Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult
I’m actually not looking forward to writing this review of Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult. I don’t know why. I guess I’m not overly excited about this book. Having just been introduced 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 this one is somewhere in the middle. So far, her writing seems very formulaic and recycled. Having just read The Tenth Circle I noticed that some references from it kept popping into this book (tenth circle of hell, Dante’s Inferno, etc.)
So far I can’t figure out what all the rage is about this author. The stories are interesting, but the writing isn’t spectacular. If it wasn’t for the fact that everybody tells me that My Sister’s Keeper and The Pact are amazing, I don’t know if I’d keep going. But I actually really do want to read those two books. So far, of the books I’ve read, they all seem the same. Mom and daughter don’t get along, somebody is in jail/prison, there is a lawyer/judge character, narrations flip flop between characters, and there is a unnecessary subplot of a love story that adds nothing to the drama, she just needs to connect some characters together. Am I wrong?
Oh, and since there has been a lot of talk lately about authors doing paid promotional spots in their books, I thought I would point out this passage:
I grabbed my keys and headed out to my Prius. I had used nearly all my savings last year on the hybrid - to be honest. I didn’t understand why car manufacturers charged a premium if you were a buyer with a modicum of social conscience. It didn’t have all-wheel drive, which was a real pain in the neck during a New Hampshire winter, but I figured that saving the ozone layer was worth sliding off the road occasionally.
Kudos to Picoult for putting in her plug for the ozone layer and driving hybrids. But it makes me wonder . . . oes she drive a Prius? Anyways, it was these types of passages that drove me nuts!
So here I am rambling on and I haven’t even mentioned a thing about the story. Briefly said, Shay Bourne is on death row for the murder of a stepfather and daughter. Trying to redeem himself, he offers up his heart to the victim’s sister who will die without a heart transplant. Would you take the heart of the man that you hated most? And then Shay starts performing miracles in prison and everybody thinks that he is Jesus Christ, including the minister Father Michael, who becomes his spiritual advisor. And then for good measure, we throw in Shay’s lawyer Maggie, her ACLU stuff and a love subplot with the doctor *****SPOILER AHEAD***** who oversee’s Shay’s death and the subsequent heart transplant.
Seriously, if you want more than that I’m going to point you over to a great in-depth review by Susan at Bloggin’ ’bout Books and her subsequent conversation about religion in Change of Heart.
Here is the book trailer for Change of Heart:
I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either. It kept my attention well enough. I took everything that she said about religion and salvation with a grain of salt, moved on and honestly didn’t feel like thinking about it too much. If you like Jodi Picoult you may enjoy this one although I have a feeling it’s not her best one. But then again, this is only the third Picoult book I’ve read. Have you read it? What did you think?
I know exactly how you feel. I’ve read The Pact and My Sister’s Keeper. The Pact I despised, truly. My Sister’s Keeper was a good read, and yet, as you said, there is something so formulaic about it. I can see why she’s so hot right now: she gets those tears flowing, even if you are resentful that she’s manipulating your emotions!
on April 10th, 2008 at 5:03 amI feel like she’s popular because she’s an easy read, but it lets people feel like they’re reading something heavy. School shootings! Date rape! Secret Amish pregnancies! This isn’t fluffy stuff, so it stands to reason that the book must be ’serious.’ People get to feel like they’re reading serious lit-ra-chur, when it’s really just another paperback thriller with a different topic.
on April 10th, 2008 at 8:15 amSmallWorld - I heard that The Pact was a lot of people’s favorite. Now I’m scared!
Raych - Well said, I think you put into words what I was feeling but I couldn’t figure out how to say!
It’s funny because I had never heard of Picoult until about two months ago (I’ve now read three) and yesterday I was in Target and they had ALL of her books on the shelf. I wonder how in the world I had ever missed her before. I guess I was off reading my serious lit-ra-chur!
on April 10th, 2008 at 10:11 pm[...] reviews Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult, Tasting the Sky by Ibtisam Barakat, Mud City by Deborah Ellis, and The Fiction [...]
on April 11th, 2008 at 8:03 amHi! Thanks for commenting on my blog- I don’t know how yours has escaped me for so long! I completely agree with what Raych said. I also agree that her books are very similar. I’ve been to hear Jodi Picoult speak twice and I really like HER but not all of her books. Somehow I find myself continuing to read them though. I’ve read a few good reviews of this one and am waiting for it from the library. I really liked The Pact the first time I read it. I re-read it for bookclub and I think once the page-turning quality of the book was gone for me, there wasn’t much left. She can tend to be repetitive and the court cases go on forever.
on April 11th, 2008 at 8:03 amI haven’t yet read this book but I hear Jodi Picoult is an amazing author. My english teacher talks about how she likes nineteen minutes and a few friends have read her other ones
on April 11th, 2008 at 10:05 amOh dear–I think I need to come back to this after I’ve finished reading it. I’m sorry it wasn’t as good as you were expecting. The other two that you’ve read are the bottom two on my list–BUT her writing IS formulaic. I don’t read a whole lot of formulaic fiction, but Picoult’s books usually work for me. I disagree with Raych–I don’t think most people think this is literature…it’s fiction. They are heavy topics but it isn’t Atwood or Kingsolver type fiction. Sorry to rant.
I don’t think I’ve read a rave review for this one yet…but I’ve got it sitting on my shelf so I’ll read it eventually.
on April 13th, 2008 at 5:24 pmWell your review makes me think that it wasn’t just Picoult-fatigue that made me not care for this book as well as some of the others. I don’t think this was as good as some of her other stuff. Yes, it is all pretty formulaic - she’s the John Grisham of chick-lit - but generally she can make me actually care about the characters. Not so this time.
on April 13th, 2008 at 8:56 pmTara - And thanks for making your way over here! I’ve only been around for just six months now, it’s been wonderful! I do think that I will continue to read her books as well, even though I know they might not be the greatest. Perhaps I’ve found my guilty pleasure.
Cayla - So far Nineteen Minutes has been my favorite.
Trish - I think I need to find a Picoult book that I really like! I guess I’m starting with the right ones. I haven’t read any Margaret Atwood yet. Do you have a recommendation for a good one to start with?
Jen - Now that I know what to expect from Picoult I won’t be to surprised with her others. I didn’t care much for these characters either, same with The Tenth Circle. Nineteen Minutes I did though. I haven’t read any John Grisham, so I couldn’t compare. I have never had any desire to read any of his books.
on April 13th, 2008 at 9:42 pmI have read several Picoult books and liked this one the least. My favorite were Salem Falls and My Sisters Keeper. I am not a Grisham reader either - though I like his movies.
on April 19th, 2008 at 6:08 pmI was considering reading “Change of Heart”, but after reading the story behind the story of “Change of Heart”, I “Changed my Mind”. I was happy to find your blog and have my decision reconfirmed.
on April 20th, 2008 at 5:20 pmI haven’t read anything by Picoult, but I had planned on picking up “Nineteen Minutes”. I’ll probably stick with that and skip the others after reading your reviews… it looks like everyone else who has read these books is in agreement with you.
on April 22nd, 2008 at 1:25 pmDarcie - I’m definitely going to read My Sisters Keeper and I’ve heard good things about Salem Falls. It seems this is a hit and miss author.
Joan - The story was fine although very weird. I think I wasn’t impressed with her formulaic writing. It all seemed so stiff and contrived.
Kathleen - Nineteen Minutes I liked. It was also my first Picoult book. I’m still willing to try a few of her others just to see if this one was a fluke.
on April 22nd, 2008 at 3:03 pmI just read this and enjoyed it (I should have a review up soon), but it was my first Picoult book. I suppose if I try something else by her I may be disappointed by the formula.
She had some interesting thoughts about religion, but ultimately her philosophy didn’t really interest me so I would read through that quickly to return to the plot.
on April 30th, 2008 at 12:59 pm[...] here, Devourer of Books’ review here, Darcie’s review here, Natasha’s review here, Lynne’s review here, Susan’s review here, Jill’s review here, and Lesley’s [...]
on May 21st, 2008 at 9:29 amJodi Picoult is an amazing author. She is in no way formulaic, that’s just the way ignorant people think. She writes about issues that are serious and relevant to today’s world. Her books are not just “page
on June 17th, 2008 at 9:25 pmturners”, like they are sterotyped to be. Picoult has the answers to life’s problems and the world could be a better place if you dumb bitches listened to her and actually understood what you were reading.
Amanda - Picoult is a good author, but from the three books that I’ve read they are formulaic. But obviously, she’s found a formula that works in her favor. Her books do raise interesting questions to our life problems and does give one much to think about. But what I don’t appreciate is the name calling. Completely uncalled for. It would be appreciative if you could choose your words more carefully when writing a criticism. Criticism I don’t mind, but your lack of being able to express yourself without being able to find more adequate language I do mind.
on June 17th, 2008 at 9:33 pmI’m not sure why everyone else didn’t really get a feel for this book, but i personally loved it. i could barely read on because i got so attatched to Shay, and it really got me thinking about everything in life. I do believe in miracles, and hope to meet someone who shares this belief and who might actually hold the power to bring them forth.
on August 2nd, 2008 at 5:01 pm