies and connivance can ruin someone's life...and how eager the public is to believe anything bad that they hear.
Rating:
Summary: Another Picoult Page-turner!
Review: As soon as *Salem Falls* hit the shelves, I picked up a copy at the virtual speed of light. Picoult's tales are always entertaining, thought-provoking and a joy to read. With the intriguing theme of witches and witch hunts, I knew this would be a shocker. Jack St. McBride is coming off of an eight month jail sentence for statutory rape and hopes to find a quiet town to start over. The small town of Salem Falls and the promise of a good job seems to fit the bill. With a possible love interest in his boss, things seem perfect. Well, then all heck breaks loose (inevitable for a book by Jodi Picoult). Jacks gets mixed up with a group of teen witches, one of whom claims Jack raped her. The town's reaction and the ensuing court drama make for a quick read and pure entertainment. Once again, Jodi gives us all something to escape from the normal day-to-day routine. This is definitely a keeper!
Rating:
Summary: Unique and Intriguing
Review: Jack St. Bride comes to the small, sleepy town of Salem Falls pretty much by accident, freshly released from prison. He gets a job at the local diner run by the strange, mysterious Addie, and finds himself quickly falling in love with her. They both have secrets in their past that almost undo them. A group of teenage girls who flirt with the occult through spells, fires, rituals..suddenly accuse Jack of a horrible crime. No one knows what really happened that night in the dark woods, but Jack is thrown in jail again. The fact that he has already served time for an..offense with a minor does not help matters much. Addie is determined to find the truth of his past, and his new lawyer, Jordan McAfee, tries to find the truth of his latest dilemma. The story moves quickly, at a rapid pace that sometimes hinders the story. It seems that Jack and Addie form a bond of love stronger than the time frame allows. Jack seems to have a problem with being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Teenage girls seem to be strangely attracted to him, no matter where he goes. These things add up to the story ringing a bit false at times, but that is the only bad thing I have to say about it. Picoult writes her novels well, with storylines that are easy to get pulled into. Here, as in 'The Pact', we end with a courtroom drama that intrigues simply to see what comes of it. Picoult is able to hold the suspense through the end, leading the reader back and forth over what kind of man Jack may really be. While it is not one of her best works, it is worth the time spent reading it.
Rating:
Summary: A haunting tale
Review: I must confess that when I ordered this book, I was anxious to read it and put Harry Potter Vol. #4 aside so I can read it. I love Jodie Picoult's writing, and was eagerly anticipating more of the same with this book. I found to my disappointment that it wasn't as riveting as The Pact or as enthralling as Keeping Faith. I am disappointed ~~ while the writing is always lyrical and riveting, the story holds no surprises for me. Jack St. Bride is accused of raping a girl in Salem Falls ~~ and Jordan MacAffee is his attorney again. Addie, the woman who falls in love with Jack, also undergo a personal revelation as well in this multi-faceted novel. There is a group of teenage girls who practice Wicca ~~ which is interesting. And there's the showdown, which Picoult is known for ~~ but if you're looking for a great Picoult book, I highly recommend The Pact because the courtroom scene there is wonderful! It is suspenseful and breath-stopping. But in this book, it's lackluster and disappointing. Please don't hesitate to read this book ~~ it is still a good read. It just isn't up to par to her other books ~~ and it could be the subject is familiar to me. What teenage girl doesn't fanastize about her favorite male teacher? And what woman doesn't shudder at the idea of being raped? Or being accused falsely of a crime one didn't commit? And reading about some of Jack's past helps give him a human face in the book ~~ it just didn't explore his personality like I hoped it would. It's almost as if Picoult is trying to write about rape, sex and its effect on women ~~ but something's missing there as it leaves me with more questions than revelations. This is a powerful subject but it misses the mark somewhere. It is still a wonderful book ~~ just don't get your hopes up too much like I did. It just isn't my favorite Picoult book.
Rating: 
Summary: Shocking!!!
Review: Jodi really outdid herself with her newest novel, Salem Falls. I have read all of her books and this one ranks right up there with The Pact. It's addictive, shocking, won't-let-you-go reading, and you won't be able to put it down! I read it in two days, and after I was finished, I was compelled to read it over again to look for the clues I missed! You won't be disappointed with this book, and my only advise to you is this...do NOT read ahead!!!!!!!
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