Jodi Picoult is indeed one of my favorite novelists.

The first novel of hers that I read was Salem Falls (2001), which happened to be her eighth novel. Eventually, I devoured (and re-read) all of her works except this particular one, her very first offering from 1992. I was rather astonished to come across so many negative reviews and 1 and 2 star ratings. So, I made up my mind that I had better finally read it, and I'm extremely glad that I did.

I truly, truly liked it and gave it 4 stars merely because it isn't as refined and complex as a great deal of her later work. Although it is plot and theme-driven, it is, above all, character-driven. The reader has to pay close attention as the narrative style is intricate. The story is told through the voices of five individuals, all of whom are damaged or flawed in diverse ways, each one recounting the same events from his or her own perspective. Four of them tell their story as memory, while Rebecca, the adolescent daughter, begins hers in reverse order - from present to past. Where Picoult truly shines, just as she does in all her work, is the extraordinary empathy she exhibits towards her exquisitely drawn characters, even those we might consider cruel or despicable.

The themes in this story are perhaps a bit simpler than in her later books, where her trademark is choosing an often controversial topic - organ donation, sexual and physical abuse, capital punishment, a school shooting, reproductive choice, white supremacy, autism, eugenics - which she examines from every conceivable angle through her characters in an objective, almost disinterested manner, leaving the conclusions entirely up to the reader. While some reviewers took objection to the title as being ill-suited, I found it to be entirely fitting; the whales, their precarious condition, and their mysterious songs are metaphorical and mirror the plight of these unhappy humans.

I'm a huge Jodi Picoult fan, which is why I'm making an effort to read all of her books. When this particular one arrived, I examined the premise and thought - eh? As I began reading, my initial reaction was still eh! After skimming forward and perusing the reviews, my sentiment had escalated to EH! I ultimately decided that there was no need to complete it.

Typically, her books revolve around a moral dilemma that compels you to think, often with a certain twist. However, this book simply focuses on a woman who is leaving her workaholic husband and taking her daughter with her. They are driving from California to New England because the daughter is too terrified to fly (and for a valid reason). Having recently made a flight from San Francisco to New Hampshire and back, I'm well aware that it's an extremely long trip, and driving would be even more time-consuming.

Unlike normal people, they don't obtain a map but instead rely on letters from her brother in New England to guide them. They will stop at a post office in a small town, pick up the letter that leads them to another small post office in another small town, and then wait for a new letter, and so on. OMG. Seriously? Additionally, there is no twist, no nothing. It's just people flitting around, ruminating on their feelings and writing letters. I suspect this was one of her earlier works before she developed her signature style. This older style is far too dull for me. Sorry, Jodi. I can't bring myself to read this any further. I'm moving on to the next book.

The title of the book sounds poetic and romantic, yet after perusing the synopsis, I came to the realization that it delves into the realm of broken relationships and marriage, rendering the theme rather weighty.

Lately, I've been observing numerous posts on social media regarding men and women extricating themselves from marriages. The typical pattern unfolds as follows: "In the beginning, women make sacrifices for their families while their husbands concentrate on their careers, frequently neglecting their wives. Eventually, affairs occur, and the women, in an effort to rebuild themselves, commence focusing on self-improvement and divorce their husbands. They discover new love, and the men, having lost their wives, begin to reminisce about their good qualities and attempt to win them back….”

Of course, Songs of the Humpback Whale doesn't precisely adhere to this narrative, but there are resemblances. I recall having once had a misunderstanding with a female friend. When we reconciled, we realized that our reasons for arguing differed - my emphasis was on principles, whereas she was concerned about my attitudes. It suddenly dawned on me that men and women truly seem to be from different planets.

Each chapter of this novel revolves around the individuals implicated in the events, circumventing the limitations of third-person narration in capturing character psychology. Nevertheless, this approach can give rise to character confusion, as diverse temperaments result in distinct perspectives and emotions. This was a matter of concern for me during the reading process. However, the book doesn't follow a linear timeline; rather, it weaves together different people and events, narrating the story in a comprehensive and mutually supportive fashion. Initially, it appears disjointed, but it gradually becomes engaging and challenging. Although I sometimes felt disoriented, the story points would vividly spring to mind when reminded. It was indeed a rather fascinating experience.

The storyline itself isn't overly complex. Oliver, who studies whales, is fixated on his work, immersing himself in the research of whale songs and neglecting his family. It wasn't until his wife departed with their daughter that he recognized his error and embarked on his search. Meanwhile, his wife, Jane, and their daughter, Rebecca, are also on a journey. They traverse different paths - one lonely and tenacious, the other passionate and lively. Whether their destinations will converge and how their lives will transform can only be answered by the book.

As a standalone story, it isn't particularly remarkable or captivating. However, Judy Picoult employs the perspectives of each person involved, detailed writing, and ingenious chapter structures to explore the theme of "loss and search." I believe the book doesn't "discuss" this theme but rather presents each character's attitudes and actions, enabling me to experience it through gains and losses.

In reality, the tempo of life often confounds our hearts regarding what we truly desire. Sometimes, loss is inevitable. Is it a punishment or a price? Perhaps it's an understanding and transcendence. The search is also rife with uncertainties - there will be hopes and disappointments. Searching is merely an endeavor to make amends for something; the outcome may not be forgiveness, but rather, it is a form of alleviation and redemption - a kind of solace.

3.8 / 5 stars

This was the passport to get to know this writer and apparently I was wrong in my choice.

By alternating the narrators, the story is told in 5 voices. It's an exaggeration. There are too many people and it's confusing.

On the other hand, the protagonist (unlike the others) decides to start from the end, taking away part of the anticipation and interest.

To top it off, to show the perspectives of each one, we are sometimes confronted with repetitions of the same events.

I didn't like the course of the story with its advances and retreats, and I disliked some postures.

There was interesting material to work with but it wasn't entirely well achieved.

The story could have been more engaging and better organized. The use of multiple narrators, while a potentially interesting technique, was not executed effectively in this case.

The repetitions felt unnecessary and detracted from the overall flow of the narrative.

Perhaps a different approach to presenting the perspectives would have been more successful.

Overall, this work left me with a sense of disappointment and a feeling that there was room for improvement.