Mercy - Jodi Picoult

An increasingly familiar name to anyone who keeps even half an ear on literary matters, Jodi Picoult has published a number of novels that share a familiar format and focus on topical issues. In fact, Picoult is such a popular writer that I often feel I must be missing something when I reflect on my fairly negative feelings about her novels, so I decided to try one more to help me reach a fairer conclusion. I chose ‘Mercy’ because it covers a particularly interesting topical issue…and because it was on sale for 20p at the library! Would this be the novel that convinced me to change my opinion ... more

*** I've given away a fair amount of plot information in here, so please don't read on, if you'd prefer not to know. I just felt it relevant to my review on this occasion.*** I've heard some good things about Jodi Picoult's stuff. I know a lot of intelligent people who read her work and rave about it and the critics seem to like her too, which is a rare thing these days. So, whilst browsing around the bookstore, I decided it was high time that I read one of her novels. Her novel 'Mercy' was on a 2 for 3 offer at Waterstones, so that gave it the thumbs up in my opinion. First things first: I ... more

I love a good book, one that I can really get stuck into and can't put down forget the housework and just escape. I usually don't get the luxury of doing this unless we are on holiday but at the moment I am stuck indoors due to an operation on my foot and am confined to the sofa! So I sent the other half out shopping (culture shock for him!) and asked him to pick me up a book, I was initially a bit worried what he would bring back I had visions of the newest SAS survival manual but to my surprise he bought back this one, so did I get stuck into it? THE AUTHOR Jodi Picoult was born and raised ... more

I have read one of Jodi Picoult's books before and enjoyed it so while browsing in the library I saw this one and thought I'd give it a go. The book is based in a small town, Wheelock, in America where many years before a clan had moved over from Scotland and built a replica village. Cameron Macdonald is "head of the clan" and the police chief for the town and he lives with his wife Allie. Jamie MacDonald is a cousin of Cameron's and his wife Maggie is terminally ill. When she decides that she wants Jamie to kill her then they travel to Wheelock to do it and Jamie hands himself in to his ... more

I am a huge fan of the american writer Jodi Picoult and find each of her novels fresh and original. Every time, she seems to come up with a successful formula in her storylines and her novel Mercy is no exception. I was a bit worried when I first started reading the book though as I found it quite difficult to get into. I wondered whether I had been spoilt after reading such fantastic novels as Plain Truth or Nineteen Minutes. However, in true Picoult style she slowly reeled me in to the story and after about one hundred pages I was hooked! Jodi Picoult is not afraid to tackle difficult topics ... more