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Mumsnet Discussions: Adult fiction : Jodi Picoult - I've said this before but I have to say it again: WHY is she so successful? I mean you can spot the "twist"... (38 messages)
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Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By emkana on Thu 18-Sep-08 22:32:11
... a couple of pages in.

And then it's just drivel.

(This is the one about the death row inmate who wants to donate his heart btw)
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By blowsy on Thu 18-Sep-08 22:35:05
My friend insisted that I take 'My sister's keeper' on hols with me as it was so fab.

I thought it was the biggest load of poorly written, predictable bollocks I'd ever had the misfortune to read.

Never again! But who buys this shit?
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By Lubyloo on Thu 18-Sep-08 22:35:17
I love her books.Partly because I used to live in Vermont so can take a trip down memory lane when I'm reading them.

Don't think I've read the one you mention though.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By Flibbertyjibbet on Thu 18-Sep-08 22:35:42
Does she always do a twist? I only read one of hers, the one about the sister expected to donate everything for the sick sister. The twist in that I have to say was unexpected and I enjoyed the book.
SO I bought another of hers and didn't get past the first 2 chapters - exactly the same style, another medical dilemma book.

Why don't you just read the last couple of chapters, to prove you are right (Miss Marple smile) then give it to the charity shop.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By Lubyloo on Thu 18-Sep-08 22:35:53
That would be me Blowsy wink
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By ghosty on Thu 18-Sep-08 22:38:52
I have read one of her books - I can't remember which - after thinking, "Oooh, she must be good, seeing as there are so many of her books on the shelf"
After the 2nd chapter I wanted to gouge my eyes out with a spoon to alleviate the boredom.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By blowsy on Thu 18-Sep-08 22:39:13
Oops sorry Lubyloo blush
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By anyfucker on Thu 18-Sep-08 22:39:20
I hate her books.

I have never got past the 1st chapter and I've tried a few times as she is always on the best-selling list and quoted among favourite authors.

I thought it was just me !

WHYYYYYYYYY ????
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By binkythebullet on Thu 18-Sep-08 22:39:42
she is dreadful - she writes tosh
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By HumphreyCushion on Thu 18-Sep-08 22:40:26
she starts with a pun-filled title and works backwards from there. grin
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By solidgoldbrass on Thu 18-Sep-08 22:42:37
She has an instinct for picking up on currently-discussed ishoos to write books about. Unfortunately she is rubbish at characterisation, plot and dialogue, and all her books are riddled with witless sentimentality and 'spirituality' so they are only enjoyable if you are the sort of fuckwit who still ties a bunch of flowers to Harrods front door on the anniversary of Princess Di(ed)'s death.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By BecauseImWorthIt on Thu 18-Sep-08 22:43:28
Lots of research, which is good, and interesting/thought provoking topics, also good - and the first one is a good read. But then all the rest follow the same pattern/formula.

So it becomes tosh.

I avoid them like the plague now, after the first three.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By moondog on Thu 18-Sep-08 22:43:32
I think the same about Agatha Chritie and J K Rowling.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By anyfucker on Thu 18-Sep-08 22:43:49
lol sgb, tell it like it is !
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By ninedragons on Fri 19-Sep-08 07:28:34
PMSL, solidgoldbrass.

I started 19 Minutes or 19 Seconds or whatever it is and by the end of the second chapter I was praying for the gift of illiteracy.

Except then they'd probably release it as an audio book, read by that woman who played Chandler's ex-girlfriend on Friends. Honestly, that's the only way it could have been worse.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By rosmerta on Fri 19-Sep-08 07:39:24
I never bother anymore, after reading about 3. We read My sister's keeper in our book group and I think it was the first time we all agreed on a book!
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By Spagblog on Fri 19-Sep-08 07:41:24
I enjoyed sisters keeper very much. The other one I found interesting was Plain Truth. The others all blended together a bit though.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By RupertTheBear on Fri 19-Sep-08 07:45:44
I have read a few and quite enjoy them to start with (bearing in mind I have two small children and it has been a while since I have read anything that requires any thought or concentration) but without exception always hate the endings. I don't think she can ever work out how to finish the book off and solve the particular ishoo she is writing about and just cops out. I always end up ranting about the rubbish ending and saying I willl never read another of hers. I enjoyed My Sister's Keeper - but again it had a crap end!
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By taipo on Fri 19-Sep-08 07:47:40
Lol sgb. I've never read any of her stuff and you've summed it up perfectly as to why I really shouldn't bother.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By 2point4kids on Fri 19-Sep-08 07:50:50
Well this thread is a bit of a surprise!
I love her books.
Read My sisters keeper first and after that have read quite a few more as I enjoyed them so much. I really liked plain truth as well.

I have just read he latest one and I absolutely loved it grin
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By Scarletibis on Fri 19-Sep-08 12:40:37
JP is one of my bugbears as well - I've only read Salem's Fall but what a load of contrived drivel.

Worse thing was the self-important book club notes at the back.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By Jennyusedtobepink on Fri 19-Sep-08 12:42:27
I don't think any of them have been any good since My Sister's Keeper.

But I keep buying them in the vain hope that they will be.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By stroppyknickers on Fri 19-Sep-08 12:46:28
I am trying to read the one about the Abeknake (sp) tribe and it keeps going into the past. Really really bored now. Soooo right about the twist. They are v formulaic (except this one) but I did really love Keeping Faith and the one about the suicide pact. Will not be buying anymore though. Maybe 3 is the limit?
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By FairLadyRantALot on Fri 19-Sep-08 12:48:00
I am sure I read one of her books (the one where the father had abducted his daughter, and it all comes out when she is grown up...)....and I found it was really hard to get through...it wasn't a bad book, but it was just so slow....sigh
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By CaptainFlameSparrowWifeOfJack on Fri 19-Sep-08 12:49:05
I've read some of them - I enjoyed my sister's keeper, the rest have just been easy not needing to think reading.

Enjoyed them more than I am Love and Other Impossible Pursuits (not by her) - that book is just weirdly awkward to read.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By FairLadyRantALot on Fri 19-Sep-08 12:51:50
Just looked which one it was, and I think it must have been Vanishing acts
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By FairLadyRantALot on Fri 19-Sep-08 12:51:51
Just looked which one it was, and I think it must have been Vanishing acts
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By chopchopbusybusy on Fri 19-Sep-08 12:56:53
You really only ever need to read one of her books because they are all exactly the same. I quite liked the first one I read (could't tell you which one). Next one actually set my teeth on edge from page 1. Couldn't agree more about the self important book club notes at the back. I've never been to a book club - quite fancied going along to one too - but every time I consider it now I think of Jodi fucking Picoult.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By AbbaFan on Fri 19-Sep-08 13:04:19
I have read 'my sisters keeper' and 'the 9th circle' for book-clubs and they were ok.

Just started to read 'mercy' which I bought ages ago when it was half-price, but I think I am just going to move on and donate it!

I won't be buying another.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By Megglevache on Fri 19-Sep-08 13:06:27
What was the twist? (saves me from reading it)
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By TillyScoutsmum on Fri 26-Sep-08 19:47:12
I liked my Sister's Keeper but it was my first one. Most since then have been too samey

I quite enjoyed her recent one (Second Glance) which is a ghost story rather than a court room one but it was still predictable in places and the ending was shite
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By 4girls4chickens on Thu 30-Oct-08 23:07:28
i keep going to the library and finding nothing else there....

having a small baby + 3others i sometimes just need to read something! and then i start and i know how it's going to end (more or less) and it's just a matter of getting through it. i did quite like plain truth though.

back to the library comment i wrote a list of 15 authors i like to read at the front of my diary so that when i was there so i could remember (i can never remember off top of my head!) and there really never is anything there. i need to move near a town with a better library!
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By prettybutterfly on Fri 31-Oct-08 22:00:45
Inter-library loan! It's the way to go.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By rosmerta on Fri 31-Oct-08 22:08:15
agree with prettybutterfly, give the list to the library & they should be able to get it from other libraries. I do it loads!
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By Plonker on Fri 31-Oct-08 22:23:20
I've read a few of hers and although i agree that most a few were pretty shite, i really enjoyed My Sisters Keeper.

You need to add me to your list blowsy wink
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By ScottishMummy on Fri 31-Oct-08 22:26:10
lordy i once read JP book (half price) i felt bit grubby,never get that time back.she is shite
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By glenthorpe on Fri 31-Oct-08 22:35:06
Plain Truth was the best one for me,my partner read it and I found the setting very intersting...
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By Claire236 on Sat 01-Nov-08 08:24:50
I've read about 6 of her books & really enjoyed most of them. Admittedly some are a bit samey which is why I read the cover before buying. I enjoy her books because she writes about subjects that could be controversial but she writes about the personal, emotional impact & keeps away from the political side.


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