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Title: Songs of the Humpback Whale
Author: Jodi Picoult
ISBN/Publisher: 978-1-4165-4920-8/Astria Books (Part of Simon & Schuster)
Age Group/Genre: Adult/General Fiction
Jane Jones gets in a fight with her husband and takes off. She leaves San Diego with her daughter and heads to where her younger brother is. Except, it's not a straight shot journey to the East Coast, but one where her brother, Joley sends her to different destinations across the U.S. via letters.
The story eventually lands them in an apple orchard where we will finally meet all five narrators. Songs of the Humpback Whale includes a love triangle and a first love.
But which loves will actually last???
This novel was uniquely told in five different voices. I find Jodi Picoult amazing in the way that she is able to tap into so many characters minds to tell each of their points-of-views. At first, I wasn't quite sure how much I liked the book. Sometimes, the story got a bit repetitive because each character would have their own memories from the same events. But at the same time, it gave me a better understanding of each character.
As I read the book, I wasn't sure who I liked. I didn't know who the good guy/bad guy was. One moment I would be pulling for one character and then I would dislike that character. This novel definitely had me wanting more. In the end, I couldn't forget the characters. And I also craved apples while reading the book.
My Rating:
I still haven't read any Picoult. Do you have a favorite from her body of work?
ReplyDeleteThank you for a great review! I want to read this book of Picoult's but being that it was her very first (or close to it) it's not that easy to find. I'm happy to know it sounds like one worth reading! Glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteAmber...my fave from her is My Sister's Keeper. I absolutely loved it. The book has a different ending to the movie (so don't rely on the movie).
ReplyDeleteAmy...It was her first and I loved how she started her career in writing with so many different pov's in her novel. It was a great read...I hope you can find it!