Binding: Paperback Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54 EAN: 9780743496735 ISBN: 0743496736 Label: Washington Square Press Manufacturer: Washington Square Press Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 480 Publication Date: February 05, 2008 Publisher: Washington Square Press Sales Rank: 585 Studio: Washington Square Press
Readable, but formulaic
I've been reading Jodi Picoult's books since the early days, and have been wondering lately if she's just running out of time and material. I picture this woman running for a life on a treadmill, racing to crank out one or two books a year. While I understand that writing is a business for many people, I have respect for people like Wally Lamb who wait ten years for a good story to come along (and offer to give back the advace money when one doesn't).
OK, so now that I'm not expecting great literature from Picoult, I have to admit to enjoying this story, if not immensely. It's readable enough and considering the subject matter, not terribly intellectually or emotionally demanding. If that's what you want from a school shooting story, ... Read More
Nineteen Minutes
I love Nineteen Minutes, it is so very interesting that it is hard to put down!
Too Depressing
Nineteen Minutes is just too depressing. I liked Plain Truth but this one didn't have anything happy in it.
Another Horrible Ending
I found Nineteen Minutes intensely, compulsively readable, couldn't put it down, then found myself feeling cheated once we got to the end and the Picoult twist was revealed. (*SPOILERS*) I have to say, by the end of the novel, I could not stand the character of Josie, and the fact that she for some inexplicable reason shot her boyfriend makes her completely despicable. I'm starting to wonder if Piccoult has a problem with teenage girls-I do note that her interviews state she is the mother of SONS-because she tends to paint all her adolescent female characters as completely unstable, irrational, and manipulative. I've read many of her novels and see this as a trend with her-from THE TENTH CIRCLE to SALEM FALLS to PLAIN TRUTH to THE PACT. Her female characters ... Read More
a very engaging read on a very tough subject
This was my first book by Jodi Picoult but had heard about her writing style. The subject matter was an extremely difficult one - and then is revealed through the viewpoint of all of the characters - both those that you are rooting for and even the "villains," for whom you end up somehow feeling great sympathy. Very well done and I've gone on to read other books by her as a result.
