Songs of the Humpback Whale
Registered by herrgirl of Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on 6/2/2010
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
3 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by herrgirl from Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Jodi Picoult's acclaimed debut novel treats fans old and new to a beautiful, poignant story of family, friendship and love. Jodi Picoult's powerful novel portrays an emotionaly charged marriage that changes course in one explosive moment. For years, Jane Jones has lived in the shadow of her husband, renowned San Diego oceanographer Oliver Jones. But during an escalating argument, Janes turns to him with an alarming volatility. In anger and fear, Jane leaves with her teenage daughter, Rebecca, for a cross-country odyssey. Charted by letters from her borther Joley, they are guided to his Massachusetts apple farm, where surprising self-discoveries await. Now Oliver, an expert at tracking humpback whales across vast oceans, will search for his wife across a continent, and find a new way to see the world, his family, and himself: through her eyes.
This is Picoult's first novel, written before she developed her rather formulaic style of event,moral dilemma, court case and aftermath. I must say I prefer her later style. The first part of the book was very confusing, I can normally cope with time shifts but this really irritated me. Rebecca tells her story backwards so you know what is going to happen at an early stage. Although I finished it I didn't really relate to the characters at all.
Passing this on to isisjem at the Oxford Bookcrossing meeting this evening, a book from her wishlist.
Passed on to me by herrgirl via Darkhorse3360 - Thank you! :-) Haven't read a Jodi Picoult for some time - this looks like an intriguing plot. Hope to see you at the next meet up.
I found this pretty heavy going and had this been the first novel of JP I'd read I doubt I'd have ever bothered to read more. This story is told from multiple view points (as many of her novels are) but it seems to be done this way to make a less interesting story seem more interesting. Although I actually found it frustrating that the view points did not tell the story chronologically. It was like the chapters had been put in box and pulled out and assembled almost at random. It also meant that fairly early on I knew what was going to happen and there was little surprise in how everything resolved itself. This would have been ok if the 'getting there' had been more interesting. If this is the only JP novel you've read don't use this as an indication of her other books.
Passing this on to Beqi tonight when we meet up at Beaconsfield. Hope you enjoy it.
Thank you so much for this book, Isisjem :D It was good to catch up with you last week x
Journal Entry 8 by Beqi at Telephone Box Book Exchange, West Street, Weedon. in Weedon, Northamptonshire United Kingdom on Saturday, August 6, 2022
Released 1 yr ago (8/7/2022 UTC) at Telephone Box Book Exchange, West Street, Weedon. in Weedon, Northamptonshire United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Taking some books to the brilliant phone box book exchange at Weedon, Sunday 7th August 2022.