Helpful Score: 11
I am a big fan of Jodi Picoult, especially after meeting her! I was not impressed,however, with this book. It's not up to her usual standards. The story never grabbed me, even though the subject matter was very thought provoking. The characters, on the whole where not well developed, or likeable and the story went off in too many different directions. I recommend, My sister's keeper, Nineteen minutes, The Plain Truth, The pact, and Saving Faith, to name a few of my favorites.
Helpful Score: 10
I usually enjoy reading Jodi Picoult's books, though the topics are often difficult, she writes in such a way that you wonder how you would react in the same situation. "Mercy" was not up to the standards Ms. Picoult normally puts forth in her novels. I was intrigued by the subject, however, instead of focusing on the question of mercy killing, and how you would handle a similar situation, a majority of the book was about Cam MacDonald, the sheriff of Wheelock, Mass and his affair...It's not a terrible book, just not up to Picoult's usual standards.
Helpful Score: 10
This book wasn't as good as Picoult's others. I thought it jumped around too much and had a few too many characters that weren't fully fleshed out like Picoult usually does. In addition, the romance between Cam and Mia just doesn't ring true, while you never really get a sense of the relationship between Jamie and Maggie. Also, Picoult throws in some supernatural elements that just didn't ring true to me. Although I've enjoyed most of her other books (especially âMy Sister's Keeperâ), I didn't think this was one of Picoult's best.
Helpful Score: 5
I really did not like this book. I was very disappointed in that I usually enjoy this author. I had to force myself to keep reading it, just to see what the fuss was all about. I think it's boring, has very, very little to do with mercy killing, which is what I was expecting. The majority of the book is about an affair and its consequences and is there always someone in a marriage who loves more than the other person. It was just a very disappointing book and I do not recommend that anyone waste their time reading it.
Helpful Score: 5
This book didn't do much for me. I loved the Allie character and pretty much disliked everyone else. Some of the other reviews said this is about mercy killing and virtual reality. In my opinion, those issues were subplots. She covered the bare surface of both of those topics but delved deep into the affairand its effects. To me, this is about the 'favorite son' learning that the world does not revolve around him and that his choices have consequences. And the mercy that his wife shows.
