Rating: 
Summary: An interesting story from a great writer
Review: I first became a fan of Jodi Piccoult after reading her amazing story, PICTURE PERFECT. With PLAIN TRUTH she joins the ranks of those on my "automatic buy" list. She is a talented, versatile writer and I hope to read her other books soon. PLAIN TRUTH is set in one of my favorite places, Pennsylvania's Lancaster county. Ms. Piccoult has detailed Amish life with great accuracy - something not all authors do this well, either depicting Amish stereotypes or giving the reader so much information it's like reading a textbook. The Amish characters are realistically portrayed, evoking both sympathy and envy for their way of life. PLAIN TRUTH has mystery, a wonderful romance between big-city attorney Ellie who moves in with the Fisher family to keep young Katie from having to go to jail and the former college beau who is now a psychiatrist hired to help her understand 18-year-old Amish woman, Katie Fisher, accused of giving birth to a baby and then murdering it. Complete with a surprise ending, this book is a compelling read which readers will find difficult to put down once started. Another winner from Jodi Piccoult!
Rating:
Summary: Another Winner from Picoult
Review: The discovery of a dead infant would be horrifying in any circumstances, but when you throw in the fact that this infant was found in an Amish farmer's barn and you throw in the fact that the infant's apparent mother is an eighteen year old unmarried Amish girl, it turns positively gruesome. Although Katie denies any involvement with the infant, including she may have given birth to it, circumstantial evidence leads to her arrest. Enter Ellie Hathaway, fresh from a courtroom victory and sickened by the "wheels of justice", Ellie leaps at the chance to visit her great-aunt's home in Paradise, PA. What she doesn't count on is getting involved with another courtroom battle so soon, but at the pleading of her aunt, she takes on the case of Katie Fisher. Ellie soon learns that trying to find out the truth from these 'plain' folks is more trying than expected. She immerses herself into Katie's world and understands more and more what it means to be 'plain'. As this story reaches the heart wrenching finale, one will be reminded of another book, the endings are similar, but this truly stands on its own as a powerful reminder of life, faith, and love.
Rating: 
Summary: disapointed
Review: I looked forward to reading this book & was very disapointed. It had been rated very high by reviewers. I thought the story was too pat.High profile crime lawyer just happened to be in town. I really dont think a 17 year old Amish girl would be able to slip away on a train for several days to visit older brother in city. Got bored & read ending. I like my books to be more believeable.
Rating: 
Summary: Okay, not an instant classic.
Review: This is sort of a quintessential "women's novel," a bit better than the most of the genre. I grew up in PA, and I agree that Picoult's description of the area and the Amish faith is accurate, and more to the point, respectful. I was also impressed by her portrayal of the relationship between Katie Fisher and her exiled brother. All these scenes rang true.As talented a writer as Picoult obviously is, I wish she'd done a better job with Ellie, her main character. I got irritated with her almost caricatured Lonely-Selfish-Career-Woman persona. Her boyfriend Stephen was pretty bloodless, and the ending ( I won't spoil it) seems just a bit too pat. Still, it's worth reading if you focus on the mystery.
Rating: 
Summary: Plain Truth
Review: This wonderful book that blends mystery, Amish life, relationships, and court room drama is a great story. Jody Picoult is an excellent storyteller. This is the best book I have read this summer. I have read many! I liked the many facets of Katie Fisher, the Amish teen whose out of wedlock baby is discovered dead. Also I loved Ellie Hathaway, the attorney who defends Katie and their relationship. Ms. Picoult also portrays the Amish "Plain" way of life so well!
Rating:
Summary: Great read, but sometimes seemed too implausible
Review: Don't let the first page throw you. Too many characters were introduced too quickly, but within 20 pages it was easy to keep them straight. The plot is fascinating, the details of Amish life were intriguing, but I found some of the happenings implausible. What are the chances that your college love will appear 20 years later, newly divorced and available? How many lawyers just walk out of a plum job, agree to live in isolation at a client's home and lose all contact with the rest of their previous lives? If you can ignore the implausibility of these events, the beauty of the writing, glimpse into the Amish life style, and suspense of wondering "who did it?" make this a "good read".
Rating:
Summary: A guaranteed bestseller!
Review: The word plain refers to the Amish, a simple and humble community that strives for sameness. In this book, Jodi Picoult recounts a tale of infanticide, the killing of one's baby. While the phenomena of young girls killing their babies at proms or dumpsters outside hotel rooms is relatively recent, it is not ever expected to happen in Paradise Pennsylvania in a community of Amish. Ellie Hathaway, the ardent criminal defense lawyer from Philadelphia who is just starting to reek from her own sense of disgust at getting certain criminals off, has taken a break to return to Paradise. She decides to defend Katie Fisher, the 18 year old Amish girl who denies giving birth in a barn to an infant who is found dead. As part of the bail agreement, Ellie moves onto the farm, which is the most unbelievable part of this story. There are lots of psychologists and theories about what happened, most of which are soundly debunked as Katie's memory begins to return. The last third of the book deals with the trial and is tightly written. The book paces well and has a kicker of a twist at the end. Ms. Picoult is a terrific writer. If you have never read her, I suggest this story and The Pact, a story about two teenagers who make a pact to kill themselves together. Ms. Picoult's characters are deep and the reader is quickly pulled into her novels. As an added bonus, the reader will learn a great deal about Amish life. This book is highly highly recommended. My guess is that it will be a bestseller.
Rating:
Summary: Up to date!
Review: Ellis Hathaway, a 39 year old single defense lawyer, returns to the town of Paradise, Pennsylvania in the heart of Amish country after abandoning an eight year relationship with another high profile lawyer. She had spent many happy childhood summers in Paradise visiting her aunt and now she wants to have some quiet time to reflect on just where her life is going. She is immediately swept up into a murder investigation when her aunt asks her to defend a young 18 year old Amish girl, Katie Fisher, who is being charged with the murder of a newborn baby. Katie vehemently denies that she had this child. Physical examinations (when she starts bleeding) reveal otherwise. Katie finally breaks down and admits she did deliver a child but refuses to name the father and denies she knows how the baby died. Ellie calls in an old college sweetheart, John Cooper - called "Coop" - who is now a psychiatrist. During the ongoing investigation, their love for each other is rekindled and is successfully resolved. This is a very up to date story bringing into it all the latest technologies and phychiatry's latest explanations. The Amish ways, to me, seem quite harsh, but I found it hard not to sympathize somewhat with the killer.
Rating:
Summary: She's Done It Again
Review: I first became hooked on Picoult when I read her book "The Pact: A Love Story", and I anxiously awaited the publishing of a new book. I can say, without a doubt, the wait was well worth it. In "Plain Truth", Picoult has a way of letting you inside the character's mind, yet only for a split second. She gives you just enough to keep you coming back for more. Top of the line!
Rating:
Summary: A book that will haunt you with its beauty
Review: I devoured this book last weekend. From the first page, the plot and its main character/s held me, and I was almost unable to put it down. It is set in Pennsylvania, in an Amish community, and there is a quiet peace in the daily chores and rituals of the characters, combined with the building tension and mystery of the death/murder at the core of the story. One of the most interesting things about the book, is it's references to the para-normal, along with a romance (which touched me). It is a haunting, suspenseful novel, and I HIGHLY recommend it.
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