Book #4

I awarded this book a perfect 5/5 rating. The reason is that it is truly captivating and breathtaking. Once you start reading, it becomes nearly impossible to put down, even when your eyelids feel as heavy as 10 pounds each. Jodi Picoult, the author, is an extremely talented and fantastic writer. Her words have the power to draw you into the story and keep you engaged from beginning to end. The plot is filled with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat, constantly guessing what will happen next. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making you feel as if you are a part of their lives. Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves a good story. It will leave you with a sense of satisfaction and a desire to read more of Jodi Picoult's work.

Ross Wakeman's life took a tragic turn when he lost his beloved fiancee, Aimee, in a dreadful car accident. Despite never truly believing in the paranormal, he毅然决然地 became a ghost hunter, hoping against hope that one day he could be reunited with her. He moved in with his motherly older sister Shelby and her son Ethan, who was suffering from XP, in the small town of Comtosook, Vermont.

Rumors of supernatural activity had been swirling around Comtosook, and many believed it was due to a land dispute over a sacred Indian burial ground. One night, while Ross was conducting an investigation, he met the mysterious Lia. Her appearance jolted him out of the depressed state he had been in since Aimee's death and led him to discover some startling revelations about the town and its ancestry.

Jodi Picoult is indeed a highly talented author. The information presented in Second Glance is not only presented beautifully but also accurately, considering the months of painstaking research that must have gone into it. I learned a great deal about ghosts from this book, and the most fascinating nonfiction fact I discovered was the eugenics project that was taking place in Vermont around the 1930s. I had always thought that only Hitler had tried to sterilize humans he deemed unfit to live, but it turns out that people in the USA were doing the same thing.

Overall, I adored this book. Jodi Picoult一如既往地 delivered well-developed characters, an engaging plot, and a completely original story. However, for some reason, I felt that the multiple points of view in Second Glance were a bit disjointed, especially at the beginning. This is not a problem that is common in Picoult's other novels, and I'm not sure what went wrong here. Additionally, it took a while for the conflict to truly take hold. Nevertheless, I would highly recommend Second Glance, especially to lovers of Science Fiction and Paranormal Fiction.

This book was truly amazing!

I was completely engrossed and simply couldn't put it down.

The power of love knows no bounds, especially when it transcends time.

Ross confesses that he has a firm belief in past lives.

He believes that if one discovers their one true love, they are destined to find and be with that person in every lifetime.

However, sometimes things don't unfold as planned.

Despite the setbacks, one must keep persevering.

Otherwise, life feels incomplete.

I can't help but think that Ross's profound sorrow and pain stem from the fact that he is cursed to spend the remainder of his life without the love of his life.

As I read on, I'm gradually starting to understand what that kind of feeling might be like.

It makes me reflect on the importance of love and how it can shape our lives in the most profound ways.

This book has truly touched my heart and made me think deeply about the mysteries of love and fate.

Rating: 4 Stars!!

Review:

First off, I would like to express my gratitude once again to my friend Erica for presenting me with this book back in February.

As I delved into this book, I anticipated loving it in the same way I did "Keeping Faith" which I read last month. However, for me, this book had a slow start until Chapter 5. This is the reason why I deducted a star.

Nevertheless, Chapters 5 - 12 were extremely fast-paced and intense. They kept me on the edge of my seat, filled with numerous shocking moments that I adored.

If the entire book from Chapter 1 - 12 had been as fast-paced and intense, I would have definitely rated it 5 stars. I truly did love the characters. They all seemed to be very engaging and easy to get to know.

I am eagerly looking forward to reading more works by Jodi in the future.

Part One:

Picoult introduces approximately 432 characters within the first 10 - 15 pages. It's a bit overwhelming. She then starts to skillfully interweave all of these characters, and one can't help but wonder how it will all unfold. Then, in the last few pages of what is otherwise a brilliant beginning, one of the characters falls in love with a ghost (from now on, he is called Captain Ghostcrush). Uh-oh. This might turn out to be lame.

Part Two:

There is background information on the ghost character. It's quite engaging stuff - her husband was a eugenicist and deeply involved in the sterilization of "deviant" people. The irony is that his wife is one of the deviants and is pregnant. Oooh! It's exciting! Part two also includes some really great power-violence. Picoult regains my attention.

Part Three:

This is the most absurd unraveling into nonsense that I have ever read. Captain Ghostcrush meets a woman. The woman is the ghost's granddaughter. Captain Ghostcrush has trouble coming to terms with this. Lame. Even lamer? It turns out that through a twist, the granddaughter was saved by Captain Ghostcrush in a car accident several years before this fortuitous meeting. Ridiculously lame: Captain Ghostcrush saves the granddaughter in another accident where a stick of dynamite explodes in his hands. He survives. REALLY? Dynamite? The stuff used to blow holes in mountains? Spare me. Also, other people fall in love within hours of meeting each other, which is completely unrealistic and sickening.


Overall: It should have ended with the fantastic violence in Part Two. The other two hundred pages ruined everything. It's a shame, really. I guess I'm just not the romantic type who believes that you can fall in love with ghosts.

I knew as I was sitting in a crowd of over 200 Jodi Picoult fans listening to her recount her field research for this book, it was going to be a novel that would have me looking over my shoulder taking a Second Glance for paranormal presence.

This intricately layered novel does a perfect job of demonstrating Picoult's fantastical writing abilities. She is truly a master at her craft. Second Glance has once again proven that Picoult can handle any subject matter with ease. She objectively presents the facts for both sides, challenging the reader to question their belief system. It is absolutely brilliant!

To even begin to attempt to describe this novel, I have to admit that I will not be able to do it justice. At its basic level, Second Glance takes the reader on a captivating journey. It shows how love can transcend time and perhaps, just perhaps, there are supernatural forces at work ensuring its safe passage. The story also weaves in the controversial subject of eugenics. As a reader, you can't help but wonder about the possibilities of genetic diagnosis and replacement therapy, especially with the proper involvement of the government and ethical organizations.

Picoult takes a wide range of subjects and ideas and combines them with a paranormal theme. Despite the seemingly odd mix, it blends together perfectly and challenges the reader to not dismiss the possibilities out of hand. Once again, this novel is absolutely brilliant.

This was an excellent choice for a book club discussion as it provides a platform for discussing ghost stories, genetic testing, boundaries, and possibilities. As a disclaimer, I must note that this is probably one of Picoult's more complex reads. However, if you're already a fan, I can say with certainty that you will not be disappointed.

This was yet another one of my endeavors to listen to a book on CD while driving in the car.

Regrettably, this particular attempt turned out to be a failure. I am accustomed to Jodi Picoult incorporating numerous characters in her stories, as I have perused two of her other works. Nevertheless, this one simply never appeared to come together in any way.

I must confess that I managed to get only about two chapters into the book before completely losing interest. The characters did not seem to have any connection to one another whatsoever. I had the impression that I needed to create a character list just to keep everyone distinct.

This book is titled "Second Glance," but I do not recommend even giving it a first glance. It failed to engage me from the very beginning, and I found it difficult to become invested in the story or the characters.

Perhaps others may have a different experience with this book, but for me, it was a disappointment.

**"My Thoughts on Jodi Picoult's 'Nineteen Minutes'"**

For years, I had been eager to read "Nineteen Minutes" by Jodi Picoult, mainly because she is one of my favorite writers. She often spoke highly of this book, until "Small Great Things" came along. When I first started reading, I was initially confused as to why this was her favorite. The introduction of all the characters at once was overwhelming and made it a bit difficult to keep track of the plot. However, as the story delved deeper into Ross's relationship with Lia, it truly took off. By the first hundred pages, I understood Picoult's admiration. She masterfully weaves together diverse topics such as ghosts, love and loss, science, mental health, and eugenics. These seemingly disparate elements blend seamlessly, creating a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking.

The book also features Picoult's signature plot twists, which never fail to surprise. While I managed to guess a couple of the smaller twists, the major ones left me completely shocked. Her ability to handle plot twists is truly remarkable, and it showcases her talent as a writer. In addition to the engaging plot, the book is filled with beautiful quotes and passages that I couldn't help but bookmark. The characters are well-developed, and none of them are one-dimensional. Even the morally grey characters, like the pro-eugenics scientists in 1932, are complex and interesting.

As someone who has struggled with depression, I found the characters of Ross and Lia extremely relatable, especially Lia. Her story served as a reminder to me during a difficult time in my life. Overall, "Nineteen Minutes" is an amazing book that is well worth the read. Despite the initial rush of introducing all the characters, the book's strengths far outweigh this minor flaw. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who can handle the themes of depression and suicide. It is a powerful and moving story that will stay with you long after you finish reading. Actual Rating: 4.5 stars

My friend Ruth and I had the wonderful experience of reading this particular book together. It was actually my second time delving into its pages, and to my surprise, I still vividly remember the story. This is quite unusual for me, as in recent times, I tend to forget most of the books I read rather quickly. It all started when my sister originally recommended this book to me. She spoke so highly of it that I just had to give it a try. And now, after reading it twice, I can truly understand why she loved it so much. The story is captivating, the characters are well-developed, and the writing style is engaging. I'm so glad that I listened to my sister's recommendation and shared this reading experience with Ruth. It's definitely a book that I will cherish and remember for a long time.

Nice little murder mystery full of DNA facts and GHOSTS.

This story is truly a captivating blend of mystery and the supernatural. The inclusion of DNA facts adds an element of scientific authenticity, making it not only engaging but also educational.

The presence of ghosts further heightens the spooky atmosphere, perfect for Halloween. However, when considering it in general, it may not be the most outstanding or unique murder mystery out there.

Nevertheless, it still manages to hold the reader's attention with its well-crafted plot and interesting characters.

Overall, it's a decent read that offers a bit of everything - mystery, science, and the paranormal.

Whether you're a fan of murder mysteries or just looking for a fun and spooky read for Halloween, this story is worth checking out.

Um, yeah. This book is not exactly my favorite by Jodi Picoult, but I have to admit it's kind of neat in its own way.

It's quite different from everything else I've read from her. The inclusion of ghosts and the paranormal adds an interesting and unique element.

However, the themes of eugenics and family tragedy are very much in line with what she usually explores. It just goes to show that Jodi Picoult has the ability to draw readers in, no matter what the subject matter is.

She has this knack for creating stories that are engaging and thought-provoking, even when they touch on difficult and complex topics.

Overall, while this may not be my absolute favorite of her works, it still has its merits and is worth a read for fans of her writing.

Finally, I finished reading the book.

I don't mind at all if a reading takes a long time as long as it is enjoyable. This was not the case with this book. It was a very slow, difficult, and truly bittersweet reading. There were some moments that I liked, but overall, it didn't convince me much.

This is already the third book I have read by the author. Her works are never easy reads, but this was the one I liked the least. I didn't feel empathy with any of the characters, and one of the things that most bothered me was the ease and lightness with which the author approaches the theme of suicide. Basically, if we don't know the purpose of our existence, the solution is to take our own life? Instead of going in search of that meaning.

The part that I found interesting in the book because knowledge and wisdom are never too much was the information about eugenics and how much it inspired the Nazis, and also learning a little more about Native American culture.

Regarding the paranormal? It didn't convince me.