3.5 Stars

For those well-versed in Jodi Picoult's body of work, it comes as no surprise that this novel delves into socially relevant and controversial subject matter. Her depiction of the modern teenager's life is both shocking and captivating.

Trixie Stone, the fourteen-year-old only child of a dedicated stay-at-home father and a professional mother who remain married, appears to have an idyllic family on the surface. However, beneath this façade lies a certain degree of dysfunction. Trixie finds herself grappling with the pressures and realities of being a teenager in today's society. In particular, she struggles with the loss of her first boyfriend in a social environment where teens no longer engage in sexual activity within the context of exclusive relationships, and random hook-ups have become the norm. In her world, her peers simultaneously experiment with sex, drugs, and alcohol, which is a recipe for disaster. It is within this context that tragedy befalls Trixie and ultimately her family, and the story unfolds.

This novel explores several central themes, and one that strikes a chord with me is the idea that people are constantly evolving and becoming new individuals. At any given moment, we may not be the same person we were yesterday, making us, to some extent, unknowable even to those closest to us. Trixie, Laura, and Daniel Stone all have aspects of themselves that are hidden and unknown to one another.

I found this reading selection timely, especially in light of the recent suicide of Rehteah Parsons. The issues explored are pressing and relevant, which, in my opinion, makes it a worthwhile read. That being said, I was slightly disappointed with the ending.

I managed to get halfway through the audio, but unfortunately, I just couldn't continue.

I have a great love for Jodi Picoult and have been attempting to catch up on all of her older works. However, what on earth is this?!

I don't even have the slightest feeling that she is the author of this. It's just beyond my comprehension.

Regrettably, I'm going to mark this one as DNF (Did Not Finish) and simply move on.

I hope that her other books will be more in line with my expectations and the high standards that I have come to associate with her name.

Maybe this was just a one-off disappointment, and I'll still keep my eyes open for her future releases, hoping to rediscover the magic that her writing usually holds.

But for now, it's time to say goodbye to this particular book and look forward to better literary experiences in the future.

This book is pure popcorn entertainment. It's the kind of thing you pick up not for the literary finesse or its profound social impact, but simply because the story resembles a soap opera that you just can't seem to give up on.

To be fair, I found her vignettes about family life to be quite compelling and well-written. They effectively touched upon the complex web of feelings that a family unit generates. Moreover, her descriptions of the father-daughter, mother-daughter, and mother-father dynamics were really quite nice.

However, when it comes to the overall book, it can't really be considered true literature. It's more of a good weekend read. The interspersion of comic book pages was an interesting touch, although I suspect it might only hold appeal for someone like me who is an illustrator. It was a bit on the kitschy side.

The plot lacked unity, and the tone of the book was inconsistent. It was as if the author had several different ideas or even books that she attempted to merge into one, resulting in a lack of cohesion. Consequently, her message or moral was a little blurry.

I give this book two stars because it wasn't entirely without value. I was moderately entertained, but this was offset by the book's indecisiveness. I often found myself wanting to scream, "What am I reading? Is it a crime-mystery-thriller? A piece of magical realism? Or a family drama?" In the end, the book straddled the fence between all these genres and suffered as a result.

I'm not sure if it's because I've read an excessive amount of Jodi's works, but this particular piece was just so underwhelming. It felt like the same old story, with nothing new or exciting to offer.

The plot seemed to follow a predictable pattern, and the characters lacked depth and originality. I found myself quickly losing interest as I read through it.

Maybe I was expecting too much, but I had hoped for something more engaging and thought-provoking. Instead, it was just a mediocre read that didn't leave much of an impression.

I'll probably still give Jodi's future works a chance, but this one was definitely a disappointment.

We can't keep Jodi Picoult's books on the shelves in the bookstore where I work.

I picked this particular one up simply to figure out what all the commotion was about. Before I even realized it, I had already delved a hundred pages into it.

Picoult's remarkable strength appears to be in constructing a suspenseful build-up as the reader anticipates the arrival of Devastating Tragedy on her characters. Regrettably, it seems that she doesn't know what to do following that and attempts to cover it up by adding one significant 'dramatic' plot twist after another.

The story could potentially have been salvaged if the characters had more than a single dimension. Evidently, that was an overly optimistic hope.

Finally, I did manage to force myself to reach the end of this book. At that point, I was left with a sense of resentment over the time I had wasted reading it.

It's a pity because the initial promise was there, but it failed to deliver in the end.

I recently delved into the captivating world of "The Tenth Circle" by Jodi Picoult.

On the surface, the Stone family appears to be the epitome of normalcy and perfection. Daniel, a comic book artist, works from home to fulfill his role as a stay-at-home dad for Trixie, while his wife Laura is a dedicated full-time college professor. They seem to prioritize their daughter above all else in life.

However, as the story unfolds, their seemingly idyllic relationship begins to crumble. When the worst befalls their daughter, the truth about each family member and their relationships comes to light. Daniel, who witnesses Trixie growing up too quickly with her choice of clothing, older boyfriend, and new social circle, realizes his assumptions were correct. Trixie discovers that her mother is not the woman she once believed her to be. Laura becomes consumed by her career and other distractions, losing her closeness with Trixie and even being untruthful to her husband.

All is revealed when Laura finally breaks down and confesses to Daniel what she has really been doing when she claims to be working late. Just when you think the book will solely focus on Trixie and her hardships, it takes a turn and shifts the spotlight to the rest of the family as well.

After reading this book, it truly dawned on me that no one is perfect. We may think there could be a so-called "perfect" family, but in reality, such a thing does not exist. Everyone makes mistakes, and it is through these mistakes that we learn and grow. What matters in the end is how we handle the situation and what we become as a result. It is a powerful reminder that life is complex, and families are not immune to the challenges and imperfections that come with it.

Sama tema s kojom se ova knjiga hvata ukoštac - silovanje - vrlo je teška, pomalo i tabu.

However, I think Jodi Picoult bravely presented it, highlighting all the problems that the victims of rape encounter in their daily lives.

I would go so far as to say that this book somehow raises awareness about the victims of rape and the (unfair?) way society treats them.

It also touches on the current issue that 'no' means 'no', regardless of how the victim was dressed, what relationship they had with the (potential) perpetrator, and how they behaved previously.

Unfortunately, nowadays, the crime of rape is often excused or downplayed, emphasizing that 'she wanted it', 'if she hadn't been dressed like that', 'she didn't explicitly say no', and so on.

In this regard, I think this book takes a stance, the stance that rape is terrible, that there is no excuse for it, that 'no' means 'no', and that what the victims have to go through after rape to prove that they are victims is even more可怕.

Picoult presented this perfectly in two sentences: "The majority of people didn't understand, unless they were from the police, that both the victim of a rape and the victim of a traffic accident were forever lost. The difference was that the victim of a rape still had to act as if she were alive."

However, as I have already mentioned, nothing is black and white, and neither is the case of rape around which the story revolves.

As the characters talk about what happened, we have the opportunity to see the whole case from multiple angles.

Picoult gradually reveals the true truth, adding only one answer at a time, and at the same time throwing us pieces of the past related to some of the characters.

The way it is constructed makes this book a mystery at the same time, and we can only see the complete picture after we gather all the pieces of the past, connect them with the right characters, and arrange them in the right order.

This gives the story another dimension, and the fact that each character hides their own story along the way makes it even more interesting to read.

The complete review is on Imaginariju.

...but no one ever said yes to make sex consensual. You took hints from body language, from the way two people came together. Why, then didn't a shake of the head or a hand pushing hard against a chest speak just as loudly?

Books about rape are never easy to get through. The tenth circle is no exception. It delves deep into this sensitive and harrowing topic, leaving the reader with a heavy heart and a lot to think about.

This book pulls a lot from the works of the Italian poet Dante Alighieri, (1265-1321). The first poem portrayed is "Inferno" which follows a man and his guide, Virgil, as they journey through the nine circles of Hell while in search of morality and God. Most of the focus was drawn on this poem in specific and was also portrayed in the comic strip available in the book. It speaks of punishment and whether a punishment chosen does fit a crime. The second is "Divine Comedy" - which isn't touched on as much - detailing the spiritual journey of man through life. In this journey he learns about the nature of sin and its consequences.

I have never read either of the poems in depth so this is something I would really love to study and research on. This was a difficult book with a very sensitive subject. It wasn't all black and white as I had expected going into it. I wouldn't say I enjoyed reading it given what the book was about, but this is a very important book and it does its duty in opening up conversation on consent, rape and suicides.

TW; sexual assault, suicidal attempts, suicide, trauma, grief, gaslighting.

Rating : 4 stars

Having worked my way through almost all of Jodi Picoult's books, I had high expectations for an exciting and thought-provoking read with this one. However, unlike most of her novels, I'm rather ambivalent about this particular work. I found the first fifty percent of the book truly captivating. The story drew me in and held my attention firmly. But then, as the book progressed, my interest started to wane. By the time it got closer to the end, I had completely lost interest in the storyline.

The charm of Picoult's novels lies in her ability to focus on emotionally charged subjects and create highly realistic situations within her storylines. In "The Tenth Circle," we are introduced to troubled teen Trixie and her equally troubled parents, Laura and Daniel. One fateful night, Trixie becomes the victim of a horrific sexual assault at the hands of her ex-boyfriend. Understandably, her parents are devastated and demand justice. Amidst trying to hold their own marriage together, Laura and Daniel must come together to untangle the complex web of what truly happened to their young daughter.

As I previously mentioned, I was hooked by the first half of the book as we delved into the details of the crime. However, the second half was a real let-down. I found myself losing focus on the characters, and Trixie's actions seemed quite unrealistic to me. Here's a minor spoiler: she runs away to Alaska. How on earth am I supposed to believe that a fourteen-year-old girl, all by herself, is capable of boarding a plane and stowing away to the end of the earth?

The novel is interspersed with comic-book style pictures. Daniel, being a successful artist, has his stories that mirror the troubles within his family. Since I have no interest in comic book art, I found myself simply skipping these pages without feeling like I was missing out on anything of great significance to the story I was reading.

Overall, it's an okay read if you can overlook the rather muddled second half of the book. In my opinion, there are far better Picoult books out there. My personal favorite, "The Storyteller," is an absolute must-read.

To be brief: The Tenth Circle is nothing special.

It is not very original and quite predictable. The book deals with various difficult and profound themes, but it does so in such a superficial way that it all sounds false and not very coherent... and some parts are not even developed. The only originality in the book are the comic strips, which, although interesting, add nothing to the story. As if that weren't enough, it is very difficult for us to sympathize with these characters, which is very important for the type of story that Picoult is trying to tell us.

After reading Lone Wolf, which I really liked, I was quite disappointed with this book by Jodi Picoult.

Favorite sentences:
"Because if she got angry, there wouldn't be room inside her to be scared" - 84

"At the crossroads of life, half of us are destined to turn the wrong way" - 266

In conclusion, The Tenth Circle fails to live up to expectations. The lack of originality and depth in the storytelling makes it a rather forgettable read. While the comic strips are a nice addition, they do not save the book from its overall mediocrity. Fans of Jodi Picoult may be disappointed, as this book does not showcase her usual talent and creativity. It is a shame, as she has the potential to write truly great stories. However, in this case, she has fallen short.

Perhaps she will redeem herself with her next book. Until then, readers will have to look elsewhere for engaging and thought-provoking literature.

Here is another remarkable read. A portion of the book was presented in the style of a comic book, which was truly distinct. It wasn't my all-time favorite Jodi Picoult book, yet it still managed to be a genuine mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat, turning the pages eagerly. The combination of the traditional narrative and the comic book elements added an interesting layer to the story. It made me view the characters and the events from a different perspective. Even though it didn't top my list of Picoult's best works, it was still engaging enough to hold my attention throughout. I found myself constantly guessing what was going to happen next, and that's what makes a good mystery novel. Overall, it was a worthwhile read that I would recommend to others who enjoy a bit of mystery and a unique storytelling style.

This is the first novel by Picoult that I have read and it has truly been震撼. I didn't expect it to be so soon, so hard, and so difficult to digest.

The story is about a fourteen-year-old girl, a girl like many others, a girl who wants to please and is dealing with the first turmoil of love. Everything is as it should be at that age, until the moment when Trixie, this is the name of the protagonist, is raped by the boy she is in love with. And everything is swept away, everything changes. Trixie changes, Daniel, Trixie's father, changes, Laura, the mother, changes, Justin, the boy who raped her, changes, and the friends, teachers, and classmates change.

Trixie finds herself being judged by a society that believes her to be guilty, she is left alone, and only her parents are ready to defend her. She is subjected to the analysis of the representatives of the law who do everything to incriminate Trixie, in support of Jason, a typical American boy, a hockey champion, good-looking and full of friends, an example of a society where appearance is what matters.

The narrative flows quickly until it turns yellow and ends with a surprising finale, and it is surely the last part of the novel that keeps one on the edge of their seat and makes us realize that the real protagonist is Daniel, with his skeletons and his secrets that will be revealed precisely in this last part of the novel.

Picoult has a beautiful writing style, fast, engaging, and at the same time she manages to make the reader imagine even the most violent moments of the story, the rape, the transformation of Daniel from a calm father to a revenge-hungry father, violent and impetuous, who justifies a past to be forgotten.

A curiosity: reading the last pages, I discovered that there is, in the paperback version, a comic story in which the author herself reveals that she has hidden a message for the reader. Unfortunately, having read the electronic version, I missed it and this will force me, by necessity, to buy the paperback!