Jodi Picoult is a great writer, a meticulous researcher and a fantastic storyteller – she certainly doesn’t deny these facts. But with Change of Heart, she again falls a little short of her potential.
As with several other recent novels, A Change of Heart feels too formulaic to be enjoyable for avid Picoult readers, as the novel contains all the pieces of the latest Picoult novel: a little boy in trouble, a. a parent struggling to overcome that discomfort, a child with an illness, a controversial and sought-after court case.
Jodi Picoult and Stephen King: A Thousand Greens
But A Change of Heart feels familiar in another way as well. About 75 pages into the book, I wondered when and how Picoult was in Steven King’s
Heart Transplant on Death Row
Set in New Hampshire, Shay Bourne is sitting on death row for the police killing of his stepdaughter, Elizabeth. Fast forward 11 years, and Elizabeth’s sister Claire needs a new heart. Shay decides that in order to be absolved of his sins, he must give his heart to Catalonia.
But Claire’s mother isn’t sure that Shay’s heart is still beating inside the boy. On page 184, Picoult writes, “Do you want your dreams to be true if this means willing to let your enemy die? With these words, June Nealon’s struggle becomes one of the main questions of the novel.
Jodi Picoult Book Themes: Capital Punishment, Religion, Forgiveness
Other central themes include the morality of the death penalty and what the Messiah would look like if he returned to walk the earth. . Maggie’s lawyer Shay takes on a new battle to repeal the death penalty, while Michael is his spiritual advisor; A Catholic priest tries to determine if Shay is Jesus reincarnated.
By itself A Change of Heart is interesting enough, but if you are an avid Picoult reader, prepare to be confused. It is formulaic, predictable and repetitive. It reads a lot like the previous novel Faith, and actually explains a few of the same characters.
Is Jodi Picoult a Hack?
Picoult is an excellent writer, but with more books like this one, he’s starting to get hacked. With A Change of Heart, Picoult created inspired characters, familiar plot twists and predictable twists. According to Maslin, a book reviewer for the New York Times, perhaps Picoult was the best writer. the work is still uninspired.
“…not even the most cultured Picoult fans seem likely that Ms. Picoult broke a sweat while preparing “Change of Heart.” Despite the brutal care and diligently religiously based on the story line, it seems that she wrote the latest tearjerker in the car,” wrote Maslin in 2008.
Maslin could not be more correct. If you want to read the book, you should read it at least twice before, Have a Change of Heart.
A Change of Heart was published in 2008 by Atria. It is 447 pages long. ISBN: 0743496744
Read about Jodi Picoult’s other books:
Book Review: Glance – Nine by Author Jodi Picoult, Published in 2003
Palpably care by Jodi Picoult signs to decline
