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What are readers saying about Plain Truth?
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-10-05 02:29:44.
(Language: English)
   
Sad beginning, as a girl from an orthodox Amish community gives birth. Out of wedlock. And quickly struggles to defend herself in a case of murdering her own baby immediately after birth. She pleads not guilty. Psychologists. Lawyers. Police. All try to unravel the real truth of the plains people (hence the title). Psychological and legal thriller. I enjoyed learning about the psychological disassociative states, about why we hear of babies abandoned or killed and left near dustbins, and also the loop holes of american law. If you are ready for heavy thinking and redaing, go for it.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-04 11:24:42.
(Language: English)
This is a great book. Jodi takes the reader through a journey of one woman's self discovery. I couldn't put this book down, but it seems to be that way with all of Jodi's books. This book has been so hard to put down. I got it Friday night and started to read it and haven't been able to stop since. This book will take you into a whole different world of what it is like for Amish people. The characters learn something about themselves and in turn it teaches us something about ourselves as well. I look forward to reading the last couple of chapters tonight to see how it ends.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-08-21 07:30:28.
(Language: English)
Good book but a bit long. I coudn't put it down but about two thirds of the way through, I was ready for it to end.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-03-20 11:25:20.
(Language: English)
It was interesting to see inside the life of an Amish person.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-06-20 11:12:30.
(Language: English)
Jodi Picoult is one of the worst writers I've ever read. But she gets three stars for this book because she has a knack at developing plots. The writing is TERRIBLE. At least 329 times in the book, someone "mishears" something as something else (i.e. "you're out of control" "you called me a fucking troll!") - it's not funny, it's not witty, it's not good writing AT ALL. But the story pulls you in and is addicting. Also, the end sucked. I think instead of giving us the thrill of seeing what the jury said, she took an easy way out by having Katie plead guilty for a deal so they all win. Come on. It's like she spent ages researching the book, and then at the end, got bored and wanted to start her next bestseller so she kind of backed out of what she started. Boring.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-01-05 08:42:22.
(Language: English)
Amazing! I loved being able to learn more about the Amish from this read (they are such fascinating people.) And Picoult's writing ability has never failed to dazzle! There was rich character development, yet enough left out to keep you wondering and trying to figure out why it was happening the way it was. Highly, highly recommend!
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-10-02 09:20:04.
(Language: English)
Excellent. I enjoyed learning about the Amish community. The plot was good. The ending was not a surprise to me.
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Rosemary posted a review at 2011-08-01 09:12:12.
(Language: English)
There's nothing ""Plain"" about this story!! A great read, and wonderful insight into the life of the Amish. It holds you until the very end and The truth isn't revealed until the VERY end. and its certainly not plain
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-03-19 07:38:07.
(Language: English)
One of the best books I have ever read. Certainly one of Picoult's best. An amazing ending.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-04-28 09:09:51.
(Language: English)
Great read. My first Jodi Picoult novel and I throughly enjoyed it. PRO: she writes in a way that's easy to read and keeps you interested. Great characters that you feel you understand. Loads of information to chew over. CON: I found it a bit predictable in a few things unfortunately; I worked a few things out in the first chapter but still was interesting enough to keep me involved. A certain thing in the ending just didn't add up.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-30 01:17:29.
(Language: English)
This was an interesting book. Having read "My Sister's Keeper" (and loving it), I was excited to get into another Jodi Picoult book (and to get away from Jane Eyre for awhile).I was somewhat surprised at the language, but otherwise, the book was really good.This is the story of Katie, an Amish girl who wakes up one morning and finds that she is standing accused of murdering her newborn son. Trouble is, she doesn't remember being pregnant and doesn't remember giving birth. It is also the story of Ellie, a hard-core defense lawyer from the "big city" who is disillusioned with the courts and basically with the whole world. She is also distantly related to Katie and ends up being her lawyer. And also, somewhere along the way, she becomes her friend.This story is about love, family and the power of a tight-knit community. And the end will (though it didn't me. I read to much I think) surprise many. A really good read. I think most will enjoy this gripping, heartbreaking and ultimately love-conquers-all story.
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Nellie posted a review at 2010-04-19 08:53:14.
(Language: English)
A who dunnit set amongst the Amish community. Some parallels with the movie 'Witness' - non Amish person moves in with Amish family, helps out with farming etc. The extreme setting allows the author to explore young adults struggle with the importance of parental approval and community pressure to conform against their own desires and interests. The ultimate conclusion that parents will do almost anything to protect their children seemed an after thought. It was interesting but lacked refinement and connection as the setting was so foreign to me as the reader. Shame as I am big Jodi Picoult fan!
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-10-26 09:59:14.
(Language: English)
As someone who has always had a fascination with the Amish (Rent the documentary "Devil's Playground"!), this book appealed to me right away. I found Picoult's take on the Amish life to be objective; she writes an intimate portrait of one Amish family and the turmoil they face, while at the same time, the reader gets to experience a courtroom drama. Plain Truth is suspenseful, compelling, with a twist ending that didn't surprise me too much. The only weakness is in the romantic subplot between the lawyer and the psychologist but it didn't irritate me as much as in My Sister's Keeper. I don't feel I need a romantic subplot to keep my interest; the story was a page turner without it.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-07-22 07:11:38.
(Language: English)
This is one of my favorite books by Jodi Picoult (Salem Falls still the best!) All aspects of the story were well written and balanced - the court drama, and emotional aspect of the characters, especially Katie. Though the ending was a little predictable, it is still a nice read, as I am able to learn so much about the Amish community and the way of their lives - Interesting and humble people. Certainly open my mind to another world =)
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-03-02 11:02:48.
(Language: English)
I thought this was a really great book, but I predicted the ending halfway through. Still a great read though.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-09-02 11:29:55.
(Language: English)
What a fabulous look into the world of the Amish, while telling an insane tale of deception and judgement.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-07-21 05:59:37.
(Language: English)
A newborn baby is found, dead, in a barn located on an Amish dairy farm. After a brief investigation, 18-year-old Katie Fisher is arrested and charged with murder. Even in the face of mounting evidence, Katie denies not only the murder, but also that she had a baby in the first place. Katie's story is intertwined with that of Ellie Hathaway, the hard-as-nails defense attorney who takes on Katie's case as a favor to her Aunt Leda. As in other Picoult novels, the topic is pulled from the headlines and much of the story centers around Katie's trial and the inevitable twist at the end. Well developed characters and a detailed and realistic peek into Amish life.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-09-07 07:41:09.
(Language: English)
I gave it 200 pages - too much of my life. Pedestrian. Not even interested enough to read the end.
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Valeria posted a review at 2010-01-26 03:27:47.
(Language: English)
I enjoyed all the aspects of this book: the court drama, the psychological depth of the characters, the descriptive narrative of life on an Amish farm, and of course, the twist at the end. I really don't know anything about the Plain people, so I cannot tell how accurate this book is, but it certainly made me want to learn more about them. I will now keep my eyes open for other books from this author. Her style really impressed me.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-10-04 01:33:54.
(Language: English)
Excellent! All the way to the very last page! I only discovered Jodi Picoult last year, and I'm very pleased with her work.
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Evangeline posted a review at 2009-07-28 10:27:40.
(Language: English)
This is my first Jodi Picoult read and I doubt I will read any more of her books. I found she writes as though she thinks her readers are complete idiots. I was very disappointed. It was horrible and predictable. I guessed the ending before I was halfway through, but I have a problem with leaving books half finished (even bad ones!) so continued to read. Guess what? I was right on everything! Don't waste your time.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-12-08 12:31:44.
(Language: English)
amish, teenager, murder, trial - the verdict? picoult takes you into a world that many of us would have never been to before. what happens when something occurs outside the conceptual norm of your religion and this in turn judged by another? the result is a well woven drama which unravels as the strands break off one by one - it will keep you guessing until the last snap!
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shane posted a review at 2011-08-17 05:57:31.
(Language: English)
The first of her books that I read, and really enjoyed it.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-10-26 02:58:21.
(Language: English)
This book investigates a death in an Amish community. I visited a Hutterite colony near Saskatoon, Canada about 3 years ago. The Hutterites are very similar to the Amish. The more I learned about them, the more I envied their simple, hard working, God-centered life. Although, it is a shame they only allow their children an 8th grade education. This book reminded me of my trip to their farm on a cold, cloudy October day.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-04-25 06:58:01.
(Language: English)
I must admit that I am a sucker for a crime drama, courtroom drama, with a little Amish sprinkled in. I couldn't resist Plain Truth and had some high expectations for this book. Jodi Picoult didn't disappoint. Reading this book was everything a good read should be--effortless, engrossing, intriguing, and difficult to set down. I'm pretty stingy with my stars, but this is a solid 4-star book. I loved the straightforward style of Jodi Picoult's writing--it's straightforward with the right balance of description. So many popular authors try to force a lyrical style that comes off as pompous and detracts from the actual storytelling--the reader gets bogged down in the language and the reading becomes very tedious. Not so with this book. Jodi Picoult's writing style is the perfect mix that conjures up the images needed to produce imagery that enhances the story while at the same time moving the story along. There is no complaint from me that this book is too long, I didn't feel it drag at any point and I could have kept on reading. I was fascinated by the Amish community in the book, as well as the central event of the book. This is the first book of Jodi Picoult's that I've read. On the downside, The author's "twist" at the end was one that I had suspected all along. And I also didn't care for the secondary story line (Ellie), it was distracting and not really necessary.
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