Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult

Picoult now explores the complex choices of the heart for a young Amish woman -- the compelling journey of discovery for an urban lawyer who befriends and protects her. The small town of Paradise, Pennsylvania, is a jewel in Lancaster County -- known for its picture-postcard landscapes and bucolic lifestyle. But that peace is shattered by the discovery of a dead infant in the barn of an Amish farmer. A police investigation quickly leads to two startling disclosures: the newborn's mother is an unmarried Amish woman, eighteen-year-old Katie Fisher. And the infant did not die of natural causes. Although Katie denies the medical proof that she gave birth to the child, circumstantial evidence leads to her arrest for the murder of her baby. One hundred miles away, Philadelphia defense attorney Ellie Hathaway has achieved an enviable, high-profile career. But her latest court "victory" has set the sands shifting beneath her. Single at thirty-nine and unsatisfied with her relationship, Ellie doesn't look back when she turns down her chance to make partner and takes off for an open-ended stay at her great-aunt's home in Paradise. Fate brings her to Katie Fisher. Suddenly, Ellie sees the chance to defend a client who truly needs her, not just one who can afford her. But taking on this case challenges Ellie in more ways than one. She finds herself not only in a clash of wills with a client who does not want to be defended but also in a clash of cultures with a people whose channels ofjustice are markedly different from her own. Immersing herself in Katie Fisher's life -- and in a world founded on faith, humility, duty, and honesty -- Ellie begins to understand the pressures and sacrifices of those who to live "plain." As she peels away the layers of fact and fantasy, Ellie calls on an old friend for guidance. Now, just as this man from Ellie's past reenters her life, she must uncover the truth about a complex case, a tragic loss, the bonds of love -- and her own deepest fears and desires.

This is one of my absolute favorite books! I was also happy when Lifetime made it into a movie! I found the idea of this novel to be intriguing mostly because the Amish don't commit murder, and the fact that an Amish teenager was convicted for murder is such an interesting plot. I also liked how in the the film the casting director chose Mariska from Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (my favorite show) she nailed the part to the core. This was an intriguing book.

Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult

When the marriage of Mariah White and her cheating husband, Colin, turns ugly and disintegrates, their seven-year-old daughter, Faith, is there to witness it all. In the aftermath of a rapid divorce, Mariah falls into a deep depression -- and suddenly Faith, a child with no religious background whatsoever, hears divine voices, starts reciting biblical passages, and develops stigmata. And when the miraculous healings begin, mother and daughter are thrust into the volatile center of controversy and into the heat of a custody battle -- trapped in a mad media circus that threatens what little stability the family has left








I just enjoy Jodi's books so much, I'm now trying to read every single one I can get my hands on. I found this one to be very capturing. It's almost as if God had touched Faith's heart and was trying to help Faith see past other things that were a mess in her life. I found Mariah's husband Colin to be a douche. He cheats on his wife with his mistress in their home. UGH I wanted to smack him. I think this is a book people who are very religious would enjoy curling up to this book.

The Pact by Jodi Picoult

For eighteen years the Hartes and the Golds have lived next door to each other, sharing everything from Chinese food to chicken pox to carpool duty-- they've grown so close it seems they have always been a part of each other's lives. Parents and children alike have been best friends, so it's no surprise that in high school Chris and Emily's friendship blossoms into something more. They've been soul mates since they were born. So when midnight calls from the hospital come in, no one is ready for the appalling truth: Emily is dead at seventeen from a gunshot wound to the head. There's a single unspent bullet in the gun that Chris took from his father's cabinet-- a bullet that Chris tells police he intended for himself. But a local detective has doubts about the suicide pact that Chris has described.



This was such a dramatic book. I did like the way the book was in present then flopped back to the times when Chris and Emily first met, and how they became with a couple. I also found myself drawn to the how the family who was very close friends became torn apart over the fact that the Golds believed that Chris was responsible for Emily's death because she was pregnant. The thoughts in Chris's mind when he found out Emily was pregnant is truly remarkable. Picoult's writing is simply thrilling and I urge many to read it.

Advice to Writers: Michael Michalko

Creativity is Paradoxical

Creativity is paradoxical. To create, a person must have knowledge but forget the knowledge, must see unexpected connections in things but not have a mental disorder, must work hard but spend time doing nothing as information incubates, must create many ideas yet most of them are useless, must look at the same thing as everyone else, yet see something different, must desire success but embrace failure, must be persistent but not stubborn, and must listen to experts but know how to disregard them.

-MICHAEL MICHALKO

Creativity is the most important part of the novel. Some like to have their novels so close to realism while others just like being creative and making things up. I am one of those writers where I simply like to make things up. Writing a strong character is something that will make your novel different than others. It's important to make the characters unique so that the book can stand out from all the others on the book shelf. You need to think like your character.