Rating: 
Summary: Too Plain for Me
Review: I checked out the reader reviews of this book before I bought it, so I was aware that it had been rated "the best" and "the worst." Some readers thought it was worth one star, some gave it five. Now that I've finished it, I'm completely baffled by the five-star reviews. I guess it wasn't the worst book I've ever read, but it was utterly simplistic and maddeningly repetitive. I thought we would NEVER get to that trial. And the ending! I began to suspect about two-thirds of the way through the book that the author might do what she ultimately did on the last couple of pages, and I thought, "Oh, please. Not that." But--sure enough. Jodi, Jodi, Jodi! I wouldn't say, "Don't read this book." But I would advise prospective readers to borrow it from someone, rather than laying out $... for the paperback. I bought it for only $..., and I still feel cheated.
Rating: 
Summary: Best book I've read in a while!
Review: All I have to say is that this book deserves the 5 stars I gave it! This book was so well written and had such a good ending, which is quite a rarity anymore! Couldn't put it down! Great story about a Philadelphia lawyer and an Amish girl from Lancaster-their lives were forced to come together and it created quite an interesting storyline! Get this book-Enjoy this book!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: A vote with the minority.
Review: After reading these reviews, I expected a great deal from this book. I was disappointed to find it a standard "beach novel" with cardboard characters, a contrived plot, and a none-too-compelling mystery. I had a difficult time caring about these characters because they are all cliches. I found the main character, Ellie, mildly interesting as long as the author stuck with writing a legal thriller about a highly competent attorney. Unfortunately, at the one-third mark, the book transforms into a trite, Harlequin-like romance about a hopelessly lonely careerwoman who leaps from Boyfriend 1 to Boyfriend 2 without spending so much as a week alone. We are meant to believe that Ellie suddenly finds her worklife empty and that all she needs for fulfillment is the new man in her life. She becomes increasingly LESS interesting as this implausible romance progresses. The mystery's solution can be predicted several dozen pages before it's revealed. It's commendable that Picoult did research on the Amish before writing Plain Truth -- but that doesn't make it good fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Addictive and Engrossing
Review: "Plain Truth" is one of those books you can't put down. With many novels, you have to read a few chapters before you're hooked but with this book, the first page snags you and you can't put it down. Picoult's is a great story teller with an interesting voice and comfortable pace to her writing. The story is excellent and unlike many other novels based on Amish culture I have read, she appears objective - she shows both the good and the bad about the Amish and lets you decide. Highly recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: intriguing, absorbing, maddening
Review: Katie, an unwed pregnant Amish teenager, has prayed and prayed that God would make the pregnancy go away before anyone finds out about it. She gives birth prematurely, alone in her family's barn. After the birth, she falls asleep. When she wakes up, the baby is gone, and young and naive as she is, she is sure God has answered her prayer. It takes the reader the rest of the book to find out what happened to the baby. It's a fascinating story, with lots of interesting information about the Amish. Picoult must have done mountains of research, because she manages to make a group of people who are usually relentlessly idealized so interesting and real. But the courtroom scenes run on WAY too long, and they don't make sense at times. There are some major plot gaps. And the ending seemed tacked on; the more I thought about it, the less it "worked" for me. I've been caught by surprise endings before and mentally congratulated the author for pulling it off so well (a couple of Elizabeth George's books come to mind)-- but this ending just doesn't make sense. I can't say more without giving it away, of course, but be prepared-- have a friend read it at the same time so you can talk about the ending!! Overall, a great read. It would make a terrific book group selection-- not only is there lots of fascinating stuff in here, but the controversial ending will keep you talking. This is the first book of Picoult's I've read, I'm interested to see what the others are like.
Rating:
Summary: the truth is you'll like this book!
Review: When I finished this book, I said outloud WOW! It is another great read by Picoult and while I didn't give it 5 stars, it is very good but there were some points which I felt overdone and I did have a few questions I wish had been fulfilled. That said however, the writer brings the Amish life "to life" for the reader and you feel like you are on that farm - in that barn where the dead newborn is found - and questioning Katie, the alleged mother of the baby. A mystery and a walk through the faith of a people different than "the outside world".
Rating:
Summary: A Unique Mystery
Review: This was my first Jodi Picoult but having had her books recommended to me by so many fellow readers, I felt I needed to give her a try. I was not disappointed. Plain Truth is a very well-written story about the mystery surrounding the birth and almost immediate death of a baby in the barn of an Amish farm. It is a fascinating story as the reader accompanies the Philadelphia lawyer chosen to defend the young mother accused of killing her own baby. It is a fascinating story, well-researched and, in my opinion, fairly and honestly written in terms of comparing the lives of the "plain" Amish to those in the outside world. It is, perhaps, a fraction too long but well worth the read to discover the ultimate truth to the mystery.
Rating:
Summary: Okay at first...
Review: The story started off interestingly enough and then became progressively boring and trite. The ending was a complete surprise and a ridiculous disappointment. I would not recommend this book at all.
Rating:
Summary: I love this woman's work!
Review: This is the 5th Picoult book I've read and I really had a hard time putting it down. My parents just recently moved to Lancaster County, PA (where the book is based) so I was able to relate to how the Amish people are viewed. I have to admit that when I was there in July, I found the Amish to be very interesting and mysterious people. I think the research that J. Picoult has done on this story is fabulous and it was very educational as well as entertaining. I highly recommend all of her books to anyone who likes a good book with twists.....
Rating: 
Summary: If I could only give this 0 stars
Review: Unfortunately for me, I bought this book based on previous recommendations. This has to be the most simplistic and illogical legal thriller I've ever read--it makes John Grisham seem like high brow reading. I couldn't even bear to finish it--I skipped through to the ending and it was as badly written thought out as I had expected. I'm glad I didn't bother to read the last 200 pages.
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