As an atheist, this story presented certain challenges for me to follow at times. The complex religious undertones and the way the narrative unfolded made it a bit of a struggle. However, towards the end, the final message that emerged truly surprised me. It was a powerful statement that religion is indeed a private matter and should be left to each individual's own discretion.

I have always been a fan of Jodi's writing. Her ability to craft engaging stories and develop well-rounded characters is truly remarkable. In addition to her writing skills, I also find myself in agreement with her views on abortion. I believe that a woman should have the right to make decisions about her own body and that this is a fundamental aspect of personal freedom.

Overall, while this story had its moments of difficulty for me as an atheist, I still appreciate the thought-provoking nature of Jodi's work. It challenges us to think about our own beliefs and values and to respect the choices that others make.

This might be the worst Jodi Picoult book I’ve ever read.

I was really looking forward to it, but it just didn't live up to my expectations.

The story seemed to lack depth and the characters weren't as well-developed as in her other works.

I found myself getting bored and losing interest halfway through.

The plot was predictable and there were no real surprises or twists.

I was disappointed with the ending too.

It felt rushed and didn't tie up all the loose ends.

Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone.

It's a real let-down compared to Jodi Picoult's other amazing novels.

I hope she comes back with a stronger book in the future.

This novel places greater emphasis on ideas and questions rather than on characters or plot. The characters lack originality, and if you have a penchant for a tidy linear plot that neatly resolves all loose ends at the conclusion, then this book will likely disappoint you in that regard as well.

However, the novel's strength - and a strength far more significant than any of its weaknesses - lies in the authenticity with which it approaches questions regarding 'faith' and God. Here, too, the absence of a complete resolution serves the novel's advantage.

Given its considerable strength, I do wish the novel had achieved two things. Firstly, although the question persists as to whether the child is truly seeing and conversing with God, the healings she performs are never called into question - despite some of them being quite remarkable.诚然, people wonder whether there is a hoax on the part of the healer, but the healings themselves and those who experience them are never doubted. Secondly, the novel failed to discuss the problem of evil, or how and why a good, loving, all-powerful God permits suffering. It skirted around the issue but never directly addressed it, which I believe was a missed golden opportunity.

Generally speaking, though, it was a pleasure to read, and I would recommend it to others who are interested in the issues and questions surrounding faith and doubt that it does indeed raise.

"Perhaps the mother's task does not lie in providing shelter, but in observing how the child gains momentum... and cushioning the fall when it's all over."

I love Picoult's books for many things - unexpected themes, morally difficult decisions, a narration showing many perspectives and different views on the matter. All of this we have in "Harvesting the Heart", yes, but at the same time something was lacking for me in this book and I can boldly say that it is the weakest book by the author that I have read.

Let's start from the beginning, which is... boring. The action develops very slowly and surely we could shorten all of this by about a hundred pages without losing anything of the whole novel. The ending was a farce because we have a court case here, and this is exactly what Jodi Picoult can do like few others. But again - it's hard for me to emotionally relate to everything that was happening in the courtroom when I didn't feel any attachment to any of the characters because I truly didn't love any of them.

Last but not least: the theme of seven-year-old Faith, who starts talking to God and performing miracles. Well, I'm so-so about such things if I'm to be honest, so I add this (but already completely subjectively!) to the list of minuses of this book.

If you don't know Picoult's work - don't start with this book. If you do know - forgive or just don't expect fireworks.

On Tuesday, August 12, 2008, I penned down my thoughts about this book.

I completed reading it last night. I had a great liking for this book. The subject matter was extremely interesting. It made me engage with the story from start to finish.

Perhaps, the book could have been a bit more concise. If it were shorter, it might have enhanced the overall reading experience. However, despite this minor aspect, it was still a very good read.

I would rate this book an 8.5 out of 10. It had its own charm and managed to keep my attention throughout.

I would definitely recommend this book to others who are interested in exploring such interesting topics.

Jodi Picoult has once again managed to completely astound me. Her writing blew me away to such an extent that I thought I might never recover. But of course, being the avid reader that I am, I did come back for more. I firmly believe that Picoult has some sort of magical ingredient that she infuses into her books. Once I started reading this one, I simply couldn't put it down.

I have to admit that I was initially skeptical about where this novel was headed. However, after reaching the part set in Kansas City, I fully immersed myself and began to thoroughly enjoy the story. I think Picoult takes readers on an intense emotional rollercoaster, and this novel is no exception.

As a Christian myself, I was initially skeptical of Faith White and her vision of God. I was even considering DNFing (Did Not Finish) the book. So confused was I that I turned to God in prayer. Soon enough, I came to two important conclusions. Firstly, this was an outstanding book that truly deserved to be read. Secondly, for Faith, God was a protector, always there for her during difficult times. God is everyone's protector, and He loves each and every one of us unconditionally. Our role is to have faith in God, as He will guide us in the right direction and make our lives so much better.

I believe the title of the book holds a double meaning. On one hand, it refers to whether Mariah will actually keep Faith. On the other hand, it implies keeping faith in God. Both of these meanings are of great significance in the novel.

I really wish there was a second novel because I'm extremely curious to know what happened to all the characters. Once you've finished reading the book, feel free to check out my list of questions below.

1. Will Mariah and Ian stay together? If they do, will they get married?
2. Will Colin and Jessica remain married?
3. What happens to Faith?
4. Will Ian ever believe in God?
5. How will Faith interact with her new half-sibling?
6. Why isn't there a second book?

I wholeheartedly recommend this novel. It doesn't matter whether you believe in God or not, this book will have a profound impact on you. Happy reading!

“My teacher in first grade said that long ago people used to believe all kinds of things, because they didn't know any better. Like you shouldn't take a bath, because it could make you sick. And then someone saw germs under a microscope and started to think different. You can believe something really hard,” Faith says, “and still be wrong.”

I've had this book on my shelf for years and I'm so glad I finally got around to reading it. This book wasn't what I was expecting at all in a really great way. I wasn't expecting to fall in love with the characters and relationships the way I did. I will forever have the biggest crush on Ian Fletcher. Seriously, Mariah is so lucky. I just feel like the guy is really beautiful, inside and out.

The writing was great. It's always fun to read one of Picoult's newer novels and then go back in time almost twenty years to read an older one. It's so interesting how a lot of her writing techniques have evolved, but a lot of them have also stayed the same, in a great way. Really, she's truly a timeless writer. The topics she tackles, in this case, the subject of religion, mental health, and parenthood, never fail to shake up everything I thought I knew but realized I didn't by the end of the novel. Picoult has this way of opening up your eyes to this entire world you never knew, even if you think you know everything there is to know about a topic. I loved how she tackled religion and interfaith in this novel. Despite the magical realist moments at times, there's always something to connect with. She has a way with words, characters, and relationships. That no matter who you are or what you're going through or what you believe in, there's always a relatable aspect of some sort to each of her novels, even if it's just one tiny scene. That's another of a million reasons why she's such a great writer.

\\n  Actual Rating: 3.5 stars\\n

--

I guess my only complaint about the novel would be the pacing, especially in the first half. There was just way too much going on. The whole story went from 0 to 100 in the biggest whiplash, blink of an eye. It almost made it sort of impossible to follow consistently. Sometimes I had to reread a scene over again just to make sure I was following properly. Also, I know there's many different perspectives throughout Picoult's novels, but I felt for this one they just shifted way too fast from one to the next. And it was a bit confusing that Mariah's perspective was in first person but everyone else was in third.

Otherwise, really great novel! I enjoyed it very much.

If I had read a Picoult book recently, then I'm guessing I'd have marked this lower. Her books are very formulaic and tend to keep to the same template.

There is always a mother trying to make the right decisions, and maybe a court trial in there somewhere.

However, having not read Picoult for a while, I was happy to go with the flow on this one.

It was very predictable that she would turn the head, mind, and opinions of a tale-atheist.

And perhaps there wasn't enough focus on the 7-year-old Faith, over whom the custody battle is raging.

Having said that, it still kept me reading.

Despite its predictability and some possible flaws, there was something about the story that held my attention and made me want to find out what would happen next.

Maybe it was the well-developed characters or the engaging plot.

Whatever it was, it was enough to keep me turning the pages and enjoying the book, even if it wasn't the most original or ground-breaking work.

I recently picked up a book that I was really looking forward to reading. However, I quickly found myself unable to get into it.

The main reason for this was that one of the main characters was so depressingly portrayed. From the very beginning, their life seemed to be filled with nothing but sadness and despair.

The author's description of their emotions and experiences was so vivid and detailed that it started to have a negative impact on my own mood. I found myself constantly feeling down and gloomy as I read about their struggles.

After a while, I just couldn't take it anymore and decided to stop reading. I understand that some stories may involve difficult and depressing themes, but this one just went a little too far for my taste. I hope to find a book in the future that can engage me without making me feel so miserable.

A child named Faith has a unique experience. She claims to see and hear God. However, due to the robes, sandals, and long hair, Faith mistakes God for being a woman. This innocent misinterpretation leads to a series of extraordinary events.

Faith then experiences stigmata, which is a phenomenon where she shows the wounds of Christ on her body. Along with this, she begins to possess healing powers. It's a lot for a young child to handle, especially while adjusting to the difficult situation of her parents getting a divorce.

Meanwhile, Faith's mother is a strong and determined woman. She fights tooth and nail to keep her child and still believes in love, despite being hurt multiple times by her cheating husband.

This story is truly thought-provoking and makes the reader consider their own beliefs. It's an excellent read that keeps you engaged from start to finish. Once again, Jodi Picoult does not disappoint with her ability to tell a captivating and profound story.

Disappointed.

I found myself in a state of profound disappointment.

I had been eagerly keeping myself waiting for something, anything at all to happen.

The anticipation had been building up inside me like a storm cloud, but as time ticked by, nothing materialized.

It was as if the world around me had come to a standstill, and I was left stranded in this limbo of unfulfilled expectations.

The disappointment weighed heavy on my heart, making me feel a sense of weariness and frustration.

Despite my best efforts to stay positive and hopeful, the lack of any significant event or change was disheartening.

I couldn't help but wonder if this was how it was going to be from now on, constantly waiting and never getting what I truly desired.

But deep down, I knew that I couldn't give up.

There had to be something better on the horizon, and I would continue to wait, albeit with a slightly more cautious heart.

Great Story

This is an excellent story penned by the talented Jodi Picoult. However, I didn't have the same level of love for this particular work as I did for her others. One reason might be that it seemed to drag on for a long time. Nevertheless, it was still an enjoyable read. Jodi Picoult is truly a master wordsmith. Her ability to craft characters that you can't help but fall in love with is remarkable. As you read, you find yourself completely invested in the lives of the characters, eagerly waiting to see what will happen next. Each page turn brings new surprises and revelations that keep you engaged from start to finish. Despite its length, this story has its own charm and吸引力 that makes it worth the read.