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Binding: Paperback Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54 EAN: 9780743454537 ISBN: 0743454537 Label: Washington Square Press Manufacturer: Washington Square Press Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 448 Publication Date: February 01, 2005 Publisher: Washington Square Press Sales Rank: 559 Studio: Washington Square Press
Product Description: New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult is widely acclaimed for her keen insights into the hearts and minds of real people. Now she tells the emotionally riveting story of a family torn apart by conflicting needs and a passionate love that triumphs over human weakness.
Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate -- a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister -- and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.
My Sister's Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life, even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less? Should you follow your own heart, or let others lead you? Once again, in My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult tackles a controversial real-life subject with grace, wisdom, and sensitivity.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Read it
Having not read any of Joid Picoults other books and hearing all the hype i was a bit sceptical. But the book has really made me question some of my beliefs that I thought were so obviously well founded. Definately a tear jerker for me, but that could have been due to the impact on my thinking. The end is slightly disapointing but surprising. It would have been great to have a happily ever after ending.
Rating: - Riveting yes, but.....
Picoult is a marvelous story teller with an incredible knack for pulling you over to her own prejudices on an issue. The book was a page turner. I started it late Friday night and completed it by 4:30pm on Sunday. I needed to know what would happen to Anna's court case while strongly leaning towards her right to her own body. I alternated between anger and understanding of a mother caught in the trap between the life of one daughter and the right to a normal life for the other. I was angry that the parents allowed their son to go so far over the edge without really even noticing. Yes I was totally caught up in the plot and wanted Anna to win her case.
What was irritating was Picoult's inability to speak with different voices while using this method of story telling. Each chapter was told through the voice of a different person involved in the unfolding drama; a great technique if you can pull it off. While she threw in a few vulgarities that might be expected of a delinquent boy; she still came across as Jodie Picoult telling the story and pretending to be a boy.
Anna's lawyer, though coming across as a callous, self centered individual in the narrative, I instinctively knew was not the 'monster without feelings' that was being portrayed and waited for the time when his true character would be exposed. This was done in a very contrived manner complete with the drama of a grand mal seizure on the court room floor; and finally revealing the reason for his faithful service dog, Judge. As a reader you knew that this was coming and I wish that the author had got it out of the way to begin with. It was not an essential part of the plot, and came close to upstaging the vital parts of the story. I don't believe that every character in a book has to equally share the stage with the others. I would have liked to have spent more time exploring the son, Jesse's psyche than the lawyer's.
Having got that criticism out of the way; would I recommend this book?
Yes indeed. The subject matter that it covers is vital in today's society of shifting values and cutting edge technology. It certainly kept me reading when I had other things to do. I'm taking it to my neighbor right now.
Rating: - More than I had hoped for!
This book is written beautifully. It started with a single story line (a family conceives another child to be a donor match for a sick one - but have no fear...this is no plot spoiler!) so I wondered how a whole book could be written on this one theme. It is to this author's credit that it did indeed take a whole book to explore this theme and others that were intertwined. I found it sensitive and thought provoking, and unlike another reviewer, enjoyed almost every page. It has inspired me to read more from this author- she deserves all the kudos she has gotten for this!
Rating: - She Lost Me
I enjoyed nearly the entire book. Until I got to the end. (This next part contains spoilers..) Okay, this was where she lost me. It turns out the lawyer has epilepsy and has a seizure in the courtroom. Then, he drives Anna home and they get in a car accident because he gets hit by a drunk driver and she gets killed. All right, that would never happen. Why? BECAUSE IT'S AGAINST THE LAW FOR AN EPILEPTIC TO DRIVE AFTER HE HAD A SEIZURE!!!!Anna's father was the Fire Chief. He would certainly have known that. The lawyer would have known that-a seizure equals an automatic revoking of your driver's license. The judge would have known that-and anyway, even if that wasn't the case (which it is) whose parents are stupid enough to let them get in the car with an epileptic who just seized driving? Sorry, but Picoult and her editor dropped the ball on this one. A little more research, please.
Rating: - An absolute MUST read!I
I personally have read 3 other books by Picoult, and I must say to me this one was the best! Oh what an ending (I won't spoil it). Sometimes I feel Picoult goes on about things that have no reference to whats going on in the story. But in this novel it was relevant. I reccomend this book to anyone who has kids, a sister, or a mother. A great emotional read.
- Read it
- She Lost Me
