The Tenth Circle

Jodi Picoult

I don't know how Picoult wrote this book. It would scar me to write a book like this, but she...more

I don't know how Picoult wrote this book. It would scar me to write a book like this, but she makes it down into the tenth circle and still has hope. I abandoned all hope three-quarters of the way through the book. I'm just not tough enough for books like this!   hide

The absolute worst Jodi Picoult book I have ever read. The book jacket does not mention, once, the...more

The absolute worst Jodi Picoult book I have ever read. The book jacket does not mention, once, the sub-themes of rape and self-mutilation, which can be extremely triggering books for people. I wouldn't have finished this book if I didn't desperately need to believe that happy endings can still exist. Unfortunately, the book didn't even deliver that for me. I am left feeling mostly hopeless and rather numb. The use of the comic book was annoying; I don't enjoy reading comics and it was highly distracting for me. If this was the first novel of Picoult's that I had ever read through, she wouldn't (still) be my favorite author and I never would have moved on to read any more of her work. If this is your first of hers, don't judge the rest of her works based on this one story.   hide

I'd heard mixed reviews on this book, and was really pleased to find out that those who didn't like...more

I'd heard mixed reviews on this book, and was really pleased to find out that those who didn't like it were totally wrong. It's the story of the love a parent has for a child, and how even as their child changes, not always for the better, a good parent is willing to adapt and love unconditionally. Daniel Stone, the father, is one of Jodi Picoult's most interesting characters. He is a model father, but can seamlessly transform into a beast if his daughter is threatened. On the other hand, Laura, the mother, is desperate to be a good parent, but even through the end doesn't seem to know quite how.   hide

This was the first book by Picoult that I have read. The story really resonated with me as the...more

This was the first book by Picoult that I have read. The story really resonated with me as the Dante Professor/wife's depiction of the inhabitants of the Tenth Circle perfectly described my now ex-husband. I can only hope that this is where he will spend eternity. I also found the plot fairly compelling and enjoyed the comic book pages, which came as a surprise to me as I usually cannot pay attention to comic books. The daughter's discovery of her will to survive when thrown into a real life or death situation rang true. As she reazlizes, self-mutilation and suicide attempts appear ridiculous when confronted with the choice to overcome extreme physical hardships or die.   hide

Kind of dark. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who wants to be inspired. She's an excellent...more

Kind of dark. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who wants to be inspired. She's an excellent writer. I didn't know what the tenth circle was until I read it. It's the tenth circle of hell. So, if that gives you an idea as to where the story is going, then you might want to consider that before you read it. The main reason I finished it was that I work with troubled youth (sometimes, I'm a teacher) and I wanted to see a viewpoint into the world of teenagers that can sometimes be so sadly dark and hopeless. This book did a good job showing me that.    hide