Change of Heart: A Novel

Can't say enough good about Jodi Picoult's captivating, clearly well-researched stories. However, the chunky paperback that I received actually broke apart from the binding although not mishandled: this makes reading to end an ongoing challenge while pages flutter out onto the floor each time I open it up.

Another amazing story by this author. All other books of hers I've ready have a surprising ending but not this one. With this book, you get exactly what you are expecting but it is incredibly well written and performed (audio version) and I held out so much hope that it would not end exactly as I suspected.I very much enjoy how much research she does into the topics she covers in her books. Each and every topic is so controversial and she writes about them in a way that makes is difficult at times to take a stance on one side or the other. This book is no exception. With capital punishment at the core of this story, I found myself vacillating on pro or con throughout. I laughed and I cried and I got angry many times during this book.I am always challenged when writing a review of her books...tell too little and I'm not sure it does the book justice...tell too much and risk spoiling it for the next reader.

Author Picout always produces page turners, usually with critical societal and psychological issues being explored.In Change of Heart she may have attempted more than was possible in this novel, but nonetheless, the book is readable, and makes one address the issues of capital punishment (and types of capital punishment); the realities of someone dying because of heart failure and the inabiity to find a suitable donor; and the passions that drive all of Ms. picoult's major characters. Also the enigmas of caprice and chance. I kept thinking, "Oh, if only. If only." But there are no 'if onlies' in her work. This is not a great book stylistically and probably attempts too much in terms of plot. But I read it quickly, easily, and know more of each issue than I did before and was white knuckling it to the end to see what would happen to the supposed villain and real victims. Worth reading if you are a Picout fan and not a bad first novel to read if you haven't tried the author before. I admire her blunt courage in making herself and us face unpeasant but very real parts of our everyday life which we usually manage to avoid. I'm glad Jodi Picout is young and has years to write. I look forward to more reading treats. Claire Holcomb

I liked this book. At first, I thought it was a knockoff of The Green Mile, but it becomes a much more rich story. It begins with the mother describing how it felt when her first husband died in a auto accident and how she later fell in love with the police officer who delivered the devastating news. She talks about the sweet relationship between her young daughter and her new husband, then describes the events which led up to the crime. Then the reader is introduced to the college student who is serving on the jury who convicted the accused murderer of the husband and young child. The jury must now decide whether to impose the death penalty which has not been used in New Hampshire in many, many years.The story has four characters who tell the story from their personal point of view, each contributing to the whole story. The subject matter goes into the morality of the death penalty and the views of religions. The author raises so many thought provoking ideas about the true validity of any one particular religious faith and poses so many questions causing the reader to think about religion in a new way. It doesn't preach, she simply puts the questions out there and allows the reader to arrive at a conc!usion...or not. The narrative moves along and has some startling twists. Some readers might accuse the author of a contrived tale, but I enjoyed the questions and the lack of ant definitive answers. I enjoyed the book.

Jodi Picoult weaves a tale that is hard to put down. It makes you think and question your religious beliefs and the state of the world. Highly recommend this book.

Takes a turn you don’t expect

My first book by author Jodi Picoult was Small Great Things which I loved and started reading more of novels. But I’m increasingly starting to fall out of love with Picoult.“A Change Of Heart” was a little on the disappointing side for me. Per usual with Picoult, there is no shortage of hot-button social issues in this book. Picoult utilizes a familiar technique of moral quandaries abound served up on a silver platter - the dilemma drama. This time is was the controversial subjects of capital punishment, organ donation and the validity of organized religion through a cast of diverse characters with wildly different points of view. I felt Picoult was a little too overzealous about the religious aspect. Then add the Picoult 11th hour "twist", only in this case you'll see it coming a hundred pages in advance, and only made me hate the Mom character.The story line was cumbersome and too far fetched. The dialogue was stilted, the actions of all the characters were unbelievable at times. My other issues was the first quarter seem like a shameless ripoff of Stephen King’s “The Green Mile” and the a little of John Grisham's “The Chamber”, in that they are both incredibly heavy-handed indictments of the death penalty. One of the character’s even references “The Green Mile,” in his nickname of the protagonist.

This novel was packed with many themes.Religious orientation, social justice, the death penalty and more.Ms. Picoult in this story tells of a crime of Justice, its consequences, and the medical and family ordeal of a failing heart. It was alot to take in.I felt the ending was weak, but the book was passionate and educational.I gave 4 stars.

As always, this is another fabulous book written by Jodi Picoult

Encore une fois, Jodi Picoult m'a accrochée par la justesse de son écriture et une histoire délicate racontée parfaitement. Je vous conseille ce livre!

Another gripping story by Jodi Picoult. I read it with a hunger, I laughed, I cried, I held my breath and I learnt so much. Again I have to say out loud "How does she do it?" I recommend her books all the time in the hope that as many people as possible can share all the emotions that she not brings about in me. I was sitting or standing with every person in this book, wanting to cuddle them, cry with them, smile with them or just listen to them teach me. Yet another incredible book. Never stop please Jodi

Another lovely piece from Jodi

Jodi Picoult never stops amazing with her incredible writing and incredible twists. She brings diverse characters together in the most unlikely of circumstances and ensures the reader relates to them and gets utterly sucked in. She provides a unique perspective on the human condition producing page turners while exploring massive societal and psychological issues that leaves you thinking for days.I am challenged when writing this review as if I tell too little and I'm not sure it will do the book justice...& yet if I tell too much and I risk spoiling it for the next reader.However what I will divulge is In ‘Change of Heart’ Picoult addresses the issues of capital punishment; the realities of someone dying because of heart failure; the cruelty of chance.This is a powerful story of love, loss, religion...a tale that proves that things are not always as they appear. And That the human condition is far from predictable and even the most despicable of criminals may redeem and the truth is never black or white or easy... just like life. A wonderful, must-read.