New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult is widely acclaimed for her keen insights into the hearts and minds of real people. Now she tells the emotionally riveting story of a family torn apart by conflicting needs and a passionate love that triumphs over human weakness. Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate -- a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister -- and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.
My Sister's Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life, even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less? Should you follow your own heart, or let others lead you? Once again, in My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult tackles a controversial real-life subject with grace, wisdom, and sensitivity.GOODREADS
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I got this book in a trade. It's not the kind of book I'd buy, but since I had it I decided to read it. It wasn't what I expected. I suppose seeing as I had watched some of the movie; I expected some Cameron Diaz-like drama. The book isn't anything like that IMO.
The book has more story to it, more structure. There are flashbacks; different POVs and each other part starts off with a quote about fire. I absolutely loved that each part started this way which fits with the story because Brian is a firefighter and Jess is an arsonist (Arson is bad!). I suppose fire is kind of a metaphor in the story; Anna is named after a star and stars burn; Anna was a light; she meant hope for Kate and knew how to break the tension in the house. In the end she does save her sister....fire's will burn itself out; even without your help.
It takes some time to get into the multiple POVs, but, once you have, the story reads pretty well. There are POVs from everybody in the family, the lawyer and Julia; in the end there's one chapter from Kate. All the POVs are centered around one event/theme i.e Kate. Jesse's POV, Campell's and Julia's surprised me because I didn't really think they needed to have one. Jesse's is important, because he showcases what happens to other family members when somebody in the family has cancer or is seriously sick.
Jesse was my favorite character, unfortunately we didn't get to see the real Jesse in the movies. Jesse in the book is an arsonist, he goes around abandoned buildings and sets them on fire. He then waits for his dad ( a firefighter) to come put them out. Jesse also exhibits self-destructive behavior at a young age. He can't save his sister because they don't match genetically, so he reasons if he can't heal he should destroy. It sucks that they watered down his character in the movies.
Campbell is the lawyer that takes on Anna's case; he's a funny guy with a secret. I was amused by how he always came up with something ridiculous when people asked him what his service dog was for. Then there's Julia ( a guardian appointed to Anna ); who happens to be Campell's high school girlfriend. This leads to a romantic sub-plot I didn't really care for or thought was necessary. It eventually grows on you though, but I could have done without it.
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I've heard of this book, but did not know about the movie! (not a big fan of Diaz). Already digging the "service dog" part. ;)
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