Marcy S. (marcyreads) reviewed on 1/15/2009

Helpful Score: 13

I'm a little let down by Picoult's latest, to tell the truth. I typically only pick up her books when I know I'm going to have time to read them straight through in a day or two, because I usually find her stories and their complexities riveting. Normally, I just cannot put them down. This one has taken me almost a month to get through. I was really disappointed. I've read 11 of her 15 novels to date, and this is my least favorite.

The story was very, very slow moving until the last 50-75 pages, I'd say. And for awhile, I had to keep reminding myself that I wasn't re-reading "Keeping Faith," for the subject matter is very similar, and characters from that novel make return appearances in this one. I just sort of feel like Picoult is running out of stories to tell. How many more stories do we need about abuse, murder, religious beliefs, and organ transplants? (LOL)

I found, in this novel, that Picoult's characters didn't have the depth that characters in her other novels have had. I didn't feel any particular sympathy for ANY of the characters until the very end, and even then, it was only for one character. I'm hesitant to say more because I don't want to be a spoiler, but overall, I wasn't nearly as thrilled with this endeavor by Picoult as I usually am with her books. A definite letdown for me.

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