Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult
I was recently given an entire sack of Jodi Picoult books to read. I think I've gone through 4 or 5 of them so far, the most recent being Vanishing Acts.
After reading several Picoult novels, I've discovered that her novels follow a formula. Most of them are written where the different chapters are the different characters telling their stories as they go. There are positives and negatives to this style of writing. A positive being that it allows you to see things through all of the main characters' eyes and get multiple viewpoints on the situations happening in the story. However, a big negative for me in reading several books written in this style is that it tends to get old book after book after book.
That being said, I did enjoy Vanishing Acts moreso than some of the others I've read (i.e. Change of Heart and Picture Perfect), It's essentially the story of Delia Hopkins, a 32 year old woman who finds out that she was kidnapped by her father at the age of 4 and moved from Arizona to New Hampshire in order to escape her alcoholic mother and various other bad influences in her life. She hires her fiance, who is conveniently and coincidentally also an alcoholic and a lawyer, to represent her father in his trial and she struggles with her anger toward her father for letting her believe her mother has been dead for 28 years, and her anger toward her mother for being an alcoholic and forcing her father's hand.
The book was entertaining, but not amazing. I tend to judge books based on how I feel when I finish. With Vanishing Acts i felt no sense of grief...no sadness knowing the book was over, which lets me know this one wasn't at the top of my best read list. It was a fairly predictable outcome and, like most other Picoult novels, had a big twist at the end that was supposed to be shocking but in the end didn't really come as much of a surprise.
And a note to the men out there: Jodi Picoult's novels are most definitely "chick books," aka the equivalent of a "chick flick." Therefore, you have been warned.
Book Rating: C+/B-
November 24th, 2009 - 09:05
This definitely sounds like Lifetime started putting out novels. I’ll heed your warning and skip Ms. Picoult’s work.
December 7th, 2009 - 23:19
omg! Jodi Picoult is my absolute favorite. Many years ago I was wondering through the bookstore with no idea what I was in the mood to read and came across The Pact. From that book on, I have never been able to put down one of her novels, literally, until I finish it, I own every book she has written and read them again and again. Her later work is definately better than her early work but I love how she takes highly controversial current events and subjects and uses all the characters to tell the story without making one point of view more important or correct than any other. Her novels always leaving me with something to think about and remind me how very few issues are actually black and white, but various shades of grey depending on your point of view. Personally, I have yet to find an author with such a unique style, but as you said..it might not be enjoyable for everyone. I’m excited you read some of her books!