Reviews

I found this book slightly irritating in the fact that it didn't travel much. By this, I mean it goes back and forth between characters yet never really develops any sort of plot. I also found the language slightly 'over my head' because of the continuous medical and political jargon.
On a positive note, it was capable of evoking emotion. But isn't any story which involves family disasters somewhat emotional?

Disappointing I am sorry to say.

chickthatreads's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No

3.0

bookhoarder76's review against another edition

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1.0

DNF for me and I HATE that because I LOVE JODI PICOULT! This story was so very boring for me from the very beginning I just couldn't keep going.

ashleyfleming4's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Favorite quote:
"Have you ever been swimming in the summer...when a cloud comes in front of the sun? You know how, for a few seconds, you're absolutely freezing in the water and you think you'd better get out and dry off? But then all of a sudden the sun's back out and you're warm again and when you tell people how much fun you had swimming you wouldn't even think to mention those clouds. That's what's like, with my father."

kshatto18's review against another edition

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2.0

Let me start by saying, I love Jodi Picoult's novels. I've read 13 of them, most of which were thoroughly enjoyable (with only a couple of notable exceptions--Songs of the Humpback Whale for one). I'm always excited to see when she's written something new and can't wait for it to come into print. When I've read or listened to interviews she's given, I am always amazed that she writes all of her novels in about 9 months. For the most part, you would never be able to tell they are written so quickly.
However, Lone Wolf was the exception. Not only was this book not enjoyable, it was physically painful to read. It was one of those books that you read 150 pages in, decide you don't really like the book, but feel like you have to finish it just because you've already put so much effort into reading it.
To me, it feels like she just didn't have enough time to really get at the heart of the novel. The characters were underdeveloped, the voices stagnant, and the plot unrealistic. One of my favorite things about reading a novel by Picoult is her use of voice. In this novel however, the voices of each character were so similar as to be indistinguishable from one another. If there weren't names at the beginning of each chapter, I would have said this was a first person omnicient narrator.
Furthermore, the plot was at times contrived and at other times wholly unrealistic. The "surprise" ending was so poorly done that it was truly unbelievable.
The only redeeming quality of the book, for me, was the information about wolves. I found her research to be fascinating and wished more could have been incorporated about them.

I didn't enjoy this book. But I do love other novels by Jodi Picoult and would recommend many of them. Hopefully, the next novel will be better than Lone Wolf.

craalm's review against another edition

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3.0

I did enjoy this book, but I don't think it was as good as Jodi Picoult's books normally are. There are a number of reasons for that. The prose didn't seem as poetic as Jodi normally writes. I mean, I'm the kind of person who takes note of a page where there is a quote that I particularly like and then write it down later in my quote book. Normally when I read a Jodi book, I have so many page references written down because there are so many quotes that are quite simply perfect. Jodi has a gift of saying so much with so few words, or of taking something and twisting it on its head - like describing a puddle as a square of sky lying on the ground. In this book, though, I didn't find any quotes that struck me as brilliant - and that in itself is a surprise. Secondly, the characters weren't as fleshed out as Jodi's characters normally are. The different perspectives all sounded very similar to each other and only the name at the top or certain phrases like "me and my brother" would have alerted me as to who was saying what. Helen Bedd could have been fleshed out SO much more, especially after hearing that little anecdote about how she got her name. And I would have loved to have seen something more with Barney at the end - though maybe thats just because I once read a book that started where this book ends, with a girl who has been given a new heart and starts to experience things that the previous owner of that heart did.
I'm being picky here because I'm a massive Jodi Picoult fan. I will buy her books in hardback without having a clue what they are about, because I will happily read anything she's written. And this book is still so much better than others that I've read. But it's not as good as Jodi normally is and that is why I give it only three stars. I have come to expect a lot from her books and when they aren't always brilliant, I find myself a little disappointed. That being said, I did get through this book very quickly and enjoyed it a lot. It's an interesting story and raises a lot of ethical and medical concerns about when life ends and turning off life support. But I know Jodi can do better because I've read better from her.

charper15's review against another edition

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5.0

Amazing! This book caught my attention at the very beginning and held it all the way through the twists and turns. Jodi Picoult has done it again. If you get the chance, read it. You won’t be disappointed.

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