Is it me or is Jodi Picoult just rubbish?

I loathe her books but I admit to finding them weirdly compulsive. It's like cheap chocolate, you know it's doing you no good but you just can't stop yourself finishing the family-sized bar. When its over you feel sick and guilty but you know that sooner or later you'll do it again.

I enjoy the crapness

Ive ´picked her books up in bookshops several times, but never bought one. just doesnt appeal enough. cant see what all the fuss is about.

I agree. Complete rubbish the endings are always crap!

The first one I read was My Sister's Keeper from the library. I really enjoyed it so I bought The Pact and was so disappointed as I hated it. I gave her the benefit of the doubt and read Salam Falls which I quite enjoyed. I have since read Vanishing Acts and Plain Truth. I thought Vanishing Acts was awful but Plain Truth quite good although the "twist" was so predictable.

I totally agree with everyone who says she is a one trick pony and the endings always disappoint me.

I probably will read others if I see them in the library but in a year or two when I have "forgotten" the formula she writes to.

I have been trying to read 'Keeping Faith' for some time now but it just isn't keeping me hooked at all - I had read a couple of her books in the past and found them OK which is why I gave this one a chance...I'm bored of it though and will prob end up giving up before the end, which I hate doing. I'll be looking for something else to replace it soon....

Couldn't agree more -RUBBISH!!!

I have read, my sisters keeper, which was good, and about 3 more of her books. However, they are a slog to read and dont really find them unputdownable, but hate not finishing a book!!
Her writing is very strange and not easy to follow and books end stranglely too
wont be buying anymore.

L

she just made a short list at the British Book Awards so she must be doing something right.

probably selling a lot of books.

Multitasker: Try Sara Paretsky, particularly the later ones (from Tunnel Vision onwards) The earlier ones are still good but a bit dated.
Oh, this if for people sick of Patricia Cornwell rather than those who want fluffy chicklit: Paretsky's books are crime thrillers - but brilliant and really plausible.

I love Sue Gee.

Picoult is dire and the endings are sooo unbelievable.

What was the one she wrote about a lawyer and a priest and a paedophile? Drivel.

I enjoy Sophie Kinsella for chick lit and she writes under another name Madeleine Wickham....very good IMHO.

Also enjoyed a book called My Best Friends Girl by Dorothy K??? Cant remember her surname. Will find out. Great read.

I tried 'My Sister's Keeper', but didn't finish it.

Libby Purves or Joyce Carol Oates sssoooooo much better for that type of novel.

emkana & expat have obviously been highly offended by the same phrase...

I was seething half way through Plain Truth - it was cliched characters from the start, and the ending... WTF?? No way was that a good way to end the book. Will never read another. I will not be reading anything recommended by my neighbour again!!
A bit like Patricia Cornwell - although her first couple were good then just formulaic nonsence.

To respond to your OP, I've read the same 4 books as Linnet, and have formed the opinion that JP is a one-trick-pony. Read one, read 'em all.

Try The Secret River by Kate Grenville, Emkana. I really enjoyed it, and a friend was just 'complaining' last night that she can't put it down.

I really enjoyed Plain Truth - right until the end when it finished weirdly

I have only read that one and realised she probably wrote all her books according to a formula. Im disappointed because I think the topics she writes about are thoughtprovoking but I think I will be disappointed if I read anymore

Tisn't you. They are maddening, moronic, semi-literate drivel. And the most annoying thing is she actually picks quite interesting scenarios and then kind of gloops all over them, with lousy, lazy prose, totally unconvincing characters and atrocious dialogue. And I have read both The Pact and My Sister's Keeper, all the way through, but I wouldn't bother with her books again.
For whoever it was wanting something to read, try Jilly Cooper (oldie but goodie and has jokes), Marian Keyes (if you can take the feckin' Irishisms all over the shop) or Natasha Walker (OK perhaps a bit too bright-young-things trying to get married rather than family life).
Actually, for good family-life books, Libby Purves is very readable: I quite liked both The Regatta and Casting Off.

I've read My sisters Keeper, I spotted the ending a mile away.

I also read The Pact, I really enjoyed that one.

Vanishing Acts and Plain Truth were really good as well.

But although I've tried to read other books that she's written I just can't get into them.

'Here's a particularly "good" one: "You cannot be doomed, after all, as long as you can still see the faint outline of hope on the opposite shore."

WTF?'

Vom. I didn't realise Hallmark greeting cards came in full length novel form.

I actually believe I would rather read the Daily Mail than read another of her books.