Reviews with content warning for Abandonment - Change of Heart

Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

1 review

suchismita_2000's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

https://banerjeesuchismita17.medium.com/book-review-4-change-of-heart-by-jodi-picoult-5d6c4064d9a3

Jodi Picoult is known for her enthralling novels. The kind captivates readers with characters trudging through the dilemma. Her works have always enlightened her readers about various overlooking topics.

‘Change of Heart’ is a captivating story about loss, guilt, justice & redemption. It is particularly a story that gives us an insight into death row inmates, & the poor justice system.

This book will take you around on an emotional roller coaster & will keep you thought-provoked till the end.

...

SYNOPSIS -

‘The beginning of the end’, that’s what it was for June when she hired Shay Bourne.

June found her happiness after her life went down the cracks when her husband passed away in an accident. She has a daughter, Elizabeth to raise on her own. Like a miracle, Kurt came into their life. Kurt Nealon, the police officer who gave June another chance at love & her daughter got a father again. Their family was complete with the arrival of the baby, & they couldn’t be happier.

The family decided to hire a carpenter to build a baby nursery, and that’s when Shay entered their life.

"They say God won’t give you any more than you can handle, but that begs a more important question: why would God let you suffer in the first place?”

June was left devasted when she came back to see her home turned into a crime scene. As she found her husband & daughter lying lifeless. She was shattered by the fact that her baby will never be able to meet her father & sister ever. She wanted nothing more than to see Shay dying. To see the man – dead who crumpled her loving family.

The whole of New Hampshire was jolted by its first death sentence in decades. Shay was found guilty of the murder of Kurt & Elizabeth Nealon. June was relieved but it couldn’t lessen her pain of the loss even for a bit.

…

But it wasn’t over for June when her younger daughter was hospitalized. Claire has a weak heart & needs a transplant. She realized Claire doesn’t have much time on her hands. She can’t lose Claire; she’s all June has.

“Life has a way of pointing out, with great sweeping signs, that you are looking at the wrong things, doesn’t it?”

After eleven years of being on death row, Shay wants to let go. He never had a smooth life. He was in & out of the foster system, & went to juvenile jail once for lighting his foster home into a fire.

Shay was ready for his end, as it was near. But when he saw the news about a little girl needing a heart transplant, something moved in him. The girl whose father & sister he had killed cold-bloodedly. Shay found profound meaning in his life. He knew he had to save Claire. It was his last chance at redemption!

But will he be allowed to do so? Will June help him in his salvation? Will Claire accept the heart of a killer?

“I remembered something else that makes us human: faith, the only weapon in our arsenal to battle about.”

…

My Thoughts?

I have to say that this book is definitely an underrated one. It was kind of a challenge for me as I don’t usually go for realistic crime fiction as my usual reads. But I am amazed at how much I loved it. Picoult writes like butter. Once you get the hang of the story, you could just go on.

But it was a slow-paced read for me. Usually because of how descriptive every aspect of the plot was. Some areas I felt were a little dragged & I was overwhelmed with details. That’s the only reason why I am not giving it 5 stars.

I feel the characters in this book are so versatile, each having a fascinating background. Each chapter was written in a different character’s context. There are six characters – June, Shay, Claire, Michael, Lucius & Maggie. Every character has insecurity to deal with.

This book also delivers a great message on spirituality, of how one sees & practices it. It breaks the stereotype of people blindingly worshipping religion.

I consistently appreciate a story written through diverse aspects. This way the reader becomes transparent with the character’s thoughts & feelings. The reader feels what the characters have been through.

Another thing that I liked about Picoult’s writing is that the story takes a turn when you least expect it. When I was halfway through, I thought that the originating storyline was what we will see to advance into. Later, I was met with scenarios I didn’t see coming.

…

To whom would I recommend this book?

I am overjoyed to stumble upon this book. It took me out of my comfort zone, & I surprised myself to have loved the book this much.

It was an emotional read for me throughout. The story might deeply impact you if you are sentimental like me. But it is upon you to perceive the goodness of the characters over their damaged part.

I had a sense of realization while reading this book. As a reader, I dive into the fictional world to escape reality. To comprehend that fiction comes from a part of reality is a lot to take in. To know that all the good & bad part is happening somewhere in this world to unknown people.

“There’s always going to be bad stuff out there. But here’s the amazing thing – light trumps darkness, every time. You stick a candle into the dark, but you can’t stick the dark into the light.”

Readers who want fiction that will let you stimulate against the story -should go for this book. A story that will allow you to think & let you question your beliefs.

That’s when an author succeeds to entrap the reader inside the story.

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