If there had been half-stars, this book would have rated 2.5. It was better than okay, but I didn't really like it. I had read four or five Jodi Picoult novels and found, from the first high of My Sister's Keeper, it to be a slow, downhill road and this book doesn't break that path.

The first half, which took me three days to read, established the characters, none of whom I liked.

There is the adulterous husband who feels guilty about never passing up an opportunity to cheat on his wife with her strange employee who wanders from town to town looking for love. There is his wife, Allie, the submissive woman par excellence who held on to her virginity until she met her husband at 25 and whose every action is designed to please him. Her small show of self-assertiveness is quickly cast aside in favour of forgiveness and love. Then there is the murderer who really isn't, his wife who is absolutely perfect in every single way and was dying of cancer anyway, and sundry other characters, all of them caricatures of their occupations.

The plot was ordinary, the central theme, All For Love, who loves enough... might have worked if I had liked the characters more, and the language was often overly flowery and reminiscent of a romance novel.

So why did I like it at all? Two reasons. Firstly, Jodi Picoult has the amazing ability to keep you engaged, turning the pages unable to put the book down until you find out what happens. It took me less than a couple of hours to read the second half of the book. Secondly, I was trying to second-guess what the twist at the end would be. I guessed several possible ones and I was wrong, wrong, wrong. It's very nice to have the author pull a surprise on you. I do like Picoult for that and so, I'm not going to give up on her just yet - the Tenth Circle is sitting on my coffee table already.

Overall, this book had its flaws but also some redeeming qualities. While the characters and plot weren't my favourites, Picoult's writing style and ability to keep me hooked were enough to make me finish the book and look forward to reading more of her work. I'm curious to see if the Tenth Circle will be able to break the pattern and return to the heights of My Sister's Keeper. Only time will tell.

I truly adored this book, right from the very beginning with the prologue.

It was exquisitely written, presenting a story that was not only beautifully crafted but also deeply heart-rending.

I was especially captivated by the juxtaposition of the two couples and the profound love they held for each other.

This book delves into the question of what people are willing to do for love and how love means different things to various individuals.

It makes you think about the lengths we go to for the sake of love and how love can manifest in so many different ways.

Overall, it was a truly remarkable read that left a lasting impression on me.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good love story that explores the complex nature of love.

This was an extremely thought-provoking novel. It delved into the severe topic of right and wrong, exploring the complex act of killing someone to end their suffering. In such a situation, numerous conspiracies and difficult questions emerged, leaving the reader grappling with moral dilemmas.

Additionally, there was a subplot where one of the characters was tempted to commit an act of infidelity. Here too, the challenging questions of what is morally right or wrong came into sharp focus. I must admit that regarding this subplot, I have very strong opinions, firmly believing that infidelity is wrong on almost every level. However, when it comes to the main plot, my opinions are far more conflicted and undecided.

Overall, this was a very good and captivating story. I awarded it four stars because, although I felt that some loose ends were left (perhaps intentionally by the author to make the reader wonder), and the actual ending left me rather confused.

*SPOILER ALERT*

I remain unsure whether the couple in question ultimately goes their separate ways or reconciles and gets back together.

I could not put this book down.

Jodi's writing is truly remarkable. It is so deep and captivating that I discovered profound thoughts and insights on nearly every single page. The story, in itself, was decent. However, what I adored the most about this book was its psychological aspect.

The insights and emotions of the characters were portrayed in such a vivid manner that it felt as if I could literally see through their eyes and understand their circumstances.

Thanks to Jodi, who is so poetic in her writing. She uses the most amazing imagery to describe how someone is feeling or what they are thinking.

The story revolves around Jamie, a man who, deeply in love with his dying wife, kills her at her request. He then turns himself in to his cousin Cam, the chief of police in Wheelock, MA.

As his trial for murdering his wife progresses, his story parallels many events that occur in Cam's life.

There are a few things that bothered me on a personal level. For instance, the adultery. Although it was integrated into the story very well, for some reason, it made me extremely angry and empathetic towards the faithful spouse.

Also, I felt that there should have been a more conclusive ending.

Overall, despite these minor flaws, the book was a truly engaging read that left a lasting impression on me.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

It was truly a remarkable read that took me on an emotional rollercoaster. I had completely forgotten the powerful emotional punch that Picoult's books possess. The subject of euthanasia, which has always intrigued me, served as the perfect hook to draw me into this captivating story.

Not only was the main theme of euthanasia thought-provoking, but I also really enjoyed the other plot lines that intertwined throughout the book. The way everything worked out in the end was simply brilliant. I'm always a sucker for happy endings, and this book did not disappoint.

It left me with a sense of satisfaction and a deeper understanding of the complex issues surrounding euthanasia. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a gripping and emotionally engaging read.

I only read it a few weeks ago and can't really remember anything of the story.

It didn't make much of an impression on me at all.

However, it did serve a useful purpose.

It was quite good at distracting me from the fact that I was a passenger on an eight-hour drive.

During that long journey, sitting in the car for so many hours could have been rather tedious.

But thanks to this book, I was able to focus my attention on its pages and forget, at least for a while, about the length of the drive.

Although I don't recall the details of the story, the act of reading itself provided a welcome diversion.

It helped to pass the time and made the journey a little more bearable.

Perhaps if I were to read it again, I might have a different experience and be able to better appreciate the story.

But for now, I'm just glad that it was there to keep me occupied during that long drive.

The Worst Book by Jodi
I had the book "Compassion" by Jodi Picoult since it was released in May 2010.

For no specific reason, it just stayed on the shelf and the reading was always postponed until the project developed by Elisa from the blog "A Miúda Geek", Dora from the channel "Books & Movies" and Isa from "Jardim de Mil Histórias" called "A Year with Jodi" emerged.

However, and despite really liking the author, this was a disappointing read. There was no one in the group who liked the story and the way it was developed. And the story actually started well.

James MacDonald, cousin of the police chief in a peaceful town in Massachusetts, reveals that he killed the woman sitting next to him in the car.

Maggie, suffering from terminal cancer, asks the great love of her life, her husband, to end her life. What wasn't very clear is why Maggie didn't commit suicide since she had the possibility to do so and put her life in the hands of her husband and the probability of him going to jail.

Full opinion at: http://marcadordelivros.blogspot.pt/2...

Nuosprendis iki gyvos galvos,kai tavo pasaulis apsiribos kalėjimu,ar kalėjimu tapęs pasaulis,jei nuosprendis bus tiesiog gyventi. This is yet another book by Jodi that elicits a plethora of emotions ♥️

The author's book is extremely powerful. It makes one think, can one love so much that in an attempt to reduce the beloved's pain, one would have the courage to take away life? And if not, does it mean that one doesn't love enough? It's a poignant, painful story about unconditional love and complete surrender to the other. This story will definitely remain in my memory for a long time.. I would rate it 5/5 ⭐️

The story takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster, exploring the depths of human love and sacrifice. It forces us to question our own beliefs and values when it comes to love and the lengths we would go to protect those we love. Jodi's writing is so vivid and engaging that we can't help but be drawn into the characters' lives and feel their pain and joy. It's a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of love.

This is the story of Jamie.

Jamie confesses to killing his wife, who is terminally ill.

I knew before I started reading this that I was going to truly enjoy it.

This is one of those topics that always leaves me sitting on the fence, filled with indecision.

As each chapter passed, that's precisely what occurred.

Jamie's actions raise many moral and ethical questions.

On one hand, his wife was suffering from a terminal illness and perhaps he thought he was ending her pain.

On the other hand, taking a life is a serious crime.

The story delves into Jamie's emotions and the reasons behind his decision.

It makes the reader question what they would do in a similar situation.

Would they have the courage to make such a difficult choice?

As the story progresses, we learn more about Jamie and his relationship with his wife.

This adds depth and complexity to the narrative, making it a truly engaging read.

I'm trying to think about what I liked about this book

When I initially started reading Mercy, my plan was to tear Picoult's characters apart in this review. I simply couldn't understand any of them. There was Allie with her self-esteem problems and emotional reliance on her husband. Then there was Cam, who seemed to have little concern for the woman he professed to love and was overly egotistical. And let's not forget Mia, the adulterous one, who had no qualms about going to work for a woman who welcomed her into her home and then sleeping with that woman's husband that very night. At various points, I felt disgusted with each of these characters. However, I soon realized that they represent real people in society. Picoult portrays each character and their flaws with such authenticity that not only do you believe in them, but you also find yourself deeply connected to them. You hate them and yet, you love them.

Personally, I was completely and utterly disgusted during the adulterous scenes. In fact, my stomach actually twisted. But this emotion is just another testament to Picoult's meticulous writing and the careful thought she puts into her storyline and characters.
In the end, this book turned out to be one of my favorites by Picoult. By the last few chapters, you can visually observe the growth of the characters. And the changes for some are truly remarkable, perhaps even one or two that I hadn't anticipated. Once again, Picoult has successfully addressed a controversial topic with grace and neutrality. Readers will finish this book questioning their own views on euthanasia and the far-reaching effects it can have on those left behind.

I absolutely love Jodi Picoult's books! They usually have me hooked from the very beginning. However, this particular one was a real disappointment for me.

I didn't start to find the book a pleasure to read until I was over halfway through. And even then, it didn't have that gripping quality that her stories typically possess. In fact, as the book went on, I became increasingly annoyed at Cam.

The numerous storylines were rather distracting in a sense. I felt that they detracted from the main storyline instead of adding to it. Also, the character of Cam was so self-centered that I actually felt sorry for Allie even before he started cheating on her. Moreover, I found the way the affair between Mia and Cam started to be quite far-fetched.

Arguably, it might take a stronger woman to stay with her husband after an act of infidelity. But it really frustrated me that Allie did. Especially since we knew that she was always the one who had loved him more deeply. It made me question her choices and wonder why she would put up with such behavior.

Overall, this book didn't live up to my expectations of a Jodi Picoult novel. I hope her future works will be more in line with the high standards she has set for herself in the past.