Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult is my very first Picoult book. I mean, where have I been? Living under a rock? Apparently, she’s super popular and written somewhere around 15 books and I barely hear about her a month ago? Many thanks to my newfound exploration of the blogging world, book boards (such as Cafe Mom), and my neighborhood book club for bringing me into the know how.
Knowing nothing about Jodi Picoult, I wasn’t quite sure what genre she even fell into. Then while browsing through my beloved Bookmarks Magazine I came across a review for Nineteen Minutes (which I didn’t read in full until after completing the book). They quoted the Christian Science Monitor as saying, “Nobody does ‘ripped from the headlines’ better than Picoult.” I’ve come to learn that Picoult takes tough issues head on.
Nineteen Minutes was a page turner. I could hardly put it down. While reading this book my dishes didn’t get done, the laundry didn’t get put away, dinner’s were simple, and the toys never got put away. A synopsis from Bookmarks Magazine:
On a cold March morning, 17-year-old Peter Houghton sets off for school with a small arsenal in his backpack. His lethal rampage takes only 19 minutes, but nine students and one teacher are killed, many are wounded, and the inhabitants of Sterling, New Hampshire, will never be the same. Moving back and forth through time, Jodi Picoult reveals the brutality and daily humiliation that Peter suffered at the hands of local bullies while following the drama of Peter’s trial. As the survivors and their families struggle to make sense of the tragedy, the parents wonder just how well they really know their children.
I can’t imagine reading about this if you’ve actually experienced a school shooting, but for those of us who pray that we never do, it seemed to portray what it would be like. Thank goodness I was never a target of bullying or a bully myself. I was quite happy and content in my little group of friends and was probably oblivious to this type of stuff in my high school. I won’t stereotype teenagers here, but I imagine that this kind of stuff does and will continue to happen. If only we could all have empathy and charity for those around us, the world would be a better place.
This was a brilliant inside look into bullying, it’s consequences, the heartache of a tragedy, it’s aftermath, and remembering that even a murderer has a mother who loves him.
The following video is a book trailer for Nineteen Minutes:
Visit Jodi Picoult’s website for a podcasts, group discussion guides, and more about the author. 
So now that I have read my very first Jodi Picoult book, I will soon be reading Tenth Circle as part of an online book club. I also picked up My Sister’s Keeper secondhand and can’t wait to read both of these. What is your favorite Picoult book? If I were to choose only one book to read, which one should it be?
Category: Adult, Book Reviews, Fiction
Tags: book trailers, M-P Author, M-P Title, videos
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I haven’t read Nineteen Minutes yet, but I’ve read 5 or 6 of her others. My Sister’s Keeper is by far my favorite so far, seconded by Plain Truth. Overall I’ve only read one (Harvesting the Heart) that I really didn’t enjoy, and I think it was one of her first and therefore she hadn’t developed her style yet (or something…). Enjoy The Tenth Circle!
on February 22nd, 2008 at 9:27 pmJodi Picoult is also on my reading list, but I haven’t gotten to her yet. Why is there never enough time to do all the reading I want…?
on February 23rd, 2008 at 5:37 amI’m glad you liked this one! Her new book comes out in about a month and I can’t wait. I’ve read several of her books–my favorites being My Sister’s Keeper, The Pact, and Keeping Faith (in that order, probably). I hope you continue to like her books!
on February 23rd, 2008 at 7:24 amI discovered Picoult in September 07. I have already read 7 of her books and currently reading her eighth one.
He takes up tough issues which are sometimes too close to home. Do check on her books. She is a write worth reading.
I loved Nineteen minutes. None of her books are put downable.
Check my review of this book here and all her books that I have read here.
I am reading MERCY now.
on February 23rd, 2008 at 8:21 amHeather - My Sister’s Keeper seems to be the one everybody likes the most. I’m glad I found it and hope to read it sometime soon.
Stella - I know what you mean. Having no clue how many books I read a year, I challenged myself to read 52 books in 52 weeks. But since I started blogging, my TBR list has gotten longer and longer from great recommendations. And I have to read more to review more right? I think I’ll hit 52 books late next month if I keep up this pace.
Trish - Thanks for your recommendations. I shall have to add The Pact and Keeping Faith to my TBR.
Qautami - I shall make my way over to your blog and comment on your reviews. Thanks for your recommendations!
on February 23rd, 2008 at 2:56 pmI didn’t care for “My Sister’s Keeper” as much as the other commenters, but I do have one of her books, “Second Glance” on my TBR list. I’ve read other reviews that praise “Nineteen Minutes.” Glad you enjoyed it.
on February 23rd, 2008 at 5:42 pmFramed - I still wonder where I’ve been to not discover this author earlier? I have so many other TBR books on my list at the moment but I look forward to exploring her more.
on February 24th, 2008 at 1:32 pmOh, “Plain Truth” is definitely my favorite.
Though “Second Glance” is also very good, especially the historic part about eugenics in VT. Her more recent books don’t seem to have as much research behind them, or maybe it’s just that they all focus on such current topics.
on February 29th, 2008 at 11:36 am[...] reviews Ninteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith, The Devil’s [...]
on February 29th, 2008 at 4:16 pmI didn’t discover Picoult until recently (last year). I admire how she tackles touchy issues, but somehow her writing style leaves something to be desired (with me).
on February 29th, 2008 at 9:24 pmSandy - A lot of people have mentioned Plain Truth. With her 16th book (is it 16?) coming out soon I can’t imagine that she’s able to spend tons of time on research. Nineteen Minutes seemed adequate to me.
Jeane - I’m looking forward to reading more Picoult. Her writing style didn’t bother me, it seemed to fit with her genre. Of course, I’ve only read one book so far.
on February 29th, 2008 at 10:13 pmThanks for visiting my blog. I’m a little afraid of this one because I work at a school. I also liked Salem Falls.
on March 8th, 2008 at 9:39 pm[...] to Jodi Picoult this year, this is my third Picoult book in about three months, the first two being Nineteen Minutes (my review) and The Tenth Circle (my review). I liked Nineteen Minutes quite a bit, The Tenth Circle less and [...]
on April 10th, 2008 at 12:01 amI have heard many things about this book. I plan on reading it soon, I don’t know if my library has it though…
on April 11th, 2008 at 10:11 amI have this one on my TBR. In fact, I have 5 or 6 of hers on my TBR but haven’t actually read anything by her yet. I hear such good things about them, so I keep collecting them (thanks to http://www.paperbackswap.com I can do it cheaply!) but then I get nervous about how much they will impact me emotionally. Since being a mom I have a hard time reading about things happening to children, which seems to be a theme in her work. I’m probably gonna start with My Sister’s Keeper, if I ever work up to it.
on April 27th, 2008 at 3:34 pmi hated all of her books she can go suck a fat one she sucks at writing period.
on May 28th, 2008 at 5:51 pmI absolutely loved My Sister’s Keeper. My friend recommended her books and told me to read My Sister’s Keeper first. It’s my goal to goal her other books this summer, especially Nineteen Minutes, which I have heard so many good things about!
on June 2nd, 2008 at 2:15 pmI hope to read My Sister’s Keeper this next month. Everybody keeps saying it’s her best one.
on June 4th, 2008 at 12:10 amI have just finished Nineteen Minutes (recommended by my mum) and what an amazing book! Its not the usual book I would read but I’m so glad I did. I think I’ll read The Cult next.
Anyway just felt I needed to comment on how good this book was xxx
on June 9th, 2008 at 6:46 am[...] Reviews: Blue Archipelago Booklist Book Reporter Maw Books Powell’s Books [...]
on June 13th, 2008 at 9:02 amI just recently finish reading this, and I must say, I enjoyed it greatly. I couldn’t put it down, Jodi is a wonderful writer. This book has got to be one of my favorites. The ending was something I would have never expected, and the plot as a whole was something I can only describe as terrifying. I can’t imagine what I would do had I been involved in a school shooting.
This was a fantastic book, and if you haven’t read it, I strongly urge you to do so.
on June 16th, 2008 at 6:25 pmNineteen Minutes was an amazing read. I read it a few months ago and it really made me realize how fragile people are and that the bullying can escalate.
My Sister’s Keeper was my first Jodi Picoult book but I can’t pick a favorite. I’ve read several of her books.
i suggest::
change of heart
perfect match (which includes patrick ducharme from 19 minutes)
Salem Falls
you’ll enjoy them
on June 26th, 2008 at 9:28 pmI have become obsessed with Picoult’s books. So far I’ve only read My Sister’s Keeper, The Tenth Circle, and Nineteen Minutes and I’m currently reading Songs of the Humpback Whale. I’d have to say I disagree with some in that she doesn’t research enough for her books. For Nineteen Minutes the followup specifically states that she talked to several victims of various school shootings and investigators involved as well. Having just graduated high school last year, I think Nineteen Minutes has been my favorite so far because it’s so relatable. However, I’ve enjoyed reading them all.
on August 11th, 2008 at 8:47 pmNineteen Minutes is probably the one of Picoult’s books that’s hit me the hardest. Probably because I just graduated from high school last May and I was bullied severely in elementary school and junior high.
on August 13th, 2008 at 7:36 amBut I am also a fan of My Sister’s Keeper, and Second Glance was my favorite, although I’ve read almost all of her books and have liked all of them (except Keeping Faith).
As an aspiring author, I can only hope that someday I can write half as well as she does.
I absolutely love jodi picoult! She is my favorite author. So far I have read:
The pact(I loved but the movie was horrible!)
Nineteen minutes(awesome but it scared me)
keeping faith( anyone one who can tackle religion without offending anyone and showing both sides is great)
the tenth circle( not one of my favorite but I still love)
Salem falls( I just finished this one. It was great! A modern version of the crucible)
Vanishing acts(my least favorite. Nothing that great happened until the end.
My sisters keeper (one word: magnificent)
Plain truth( very interesting and different. It was okay, I guess only because I guessed right about the book and wanted something else to happen)
change of heart( I loved it! It was heart warming. It was kind of a mix of my sisters keeper and keeping faith)
I JUST LOVE JODI PICOULT!
on September 15th, 2008 at 7:27 pmLouisa - I love comments! Thanks for leaving yours.
Erin - I’m sure this would be a hard one for people who have gone through a shooting.
Tawnee - I read Change of Heart and just thought it was okay. My Sister’s Keeper has been on my TBR forever.
Danielle E. - I think she does do her research but there was one of her books that I read where she was way off based on one little fact. Minor though.
Kelly - Jodi Picoult certainly writes about things that hit hard for some people.
Alley - Thanks for all of your mini-reviews. Much appreciated!
on September 17th, 2008 at 8:39 pmNineteen Minutes was probally the most intense book I have ever read. Ever since I read My Sister’s Keeper, I have been addicted to Jodi Picoult’s books. She really knows how to make kids realize of what there actions could do, that’s what I love so much about her. I would recomend her books to anyone.
on March 18th, 2009 at 6:59 pm