My Sister's Keeper

he ending was a cop out. Things wrapped up much too neatly, which was really disappointing since what I enjoyed most about this book was that nothing was neat and tidy and easy. The ongoing tension and the moral tug-of-war that Picoult developed through most of the book were wonderful. The ending totally burst that bubble in an unsatisfying way. Like some others, I felt the relationship...more

he ending was a cop out. Things wrapped up much too neatly, which was really disappointing since what I enjoyed most about this book was that nothing was neat and tidy and easy. The ongoing tension and the moral tug-of-war that Picoult developed through most of the book were wonderful. The ending totally burst that bubble in an unsatisfying way. Like some others, I felt the relationship between Campbell and Julia added nothing to the story. It felt like excess baggage and I didn't see the point of including it. Still, after all that criticism, I really enjoyed this book. Picoult took a very difficult topic and had me struggling through the moral dilemmas right along with the characters. The differing perspectives added to the story, though I would have liked to hear more from Jesse and less from Julia/Campbell. I found it interesting that we didn't hear Kate's voice much, except as seen through other people's eyes. I think that was effective though, since everyone else was so focused on her. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The writing was powerful and it was a quick read. Now if Picoult would rewrite the ending, I'd give it higher marks!   hide

For the record, this book had been recommended to me and highly rated by a number of friends. When a book or movie or television show is given too much hype, the result is often sky-high expectations that fail to be met by a mediocre piece of work. This novel is no exception. While I appreciate Picoult's personal attachment to the subject matter and the fact that her novel calls attention to...more

For the record, this book had been recommended to me and highly rated by a number of friends. When a book or movie or television show is given too much hype, the result is often sky-high expectations that fail to be met by a mediocre piece of work. This novel is no exception. While I appreciate Picoult's personal attachment to the subject matter and the fact that her novel calls attention to the necessity for continued efforts in stem-cell research, I cannot applaud the book itself. The voice never seems to change, despite the fact that the story is narrated by no fewer than six different characters, all of whom are so grossly exaggerated in their traits (and flaws) that they come across as caricatures of what the author originally intended them to be. In other words, the narrative is not particularly well-written or convincing. If nothing else, this book made me appreciate my own sister that much more and effectively distracted me from an otherwise grueling 9 hours of air travel.   hide

With another drama ripped from the headlines, Picoult weaves a complicated tale of the implications of genetically engineering a baby in order to save another child's life. Kate has leukemia. Her sister, Anna, (now 13) was conceived to provide a donor match for procedures that become more and more invasive. When her parents decide that Anna will donate a kidney to save her...more

With another drama ripped from the headlines, Picoult weaves a complicated tale of the implications of genetically engineering a baby in order to save another child's life. Kate has leukemia. Her sister, Anna, (now 13) was conceived to provide a donor match for procedures that become more and more invasive. When her parents decide that Anna will donate a kidney to save her sister's life, Anna hires a lawyer so that she can sue her parents for medical emancipation. Meanwhile, Jesse, the oldest child, feels neglected. His parents completely ignore him because he is not a suitable donor for Kate. To express his anger, he starts setting fires that his father, a firefighter, puts out. The story is told through multiple viewpoints, which mostly works well. The resolution of Jesse's part of the story wasn't entirely believable, but the unexpected plot twist at the book's conclusion will leave readers gasping.   hide

this is a very a great book to read..i cry a lot for this one.. hehehheseru banget,, jadi ceritanya dalam satu keluarga terdiri dari anna , katie, jesse, anak2nya, dan brian sama ibunya(lupa namanya. hehehe). Anna ngerasa kalo dia dilahirin for her sister's purpose,, kakaknya, kate menderita leukimia, dan ibunya anna cerita kalo anna dilahirin untuk membantu kakaknya kalau2 membutuhkan...more

this is a very a great book to read..i cry a lot for this one.. hehehheseru banget,, jadi ceritanya dalam satu keluarga terdiri dari anna , katie, jesse, anak2nya, dan brian sama ibunya(lupa namanya. hehehe). Anna ngerasa kalo dia dilahirin for her sister's purpose,, kakaknya, kate menderita leukimia, dan ibunya anna cerita kalo anna dilahirin untuk membantu kakaknya kalau2 membutuhkan sesuatu dari badannya, entah itu plasentanya, leukositnya, sum2nya, dan sampe puncaknya, waktu anna disuruh mendonor ginjalnya untuk kate, anna memberontak untu mendapatkan emansipasi medis secara hukum,, yang berarti dia ke pengacara buat ngajuin gugatan,,buku ini bakalan bikin kita pusing sama who's side we're on,, soalnya,, di satu sisi lo ngedukung anna, atpi di sisi lain,, lo berpikiran bahwa nyokapnya itu bener. dan masalah keluarganya juga diperparah sama jesse, yang tukang mabok, dan ngedrugs,, semata2 untuk diperhatiin sama ortunya.yang bikin nyesek,, setelah anna keluar dari court room, dia udah menang kasusnya,, ternyata dia harus meninggal karena kecelakaan,, dan ujungnya ginjalnya didonorkan ke kate.tapi yang seru,, kate bisa hidup normal karena ginjalnya anna. seru banget!!   hide

This is a copy pasted review directly over from my LJ, with a few added notes for the rating. Obviously this is not an objective review since it is 4 AM and I just finished the book, but here's what I got for it, spoiler free. Okay. The book is My Sister's Keeper, and it is by Jodi Picoult. It's about a genetically designed child. One embryo poked out of a petri dish specifically chosen...more

This is a copy pasted review directly over from my LJ, with a few added notes for the rating. Obviously this is not an objective review since it is 4 AM and I just finished the book, but here's what I got for it, spoiler free. Okay. The book is My Sister's Keeper, and it is by Jodi Picoult. It's about a genetically designed child. One embryo poked out of a petri dish specifically chosen because it matches the DNA of the parents' other daughter---Kate, who has a severe version of leukemia. It is about this child, Anna, who chooses to sue her parents when asked to give her sister a kidney at the age of 13. She sues her parents for medical emancipation, which means that she would get to make her own medical decisions. Obviously, this is a novel that deals with very modern and difficult issues. And surprisingly, it doesn't turn political. Rather, it's about a family that's torn apart in a matter of two weeks (but with a history that shows this was in the making for thirteen years), and is rebuilt again somehow shakily after. It's in a rather confusing format---every chapter is told in a different voice. The voices: Anna, the main character. Sara, the mother. Brian, the father. Campbell, the lawyer (representing Anna. Sara represents herself) Jesse, Anna and Kate's delinquent older brother. This makes for a very confusing narrative at first, but then the story itself is confusing. I think this is one of my only gripes with the book though, because once you as a reader settles into the form of the narrative, the book itself is well constructed, well planned, and endlessly drawing and provocative. Anyway, I won't give the story away, but I definitely recommend it. Thanks, Sherry, for recommending it to me. And for warning me not to read the ending. Yeah, everyone else, don't read the ending until you actually get there. This is a no-no with this book. That's about it. The only reason this is not a five star book is because of the slightly confusing narrative towards the beginning, and the tearjerker ending. I don't deal well with tearjerkers because they tend to be really obvious and grabby, which this was. I was a little disappointed, but I did cry a lot. But that doesn't mean it's a convincing or well-written ending.   hide

This phenomenal novel by Jodi Picoult has left me speechless. However after the shock of it all I cannot hold back but retell the tale to anyone who is interested to know. The themes that were presented in My Sister’s Keeper were controversial. Picoult challenges the reader to be in the mind of all her characters. She didn’t only let us feel for the unfortunate family, but has given...more

This phenomenal novel by Jodi Picoult has left me speechless. However after the shock of it all I cannot hold back but retell the tale to anyone who is interested to know. The themes that were presented in My Sister’s Keeper were controversial. Picoult challenges the reader to be in the mind of all her characters. She didn’t only let us feel for the unfortunate family, but has given other characters such as Julia and Campbell to take the lime light as well and how I love them. From the sickly Kate who had been diagnosed since 2 years old, to the mother—Sara—that could only be the picture of a brave warrior wanting to protect her daughter. There was Jesse the oldest son who gives a tough persona but wears his heart on his sleeve, not to miss Brian the father who tries to hold everything together. Lastly, there’s Anna the daughter of Sara and Brian that was born for a reason. Picoult takes us on an emotional ride through what is really right for our children and are we really thinking for all of their benefits equally? As well as the mocking transience of time and how we are mistaken by what we think is right is in fact wrong, or vice versa. A book that is not to be missed by the highly acclaimed international best seller Jodi Picoult. The author truly dares her reader to go into her world of all the “What ifs” and put them in a spot of asking themselves, “What would I do if I was in this position?”   hide

That was heavy. This book kept me spellbound with its unique stlye and interesting plotline. I loved this book for its thought-provoking nature, its ethical questions. What is truth? What is right and wrong? Is there a definite line? And can we answer these questions? Jodi Picoult masterfully adresses the issues rising to the forefront of philosophical minds today and attaches these...more

That was heavy. This book kept me spellbound with its unique stlye and interesting plotline. I loved this book for its thought-provoking nature, its ethical questions. What is truth? What is right and wrong? Is there a definite line? And can we answer these questions? Jodi Picoult masterfully adresses the issues rising to the forefront of philosophical minds today and attaches these issues to a beautifully-weaved storyline. I so enjoyed watching a family discover the depths of love. I also truly enjoyed the irony infused into the end of Picoult's work. She forced me to consider the sort of backwards reality of life; sometimes things don't turn out like they do in the fairytales. The girl with cancer doesn't always get to say those beautiful last words on her dying breath; sometimes life doesn't work that way. Sometimes we have to laugh a little at what we thought was to happen, and cry a little at what actually did happen. So,thank you, Ms. Picoult, for gifting me with that realization. Your work is a true masterpiece. My only objections are an overabundance of curse words that jarred me away from the story and the somewhat choppy nature of Picoult's style of incorporating each character's point of view in alternating chapters. Although this was an interesting way of writing (and I am glad she wrote it that way), I still found myself getting a bit confused.   hide

This story is life itself. It has the formula we all know and live by but can’t figure out the solution to or the meaning of. This story reminds us that past events and present choices indeed define us and how it is still possible to try to change and find the courage to do so. Picoult writes characters that you can feel empathy for, sympathize with, relate to, love or hate. She creates six...more

This story is life itself. It has the formula we all know and live by but can’t figure out the solution to or the meaning of. This story reminds us that past events and present choices indeed define us and how it is still possible to try to change and find the courage to do so. Picoult writes characters that you can feel empathy for, sympathize with, relate to, love or hate. She creates six different voices to tell the same story which is simply amazing and only a true writer could ever achieve such a feat. Even the font shares characteristics with the person it is assigned too. Words have double meanings and some sentences are so powerful they make you stop and reflect. The reader can take out fatal illness and insert their own family struggles and see how closely the Fitzgerald’s lives are exactly like yours. Hard decisions have to be made almost every day, fights will occur even with the ones you love the most, disappointment and joy go hand-in-hand, and paths will constantly change even though you are positive you know where it is going. Everything boils down to little moments and trying to hold onto them with a tight grip. If I ever have to recommend a book that hits you right in the heart and clenches your insides to the point you have to cry even though you’re reading this in public, My Sister’s Keeper is it. In my opinion, it is a book everyone should read at least once to remind us what is important and what should definitely take priority in one’s life.   hide

This book made me cry on so many occasions! By the end of the book, there had been so many twists and turns, I was truly surprised at the outcome. A sorrowful tale of the bond between sisters and a pact that they make. One of my favorite books.This book was amazing and I enjoyed almost every twist it took. The characters are real and could be anyone you know. They have their own strong opinions...more

This book made me cry on so many occasions! By the end of the book, there had been so many twists and turns, I was truly surprised at the outcome. A sorrowful tale of the bond between sisters and a pact that they make. One of my favorite books.This book was amazing and I enjoyed almost every twist it took. The characters are real and could be anyone you know. They have their own strong opinions and problems as they try to fit into and around the family of a dying girl. The bond between sisters is electrified in this story as a lawyer/mother fights against one daughter for the other daughter's life. It's very controversial... the youngest of the children was basically a test-tube-baby, conceived and raised to be a matching donor for the cancer-infected sibling. You can understand all the inside thoughts of the family... especially the heartbreak of a mother losing her daughter and a baby sister tired of being the guinea pig, wanting the affection of her family for WHO she is and not WHAT she is, (and keeping a secret of her own). If books make you cry, you'll need tissues for this one. And buy them ahead of time, because you won't be able to put it down!   hide