The Tenth Circle

Joy is my new book supplier, and I'm not-so-slowly making my way through her Jodi Picoult collection.

So far, this one has been my favorite among the three Picoult books I've read. Firstly, I truly adored the comic book theme and the numerous references to Dante's Inferno throughout the book. Starting each chapter with a snippet of Daniel's comic book was an excellent way to progress the story, through his unique perspective and mind.

Although I have to admit that I managed to figure out the ending approximately halfway through the novel. Picoult's books do tend to follow a bit of a formula. However, I didn't really mind. She is a remarkable author who has an amazing ability to draw you into the minds of a modern family and make you experience their struggles from all angles.

I especially liked the character of Daniel in this novel. I found him to be incredibly real, concealing the darker secrets from his past in Alaska, such as violence, rage, and death, all in an attempt to keep his family united as a whole. But how that plan backfired!

Anyway, I thought this book was very well-written, with a great story and wonderful characters. It kept me engaged from start to finish and left me with a lot to think about. I'm looking forward to reading more of Jodi Picoult's works in the future.

So I truly believe that I'm lacking something crucial in Jodi Picoult's writing. This is the third book of hers that I've delved into (Pact, Sister's Keeper), and I have to admit that I've had the identical feeling towards all three.

Frankly, I don't have a real affinity for the characters. I find it extremely challenging to feel any sympathy or compassion for anyone within the stories. It's not that this is an absolute necessity, but I firmly believe that liking someone or experiencing sympathy or empathy for them significantly enhances the reading experience.

I will, however, give Picoult her due in that she manages to keep me on the hook. I haven't abandoned anything I've begun reading by her. Nevertheless, I'm always left disappointed in the end. Her modus operandi is to have a missing detail in the "mystery" that the main character is privy to, yet we're left waiting for her to disclose it to us. I'm perpetually anticipating it to be something truly astonishing that completely transforms the story or the way I respond to it. But alas, in the final analysis, it's usually something foreseeable or rather typical.

Specifically regarding this book, I'd probably rate it as the worst among the three I've read. There's this entire comic book storyline involving the father that I found irksome, as well as the so-called 180-degree turnaround in his character that is mentioned but never truly expounded upon. There are far too many loose ends, such as Seth's involvement in the situation - which seems rather牵强. It simply didn't all gel for me. And then the conclusion in Alaska - while I loved the change of scenery, it struck me as being far too contrived. If you're considering embarking on reading Picoult, I would suggest starting elsewhere.

Family Tragedy that Will Shock Parents!

"Maybe a miracle isn't something that happens, but something that doesn't happen."

I have been a big fan of Jodi Picoult ever since reading her book "My Sister's Keeper" based on which the同名电影 was filmed. The author writes wonderful books with an emphasis on realistic fiction, family drama, and tragic situations that people often encounter.

"Sometimes our wishes come true. And sometimes that's the worst thing that can happen to us."

Trixie is a fourteen-year-old girl who is dumped by her boyfriend. They were a popular couple in school, and she, so young, doesn't know how to deal with a broken heart. Suffering terribly, one day in anger, she breaks a mirror and deliberately injures her arm because physical pain gives her the feeling that her psychological pain is, at least temporarily, lessened. Poor and desperate, she goes to a party where Jason, the boy she is pining for, will be, and accepts the offer of her best friend to dress provocatively and flirt with everyone - let her show her ex that she is having a great time and he will regret his decision. At the end of the party, when most people have already gone home, drunk and exhausted Trixie realizes that her plan has worked - Jason approaches her and she thinks the reason for his desire to reconcile, but she is bitterly deceived. Jason takes advantage of her trust and the fact that they are drunk and alone, and rapes her.

"As a child, I was afraid of the dark. The closet doors had to be tightly closed, with a chair under the knob so that the monsters wouldn't come out. I would pull the covers up to my chin so that the devil wouldn't grab me. And I would sleep on my stomach so that the vampire wouldn't come and stab my heart with a stake.

Many years later, I'm still afraid - not of the night, but of the days that follow one after another, and there seems to be no end in sight."
Soon her world is turned upside down. Her greatest wish has become her worst nightmare. A bunch of witnesses confirm that Trixie came to the party dressed in clothes that barely cover the essentials, then flirted with all the boys, even ended up in a corner with some, got drunk, and played strip poker. Everyone knows how much she suffered for Jason and how much she wanted to get him back. Soon, insults begin to be leveled at her that she made everything up, that she wanted it all and unjustly accused the "golden boy" because he didn't want her back. She also concealed some facts from the police, which come back to haunt her and she gets trapped in a web of lies from which it is difficult to get out. Her world is falling apart, she is losing friends, and maybe even her sanity.

"It wasn't a coincidence that fear could drive a person to extremes, just like love. Those feelings are like twins: if you don't know what you're going to lose, you don't have anything to fight for."

The author skillfully follows this difficult topic from several perspectives, so we learn the story of Trixie herself, but also of her parents. Her mother has just ended an affair and confessed everything to her husband, and he, with his family in turmoil, is fighting against his own demons of the past that he wants to hide at all costs from those he loves most. Amid a multitude of entanglements surrounding this rape case, events from the past of individual characters are also intertwined, which makes the mystery even greater. This makes the psychological characterization truly excellent as it gives us a look into the depth - many long-forgotten situations are worthy of just such a plot of events as happened, because the characters are complex and the roots of their behavior and reactions stem from childhood.

"But it turned out that hell wasn't watching a loved one suffer; hell was the other thing, when it's already too late to do anything."

In this family drama, you will be able to see the tragedy from multiple perspectives, which makes the story extremely interesting and believable. Maybe it's strange to say that you will really enjoy this book, but there is something in Jodi Picoult's writing that makes you want to get closer to the characters as if you knew them yourself. Also, her literary expression is of high value and the quotes that are worth highlighting will flow one after another. The lessons that this story brings with it are many. From how difficult it is to be a teenager and grow up to the very theme of rape and the fact that it is difficult to prove and the victim can become the target of maltreatment, not to mention what the impact is on those closest to the victim - the parents. It is also shown that every coin has two sides and amid a multitude of entanglements, you will not know the full truth until the very end.

"We all want to know what went wrong, even when there is no answer."

"Vanishing Acts" by Jodi Picoult did not disappoint me at all, it is just a confirmation that this is a very high-quality author who knows how to touch the hearts of readers and make them think hard. I recommend it to everyone who loves realistic fiction, family dramas, and mysteries.

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3.5 stars.

This is only the second Picoult novel I have read, and I must say that I really liked Nineteen Minutes more.

While this particular book is not a bad one by any means and is certainly capable of evoking strong emotions, I found myself unable to get as deeply involved as I would have liked. There was something that seemed to hold me back from fully immersing in the story. Additionally, I felt that the pacing of the book was rather slow. It took a while for the plot to really gain momentum and start pulling me in.

On the positive side, the family members in the story were interesting and well-developed. Their relationships and dynamics added depth to the narrative. And I have to admit that the writing itself was quite good. However, despite these strengths, I am still not entirely sure if Picoult is the right author for me. I didn't enjoy Nineteen Minutes to the same extent as many others seem to have, and this book has left me with a similar feeling of being somewhat on the fence.

The first two-thirds of the book was truly outstanding, filled with excitement and anticipation. However, as the story progressed into the last part, it seemed to lose its momentum and dragged on a bit. Perhaps this was because it became increasingly obvious "who did it."

The story revolves around Trixie, a 14-year-old girl who accuses her former lover of rape. The boy, of course, vehemently denies the accusation, claiming that the encounter was consensual. Later, it is revealed that Trixie had the date rape drug in her system, and as a result, he will be tried as an adult, which almost certainly means a significant amount of jail time.

The boy is so devastated by the situation that he commits suicide by jumping off a bridge, or so they thought. It is at this point that the book starts to feel a bit tedious. We are then taken into the life of Trixie's dad in an Eskimo village, and there are all these deeper, hidden meanings about "do you really know yourself."

In the end, it is discovered that Trixie was not raped after all; the encounter was indeed consensual. She had fabricated the story in an attempt to get back with Jason. Surprisingly, it was her mom who was responsible for throwing Jason off the bridge. This unexpected twist adds an interesting layer to the story and leaves the reader with much to think about.

This is by far the most problematic Jodi book that I have ever read.

It completely failed to handle the issue of the rape of a minor in a proper way. At all.

Throughout the book, Dante’s Inferno is referenced, but it doesn't seem to have a very good connection to the story.

Honestly, after reading this, I just feel completely dumbfounded.

There were also some really weird comics scattered throughout the book that I simply skipped through. They were just so weird and didn't seem to add anything to the overall narrative.

I really expected more from this book, especially considering the author's reputation. But unfortunately, it just didn't live up to my expectations.

I would not recommend this book to anyone, especially those who are sensitive to the topic of rape or who are looking for a well-written and engaging story.

It's a real disappointment.

What a truly strange coincidence it is! Out of the entire stack of Jodi Picoult books neatly arranged on my shelf, I randomly ended up picking this particular one.

And it just so happens that the story features a comic book penciler for Marvel as its main character, right in the midst of the intense Endgame hype.

Anyway, I'll admit that I might be a bit biased (in fact, I most definitely am). But we all know that I'm emotionally inclined to love every single piece of work by Jodi Picoult. She has never given me any reason not to. One aspect that always keeps me coming back for more is her remarkable ability to create complex and three-dimensional characters.

And I don't just mean the main characters. Every secondary character is also given their own detailed backstory, complete with their personal battles and triumphs. Picoult skillfully allocates just the right number of scenes to each secondary character. This allows them to firmly establish their roles as integral members of the plot, without overshadowing the main characters.

And my absolute favorite part? She always manages to link characters who seem like complete strangers together in the most subtlest way possible. You have to pay really close attention because if you blink, you might just miss it. I absolutely live for those "oh. my. god." moments when I finally make the connections in her stories.

Side note: Alaska seems like a really cool place to live in for someone like me who much prefers silence over noise.

(Also, it feels great to finally pick up a book from my TBR list instead of an ARC. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy reviewing ARCs. But reading a book by your favorite author and writing a review without having to worry about the format, disclaimers, and all that other stuff feels kind of... liberating after months of reviewing ARCs. Not to mention that I have the option of choosing whether or not I even want to post a review!)

Picoult is known for writing engaging and thought-provoking books, and this one is no exception.

The story unfolds in a familiar and captivating way, drawing the reader in from the start. The characters are well-developed and the plot is full of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.

However, towards the end of the book, I found myself a bit disappointed. The last third of the story didn't quite live up to the expectations set by the first two-thirds.

Some of the plot developments felt a bit rushed or contrived, and I wasn't as invested in the outcome as I had been earlier in the book.

Overall, it's still a good read, but it could have been even better if the ending had been more satisfying.

Despite this, I would still recommend it to fans of Picoult's work, as there is a lot to enjoy in the first two-thirds of the book.

Maybe others will have a different opinion of the ending and find it more fulfilling than I did.

It's always interesting to see how different readers respond to the same book.