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A review by joshkiba13
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"What if the puzzle of the world was a shape you didn't fit into? And the only way to survive was to mutilate yourself, carve away your corners, sand yourself down, modify yourself to fit? How come we haven't been able to change the puzzle instead?"
This was my second Jodi Picoult novel, after Mad Honey. This novel likewise explores complex social issues by way of a court trial, but it was a whole different ballgame. In Mad Honey we as readers were not present during the murder at the start of the novel, and details of the victim's death come throughout the book. This time, we are present as one of our main characters struggles, but fails to save a baby's life. The question here as readers is not if Ruth is innocent or guilty, but whether she can escape the heavy iron grip that racism has on her life.
This was a very heavy, saddening story. We follow three characters: Ruth, a black delivery nurse; Kennedy, her white defense attorney; and Turk, a white supremacist, the father of the baby Ruth failed to save. Each character had their own unique voice (apart from each one having a separate narrator on the audiobook). Ruth is optimistic about the world but hurting; Kennedy is enthusiastic and passionate; Turk is angry and wrathful. Each character was written brilliantly.
One thing I wished for throughout the whole book was to see a little bit more of Turk; as horrible as his mindsets were, he was a very troubled and unique character to read about. His life was intriguing. It wasn't his story in the end, however, and I really enjoyed the relationships portrayed between Ruth, her sister, her son, an old friend, and Kennedy her lawyer.
This novel taught me that racism isn't just discrimination, it's privilege inherent (or missing) in our society based on race. One quote that stuck out to me was that ignorance is a privilege too, that white people get to enjoy. It's easy to underestimate the struggle that people of color in America go through daily when you're not the one experiencing it---when you're the one benefitting from it, even unintentionally. It's a hard truth to face, but such an important one.
I was sad and feeling heavy every time I finished listening to the book, but it was absolutely worth it. The wrap-up of the story did not at all go like I expected, and it was very emotional for me. If all of Jodi's books are this fraught with tension and emotion, I think I'll be reading her for years.
This was my second Jodi Picoult novel, after Mad Honey. This novel likewise explores complex social issues by way of a court trial, but it was a whole different ballgame. In Mad Honey we as readers were not present during the murder at the start of the novel, and details of the victim's death come throughout the book. This time, we are present as one of our main characters struggles, but fails to save a baby's life. The question here as readers is not if Ruth is innocent or guilty, but whether she can escape the heavy iron grip that racism has on her life.
This was a very heavy, saddening story. We follow three characters: Ruth, a black delivery nurse; Kennedy, her white defense attorney; and Turk, a white supremacist, the father of the baby Ruth failed to save. Each character had their own unique voice (apart from each one having a separate narrator on the audiobook). Ruth is optimistic about the world but hurting; Kennedy is enthusiastic and passionate; Turk is angry and wrathful. Each character was written brilliantly.
One thing I wished for throughout the whole book was to see a little bit more of Turk; as horrible as his mindsets were, he was a very troubled and unique character to read about. His life was intriguing. It wasn't his story in the end, however, and I really enjoyed the relationships portrayed between Ruth, her sister, her son, an old friend, and Kennedy her lawyer.
This novel taught me that racism isn't just discrimination, it's privilege inherent (or missing) in our society based on race. One quote that stuck out to me was that ignorance is a privilege too, that white people get to enjoy. It's easy to underestimate the struggle that people of color in America go through daily when you're not the one experiencing it---when you're the one benefitting from it, even unintentionally. It's a hard truth to face, but such an important one.
I was sad and feeling heavy every time I finished listening to the book, but it was absolutely worth it. The wrap-up of the story did not at all go like I expected, and it was very emotional for me. If all of Jodi's books are this fraught with tension and emotion, I think I'll be reading her for years.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Hate crime, Homophobia, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Suicide