Please provide the article that needs to be rewritten and expanded so that I can assist you further.

When 7-year-old Faith White, a child of divorced non-religious parents, begins having conversations with an imaginary friend, her mother becomes deeply concerned.

Is this a normal childhood phase or has her daughter inherited her own mental illness? The situation takes a remarkable turn when Faith brings her grandmother back from the dead and then cures a baby with AIDS.

Mom takes notice, and so does the rest of the world. Overnight, her lawn is filled with cultists, people seeking healing, reporters, and a hard-nosed Jerry Springer style atheist TV evangelist.

The question lingers: Is she lying or really seeing apparitions of God? What is this mysterious stigmata? Is it self-inflicted, caused by an overwrought mother, or truly the work of God?

I chose this book because I have a great admiration for the author and am always drawn to stories of faith. This book successfully examines the situation from multiple viewpoints, maintaining a personal touch throughout.

However, there are a few plot holes that, while necessary to build intrigue and drive the action forward, left me somewhat frustrated.

For instance, in the custody battle, why wouldn't Mom's legal team simply point out the obvious fact that moving the child from one house to another would not eliminate the crowds that follow Faith?

Also, why wouldn't visits with Dad be arranged so he could see what was happening first hand?

Despite these flaws, I was still impressed and appreciate the author's deft handling of such a difficult subject.

If a child is having a true spiritual experience, does the parent believe them? And at what cost?

I was pleased to see that the religious characters were written with compassion.

Overall, it's a religious thriller that offers a unique perspective, distinct from the works of Dan Brown or Frank Perretti.

Not my type of book. This is a simple yet concise statement that sums up my feelings towards a particular literary work. Maybe it's the genre that doesn't appeal to me, or perhaps the writing style just doesn't click. It could be that the story didn't engage me from the start, or the characters felt flat and uninteresting. Whatever the reason, this book just didn't do it for me. I prefer books that have a unique and captivating plot, well-developed characters that I can relate to, and a writing style that flows smoothly and keeps me hooked until the very end. While I respect that everyone has different tastes in literature, this particular book just wasn't for me.

It was okay.

I thought the characters in My Sister's Keeper were better written. However, this book is older than that one.

The relationship between Ian and Mariah was kind of annoying. They seemed to have a lot of unnecessary drama and misunderstandings.

Moreover, the portrayal of autism in this book is probably very offensive. It might not accurately represent the experiences and challenges of people with autism.

Perhaps the author could have done more research or consulted with experts in the field to create a more accurate and respectful depiction.

Overall, while the book had some interesting aspects, it also had several flaws that detracted from the reading experience.

Kurzmeinung / Leseerlebnis

Jodi Picoult is commonly regarded as a very trivial author. Personally, I like most of what I know of her works.

This title, with nearly 700 pages, was on my 2018 to-read list and was supposed to be read or sorted out this year. In fact, I had expected a bit of a break. But I was so caught up in the plot that I took this book with me at every opportunity. Until the end, I found it exciting and also believed the ending was believable.

Nevertheless, although I found one of the protagonists a bit incomprehensible and despite some small logical gaps, I simply have to quote a colleague-friend: "Picoult writes the best trash."

It's true that her stories may not always be the most profound or intellectually stimulating, but they have a certain charm and entertainment value. They draw you in and keep you engaged from start to finish.

Even with its flaws, this book managed to hold my attention and provide an enjoyable reading experience. It made me realize that sometimes, it's okay to just relax and enjoy a good story, regardless of its literary merits.

Overall, I would still recommend Jodi Picoult's books to those who are looking for an easy and entertaining read. You may not come away with a deep understanding of the human condition, but you will surely have a good time.

I really liked this book!

I have a deep affection for the familiarity that Jodi Picoult's books bring. It's like coming home to a warm and cozy place with each new read.

This particular book, in addition to the comfort it provided, also made me think about topics that I had quite literally never considered before. It opened up new avenues of thought and made me look at the world from different perspectives.

To be honest, I don't have a whole lot to say in this review. The book simply had such a powerful impact on me that it's difficult to put into words. It really captured my attention from the very first page and held it until the very end. It got me thinking deeply about various aspects of life, love, and humanity.

In conclusion, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a thought-provoking and engaging read. Jodi Picoult has once again proven herself to be a master storyteller, and this book is no exception.

Oh my GOD (sorry couldn't resist a good pun).

Ok, so I have always had an intense love for Jodi's books. Or at least that's what I thought until I delved into this particular one.

I gave this 5 stars many years ago. However, it's now a 3 star, which is still okay. I was under the impression that this was another one of her books. Anyhoo, it's interesting to see how my perception has changed over time. Maybe it's because my reading tastes have evolved or perhaps the book didn't hold up as well upon a second read. Nevertheless, it still has some redeeming qualities.

Mel

I picked this up at a cutie little used book store and decided to just jump into it, and I'm so glad I did!

This is probably one of the more conceptually interesting books I've read all year. Jodi Picoult does an absolutely phenomenal job of building out her characters and getting to know them. It's truly one of the most enjoyable parts of reading this.

The way the plot develops is just amazing. It had me flipping the pages non-stop and my jaw dropped at how it all builds together. It's truly genius how some things were so obvious yet so well-hidden until she wanted to reveal them.

There's also an element of an unreliable narrator through the perspective of Mariah, which left me constantly questioning if she was being truthful or if I was believing the lies told by the other characters in the novel.

Obviously, if you aren't comfortable with religious topics and questioning your own beliefs, I would imagine that this could be a difficult read for some. However, if you are comfortable, I would highly recommend this read. It's compelling from the very beginning, and you are immediately drawn to know more about the main protagonist, Mariah, and her relationship with her (not-so-great) husband Colin and daughter Faith.

Ian, in my opinion, was also one of the best parts of this book. His redemption arc was truly wonderful, and it could make me cry just thinking about it. The romance aspect could definitely be up for interpretation depending on what you're looking for in the novel, but I'm a simple girl who loves love.

Let's talk about the ending. Was it rushed? Maybe a little. However, I will say that the stress of the second half of the book had me almost relieved that we had just made it to that point because I don't think I could've handled more of Colin, to be honest. (He's not that prevalent, so don't let me deter you too much.) Overall, I would recommend this book if you're looking for a palate cleanser and something truly different.

This book, similar to all of Jodi Picoult's works, delves into sensitive topics.

It poses the question of whether God is real or not, explores different faiths and non-faiths, and examines supposed miracles and the belief or disbelief in them. However, most significantly, it discusses the power of love.

While the majority of this book focuses on questioning faiths and what is happening to the little girl, Faith, I believe that this story is not so much about believing in Faith herself but rather about Mariah, her mother. It is about her strength and her journey to believe in herself.

She has been hurt twice in the same manner within a span of seven years, and she approaches the same situation in two very different ways. Beyond being about Faith and her "miracles," I think this story is about Mariah's strength, her transformation into the mother she has always desired to be, and her eagerness to do everything in her power to hold onto the ones she loves the most.

Overall, this book offers a profound exploration of faith, love, and personal growth.

3.5 stars

This rating of 3.5 stars indicates a moderately good performance or quality. It suggests that the subject under consideration has several positive aspects but may also have some areas that could be improved.

Perhaps there are certain features or characteristics that stand out and contribute to the overall favorable impression. However, there might also be some minor flaws or不足之处 that prevent it from achieving a higher rating.

It could mean that the product or service meets the basic requirements and provides a satisfactory experience, but it doesn't quite reach the level of excellence.

Nevertheless, a 3.5-star rating is still a respectable one and indicates that the subject has merit and is worth considering.

It gives an indication of the general level of quality and can help potential customers or users make an informed decision.

Overall, while not perfect, a 3.5-star rating shows that there is potential for further improvement and that the subject has some good qualities to offer.

Keeping Faith is a narrative that predominantly centers around a young girl who unexpectedly begins to see God and perform miracles. My initial perception was that readers would be granted the freedom to draw their own inferences regarding this phenomenon (whether it was genuine, fabricated by Faith herself, or perhaps contrived by her mother for the sake of attention, among other possibilities). However, this is not how it transpires. Evidently, within the framework of the story, Faith is indeed healing people and experiencing stigmata and such. The account of how her mother Mariah, the local churches, and the media respond to this occurrence is moderately interesting, yet it scarcely warrants a book of this extensive length.

Moreover, the romantic subplot involving Mariah and the television atheist, Ian, is truly abysmal. Can one label it as a "wish-fulfillment fantasy"? I am certain that every middle-class, recently divorced woman engaged in a custody battle for her child would relish the ego-enhancing scenario of a wealthy, handsome, single man falling head over heels in love with her for no discernible reason. But... yeah, right. It remains unclear as to why he is even remotely interested.

I have now perused two Picoult novels, giving her a fair opportunity. However, do not deceive yourself: the seemingly unique plotlines are merely a veneer for poorly crafted melodrama and even more inadequately written romance. Unless this aligns with your taste in guilty-pleasure reading, I would suggest moving on to books of actual substance and quality.