I think this is my absolute favorite Jodi Picoult book. I have a deep affection for her other works as well, but this particular one had a profound impact on me. From the very start, this book had me completely captivated. I read it for several hours without a break, and when I finally had to stop due to exhaustion, I found myself constantly thinking about it throughout the next day. I simply couldn't wait to pick it up again!

All of the main characters were extremely compelling, but I was especially drawn to Ian Fletcher. His transformation from the beginning of the novel to the end was truly beautiful. At first, it was impossible not to despise this atheist preacher with his pompous and narrow-minded attitude. Ugh! However, as the story progresses, we discover Ian's twin brother Michael, which reveals a completely different side of him and partly explains the distant person he has become. I think I fell in love with Ian at the same moment Mariah did—when she and Faith witnessed his sweet interaction with Michael. Afterwards, when Mariah shows him just a little care and concern, she manages to crack his brittle exterior, and we discover the loving soul that lies beneath. I don't think I will ever forget the scene of Ian visiting Michael early in the morning and receiving that incredible gift. Just thinking about it makes me tear up again!

By complete accident, I happened to read Keeping Faith right before the release of Change of Heart, and I was overjoyed to discover that Ian Fletcher was'resurrected' in that novel. For me, Change of Heart was well worth reading just to find out how Ian, Mariah, and Faith were doing since I last left them. Although I preferred Keeping Faith over Change of Heart, I found both books to be equally captivating. As is the case with all of Picoult's stories, her meticulous research and character development make the story truly compelling. (And in Change of Heart, it was so refreshing to see Maggie, who is bright and funny but also overweight and insecure, land a handsome and sensitive guy. Hooray!)

Was anyone else moved by Ian Fletcher? I would love to hear some other comments about him.

I really liked this book.

It tells the story of a woman who decides to get a divorce from her husband because he continuously cheats on her. They have a little girl named Faith. After her parents' divorce, Faith starts to show strange religious-related behavior. What makes it even stranger is that the father is Christian and the mother is Jewish, but neither of them taught their daughter anything about religion and they never went to church.

Then, it turns into an ugly custody battle between the husband and the wife. I would recommend reading this book. Although I'm not very good at writing reviews, all I know is that it held my interest throughout and it was a quick read for me. It was quite intriguing along the way. However, the ending kind of disappointed me. Maybe it's because I had higher expectations.

Anyway, you'll have to read it for yourself to form your own opinion.

I feel as if I am dragging my feet when reading this novel.

I truly wish the author could have quickened her writing pace. In fact, I was so impatient that I even read two other books while I was only halfway through this one.

I have to admit that I enjoyed 'Change of Heart' much better than this particular novel. The author doesn't even bother to clarify Faith's vision, leaving me in a state of confusion as to whether I should believe Faith or not.

Although the court scene is undeniably brilliant, I find Jodi Picoult's writing style for this book to be exhaustive and repetitive. It seems that the same ideas are being presented over and over again, which makes the reading experience a bit tiresome.

I hope that in her future works, Jodi Picoult can find a better way to engage her readers and keep them hooked from start to finish.

I have a deep affection for the way Jodi Picoult writes. Her words have a certain charm that can draw readers in. However, when it comes to this particular story, it seemed to lack a clear direction.

The plot appeared to reach a standstill in the middle. There was a lack of significant developments, and not much seemed to be happening. It wasn't until the court battle towards the end that the story picked up some momentum.

I had a strong desire to know more about Faith and the subsequent effects of her situation. It felt as if those aspects were not explored in enough detail.

In my opinion, too much time was dedicated to less crucial parts of the plot. This might have detracted from the overall impact and flow of the story.

Despite these shortcomings, I still appreciate Jodi Picoult's writing style and look forward to reading more of her works in the future.

What a brilliant read!

I have several of Jodi Picoult’s books sitting on my shelves, but it was only recently that I decided to pick them up and start reading. Oh, how I’ve been missing out on a real treat!

I began with “Keeping Faith” and was immediately captivated by this complex and utterly gripping story. Jodi Picoult writes with such beauty and tremendous sensitivity. The book is not only deeply thoughtful but also tackles a number of thought-provoking and familiar moral issues in a fresh and original manner.

At the same time, she manages to keep her readers on the edge of their seats with ongoing suspense. Her characters are so well-crafted that as a reader, you really get to know the main ones on a deep level.

Without giving away any spoilers, I’ll just say that a seven-year-old child is believed to be having conversations with God, although not the God that is commonly recognized. This is one of those books that has made me think long and hard, in addition to simply enjoying the story.

You don’t have to be religious to find this novel an absolutely absorbing read. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great book that will both entertain and make you think.

This book just took me a lot of time!!

It is totally not what I expected, not in a good way. It is overly dramatic!!!

However, I don't want to hide the fact that it tickled the back of my brain in several beautiful points!!

The story seemed to be filled with exaggerated emotions and events, which made it a bit hard to fully engage with at times.

But, on the other hand, there were certain moments when the author's writing managed to spark my interest and make me think.

These were the points that made me realize that there was still some value in the book, despite its flaws.

Overall, it was a bit of a mixed bag, but I'm glad I took the time to read it and discover those few shining moments.

In "A Matter of Faith", Jodi Picoult tackles a highly controversial theme, a child who supposedly performs miracles with all the media circus surrounding the situation.

I really enjoyed this reading, but after finishing the book, I had the feeling that my expectations were unmet because I didn't get the answers I wanted. The book is well-written (as is typical of this author) and the characters are very well-developed, but it seems to me that Jodi ultimately evaded the main question. At least I expected a more concrete and different ending than what it was.

Full review at: http://abibliotecadajoao.blogspot.pt/...

The story of the child and the miracles is indeed a captivating one. It draws the reader in and makes them eager to know more. However, as the book progresses, it becomes clear that the author is more interested in exploring the various perspectives and emotions of the characters rather than providing a straightforward answer to the question of whether the child's miracles are real or not.

This can be both a strength and a weakness of the book. On the one hand, it makes the story more complex and thought-provoking, as it forces the reader to consider different viewpoints and question their own beliefs. On the other hand, it can be frustrating for those who are looking for a more definitive resolution.

Overall, "A Matter of Faith" is a good read, but it may not be for everyone. If you are looking for a book that will challenge your beliefs and make you think, then this is definitely one to consider. However, if you prefer a more straightforward and conclusive story, then you may be disappointed.

Jodi Picoult is an author to whom I continuously return. Her works possess the remarkable ability to pose intricate questions regarding one's own beliefs and prejudices. Typically, I consume everything she writes, and several of my favorite books are hers. However, "Keeping Faith" failed to maintain its momentum for me.

Recently separated from her husband, Mariah, along with her strong-willed mother, is striving to raise Mariah's seven-year-old daughter, Faith, with minimal disruption. Mariah is chronically depressed due to her husband's infidelity and, consequently, is neglecting her child. A significant portion of the book focuses on Mariah and her emotions, which seems at odds with the book's title.

Most of Picoult's books follow a similar pattern: complex family relationships, courtroom drama, and a resolved ending. "Keeping Faith" differs slightly from the other books, yet the writing remains consistent with the Picoult style.

Perhaps it was the religious aspect that made me uncomfortable. The idea that a child is communicating with God and has the power to cure AIDS, resurrect an old woman, and walk on water seems absurd to me. I simply couldn't take it seriously enough to overlook these situations. Additionally, the book didn't progress as I had hoped, and I found myself eager to turn the pages. Oh well, hopefully, the next Picoult book I pick up will make up for the time spent on this one.

Keeping Faith is a captivating story that centers around a girl who suddenly begins to see God and perform miracles. Out of nowhere, these extraordinary events start to unfold around Faith. As time passes, her mother realizes that Faith is not only communicating with "God," but surprisingly, her God is a woman. Soon enough, the media and the church catch wind of this astonishing revelation.

The book initially starts off as a slow burner, but it quickly gains momentum and becomes bluntly over dramatic. However, I did appreciate the way Jodi explored religion. Near the end, the rabbi and the father sitting down and praying together was a powerful moment. Mariah's character had its imperfections, but despite recounting them, she refused to let them hold her back. Having read quite a number of Jodi's books, this one was a bit of a departure from her usual style.

Overall, Keeping Faith is a thought-provoking read that delves into the complex themes of religion, belief, and the power of miracles. It challenges our preconceived notions and makes us question the nature of God and our relationship with the divine.

**"Faith: A Jodi Picoult Novel Review"**

\\n  Under normal circumstances, Faith and I should not be home when my mother calls and invites us to come see her brand-new coffin.\\n

Mariah White leads a seemingly ordinary life with her husband Colin and their daughter Faith. However, a sudden detour home from ballet class shatters their world. Mariah walks in on Colin with another woman, sending her into a spiral of severe depression. Meanwhile, Faith appears to be adapting well at first. But then, strange things start to happen. She begins talking to an unseen presence, reciting bible verses she has never heard before, and even bleeding from her hands. This leads to religious cults hailing Faith as the second coming of Christ, while the media and the Catholic church attempt to discredit her. To make matters worse, Mariah and Faith find themselves in the midst of a custody battle.

This is one of the few Jodi Picoult books that I had yet to read. I had tried on multiple occasions but always got stuck in the first few chapters. Fortunately, one of my reading challenges this year pushed me to finally finish this book, which had been gathering dust on my shelf for at least two years.

Jodi Picoult's works can be a bit of a mixed bag for me. Unfortunately, this one falls into the "miss" category for several reasons. Firstly, I craved answers about the origin of all the strange occurrences. Although there was a hint at the end that Faith might have been faking it all, I find that hard to believe. How could a child convincingly fake bleeding hands and renal failure? Secondly, there were simply too many characters to keep track of, especially with the numerous Rabbis and Catholic priests in the story. Thirdly, the inconsistent use of first and third person made the narrative disjointed. It was particularly confusing that a third of Mariah's parts were in first person and the rest in third person. Thankfully, in her more recent books, Picoult has mostly stuck to the first-person perspective. Finally, I found the relationship between Ian and Mariah to be completely unconvincing and forced.

Despite all these drawbacks, I couldn't stop reading this book. I became deeply invested in the lives of the main characters and was eager to see what would happen next. Picoult has a talent for drawing readers in and keeping them engaged. The religious history and the exploration of various saints were quite interesting. The media frenzy surrounding Faith was also captivating and perhaps one of the most realistic aspects of the book. Overall, it was an interesting read, if not a great one.

I would recommend this book to long-time fans of Picoult. However, if you're new to her work, I would suggest starting with My Sister's Keeper, Nineteen Minutes, or The Pact instead, as I believe they are stronger examples of her writing.

Reading Outside the Box Challenge: It's About Time! I read a book that had been sitting on my shelf for at least two years! (and hadn’t read it yet!)
Paranormal Scavenger Hunt: Dracula
Scavenger Hunt: Deck of Cards

"Keeping Faith" is a captivating story that centers around seven-year-old Faith White. She has been experiencing visions that seem to be of God. However, this book is not solely about Faith; it delves into the lives of her entire family as well.

After Mariah White, Faith's mother, discovers her husband cheating on her with a woman named Jessica, that's when Faith begins to envision God. Subsequently, a flurry of legal drama unfolds. Colin, Faith's father, desires custody of her. Ian Fletcher, a television star atheist, suddenly takes an interest in the White family. Additionally, there are a whole host of other religious figures such as popes, priests, and more involved in the story.

I'm actually quite tired as I pen this review, so I'll keep it brief. I enjoyed this novel just as much as any other by Jodi Picoult. The only aspect I wasn't overly fond of was the fact that the book focused a bit too much on religion and not enough on Faith. Despite being the main character, I would have liked to gain a deeper understanding of her. Nevertheless, this was yet another outstanding novel by Jodi Picoult. It boasted numerous interesting plots and twists, well-developed characters, and a storyline that kept me engaged until the very end.

Little girls often have dreams of being princesses, owning ponies, wearing jewels and ball gowns. But for Faith, her reality is far different. She is a little girl who is exceptionally spiritual, perhaps more adept at opening herself up to God than the rest of us. God has chosen a little Jewish girl and bestowed stigmata upon her, as a way to bring together many different people.

Her mother, Mariah, named her Faith, a name that her own mother considered quite goyishe. Mariah named her daughter this because she herself so badly needed something to believe in. The thought of not being able to keep Faith makes her heart catch. She wonders how it is that we never realize how precious something is until we are on the verge of losing it. She is determined to do whatever it takes to keep Faith.

The question of whether a religious miracle is truly inexplicable and divine or simply a coincidental meeting of what is programmed in one's mind with what one wants to see is a complex one. Maybe, like eye color and bone structure, miracles are passed down through the bloodlines. Maybe there is more to a person than just a body and mind. Maybe there is something else at play - not exactly a soul, but a spirit that hints at the possibility of one day being greater and stronger than we are now. A promise, a potential.

People claim to be open-minded, but only as long as the visionary is seeing something that they all like. We don't have to accept each other's beliefs, but we do have to accept each other's right to believe them. When Faith's miracles call Mariah's parenting into question, a brutal custody battle ensues. They ask a lot of questions, but then again, they've never seen God. Did you ever consider that God knows what it's like to lose a child? So much for God not belonging in a courtroom; He's already there.