Day 10 of my A to Z Challenge. J is for Jodi Picoult.
I knew when I started this challenge, that I wanted to include an author somewhere along the way. There are a lot of great authors out there, and I have several favourites.
I chose Jodi Picoult, because she is the one author who has never let me down as a reader. I have read all of her books and I’ve truly loved every one of them.
So, what is it that makes her so great?
I think it’s a combination of things, but for me there are two main elements that keep me coming back:
1. Her Books are Realistic.
The first book of hers I read (My Sister’s Keeper) I actually thought was a true story. She writes about what I think of as “normal people” experiencing things that really happen.
2. Her Characters.
The characters in her books are so well written.
She has a knack for understanding people of all ages and all walks of life and this really comes out in her work. The characters are believable, and you can really imagine that that is how they would react to the situations within the books.
It’s hard to pick a favourite book of hers and I can’t choose just one.
My two favourites are My Sister’s Keeper and The Pact. I won’t spoil them for you if you haven’t read them yet (if you haven’t, you really should), but I found them both so moving, and so utterly real.
My Sister’s Keeper
My Sister’s Keeperis a truly sad story.
It centres around a family with 2 young girls, one of whom has leukemia, and the other who is a match for being a
donor.
donor.
The story is told from several viewpoints within the family, all of which have very different voices and all feel so real.
It is a true moral dilemma story. As the parents, which child’s quality of life would you put first? Who would you sacrifice to save the other? As the healthy child, how far would you endanger yourself to save your sister?
It truly makes you question how you would react in this situation.
The Pact
The Pact is another sad story.
It centres around Chris and Emily, two teenagers who have known each other all their lives. Emily dies from a gun shot wound to the head and Chris is found with the gun with one remaining bullet, and tells of a suicide pact the two had made.
Chris finds himself on trial for murder. How would you feel if Chris was your son? How would Chris himself feel?
I think this is what sets Jodi Picoult apart as an author. Her writing makes you question everything you thought you knew about how you would react in a situation.
She has an uncanny knack for making you wonder how you would really react, and the consequences of your decision, and makes you experience the emotions that go with it.
And those thoughts don’t end when you finish reading the book. They will stay with you. I love thought provoking fiction, and Jodi Picoult is the queen of thought provoking.
If you haven’t read any of her books yet, I can’t recommend them highly enough.
What do you think? Do you find her books stay with you? Who is your favourite author?
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The only one of hers I've read is My Sisters Keeper. I read it a few years ago. I still don't think I've recovered emotionally.
They all stay with you like that! I think My Sister's Keeper would be particularly haunting for a mother though. Thanks for commenting 🙂
I loved My Sisters Keeper, I read the book a couple of years ago and found it very sad but touching. But I watched the film for the first time last week and omg I was in bits, so emotional x
I've got the DVD, but haven't gotten around to watching it yet. I know I'll be a wreck though lol
I love Jodi Picoult — she's one of my favorite authors. I have to say though, My Sister's Keeper totally ticked me off. I liked the story, but the ending just seemed so unnecessary. I was furious for days after reading it…I think I'm still a little emotionally scarred even years later… Elle @ Erratic Project Junkie
I agree – I think it should have ended where Anna won the court case and left the rest for the reader to interpret as they would. But yes, OMG does it stay with you!
Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors. I really like her writing style and recommend her to others as well. I even did an author spotlight post on my blog (not part of the A to Z Challenge though) – Author Spotlight: Jodi Picoult
Dropping by on the A to Z Road Trip
~Meg
Writer‘s Crossings
She's amazing isn't she! I will drop by and check out your post on her! I didn't notice it when I stopped by 🙂
I love Jodi Picoult books, she was my first favourite Adult Author. I think my favourite is Change of Heart. She has a lot of great books.
Amanda.
She really is amazing isn't she 🙂 One of the few authors I've come across that has never written a book I didn't like!