thereadingbee's review against another edition
4.0
NINETEEN MINUTES is the third Jodi Picoult I’ve read, and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. The amount of research that she does for her books is absolutely astounding. She gets her facts right, then then writes a heavy and often heart wrenching story around a certain topic. The topic of this book: bullying and a school shooting.
Unfortunately it’s something we have seen quite a lot, and even though this book was written in 2007, it’s just as relevant now, maybe even more so in this social media fueled age. Picoult’s insightfulness is astounding and ‘the bully syndrome’ is a fascinating theory. Being different in a world built on being popular, athletic and intelligent, can be a heavy burden to bear for some. Being a kid is tough.
Not only is this book a difficult read, but Picoult also pulls off a difficult feat: to sympathize with a mass murderer. It just goes to show how talented she is and nothing is as black and white as it may seem.
Unfortunately it’s something we have seen quite a lot, and even though this book was written in 2007, it’s just as relevant now, maybe even more so in this social media fueled age. Picoult’s insightfulness is astounding and ‘the bully syndrome’ is a fascinating theory. Being different in a world built on being popular, athletic and intelligent, can be a heavy burden to bear for some. Being a kid is tough.
Not only is this book a difficult read, but Picoult also pulls off a difficult feat: to sympathize with a mass murderer. It just goes to show how talented she is and nothing is as black and white as it may seem.
b_morganbooks's review against another edition
4.5
Jodi Picoult’s audiobooks are my new go to when I want a contemporary book with depth and intrigue, etc. This is one of my, if not my, favourite of hers that I’ve read so far.
I absolutely loved the overall storyline. I thought it was so interesting and thought provoking, without being too complicated. I spent the whole time trying to decide whether I felt I could empathise with Peter for becoming a mass murderer, and honestly, I don’t see how you couldn’t. Although it goes without saying that it is a horrific act and I can’t begin to imagine how the victims families feel, I could see Peter’s motives, to a certain extent. It’s just heartbreaking that this actually happens in real life. The ending had me shook, as Jodi’s books usually do. I hadn’t seen it coming at all but it finished the book off perfectly.
I am a long book fan and much prefer them, but I don’t think every part of this book was necessary and didn’t add to the story, but that is my only criticism. I loved the experience and I’m looking forward to my next one by this author.
I absolutely loved the overall storyline. I thought it was so interesting and thought provoking, without being too complicated. I spent the whole time trying to decide whether I felt I could empathise with Peter for becoming a mass murderer, and honestly, I don’t see how you couldn’t. Although it goes without saying that it is a horrific act and I can’t begin to imagine how the victims families feel, I could see Peter’s motives, to a certain extent. It’s just heartbreaking that this actually happens in real life. The ending had me shook, as Jodi’s books usually do. I hadn’t seen it coming at all but it finished the book off perfectly.
I am a long book fan and much prefer them, but I don’t think every part of this book was necessary and didn’t add to the story, but that is my only criticism. I loved the experience and I’m looking forward to my next one by this author.
vane_reads95's review against another edition
5.0
This thought-provoking book is certainly one to remember. I truly appreciate how the author placed both sides of the stories and didn't deviate from the victim's or the shooter's side. I felt both perspectives needed to be laid out on the table for the reader to get their own conclusion. I found it quite difficult at times, I remember going to sleep and waking up thinking about this book and wanting to finish it because I needed it to end. What made me mostly furious was the fact that this book was published in 2007, and history hasn't changed. This only means that the author was influenced by other past incidents similar to the story and I just stuck on that idea, I just couldn't believe how it fit in today's circumstances.
The author has left me with more questions than before, I mean every chapter that passed, I had another question and so many Why's. It's a difficult matter and this book should be read by every
The author has left me with more questions than before, I mean every chapter that passed, I had another question and so many Why's. It's a difficult matter and this book should be read by every
salmonator's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
4 STARS
"Sterling is an ordinary New Hampshire town where nothing ever happens--until the day its complacency is shattered by an act of violence. Josie Cormier, the daughter of the judge sitting on the case, should be the state's best witness, but she can't remember what happened before her very own eyes--or can she? As the trial progresses, fault lines between the high school and the adult community begin to show--destroying the closest of friendships and families.
Nineteen Minutes asks what it means to be different in our society, who has the right to judge someone else, and whether anyone is ever really who they seem to be." (From Amazon)
Wow this was an intense book as emotions were high with the characters and it seemed to have rubbed off on me.
"Sterling is an ordinary New Hampshire town where nothing ever happens--until the day its complacency is shattered by an act of violence. Josie Cormier, the daughter of the judge sitting on the case, should be the state's best witness, but she can't remember what happened before her very own eyes--or can she? As the trial progresses, fault lines between the high school and the adult community begin to show--destroying the closest of friendships and families.
Nineteen Minutes asks what it means to be different in our society, who has the right to judge someone else, and whether anyone is ever really who they seem to be." (From Amazon)
Wow this was an intense book as emotions were high with the characters and it seemed to have rubbed off on me.
gnashingteethpublishing's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Mass/school shootings, Suicidal thoughts, and Emotional abuse
noellemckgriggs's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favorite books to date. I remember i did a book project on it in high school and being able to fully analyze it, I think< is one of the reasons I really bonded with the story. I have never felt so attached and moved by a story as I did with this one. It captures your attention from page one. I could read this book a million times and still cry and gasp and be moved each time. Another amazing novel by Jodi Picoult.
barbelizabeth's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0