Change of Heart: A Novel

Author - Jodi Picoult ... [Goo?] [Posters]

This Hardcover Book item from Atria was reviewed on 24-Jul-2008.

Search ISBN:0743496744 offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. Change of Heart: A Novel Reference Book. Classifications : Contemporary Literature & Fiction Subjects Books Literary Literature & Fiction Subjects Books Psychological & Suspense Thrillers Mystery & Thrillers Subjects Books Literature American Literature Creat . Click the following link to view the cover of Change of Heart: A Novel.

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1) Hardcover Book Change of Heart: A Novel by Atria. As a Jodi Picoult fan, I found this novel interesting and easy to read. Picoult writes about a variety of difficult and controversial subjects and this book is no exception. Shay Bourne, a convicted murderer with a scheduled execution, wants to donate his heart to the dying 11 year old sister of one of his victims. The novel is narrated in turn by a fellow death row prisoner, a priest who counsels Shay, Shay´s attorney, and the mother of Shay´s victim. They all view Shay in a different light and as they each tell their story, the novel progresses to the execution date. Will the family accept Shay´s heart? Will Shay´s attorney win a landmark ruling to allow a change in method of execution? What about the "miracles" that have started to occur on Death Row? Will the priest reveal his secret of how he knew of Shay years earlier? And what did Shay mean by his mysterious comment to his victim´s mother?
If you can suspend belief as to how a language/learning disabled man can communicate as articulately and profoundly as Shay often does, it is a worthwhile book. Some of the plot lines (Maggie´s romance, June´s reaction to Shay´s revelation) were tied up too simply and neatly to be believable. I enjoyed the narratives of the priest and the fellow prisoner who seemed the most realistic of all characters. As usual, Picoult´s topic will make you think.¤

2) Hardcover Book Change of Heart: A Novel by Atria. I couldn´t wait for this book to come out & had such high hopes for it. The topic seemed intriguing to me, but ultimately the author seemed to rely too much on her established formula, and did not bother to use any originality in the writing of this text.

I absolutely loved Sister´s Keeper, but haven´t been too thrilled with Jodi Picoult´s other books I´ve read since then (Nineteen Minutes was just OK but had a rather poor ending, and Keeping Faith was predictable and had poorly developed characters for whom I could not develop any significant feelings). I am sad to say that this was, by far, Ms. Picoult´s worst work; so predictable that, by less than a third of the way through it, I started flipping through the remainder of the pages just to confirm my suspicions (and was even more disappointed to discover I was correct in every one). In addition, like others have mentioned, Shay Bourne´s character has too many similarities to the main character from The Green Mile (note: I have only seen the movie). I decided not to waste my time even finishing this book, due to its high degree of predictability and low degree of creativity and originality (both in terms of plot and character development).

Overall, Change of Heart is a most disappointing effort by Ms. Picoult, and I recommend saving your dollars for a better read. At this time, I am reading The Pact, which I purchased at the same time as Change of Heart...I do hope it lives up to the precedence set by Sister´s Keeper. The outcome of this read will determine if I will purchase any other Picoult books in the future, or if the success of Sister´s Keeper was simply a fluke for this author. Perhaps it is time for me to return to my all-time favorite author, Robin Cook, and give Jodi Picoult a chance to regain her zest for writing.¤

3) Hardcover Book Change of Heart: A Novel by Atria. This is another good Jodi Picoult book. I have read most of her novels and enjoy each one for her ability to give us interesting characters and hot-button issues that get us, her readers, to think about things in a new light. This book is no exception.

Shay is a man on death row who is waiting to be executed for the killing of a police officer and his daughter. June, the mother of the child who was killed and now a widow, has another daughter who has serious heart problems. Shay offers to give up his heart once he is executed, however he will need to die by another means and not by lethal injection which is where the lawyer, Maggie, enters into the picture.

One of the interesting concepts in this story is that Shay does not appear to be just another inmate. He seems to be able to perform miracles as in making another inmate´s HIV disappear, bringing a bird back to life, etc. Is he truly the Messiah or is this all a scam to try and prolong his life?

This book explores religious themes, relationships between mothers and daughters, the death penalty and what it truly means to have a heart.¤

4) Hardcover Book Change of Heart: A Novel by Atria. I enjoyed this book. It brings up the issue of the death penalty with a twist or two. I loved the character of Maggie. She seemed to develop most in the story. I loved the way it all played out. I didn´t give it 5 stars because of the VERY obvious elements taken (stolen?) from Stephen Kings Green Mile. I mean common. A convicted child murderer performing miricles and making the ultimate sacrifice, the bird, the practice runs. I also felt the story was a bit predictable. No real surprises at the end but I liked the way it was ended. Over all it was a good story and I enjoyed it.¤

5) Hardcover Book Change of Heart: A Novel by Atria. this takeoff on King´s much better version was disappointing and aggravating with unbelievable characters and very predictable plot twists. Her one dimensional understanding of an atty or priest´s work day was very annoying. Skip this until the cheaper paperback version or borrow from library.¤

6) Hardcover Book Change of Heart: A Novel by Atria.

The acclaimed #1 New York Times bestselling author presents a spellbinding tale of a mother´s tragic loss and one man´s last chance at gaining salvation.

Can we save ourselves, or do we rely on others to do it? Is what we believe always the truth?

One moment June Nealon was happily looking forward to years full of laughter and adventure with her family, and the next, she was staring into a future that was as empty as her heart. Now her life is a waiting game. Waiting for time to heal her wounds, waiting for justice. In short, waiting for a miracle to happen.

For Shay Bourne, life holds no more surprises. The world has given him nothing, and he has nothing to offer the world. In a heartbeat, though, something happens that changes everything for him. Now, he has one last chance for salvation, and it lies with June´s eleven-year-old daughter, Claire. But between Shay and Claire stretches an ocean of bitter regrets, past crimes, and the rage of a mother who has lost her child.

Would you give up your vengeance against someone you hate if it meant saving someone you love? Would you want your dreams to come true if it meant granting your enemy´s dying wish?

Once again, Jodi Picoult mesmerizes and enthralls readers with this story of redemption, justice, and love.¤

Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 21-Aug-2008, 07434967449780743496742, 490-8

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