I’ve been searching for a book to really blow me away for the whole of 2017, but I’ve been pretty underwhelmed by everything I’ve read so. But finally, FINALLY, I have found a book to really love – Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult.
I was a huge Jodi Picoult fan going back eight or 10 years. I read every new book as soon as it came out and worked my through her back catalogue too. Her novels were well written with interesting story lines, but they did start to get a little bit same-y. They were always written from a parent’s point of view, there was always some unusual situation going on involving a child and generally a court case too. Then I had the misfortune to read Lone Wolf, which was particularly bad in my humble opinion, and I stopped reading Jodi Picoult.
But The Storyteller from a few years ago was pretty special and I’d heard really good things about Small Great Things. Most writers progress and improve over time – it was time to check out Jodi Picoult again! And I wasn’t disappointed.
Small Great Things is the story of a baby who dies shortly after birth and the circumstances surrounding that death. To the reader, it seems like a very unfortunate case of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, but to the baby’s parents it is the fault of the nurse who had been banned from caring for him by his father. And so both families go to hell and back, via the inevitable court case, in the search of the truth.
As is always the way with Jodi Picoult, the novel is written from the point of view of the three main characters – nurse Ruth, father Turk and Ruth’s lawyer, Kendall.
Jodi Picoult is a white American author who is no doubt rolling in cash. Ruth is a Black woman, who has fought to be accepted in a white world. Turk is a White Supremacist. I am in awe at how well Picoult becomes these two characters, they are completely and utterly believable. That’s what makes this novel so special.
The opening few chapters of Small Great Things are just stunning. It tails off slightly in the middle as the story moves along, but it still blows anything else I’ve read this year out of the water. I shed a fair few tears over this book and was very surprised by the twist near the end.
If you’re looking for a moving, thought-provoking and very well written read, I can definitely recommend Small Great Things.
March 10, 2017
I love Jodi Picoult too, just need to find more time to pick up a book & not toys or laundry now!
March 10, 2017
This one is definitely her best! I always found a bit of time to read even when my kids were small, but I do have more time for it now and I love it 🙂
March 10, 2017
Ooh interestingly I was talking about Jodi Picoult to a friend while we were running on Wednesday. I hadn’t heard of Small Great Things but I’m going to look out for it, thanks for the recommendation!
Nat.x
March 12, 2017
You definitely need to read this one. All Jodi Picoult books are good, but this one is a cut above. x
March 11, 2017
I agree that this book was very special – and courageous. Cheers
March 12, 2017
Exactly that! Thanks very much 🙂
March 11, 2017
Ahh now this is interesting! Like you I discovered her books about eight years ago and became mildly obsessed. But then I think I read one too many and became a bit bored of them and I can’t actually remember the last time I read any of her books. This is making me think that I should try again though!
March 12, 2017
It sounds like we’ve been on exactly the same ‘Jodi Picoult journey’. You should definitely try this one though, I think it’s quite special. It’s taking her work to the next level.
April 10, 2017
I loved this book, such powerful writing! Thanks for sharing with #readwithme
April 11, 2017
It really was powerful! It amazed me how she could get into the two characters and make them so believable.
April 10, 2017
I used to read a lot of Jodi Piccoult but like you I started to feel that the books were a bit same- y and sometimes predictable. Maybe now I’ve had a break I should go back to her again too, her books always come across as really well researched.
April 11, 2017
They’re really well researched! This feels like it’s superior to her other books. It’s definitely worth a try!
April 12, 2017
I’ve not read any by this author but I certainly like the sound of this one
April 13, 2017
This is definitely worth reading! It’s a really gripping and thought-provoking story.
April 13, 2017
I don’t think I’ve ever read a Jodi Piccoult book, I’ve never fancied any of them really. I think I should definitely give her a try though and this sounds like a good one to go for. #readwithme
April 14, 2017
I know what you mean about sometimes just not fancying a particular author. I’ve done that and sometimes my instincts have been proved right and sometimes they’ve been proved very wrong. Why did I think I wouldn’t enjoy The Hunger Games?! I loved it!
This one is definitely worth a go.
April 17, 2017
I’m going to keep an eye out for this book at the charity shop. It sounds like a book I’d enjoy.