Thursday 30 January 2014

Book Review and Giveaway: Jodi Picoult The Storyteller

Name: The Storyteller
Author: Jodi Picoult
Publisher: Hodder

Summary: Sage Singer befriends an old man who's particularly beloved in her community. Josef Weber is everyone's favorite retired teacher and Little League coach. They strike up a friendship at the bakery where Sage works. One day he asks Sage for a favor: to kill him. Shocked, Sage refuses…and then he confesses his darkest secret - he deserves to die, because he was a Nazi SS guard. Complicating the matter? Sage's grandmother is a Holocaust survivor.

What do you do when evil lives next door? Can someone who's committed a truly heinous act ever atone for it with subsequent good behavior? Should you offer forgiveness to someone if you aren't the party who was wronged? And most of all - if Sage even considers his request - is it murder, or justice?


Review: Now this is my first Jodi Picoult read and it has been a long time coming. I dare say this won't be my last. I have seen the film My Sister's Keeper, and I have asked for the book many times but still haven't received it. I already want to read that and The Pact. As much as I have loved finally devouring a Jodi Picoult book, I will be reading them sparingly as Jodi covers a number of difficult yet ever so real subjects. So I would not be able to read too many together without going crazy or becoming a little depressed. 
Throughout reading this lengthy novel I was well and truly addicted and intrigued to find out what happened next. The Holocaust is real and it's a subject matter that had an impact on a lot of lives. 
A sad, yet real story that will have you eager to know more. I like the fact that Jodi has different voices for the different characters as well as flashbacks, bringing the reader right into the front line of the story. Sage instantly became one of my favourite voices, she really doesn't realise how remarkable and brave she is. She has lived most of her life feeling like she doesn't deserve to be happy, to be loved...until she starts to realise that actually that is exactly what she deserves.

Another thing I really liked was no matter how sure you thought you were on the outcome there was bound to be a change. Whenever I thought I could no longer be shocked I was shocked sideways. 
The biggest twist of the story made perfect sense all along. I would definitely recommend The Storyteller and I am pleased to announce that I have two copies up for grabs. Why do you deserve one of those copies?
Be sure to leave your name and email address so you can be contacted. 







14 comments:

Unknown said...

Hanna G.
jg.hanna101@gmail.com

I've read My Sister's Keeper countless of times and watched the movie over and over again. It's one of my all time favorites, I absolutely love it! Jodi Picoult has never failed to impress me, I've also read Lone Wolf and it's also good. After reading your review, I'm dying to read this book so please please with a cherry on top pick me!

Dark Readers said...

Thanks Hanna believe me it's well worth the wait. Well there's two up for grabs so you're doing well so far.

erin said...

I think that I've read about 3/4 of all of Jodi's work and I really enjoy them. They are tear jerkers to be sure but what I really enjoy most about them is that they make you think and squirm about the real life "what ifs". Thanks for sharing!
efender1(at)gmail

erin said...

Oh and I definitely recommend My Sister's Keeper. I haven't seen the movie but a friend who has done both said that the movie was cleaned up to make it not so sad. So it's a completely different ending. I cried at the end of the book and I can count on one hand how many times a book has driven me to tears and I've read 1000s. Another great Picoult is Second Glances. Not as "heavy" as her others but just as engrossing :)

Unknown said...

Aaron
stupidgenius73@gmail.com
From your review this book feels like an emotional rollercoaster ride with a beautiful story for me to enjoy. I've never read My Sister's Keeper, but I've always wanted it so now that I have a chance to read this I'm jumping for it! Great review :)

Unknown said...

Great Review! The Pact will not disappoint! It's my favorite out of all Picoults novels.

Anonymous said...

Ria
itsriaaa@yahoo.com

Jodi Picoult is my all time favourite author. I've already read My Sister's Keeper which broke me into a million pieces, but at the same time it brounght me down to earth, literally & made me realise how happy I was. It is definitelly a lifetime must-read !I have also read other books by Jodi Picoult such as Sing You Home, The Pact, Handle W/ Care and so on. All of them are absolutely amazing; heart-breaking, smile-bringing, but the most important ..they are life changing.
About The Storyteller I've heard so many good things that I won't be able to remember all of them even if I want to. I think this is what makes Jodi such a fabulous writer. She knows how to win & impress her readers. Moreover, I am a huge history fan and I have german relatives myself so I think this makes the story even more appealing to me. I am super, super, super excited to read this book.

Anonymous said...

By the way, if you enjoyed My Sister's Keeper perhaps you should try watching The Tenth Circle (another adaptation after one of Jodi Picoult's books). I also recommend reading the book which is even better than the movie.

Sarah | Mundane Sundays said...

Me me me! I haven't read anything by Jodi Picoult but I've heard such amazing things about her novels
Sarah
sarah.mundanesundays@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I have read Nineteen Minutes, My Sister's Keeper, The Tenth Circle, and Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult and the first two were my favorites. I can't wait to get my hands on this one. I do not know how she churns these books out so quickly. My email address is lauren88f@aol.com

Anonymous said...

mandyjayjayjay@gmail.com
I really like Jodi Picoult's novels. She as such a unique style. I read almost every book from her except of The Storyteller and The Pact. So yeah.. I'm literally dying to read them! :D

Anonymous said...

Hey Hayley. I was wondering. When will the giveaway be over?

Anonymous said...

Is it over yet?

Anonymous said...

Hello?!

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