Harvesting the Heart

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From the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of Leaving Time Paige has only a few vivid memories of her mother, who abandoned her at five years old. Now, having left her father behind in Chicago for dreams of art school and marriage to an ambitious young doctor, she finds herself with a child of her own. But her mother's absence and shameful memories of her past force her to doubt whether she could ever be capable of bringing joy and meaning into the life of her child, gifts her own mother never gave.


Harvesting the Heart is written with astonishing clarity and evocative detail, convincing in its depiction of emotional pain, love, and vulnerability, and recalls the writing of Alice Hoffman and Kristin Hannah. Out of Paige's struggle to find wholeness, Jodi Picoult crafts an absorbing novel peopled by richly drawn characters, and explores motherhood with a power and depth only she is capable of.

“A brilliant, moving examination of motherhood, brimming with detail and emotion.” —Richmond Times-Dispatch

“Jodi Picoult explores the fragile ground of ambivalent motherhood in her lush second novel. This story belongs to… the lucky reader.” —The New York Times Book Review

453 pages, Paperback

First published January 1,1993

About the author

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Jodi Picoult is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-eight novels, including Wish You Were Here, Small Great Things, Leaving Time, and My Sister's Keeper, and, with daughter Samantha van Leer, two young adult novels, Between the Lines and Off the Page. Picoult lives in New Hampshire.

MAD HONEY, her new novel co-authored with Jennifer Finney Boylan, is available in hardcover, ebook, and audio on October 4, 2022.

Website: http://www.jodipicoult.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jodipicoult

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jodipicoult

Community Reviews

Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 100 votes)
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100 reviews All reviews
July 14,2025
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I truly loved the book. The story was engaging, the characters were well-developed, and the plot had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. However, I have to admit that I really hated the ending.

It was so abrupt. Just when I thought the story was building up to a grand finale, it suddenly came to a halt. There were so many loose ends that were left unresolved. I was left with a sense of disappointment and frustration.

I understand that some authors like to leave things open to interpretation, but in this case, it felt like the author just gave up. I would have preferred a more conclusive ending that tied up all the loose ends and gave me a sense of closure.

Despite my disappointment with the ending, I still think the book was worth reading. The rest of the story was so good that it almost made up for the lackluster conclusion. I would recommend this book to others, but I would also warn them about the abrupt ending.
July 14,2025
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This is moderately low by Picoult standard (and by this I mean My Sister's Keeper). I like it and I personally don't think it is a waste of my money or time.

Still it is not something I will recommend to any avid readers. There are many better books out there so if you have not bought this, it is not a loss if you just ignore it.

The best part is when Paige gives birth to Max and how she tries her best to look after her son while her husband, Nicholas is busy saving lives at the hospital. "It is not easy to have a baby," I think and of course this reminds me of all the sacrifices my mother has made for me.

But other than that part, it is rather irritating in some ways. For one thing the story concentrates a bit too much on the relationship between Paige and Nicholas. It got worse near the ending. One moment they seem like they are going to be together again but another moment Nicholas is so determined to keep Paige away from his life. One moment Paige is so weak she cannot bear seeing Max all blue after the operation but the next moment she is the one supporting her husband from falling.

In the end I am not sure if they are together or not. Well, at least Max is not dead. This book has its moments of charm, like the birth of Max and Paige's efforts as a mother. However, the inconsistent portrayal of the relationship between Paige and Nicholas detracts from the overall enjoyment. The constant back and forth makes it hard to invest fully in their story. While it's not a terrible read, it doesn't quite measure up to some of Picoult's other works.
July 14,2025
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We have only two perspectives, which is something not very common in the author. Paige, already in adulthood, still suffers from the abandonment by her mother when she was a child. At eighteen, she herself leaves her father and ventures alone into adult life. However, her plans change when she meets Nicholas, a very promising medical student. The two marry very early and with an unexpected pregnancy, Paige finds herself more lost than ever, feeling useless with her little Max, although in the eyes of everyone she is a good mother. But the doubts about why she was abandoned by her mother torment her and she eventually repeats the same act: she leaves Max in the care of Nicholas and departs in search of her mother's whereabouts.


The synopsis at the beginning seemed quite interesting to me, because knowing the author's style already, I was expecting a lot of drama and courts and moral questions about right and wrong. In fact, we don't have much of that here, or rather we have some hints but the author never really explores some issues in depth.


(...)


It is clear here that Jodi Picoult still did not have the mastery that she has now but it is also not such a bad book. It reads well but having already read many better books by the author, this one tasted a little. Curiously, although it was already published in 1993, it never came out here in Portugal.


Full opinion: https://algodaodoceparaocerebro.blogs...
July 14,2025
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I’m normally a huge Jodi Picoult fan. Her novels have always managed to captivate me with their unique storytelling and complex characters.

However, I really struggled to get through this particular book. The intertwining character and plot lines, which are usually what intrigues me the most in Picoult’s works, just didn’t have the same charm this time around.

I found myself constantly waiting for that one interesting twist or turn that would make the story come alive, but it never really happened. Mostly, I just felt very “meh” throughout the whole thing.

The book seemed to lack the depth and emotional resonance that I have come to expect from Jodi Picoult. It was a bit of a disappointment for me as a die-hard fan.

I’m hoping that her next novel will be more in line with her previous works and will once again reignite my love for her writing.
July 14,2025
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The first half of the experience, I must admit, I thought was rather slow. It felt as if time was dragging on and nothing much was happening. I found myself a bit impatient and wondering when things would pick up. However, as the event or activity progressed, something changed. It gradually started to get better. There was a newfound energy and excitement in the air. The pace quickened, and more interesting things began to unfold. I started to become more engaged and involved. What had initially seemed like a dull and sluggish start had now transformed into something much more enjoyable and captivating. It just goes to show that sometimes, we have to be patient and wait for the good things to come.

July 14,2025
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This was an exquisitely beautiful book that delved deep into the realm of motherhood. Jodi Picoult, with her remarkable writing prowess, captured the essence of motherhood so incredibly well that it truly tugged at my heartstrings and got me right in the feels.

One of the most outstanding aspects of this book was the character of Astrid. I don't think I've ever loved a character as much as I adored Astrid. Her journey, her emotions, her struggles, and her triumphs were all so vividly portrayed that I felt as if I was right there with her, experiencing everything she went through.

The author's ability to create such a complex and relatable character is a testament to her writing skills. Astrid's character development was truly remarkable, and I found myself rooting for her from the very beginning.

This book is not just a story about motherhood; it's a story about love, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child. It's a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.
July 14,2025
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How we are raised and what occurred in our past is closely intertwined with how we develop in the future.

Harvesting the Heart is an extremely intricate story regarding a taboo topic of a mother deserting a child as she couldn't handle raising a family when she herself originated from a broken one.

The protagonist, Paige, lost her mother when her mother abandoned her at the age of five. She was raised by her father, and he endeavored to do an excellent job. However, the reality is that there are certain things that only a mother can impart to her daughter.

Paige grew up with an unfillable void in her heart.

If you are seeking a thriller or convoluted plots, this book is not for you. But if you are in search of a deeply moving book that addresses postpartum depression and the challenges of being married to the perfect man while not feeling perfect oneself, this is the ideal book for you. It delves into the complex emotions and experiences that many women face, making it a relatable and thought-provoking read.

July 14,2025
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Labai idomi ir jaudinamti istorija.

Meile yra tokia puiki ir stipri jėga, kuri gali versti žmonių gyvenimą. Seima taip pat yra labai svarbi, nes ji yra miesto, kur galima rasti meilės, palaikymo ir santykių. Motinyste yra nežymėtiškas, tačiau labai svarbus vaidmuo gyvenime. Medicina taip pat yra labai svarbi, nes ji gali padėti žmonėms gyventi geriau ir ilgiau gyvenimą.

Viskas man buvo idomu, nes aš labai mėgstu mokytis naujų dalykų ir suprasti gyvenimo įvairovę. Labai patiko, kai aš galėjau susipažinti su naujais žmonėmis ir jų istorijomis.

Ši istorija man suteikė daug gerų jausmų ir atsiliepimų. Aš labai dėkoju už ją ir tikiuosi, kad ją galima bus perskaityti ir kitiems žmonėms, kurie taip pat mėgsta istorijas.
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