Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
>> Monday, December 15, 2008
Genre: Fiction
Publication Date: 2007
Pages: 455
Challenges: A-Z Reading #52 (N Title)
Jodi Picoult tends to take on emotional and difficult subjects. This time around it’s school shootings. As usual, she presents multiple sides of the story and leaves me thinking.
In Nineteen Minutes there is less of the story of the actual shooting incident and more of what took place both before and afterwards. The small town of Sterling, New Hampshire is shocked by the shootings at the local high school. In the aftermath, the parents of the shooter are trying to come to terms with what has happened and their child’s part in it. The daughter of the judge hearing the case was not shot, but was at the school and a friend of many of the victims. As a child she’d been friends with the shooter. Lives that were intertwined in the past become that way again.
As usual, Picoult presents the story from multiple viewpoints and also from different points in time. What makes a kid do such a thing? Is it ever really explainable? Expectations play a big part in this book. What are we supposed to be and how are we supposed to act? How can you know that you’ve interpreted correctly what you think your parent, child, friend, or teacher expects from you? When is what you’re seeing a mask or act and when is it the real person? Can you ever really know for sure?
I liked that Picoult brought back a couple of characters from previous books in this one. Jordan McAfee is a defense attorney I’d want on my side and it’s good to see Picoult bring him back again.
Typical for Picoult, the ending comes with a twist. I figured there was one on the way, and I’d read some of the hints correctly, but it was still a twist. I can see why some reviews I’ve seen have said “I thought it was good until the ending”, but I didn’t feel that way. I just thought it was good.
No stars – I couldn’t even finish it
1 star – I didn’t like it but I managed to finish it.
2 stars – It was OK. Not good, but seriously just OK.
3 stars - I liked it. I didn’t think it was great, but I thought it was good entertainment.
4 stars – I really liked it. I really think you might like it too.
5 stars – It was amazing. I’d recommend this to just about anyone.
11 comments:
I'm still a little haunted by this one, too. I was particularly struck by the empathy with which the shooter's mother was portrayed. I've always thought it would somehow be more difficult to be the mother of the gunman than the mother of a victim of the shooter.
Eleanor: EXACTLY! I thought she did a particularly excellent job with the shooter's mother. One of those situations in whicg you just cannot imagine yourself.
I have this one. Will have to move it up on my "to read" list.
Hi SuziQ. I agree with you and Eleanor about the mother of the shooter. Wouldn't that be devastating? Just a couple weeks ago in our small town a young woman (24) ran over and killed a good friend of ours. Our hearts were naturally sorrowful, but I really feel bad for the young woman and her family. They are going through a horrible time. It breaks my heart.
Picoult is kind of a hit or miss author for me. Sometimes I love her, but other times I hate her books... I have had this one since it came out. I was stuck at Wal-Mart in the parking lot waiting for someone and I didn't have a book, so I went in and bought this one, read it until they came out, and then went back to whatever I was reading at home. No, wait, I think I finished the book I was reading, that's what happened. One of these days I will have to pick this up again!
You know, I was thinking I need to skip this one and then I realized . . . actually, I'm pretty sure I have an ARC that Simon & Schuster sent me. Whoopsie. Better see if I can find it. I'm glad to know you felt she portrayed the mother with empathy. I've always thought the same thing as Eleanor -- I can't imagine being the mother of someone who shot a bunch of people. What a horror.
I enjoyed this as well. Not my favorite by Picoult but a really good read!
I have yet to read this one, but I do plan to. I don't mind the twists at the end of Picoult's novels. I've come to expect them and don't get upset if they aren't exactly what I hoped for.
Karen: This one will get to you. Lots of emotions tapped.
Booklogged: Oh how sad for your community.
Kailana: I've enjoyed almost all of Picoult's books that I've read. I skipped The Tenth Circle - I've heard from several folks that it's not among her best.
Bookfool: I wasn't sure whether or not I'd be able to read this one, but I thought she handled it well. I think the families of the perpetrators are often the abandoned victims in these situations. In the school shooting incident here in Oregon (Thurston High) the shooter killed his parents before going to school. His older sister was truly left alone to deal with the aftermath. Just sad.
Samantha: Now you've got me curious what is your favorite Picoult book?
Les: I've learned to look for hints to twists too - it's definitely her pattern.
Our book club read this and it reminded me so vividly of what I disliked about public education. I haven't read any other books by Picoult, but I might some day.
Laura: I've enjoyed most of her books so far.
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