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inirac's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Death of parent, Xenophobia, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Child death, Racial slurs, Death, Racism, Antisemitism, Grief, and Hate crime
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Blood, Self harm, and Medical trauma
stephhamp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
As a black woman, I knew immediately that this book was written by a white woman. The thoughts and choices that Ruth made were beyond confusing. Infuriating at times. Even during the trial, Ruth's insistence to testify, seemed so out of character for any intelligent black woman to make. Why shoot yourself in the foot and admit to a lie of omission? Throughout the book, Ruth is playing a version of identity politics within herself. The belief that if she could just explain herself, she could just go home scot-free. I know Ruth is lighter skinned and the inclusion of colorism was a good touch, but she's an educated woman who went to Yale. Have you never seen a Law & Order show? You're a nurse in a hospital for 20 years, have you no idea how racial bias works and truly think you're the exception? That made no sense to me.
I did not like the fact that Picoult tried to find common ground with Turk's character. It's conflicting because while I don't think a white supremacist character should be written as sympathetic, I know in this world many people like Turk have been rehabilitated and changed, and that's a good thing. It won't erase their actions, but many people like Turk are trying to do good. It feels like by including Turk's backstory and the passages about his pain at losing his son, the reader was meant to feel sympathy. Why should I be sympathetic to him? I also did not like the big "twist" at the end when it was revealed Brit was half-black. It was meant to be this huge hypocrisy. "Oh you hate black people, but you are black." Unfortunately, many POC hats their race, and that comes out in a myriad of ways.
I think Picoult was trying to do something I hate. Trying to make a statement that we can all get along and change despite our politics. That is not true.
Kennedy was a realistic character, and I think the character probably most like the author. A grown woman who never really looked at race until she had to. Despite being a public defender. I don't think Jodi Picoult is a bad person, or a bac writer, quite the contrary. When I say I could not put this book down, I meant it. And I find this with all of her books that I've read so far. I plan to read more. I think her intentions and hopes were pure and good. But as a black intersectional feminist, the blind spots were very glaring.
Graphic: Xenophobia, Racism, Antisemitism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Self harm
cielo's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Antisemitism, Gaslighting, Grief, Racism, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicide attempt, Xenophobia, and Violence
cheaploaf's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Child death, Homophobia, Police brutality, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Murder, Antisemitism, Suicide attempt, and Self harm
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Suicide, Slavery, and Miscarriage
vanesst's review
3.5
Graphic: Animal death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Death of parent, Hate crime, Animal cruelty, Physical abuse, Antisemitism, Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, and Violence
Moderate: Grief, Medical content, Pregnancy, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Police brutality, and Abandonment
Minor: Blood, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Alcohol
kxc319's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Grief, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Antisemitism, Classism, Violence, and Self harm
miastegner's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Minor: Hate crime, Suicide, Racial slurs, Bullying, Grief, Antisemitism, Death, Classism, Child death, Medical trauma, Racism, Homophobia, Police brutality, and Violence
jamiejanae_6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Sexism, Antisemitism, Body horror, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Self harm, Blood, Violence, Child death, Cursing, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Alcoholism
tristinrose's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Racism, Child death, Violence, Homophobia, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Cursing, Antisemitism, Bullying, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Suicide, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
kpg1124's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Classism, Transphobia, Racism, Antisemitism, Xenophobia, and Suicide attempt
A lesson in how to write real life characters, race in America, and cultivate empathy everywhere. No one is ever too far lost if we take the time to get to know them.