This book started in the heart of the action. I ripped through the first couple of chapters. I thought it was a really interesting idea: to begin at the end and tell the story backwards. With an emotive subject like abortion, there was the danger that Picoult could hold back or romanticise the issue or come across as preachy. But that’s not really her style, is it? This book is frank and honest. It gives you facts, and in many ways, the hostage situation is secondary to the story. It’s merely the point that makes us take notice of the passion felt on both sides of the debate.

I felt the book dropped off about two thirds of the way through. While it was important to learn the stories of all the people involved in the shooting—shooter, women having abortions, doctors, nurses, hostage negotiator, women attending the clinic for other reasons—I found myself desperate to know what had happened after the end of chapter one. I appreciate the point of the novel was the telling of women's stories, but there were certain facts from each woman that Picoult told us over and over because the plot ran backwards in time.

All in all, though, an interesting, beautifully written novel.

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Created Jan 03, 2019 at 6:13am • Submit your own review...