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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)
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 ) then give it to the charity shop.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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
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?
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
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.
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
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!
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.