Songs of the Humpback Whale - Jodi Picoult

I've got mixed feelings about Jodi Picoult's books, they tend to be formulaic and sensationalistic but they are normally real page turners, the type of book that you don't want to put down. The latest of her blockbusters to hit the UK shelves is "Songs Of The Humpback Whale" which is not a new book, it is her first novel which has been reprinted for the UK market following her success and it's a bit of a disappointment compared to her later books. Like many of her other books it has several narrators. Jane, the main character, has left her husband Oliver and taken her teenage daughter Rebecca with her. She is being lead across the United States in a ...  Read the complete review

I recently read in a magazine about "cringe fests"; apparently in New York on the comedy scene there is a fad for reading aloud your teenage angst diary to an audience, for the comic effect. I am not suggesting that this, Jodi Picoult's first book, now reprinted after her recent successes in the UK is a cringe fest at all, but it is certainly a bit of a blast from a Picoult past, and for me it was one Picoult book that I could have done without reading. This is a bit disappointing as I have really enjoyed many of her books and found them inspiring, shocking, compelling and a good read. This book wasn't quite the Picoult fest I was expecting. Jodi ...  Read the complete review

As a huge fan of Jodi Picoult's novels I decided to check out Song's of the humpback whale, mainly drawn to this as the next choice due to it's strange title. Which thankfully does become clear as your read the book. Songs of the humpback whale is the story of Jane and Oliver Jones, their fifteeen year old daughter and a journey that makes them think about their lives and what really is important. The book begins with a look at life in the Jones family, Oliver who is rarely around due to his job as a marine biologist who is studying the songs of humpback whales (hence the book title), Jane who is feeling frustrated at always being the one their for her ...  Read the complete review

Thank goodness I've finished this book! It looked so promising too - the strapline on the front cover reads, 'You were hurt as a child. Now you fear for your daughter. WHAT WOULD YOU DO?' As a reader, you feel the book may challenge you - make you want to question your own judgement - but - guess what - it doesn't! Plot ---- In essence, this is a roadtrip tale of a mother and daughter. Jane is fleeing her 'abusive' husband (and her own capacity for being abusive) by travelling across America heading towards Massachusets. This is where her brother (who is 4 yrs her junior and very close to) lives, working on an apple orchard. ...  Read the complete review

Jodi Picoults earlier work, which has been released in the UK in paperback and hardback, following on from her success with the film adaptation of My Sister's Keeper. Rebecca and her Mum, Jane, are on the run from her father, Oliver, who became vulgar and abusive toward Jane in their last encounter. They are being guided across America by Jane's brother Joley, who writes them letters that they pick up at the post office, with random recollections of their childhood, along with directions to the next town. When they arrive at the Apple Farm where Joley works, Jane meets Sam and Rebecca meets Hadley. Love blossoms, and the story explores how love develops with ...  Read the complete review