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amyapple's review against another edition
2.0
What a twist! Wasn’t what I expected. But I’ve never read Jodi Picoult and this is my first one.
mymiddlename123's review against another edition
3.0
My Sister’s Keeper is a sad story about a girl who is keeping her sister alive. Her sister has a rare type of cancer that makes treatment extremely difficult and she has had this cancer since she was just a baby. Anna, the main character, was essentially born as an afterthought by her parents in order to create the perfect doner for her sister Kate. It’s a story that will make you question what is right and wrong with every turn of the page.
I actually had trouble getting through this book. Not because it’s bad, but because it’s one of those books that you really have to read in the right mood. I picked it up because it was my Random Reads pick for March, and so I needed to read it within this month. But it was a tough one to read when I just wasn’t in the mood for something sad.
However, it was still an incredible story. I liked how it was told from several different viewpoints by everyone involved in the story from Anna to her lawyer, to the members of her family. It made it easier to understand where everyone was coming from and how Anna’s case affected them each personally. I particularly enjoyed the point of views of Campbell and Julia because while both of them are certainly in the middle of the whole thing too, they had their own story going on which was a bit of a reprieve from the downright tragic happenings of the main family.
Where the book really disappointed me was the ending. I didn’t expect it to be a happy-go-lucky, run through fields of flowers ending. I went into it fully understanding that it would probably be a sad one. But the ending just came out of left field and it felt like it was done for pure shock-factor. I don’t feel like it was necessary at all and that alone brought my rating down for this entire book. Not because I’m mad, but because it felt calculated and uncalled for.
Overall, this is a good book though, and if you’re in the mood for something sad and involving a lot of drama and grief of sorts, then you will probably enjoy it. But be sure to read it when you’re in that mood, because you probably won’t enjoy it otherwise.
I actually had trouble getting through this book. Not because it’s bad, but because it’s one of those books that you really have to read in the right mood. I picked it up because it was my Random Reads pick for March, and so I needed to read it within this month. But it was a tough one to read when I just wasn’t in the mood for something sad.
However, it was still an incredible story. I liked how it was told from several different viewpoints by everyone involved in the story from Anna to her lawyer, to the members of her family. It made it easier to understand where everyone was coming from and how Anna’s case affected them each personally. I particularly enjoyed the point of views of Campbell and Julia because while both of them are certainly in the middle of the whole thing too, they had their own story going on which was a bit of a reprieve from the downright tragic happenings of the main family.
Where the book really disappointed me was the ending. I didn’t expect it to be a happy-go-lucky, run through fields of flowers ending. I went into it fully understanding that it would probably be a sad one. But the ending just came out of left field and it felt like it was done for pure shock-factor. I don’t feel like it was necessary at all and that alone brought my rating down for this entire book. Not because I’m mad, but because it felt calculated and uncalled for.
Overall, this is a good book though, and if you’re in the mood for something sad and involving a lot of drama and grief of sorts, then you will probably enjoy it. But be sure to read it when you’re in that mood, because you probably won’t enjoy it otherwise.
ktbxter's review against another edition
4.5
Possibly 5 stars. Will rethink rating once home from holiday.
This book ripped my heart out in many different ways and places. I adored Anna and her courage to begin the lawsuit for the rights to her own body. Even if it wasn't really what she wanted.
I loved Campbell for taking on the case and for growing so much as a person throughout the duration.
I felt so many feelings towards Sara and Brian throughout and truly felt their pain.
The ending split me in two. Even after knowing it ended like that from spoilers on the Internet. I'm heartbroken that Anna couldn't grow up to be Kate's little sister. Because we all know she would have donated that kidney like she wanted to in the first place.
This book ripped my heart out in many different ways and places. I adored Anna and her courage to begin the lawsuit for the rights to her own body. Even if it wasn't really what she wanted.
I loved Campbell for taking on the case and for growing so much as a person throughout the duration.
I felt so many feelings towards Sara and Brian throughout and truly felt their pain.
The ending split me in two. Even after knowing it ended like that from spoilers on the Internet. I'm heartbroken that Anna couldn't grow up to be Kate's little sister. Because we all know she would have donated that kidney like she wanted to in the first place.
blowp0p's review against another edition
2.0
~This review is full of spoilers~
I liked that it seemed that Mrs. Picoult actually seemed to do some measure of research about the different forms of cancer and treatments for it. I like that Ana wins her case. That's about the extent of my likes on this book.
So, we all know parents are suppose to love their children equally but that it doesn't always happen. And that when that doesn't happen usually parents are fairly decent at hiding how much more they like kid a more than kid b. This doesn't happen in this book.
Jesse, the oldest is basically neglected and Sarah, the mother, outright says that she gave up on him.
Kate, the middle child has the world revolving around her and it's not hidden at all.
Ana, the youngest feels invisible and ignored.
Being a child of a 2 child family (and the oldest) I can't actually related to a 3 child family but from what I've heard of others who do live in families with 3 or more children, this is a fairly common structure for them. And it pisses me off. However, I can emphasise with how Kate and Ana are portrayed as my younger brother has a lot of medical issues and things revolve around him and at times I do feel invisible and ignored when I'm asked for my opinion on things. So I can understand how Ana feels on the front of having a sibling have a medical issue that everything revolves around (luckily my sibling doesn't have one that has him in the hospital often and is fairly manageable and hasn't required me to donate any part of my body towards).
Now, back to the book.
Jesse being neglected turns to arson in what seems to be a feeble attempt at getting his parents to give a shit or care. Ana is being pressured to donate a kidney to Kate that the doctors seem to think might not be the best possible thing for her because of how bad Kate's immune system is. Sarah doesn't seem to want to really listen to Ana. So, Ana in turn saves up money and sues her parents, Sarah and Brian, for medical emancipation.
There's a whole side story about her attorney and her guardian ad litem having a romantic past and blah blah blah. That really didn't make much of a difference to the story.
The end was the only part that really got any semblance of emotion other than anger from me but it also made me angry too because it felt like a cop-out. She spends the entire book fighting to not have to donate her kidney and then winds up in a car accident that she dies from and her kidney still gets donated regardless. And miraculously because it was a life for a life Kate winds up living well beyond doctor's expectations.
Read it or not that's on you. But I don't recommend it.
I liked that it seemed that Mrs. Picoult actually seemed to do some measure of research about the different forms of cancer and treatments for it. I like that Ana wins her case. That's about the extent of my likes on this book.
So, we all know parents are suppose to love their children equally but that it doesn't always happen. And that when that doesn't happen usually parents are fairly decent at hiding how much more they like kid a more than kid b. This doesn't happen in this book.
Jesse, the oldest is basically neglected and Sarah, the mother, outright says that she gave up on him.
Kate, the middle child has the world revolving around her and it's not hidden at all.
Ana, the youngest feels invisible and ignored.
Being a child of a 2 child family (and the oldest) I can't actually related to a 3 child family but from what I've heard of others who do live in families with 3 or more children, this is a fairly common structure for them. And it pisses me off. However, I can emphasise with how Kate and Ana are portrayed as my younger brother has a lot of medical issues and things revolve around him and at times I do feel invisible and ignored when I'm asked for my opinion on things. So I can understand how Ana feels on the front of having a sibling have a medical issue that everything revolves around (luckily my sibling doesn't have one that has him in the hospital often and is fairly manageable and hasn't required me to donate any part of my body towards).
Now, back to the book.
Jesse being neglected turns to arson in what seems to be a feeble attempt at getting his parents to give a shit or care. Ana is being pressured to donate a kidney to Kate that the doctors seem to think might not be the best possible thing for her because of how bad Kate's immune system is. Sarah doesn't seem to want to really listen to Ana. So, Ana in turn saves up money and sues her parents, Sarah and Brian, for medical emancipation.
There's a whole side story about her attorney and her guardian ad litem having a romantic past and blah blah blah. That really didn't make much of a difference to the story.
The end was the only part that really got any semblance of emotion other than anger from me but it also made me angry too because it felt like a cop-out. She spends the entire book fighting to not have to donate her kidney and then winds up in a car accident that she dies from and her kidney still gets donated regardless. And miraculously because it was a life for a life Kate winds up living well beyond doctor's expectations.
Read it or not that's on you. But I don't recommend it.
jaimeemorris's review against another edition
2.0
This book pissed me off.
I was made to get semi-invested in all the sub characters, I flip-flopped between absolutely LOATHING Sara. I got mad at Kate for not just fucking saying “enough is enough” and then when I finally thought justice had been served… Jodi kills Anna anyway, and Kate gets the kidney anyway.
Oh and lives happily (ish, I mean she was fairly sad about Anna dying) ever after.
Jesse, became a fucking cop. A decorated one at that.
Brian became an alcoholic but miraculously pulled himself out of that.
Anna went through a whole bunch of shit that no 13 year old should go through all because her sister couldn’t just speak her mind and then it was all for nothing anyway because wow, car accident that left her brain dead but that prime-realestate kidney was ripe for the taking.
Ugh.
I was made to get semi-invested in all the sub characters, I flip-flopped between absolutely LOATHING Sara. I got mad at Kate for not just fucking saying “enough is enough” and then when I finally thought justice had been served… Jodi kills Anna anyway, and Kate gets the kidney anyway.
Oh and lives happily (ish, I mean she was fairly sad about Anna dying) ever after.
Jesse, became a fucking cop. A decorated one at that.
Brian became an alcoholic but miraculously pulled himself out of that.
Anna went through a whole bunch of shit that no 13 year old should go through all because her sister couldn’t just speak her mind and then it was all for nothing anyway because wow, car accident that left her brain dead but that prime-realestate kidney was ripe for the taking.
Ugh.
emmakwilkinson's review against another edition
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer and Child death
Minor: Sexual content and Suicide attempt
meghang500's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
103115's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
arun74's review against another edition
2.0
For whatever reason, the story didnt draw my interest and the way it was laid out (each character speaking from their vantage point) didnt seem to help it either.