The story delves into a highly captivating rape case.

It's truly my first encounter with a rape case where a significant part of me deems the rape victim irritating and astonishingly, I'm actually rooting for the rapist. The sweetheart defense holds remarkable strength, making it extremely challenging to discern who is lying and who is telling the truth. Jodi Picoult's prowess in this regard is truly remarkable, compelling me to deeply contemplate the real happenings. There are numerous twists and turns that enhance the story's excitement and engagement.

I have already perused four of her books (My Sister's Keeper, Nineteen Minutes, The Pact, and The Plain Truth). It's heartening to note that despite several common elements, I still find this particular work interesting compared to her others. What I appreciate is that the plot is more meticulously thought out than in Plain Truth; indeed, its plot flows seamlessly. I have a penchant for the comic strip segments in the book. Although they serve as fillers, they are excellent fillers. I also like the Dante's references and how they intertwine with the storyline.

My sole gripe is that I find the ending unsatisfactory as it lacks closure. I surmise that Jodi Picoult's novels might be restricted by word count since the story is already quite lengthy, and perhaps she couldn't pen the continuation any further, thus resulting in such an ending. I'm disappointed that there is no courtroom drama in this novel, with the majority of it focused on the investigation. Nevertheless, I still find this novel thought-provoking and well-written.

I absolutely adored this book.

I continuously postponed reading it, for I dreaded the moment when I would have to finish it, as I simply didn't want this captivating story to come to an end.

This novel was truly fascinating, filled with elements that were both intriguing and confusing, making it extremely memorable.

It took numerous twists and turns right until the very end, presenting details that made you question the entire story up until that point.

The main characters were incredibly complex, with multiple layers within themselves and their relationships.

The various aspects of the characters and their interests were metaphorically manifested in the personal thoughts and lives of the other characters, which further piqued my interest and left me more intrigued than ever.

Overall, this book was a remarkable read that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

You don't know what to start with - read Jodi Picoult. There will definitely be a family, a tragedy, love and a moral dilemma. Since 2021, "no means no" no longer sounds new, but it is still relevant.

Jodi Picoult's novels are known for their complex and engaging storylines that explore the depths of human relationships and the moral choices we face. Her books often feature strong female characters who are forced to make difficult decisions in the face of adversity.

Whether you're looking for a heart-wrenching romance or a thought-provoking exploration of a social issue, Jodi Picoult has something for everyone. So why not pick up one of her books today and see for yourself why she is one of the most popular and respected authors of our time?

The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult

First published in 2006, this novel tells a complex and gripping story.

Blurb - Fourteen-year-old Trixie Stone is experiencing her first love. She is the pride and joy of her father, Daniel, a straight-A student, a popular and pretty freshman in high school, and someone who has always idolized her father. However, her world is shattered by a single act of violence. Suddenly, everything Trixie thought she knew about her family and herself seems like a lie. Could her boyfriend, who once made her so happy, be the one who ended her childhood forever? She claims he is, and this prompts Daniel, a seemingly mild-mannered comic book artist with a hidden and tumultuous past, to go to extreme lengths to protect his daughter.

My thoughts - As I neared the end of this book, my enjoyment began to wane. There are simply too many themes crammed into this story. It涵盖了从青少年性实验到强奸，从不忠到自残，从抑郁到自杀，从杀人到离家出走，从阿拉斯加原住民文化到漫画艺术，从文学评论到家庭动态等方方面面。也许还有更多，我的头都快晕了。这本小说本有成为一部优秀的成长或悬疑故事的潜力，但却不知为何脱轨了。

Consonant with my rating system - two stars - somewhat less than average.

Being a parent, this book truly resonated with me. It felt as if it was directly addressing the experiences and emotions that come with raising children. I had high hopes that the ending would include an epilogue. I was completely smitten with the main characters and was eager to witness how their lives would be reconstructed. This book evoked a wide range of emotions within me. It encompassed various elements such as love, which was beautifully portrayed. There was also the element of murder, which added a thrilling and suspenseful aspect. Sexual assault was a difficult but important topic that was explored. Marital affairs and self-harm were also touched upon, making the story all the more complex and engaging. However, above all else, it was the father's love for his daughter that truly stood out. It was a powerful and moving theme that tugged at my heartstrings.

This book is better than the last Picoult book I read.

Here, a teen is raped, and the story delves into the profound repercussions this has on her family. It's not overly complex; in fact, it's quite easy to figure out.

What makes it unique, however, is the interesting mix of elements. There are comic touches that lighten the mood at times, yet it also incorporates the themes of Dante's Inferno.

This combination creates a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. The exploration of the family's reactions and the teen's journey through this difficult experience is done with sensitivity and depth.

Overall, it's a book that manages to balance different tones and themes effectively, making it a worthwhile read.

I have truly grown to have a deep affection for this particular author. Their previous works have always managed to captivate me and keep me engaged from start to finish. However, when it comes to this latest offering, I have to admit that it just didn't quite hit the mark for me. It was a rather slow read, lacking the kind of excitement and energy that I have come to expect from this author. The story seemed to plod along at a leisurely pace, and I found myself constantly looking for something more to happen. Additionally, I wasn't really a big fan of the graphic novel elements that were incorporated into the book. While I appreciate the creativity behind it, it just didn't mesh well with the overall narrative for me. All in all, this one was a bit of a disappointment.

Jodi Picoult has earned a place among my favorite writers.

It is the first book I have read by her. I don't know if I chose the best one, but surely I won't stop reading her works.

"The Tenth Circle" is a book that left me breathless! A book that makes you think and shakes you!

The story of the fifteen-year-old girl, Trixie Stone, unfortunately, is the story of many teenagers today. She is a shy and popular student in high school, the light of her father's eyes.

This reason makes Daniel Stone go to great lengths for his daughter when she is the victim of violence, the disillusionment of her first love.

This story has impressed me so much that I can't find the right words for it. I recommend it! An extraordinary story about family life, unfortunately, which also exists in our days.

Lidia really hit the mark with this reading when I didn't really know what to read. And the truth is that she was completely right.

The book, within the context of being written to engage (with all that that entails), is well-structured and well-narrated, something that doesn't always happen.

It has a beginning that gradually draws you in (from what I've read elsewhere, for some it's too gradual, but for me it was just right). And then a development that I liked and caught my attention.

What's the best part? Daniel, the father of the protagonist. A real and complex man in whom the author injects more than one nuance.

Certainly, it was a great recommendation from someone who knows me very well. Thank you, sister.

It's highly recommendable.

"Women's fiction" and "chick-lit" have never appealed to me. They just don't hold my interest. However, that doesn't mean they shouldn't be given the same respect as other genres. I strive to avoid being a genre snob, although sometimes it creeps in, especially when it comes to YA fiction and Paranormal Romances. Given that my own tastes span from the highbrow to the very lowbrow, I'm not one to judge.

Jodi Picoult is a well-known author, and she and Jennifer Weiner were involved in a controversy regarding the media's adoration of Jonathan Franzen. They didn't claim to be as good as Franzen, but rather that women who write similar stories are often pigeonholed into the "women's fiction" category while male authors like Franzen receive more attention. It's a valid point, but I haven't read Franzen. On the other hand, I wasn't particularly interested in Picoult or Weiner's books.

I decided to give Picoult's "The Tenth Circle" a try when it was on sale at Audible.com. In two words, it was nothing special. The writing was palatable but bland, with pretensions of being deep and allegorical. The story was a typical movie-of-the-week type, with a suburban family facing various dramas.

The first drama was that Laura, the mother, was having an affair with a grad student. The second was that their teenage daughter, Trixie, was heartbroken when her boyfriend broke up with her and did some rather reckless things, including going to a "rainbow party." I have to question the authenticity of the "rainbow party" concept, as it seems more like an urban legend.

After the party, Trixie claims that Jason raped her. Jason is arrested and claims it was consensual. We get chapters from his POV, and there's also a subplot about the arresting officer. Eventually, we learn that Trixie has been hiding some secrets, which leads to more angst and drama.

The other major thread in the book involves Trixie's father, Daniel. He was once a "bad boy" who has been domesticated into a stable wage-earner and house-husband. When Trixie is raped, he struggles with his emotions and tries to be supportive while also dealing with his own inner turmoil.

The "Tenth Circle" is a literary conceit that runs through the entire book, with everything cast as a Dantean allegory. While the use of symbolism is effective in a way, it feels a bit heavy-handed, like a middle school student's first attempt at using metaphors.

Overall, "The Tenth Circle" is an average and overwrought melodrama. It's not a bad book, but it's also not particularly literary. The moral panic aspect detracts from the well-intentioned feminism, and I didn't appreciate the author's attempts to manipulate my emotions. I wanted to be fair, but unfortunately, this book didn't live up to my expectations.

WHY do I read these books?

They are poorly written. REALLY poorly written. They go beyond the point of believability and, more importantly, enjoyability. The characters are completely one-dimensional and interchangeable. I could have sworn I read this book before, and then I remembered I very nearly had when I read Nineteen Minutes. They do nothing but spout these incredibly cliched lines about love and loss and watching your children grow up, or some such nonsense. Maybe it wouldn't be nonsense if a) I actually believed in the integrity of the characters enough to care if they lived or died, or b) it weren't written in such overly dramatic, maudlin prose. If Dean Koontz and Sue Monk Kidd had a baby, and that baby had some sort of developmental delay, they would have given birth to Jodi Picoult.

But for some reason I stayed up until four AM trying to finish this book. Mostly I skimmed through the last third because, yes, Jodi, I get it. The snow is a metaphor. Alaska is a metaphor. Everything is a metaphor. You've beaten me to death with it. I just want to find out what happened to Trixie's attacker. Thanks.

I suppose the fact that she kept me reading until four AM is a testament to her storytelling talent. But considering the fact that I watched two episodes of 20/20, both about serial killers, I wasn't going to sleep until dawn broke anyway. Let's just say I like finding out how her stories will be resolved, but I HATE the literary journey I have to undertake before I finally, FINALLY get there.

3.7 stars

What I was truly hoping for was an extremely entertaining book. Something that could firmly hold my interest throughout and, at the same time, be light enough to be conveniently read on the bus during my commute to work. This book not only met those expectations but also offered a little more. I have always been a devoted fan of comic books, and I thoroughly enjoyed the amazing comic book art in this book.

The book, however, was not without its flaws. The characters didn't really evoke much sympathy. Among all the characters, I could most closely relate to Daniel (perhaps because we share the same name), the comic book artist with a tragic past. In fact, I liked his character so much that I really wished the book had placed more emphasis on him. I especially wished they had spent more time in Alaska. All the scenes set in Alaska were truly great. Trixie and Daniel's wife, on the other hand, came across as the least sympathetic. From the very beginning, their choices seemed rather dubious. You could still sort of understand them, but it was really hard to wholeheartedly cheer for them. I'm not entirely sure if that was the author's intention or not. Jason's predicament was even worse, and the detective in the novel was an especially underdeveloped character.

The book borders on melodrama in many instances. I think this is just an inherent drawback of a book targeted at young women readers. There's absolutely nothing wrong with this, in my opinion, as long as it is handled tastefully. "The Moonstone" - which remains one of my all-time favorite books - is written in a Victorian style and still manages to completely mesmerize me! DH Lawrence has also pulled it off from time to time (although too much of Lawrence gives me headaches). Still, I firmly believe that in this book, having less internal dialogue and more focus on building the scenes would have made a vast improvement.

After reading this book, I'm now really excited to explore some of Picoult's more highly acclaimed works!