What a truly powerful story it is!

I am a die-hard Jodi Picoult fan, and this particular work is undoubtedly one of my absolute favorites.

What I truly love about this story is that it is told through five distinct voices - namely Jane, Joley, Rebecca, Oliver, and Sam.

However, the fact that Rebecca's chapters are presented in reverse order initially posed a bit of a challenge for me. In the beginning, it was a little confusing, which is precisely the reason why I didn't award this book a full five-star rating.

Despite this minor hiccup, the overall narrative is so engaging and well-crafted that it more than makes up for the initial confusion. The different perspectives add depth and complexity to the story, allowing the reader to truly understand the various characters and their motivations.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a thought-provoking and emotionally charged read. It is a testament to Jodi Picoult's incredible talent as a writer.

This was an extremely challenging read and a rather disappointing novel from Jodi Picoult. I had perused other reviews but chose not to give them excessive weight. I often find myself at odds with the majority. I came across more than one review stating that this was her first novel, and it truly shows.

I typically relish the perspective of different characters presented in separate chapters with diverse typefaces. However, on this occasion, the changes in dates were not blatantly evident. It hopped around significantly from the present to the past, and I always needed a few paragraphs to determine the era. Additionally, I discovered that Jane and Rebecca had voices that were too similar. I'm uncertain if this was a deliberate choice, but it rendered easy recognition nearly impossible.

I'm not even convinced that the topic was controversial enough for Jodi. Underage sex with a man ten years older and adultery with a man ten years younger don't constitute the "bad" portrayal she usually tackles. Even the spousal abuse and the fleeting glimpses of sexual abuse didn't measure up to her usual standards. Does that sound harsh? I believe what I'm attempting to convey is that I never audibly gasped or exclaimed "OMG!" throughout the entire book. It was somewhat of a letdown for me. Thankfully, her other books were of sufficient quality to still hold me captivated.

There are various forms of abuse such as emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. A childhood that has been tampered with and a strong bond both between a brother and a sister.

Jane, the mother of Rebecca, is married to Oliver, an oceanographer. One day, their relationship takes a sudden turn and Jane leaves the house with Rebecca. There is no specific plan, but she desires to change her place, meet her brother, and think things through.

Oliver, on the other hand, is planning to track them down and bring them back home.

Things can change so abruptly and they are fragile. It took me some time to actually begin reading the book and it took me almost 4 weeks to complete it. The story unfolds with unexpected twists and turns, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. The characters are well-developed, and their emotions and struggles are palpable. It makes one reflect on the complexity of human relationships and the impact that abuse can have on a person's life. Overall, it is a thought-provoking and engaging read.

“À Procura do Amor” is the debut work of author Jodi Picoult, initially released in 1992.

It retells the events of very different people in five voices, yet having in common bonds of love, friendship, and events that will change them forever.

After a heated argument with her husband, Jane Jones and her daughter Rebecca leave and end up in the apple orchards of Massachusetts. There, both will discover the true meaning of love, what is needed to achieve it, and what can be given and taken.

As a big fan of this writer, I always start reading her works full of anticipation and a desire to immerse myself in her narratives. I love the aspect of showing us stories from multiple perspectives. This not only enriches the story and our perception of certain events but also allows us to understand how each character attaches importance or perceives a certain event, which is quite interesting.

Although I don't believe in soulmates or love at first sight, as I believe that to love someone, we need to know ourselves well in a timely manner and share a life story, this story did not leave me indifferent at all. It made me reflect that when we truly love someone, in a pure and genuine way, we feel complete with that person. But not always do we manage to find the right person, if indeed she really exists. With this reading, we also understand that sometimes loving someone is not enough, as life is a collection of feelings and events that can prevent a passion from prevailing. It also shows us that we should not resign ourselves and that we should always seek love, even if it makes us suffer, and it surely will, because love can be in the most improbable places and people.

The characters are very well portrayed, as is characteristic of the author. Jane Jones ended up being the character that most marked me, because of her life story, because of all she went through in her childhood, because of her strength, perseverance, and altruism. Her daughter, Rebecca, makes us remember what it was like to be an adolescent, the passions we had and that we swore would be forever, to the disappointments of love. Of the three male characters, Sam, Joley, and Oliver, I confess that I liked Sam the most. Although he was a character who at first distances us a little because he had some animosity towards Jane, we feel and know that deep down he is a fantastic person, making us like him for all he does for Jane. Joley, Jane's brother, has always been Jane's haven, just as he always knew he could always count on his sister, even if he made mistakes or could not achieve what he set out to conquer, she would always be there. Oliver, I confess that it was not easy for me to like him, because of all that happened during the discussion with Jane, because he is too attached to work and very little to the family. However, as the narrative progressed, I ended up changing my mind a little and hoping that he would really change.

The emotional writing that so well characterizes the author, filled with the right psychological load and so well portrayed, that as the characters question which path to follow, we also wonder what will be the best solution. It makes us think about the most varied themes and transmits all the empathy and understanding for the characters. A very pleasant work, containing several themes that make us reflect and that invariably transmit some lessons to us.

(http://magia-livros.blogspot.pt/2012/...)

If you have never read a Jodi book, do not start with this one.

I never try to persuade someone’s thinking before starting a book, but as a Jodi fan, this book was my least favorite.

The timeline is complicated for about the first 200 pages. It jumps around and can be quite confusing.

However, if you can stick with it, it will start to make sense.

The story does have some interesting elements and characters, but overall, it was just okay in my opinion.

I expected more from a Jodi book, especially since I have loved many of her other works.

Perhaps if you are a die-hard Jodi fan, you will enjoy this book more than I did.

But for those who are new to her writing, I would recommend starting with one of her other, more accessible novels.

I found the title of the book interesting and it really does reflect the search of all the characters present in the book. All of them seek love in their own way, and whether they find it depends on the understanding of each reader.

My favorite part is the way the story is told. While Rebecca tells her version from back to front, that is, the beginning of her account is the end of the narration of the other characters, and somewhere in the book both end up crossing. However, this situation sometimes results in a repetition of the story and the dialogues themselves.

Regarding the characters, the one I liked the most was Rebecca. Despite being 14/15 years old, she proved to be quite adult, contrary to her mother Jane, who throughout the book appears indecisive and depressed. Even the adventure she started was not a decision of her own. The relationship of the characters who fall in love seems very sudden and without any apparent reason for the existence of such a overwhelming passion. I understand that in a book everything is possible regardless of reality. However, I think that for a fictional book that tries to approximate reality as much as possible, this situation should be taken into account.

The writing remains simple, allowing for a quick reading. However, apart from the narration of Rebecca/Sam, the first half of the book was rather boring and not very engaging.

Unfortunately, this particular piece was simply unreadable for me.

Right from the offset, the plot appears to be just plain ridiculous. It involves a plane crash, of all things!

The attempted feminist narrative could have been enhanced with a bit more tact or suspense. As it stands, the over-the-top plot and the blunt communication style effectively undermine the severity of the topics at hand.

It's truly a shame, because I have adored some of Picoult's other works. Her previous books have often managed to engage me deeply with their complex characters and thought-provoking storylines.

However, in this case, the combination of a far-fetched plot and a heavy-handed approach left me feeling disappointed and disengaged.

I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it just didn't deliver on the promise that Picoult's name usually holds.

Perhaps with a bit more refinement and a more nuanced treatment of the subject matter, this could have been a much stronger and more impactful work.

As it is, though, it remains a missed opportunity.

Catching up…

I think this is truly the culmination of my Jodi Picoult reading phase, where I've been re-visiting her books. It's almost as if, after going through so many of her past works, I've been sitting down with an old friend and having a heartfelt conversation about all these diverse characters that have populated this amazing author's repertoire.

Now, I come to this particular book. Her very first novel. This was our initial introduction to her. She was still unknown to the world at that time. How would we respond to her?

For many, this book didn't initially draw much attention. It likely took a few more of Picoult's novels before this one was even picked up and read. And then, when it was finally read, it might not have been especially cared for due to the multiple points of view (5).

Since each narrator had their own story to tell, it wasn't even clear which story was in the present or past tense. So, by the time we reached the end of the story, we weren't certain if there was any satisfying resolution for any of the characters.

And for me as a reader, I felt completely in the dark. Which, considering the subject matter, was not a comfortable place to be left.

I had a plethora of questions. Revealing my questions would give away spoilers.

Let's just say that this is a story about love, loss, and self-discovery. It's also a story of abuse.

The characters, for the most part, felt shallow, oblivious, flat, and unlikable. So, whether my questions get answered or not, I'm not sure I would be invested enough to truly care.

Sadly, this wasn't a great debut. Fortunately, Picoult grew as an author with her later novels and managed to find a way to create more vivid voices for her characters in future stories.

This was definitely not one of my favorite Picoult books.

I often tend to forget that I don't have the same affection for her earlier works as I do for the more recent ones. The reason being the excessive focus on relationships.

This particular book placed a heavy emphasis on unhealthy relationships, and at times, it romanticized them in ways that were truly angering.

I had previously read her book "Lone Wolf," which is a much newer one, and I absolutely loved the wonderful balance it struck between human dynamics and the fascinating insights into wolf behavior.

I think that was in the back of my mind when I picked up this book. However, sadly, the portion dedicated to the humpback whale was minimal.

One thing that I really appreciate about the newer Picoult books is her obvious and extensive research into various topic areas. Regrettably, this book was lacking in that regard.

Anyways, to sum it up, I did not like this book and would not recommend it. Nevertheless, I will continue to read her newer works, as she has honed her skills in creating complex characters and intricate plots over time.

I really like Jodi Picoult a great deal. However, if I had started with this book, it might have also been the last one I read. But every writer has to start somewhere, doesn't he or she? From this novel to "The Storyteller" or "19 Minutes" there is an enormous difference, yet it comes quite close to "The Lone Wolf". That is to say, it's a mixture between a National Geographic documentary and a small family drama. The narrative is boring and jumps from one character to another and chronologically it makes you dizzy, especially since the jumps are not justified. They are not introduced by anything, not generated by anything apparent, because it jumps in time to another character, to another event that has no connection with the discussion. I think she has learned the hard way what precise documentation and gross generalization mean, judging by the reactions the book has provoked. I recommend it only to those who have read the good books of the author and want a reference point for her evolution or to those who want to read all the books of the author.

It's important to note that while this book may not be up to the standards of some of her later works, it still shows the potential and growth that Jodi Picoult would achieve in her writing career. Each book is a step in her development as a writer, and even this early work has its own merits and can offer insights into her creative process.

For those who are new to Jodi Picoult's writing, it might be a better idea to start with one of her more well-known and highly regarded novels to get a better sense of her style and storytelling abilities. However, for die-hard fans or those interested in the evolution of her work, this book can be a valuable addition to their reading list.

This was a light and easy read, very character driven.

However, the plot wasn't anything great. It seemed rather ordinary and didn't have that wow factor.

I found the entire jumping around in timelines very frustrating. It made it difficult to follow the story at times and disrupted the flow.

Although I have no issues with multiple points of view (POV), I really wish it was presented in a chronological order. This would have made the reading experience much more enjoyable and less confusing.

Also, some parts of the book were repeated more than once, which made it even more irritating. It felt like the author was trying to fill space or emphasize certain points, but it just ended up being redundant and tiresome.

Overall, while the characters were well-developed, the flaws in the plot and the structure of the story prevented this from being a truly great read.

Don't bother reading this one. It is truly not worth your precious time and effort. You might be better off spending your moments on something more engaging, interesting, and valuable. There are countless other pieces of writing out there that can offer you entertainment, knowledge, or inspiration. This particular one, however, fails to meet those expectations. It lacks the substance, the charm, and the appeal that would make it a worthwhile read. So, save yourself the trouble and move on to something else. You won't be missing out on much by skipping this one.