First of all, I have to say that if you are a Picoult enthusiast, then this is an absolute "must-read".

At the beginning, I wasn't certain what genre this book would belong to. After reading the synopsis, it seemed like a mystery/thriller. However, as I delved deeper into the reading, I came to realize that it was so much more than that.

The author presents to her readers a deeply poignant and heart-wrenching story about the challenges within a marriage, the determination to survive, and the process of learning to be independent.

The characters in this story are crafted with great brilliance. On every page, you can feel the emotions of each and every character. I completely identified with Cassie in every single aspect. I could have easily stepped into her story and taken on her role.

Here, I must issue a warning that there might be some elements that could be triggering for those readers who have endured any form of abuse. That's all I'm going to disclose. I don't want to spoil the story by revealing too many details or spoilers.

This isn't like any other Jodi Picoult novel I've read.

Usually, when her books come to an end, it's a bittersweet experience because the stories are so engaging. But with this one, I was annoyed for the majority of the time.

Alex is a truly pathetic excuse for a human being. He is abusive towards Cassie, who is the quintessential weak woman trapped in an abusive marriage.

Cassie always forgives Alex after he beats her, simply because she claims to "love" him. This cycle continues until the very last chapter when she finally finds the strength to leave.

I didn't like feeling so frustrated with the victim that I almost lost interest in what happened to her. I can understand that this might be a good book for a woman in a similar situation, as it can help her realize that she can still have feelings for her abuser but must find the courage to get out.

However, for me, the story felt repetitive and drawn out. It seemed to go on and on without much progression, which made it a bit of a chore to read.

Overall, while I can see the potential value of this book for some readers, it just didn't work for me.

This is clearly one of her earlier works.

The narrative flow seemed disjointed, and I simply couldn't bring myself to like the main character.

The only aspect that really appealed to me was the Native American elements incorporated into the story.

Unfortunately, based on my experience with this book, I cannot recommend it.

Thankfully, she has written many other books that are far superior in quality.

I would suggest looking into those instead if you are interested in her writing.

It's important to note that an author's skills and abilities often develop and improve over time, and this early work may not be representative of her full potential.

Nevertheless, for the reasons stated above, I would not recommend this particular book to others.

This was truly a chaotic jumble.

It commences in the characteristic Picoult style, alternating back and forth in time among each of the main characters. This not only confounds the reader as to our location and what is transpiring but also provides a certain backstory regarding the nature of the characters. However, in this book, I felt that this technique was not executed particularly well. The frequent jumps back to the childhoods of the characters didn't seem to add much substance. Especially in the case of Cassie, I really struggled to see the point.

Then, the jumping ceases, and we are presented with the backstory of how Cassie and Alex came to be. This is a common trope in any novel that features a relationship. But in this instance, I found it extremely dull. Despite Picoult's attempts to present it as a love story for the ages, to me, it was rather lackluster.

The aspect that annoyed me the most was that Cassie abandoned her career in anthropology. This meant that I didn't get to learn any more about it throughout the book, and it turns out that this would have been the one thing that piqued my interest.

What is this obsession that Picoult has with painful childhoods? It seems that all of her main characters have endured such hardships. And why is there always the "childhood best friend"? Am I the only child who had a plethora of friends during my childhood?

Life is indeed too short to waste on books that you find agonizingly tedious and borderline offensive. We have a limited amount of time on this earth, and it is essential to make the most of it. When it comes to reading, we should focus on books that inspire us, educate us, and bring us joy.

There are countless wonderful books out there waiting to be discovered. Whether it's a classic novel, a thought-provoking non-fiction work, or a thrilling mystery, there is something for everyone. By choosing books that we truly enjoy, we can expand our minds, gain new perspectives, and enhance our overall quality of life.

So, the next time you pick up a book and find yourself struggling to get through it, don't be afraid to put it down. There are better options out there, and you deserve to spend your time reading something that you love. Remember, life is too short for books that don't connect with you.

This book is not as engaging as much of Picoult's other writing.

I did enjoy the first part and the last part. They had a certain charm and drew me in.

However, all the back story in the middle, although it was necessary to understand the characters and the plot, seemed overly long. It felt like it dragged on and on, and at times I found myself losing interest.

I think if the author had trimmed down the back story a bit and made it more concise, the book would have been more engaging overall.

Despite this flaw, I still appreciate Picoult's writing style and her ability to create complex and interesting characters.

I will probably still read her future books, hoping that she will improve on this aspect and create more captivating stories.

This book had the potential to be halfway decent.

If it had simply focused on the domestic abuse storyline, it might have been a worthwhile read. In fact, the author did a really good job of delving into the complexities of Alex and Cassie's relationship.

However, the appropriation of Native American culture and characters in service of white people was completely unacceptable. It was absolutely abhorrent and it ruined the entire book.

This kind of cultural appropriation is not only disrespectful but also harmful. It takes away from the authenticity and significance of the Native American culture and reduces it to a mere backdrop or prop for the white characters' story.

It's a shame that the author chose to go down this path instead of exploring the domestic abuse storyline in a more meaningful and respectful way.

Overall, this book is a disappointment and a missed opportunity.

I finished this book a few days ago. Just like every Jodi Picoult book I've read, I simply couldn't help but feel completely immersed in the story. For most of the time, I was unable to put it down, constantly longing to read just one more chapter. This way, I could find out what was happening or had happened to certain characters.

Interestingly, it was the first book by this author that I've read which didn't have any lawyer or courthouse events. This was a bit like a breath of fresh air. However, it did touch on a very delicate situation: abuse and violence. It's truly a difficult subject matter to read about because you find yourself empathizing deeply with the one being abused. At the same time, you also feel some frustration at their seeming inability or unwillingness to do something about it. In fact, the main character keeps justifying the abuse her husband rains on her, which is a well-known behavior of most abuse victims.

I really enjoyed reading this one. (I've yet to come across a book by this author that I haven't enjoyed, although some more than others.) I'm glad I had the opportunity to read it and explore the complex themes and emotions it presented. It made me think and feel, and that's what a great book should do.

I had to stop half way through reading this book.

I truly love her books, and I have high expectations for each one. However, this particular one left me with a bit of a letdown.

I feel that it could be significantly shorter without sacrificing the essence of the story. In fact, if it were more concise, it might have been way more interesting.

The problem started when the narrative began going back and forth between past and recent memories. This constant switching made it a bit confusing for me to follow the plot.

I found myself losing focus and having to reread certain sections to understand what was happening.

It's a shame because the basic idea of the story seemed quite promising. But the execution in terms of the pacing and the way the memories were presented could have been improved.

I hope that in her future works, the author will pay more attention to these aspects and create more engaging and easier-to-read books.

The original article seems to be rather brief and perhaps a bit unclear. It mentions "30%, could not finish." Let's expand and rewrite it:

In a recent situation, it was found that only 30% of a particular task or activity could be completed. There could be several reasons for this. Maybe there were unforeseen difficulties or obstacles that emerged during the process. It could also be due to a lack of sufficient resources, such as time, manpower, or materials. Additionally, perhaps the initial plan or approach was not as effective as expected, leading to the inability to finish a larger portion of the work. This incomplete status has implications for the overall outcome and may require further analysis and adjustment to ensure that the remaining 70% can be successfully accomplished.

This expanded version provides more context and speculation about the possible reasons for the 30% completion rate and emphasizes the need for further action to address the situation.

I've only read a couple of Jodi Picoult's books. To be honest, I'm often put off by the blurb. A lot of them sound as if they'd be emotionally draining to read, and the subject of marital abuse isn't one I'd usually choose in a book. However, the back cover blurb piqued my interest with the line: "A woman wakes to find herself lying in a graveyard, hurt and bleeding, her memory wiped clean. She doesn't know what she's doing there - or even who she is." And to entice me even more, she's "claimed" by her husband who just happens to be Hollywood's biggest movie star!

So I started reading and was thoroughly engrossed. I wanted to know how Cassie had come to this. Slowly her memory returns, and the story cuts to her recounting how she met Alex Rivers whilst he's on location filming. Cassie is an intelligent woman, an anthropologist, but she's swept away by his romantic gestures - as I'm sure anyone would have been! But he has a darker side, and Cassie soon finds herself on the receiving end of violent behavior.

So was it a good read? Well, it certainly kept me entertained, but I did have a few gripes with it. I wasn't sure the Indian/reservation thing was wholly necessary. I have only read three of Picoult's books, but in "The Tenth Circle" the young protagonist took off to Alaska for the Iditarod, so I'm wondering if it's a common theme for characters to be whisked off to a culture alien to their own. It's also all very "fairy-tale" with Alex's over-the-top demonstrations of love... all very sweet but not very credible in my humble opinion - but then I've never been romanced by a movie star, so what would I know! The downside of this lifestyle is that he seems incapable of distinguishing real life from fiction, as on occasion his "real life" actions mirror those of the role he's filming.

Mmmm... the more I think about it, I can find more and more to pick at. My main criticism has to be the unrealistic ending - I just plain didn't believe it! Domestic violence isn't okay just because you're rich and famous. On reflection, I've quite a lot of thoughts about this book but am struggling to express them coherently! So I'll just finish by saying... an entertaining read at the time but not without (many) faults.

I have a profound love for the amnesia trope that is often found in books, and this particular instance was executed extremely well.

Cassie's life appears to be idyllic, or at least that's what she is led to believe after being discovered in a graveyard with no recollection of her identity. As it turns out, Cassie is married to a leading star in Hollywood.

In typical Picoult fashion, the story delves into heavy subject matters that compel readers to think deeply. I truly relished this book. It had a captivating plot that kept me engaged from beginning to end. The exploration of Cassie's journey to rediscover her past and come to terms with her present was both emotional and thought-provoking. The author's ability to handle such complex themes with grace and finesse is truly remarkable. Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable read that I would highly recommend to others.