I purchased this book at the Friends of the Library used book store in Wheaton, Maryland.

This book was chosen because it has the word “heart” in the title. It is being released in memory of Becky Johns who lost her life in a tragic accident when only nine years old. Her birthday had been Valentine’s Day.

Learn more about Becky Johns on Becky's Hugs, her Facebook memorial page.

Feel free to make a journal entry both on BookCrossing and on "Becky’s Hugs".

This book is being released at the Meet-Up of BC in DC at Cosi.

Dear Reader:
Welcome to BookCrossing! Thank you for accepting this travelling book. I'd be delighted if you'd make a journal entry here on Bookcrossing saying that the book is now safe in your hands. You may do this anonymously if you prefer. After reading the book, please journal your thoughts about it. You make then keep this book or pass it along for someone else to enjoy. Should you choose to join BookCrossing at any time (free with no strings), kindly name me, SqueakyChu, as your referring person. In the meantime, Happy Bookcrossing!

Picked up at today's BCinDC meetup in Arlington, VA. I plan to read it (or perhaps listen to the audiobook from the library) and then release it on Valentine's Day for Becky's memorial release walk.

Edit: I was too sick to attend the release walk, so I will release it in Becky's honor another time.

When Paige was five years old, her mother left, abandoning her and her father suddenly one night. The story opens with Paige, as an adult, camped out on her own front lawn, barred by her husband from entering the house or seeing their infant son. Slowly, through flashbacks and memories, we learn about Paige's childhood, her abortion as a teenager, her flight to Boston after high school, and her fast-paced relationship with medical student Nicholas and his affluent parents. As a wannabe sketch artist myself, I was drawn to Paige's love for drawings and her mysterious talent for incorporating other people's secrets into their portraits without realizing it or understanding its significance. I was also a little spooked by Paige's early experiences with motherhood, as I imagine I would act the same way. My favorite character, however, was Astrid. She started out as a one-dimensional snob of a wicked mother-in-law, but later revealed herself to be an actual human being.

The story itself is just the sort of glurge I've come to expect from Picoult, but felt less like she'd come up with the plot from reading a couple of sensational headlines. No kidnapping or murder or suicide or courtroom scenes - just family drama. Sure, most of the conflict came from people not talking to each other (a pet peeve of mine), but I was more patient with that this time around, given how extraordinarily unapproachable Nicholas (whom I imagine as looking like Neal Caffrey) was. I wouldn't want to talk to him either. In short, this book was decent but nothing spectacular.

Bringing this to the monthly BCinDC meetup at Elevation Burger in National Harbor, MD. If no one claims it, I'll donate it to the Accio Books bookdrive, in honor of Becky Johns.

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Join me April 15-17 for the 2011 BookCrossing Convention in Washington, D.C.!

Picked this one up at the meetup at Elevation Burger at National Harbor. Plan to read it first and then release it at one of the book buffets at the April 15-17 for the 2011 BookCrossing Convention in Washington, D.C.

See http://www.bcindc.zoiks.org/ for convention information.

On one of the book buffets in the hotel atrium.

This was on the 'First Sentences' wrapped-book buffet table, which I must say is really a fun idea - my thanks to the organizers! Also, I'm very pleased that this turned out to be by Jodi Picoult, whom I usually like quite well.

This was kind of a disappointment. The first Picoult book I read, 'My Sister's Keeper,' really impressed me because it posed so many good questions about moral coercion and family dynamics, focusing, of course, on whether the younger sister had a right to refuse to donate her kidney. It provoked some wonderful discussions in my family and circle of friends about circumstances in which we would or would not agree to be a donor.

On the other hand, this book seemed tailored to women who had been left by their mothers, or who were planning in turn to leave their own families. A limited audience, one would guess, and not one that includes me. So only four stars.

But I'm completely enchanted by melydia's word "glurge." It has overtones of bilge, sludge, and gurgle; if it gets into your plumbing, you're in trouble. It also (to me) suggests artificially whipped up, pointless drama. A great literary descriptor! You won't find it in most romances; there isn't enough substance there even to coat the spoon. Personally, I detect glurge in Dan Brown's work - but melydia may intend the word to convey more sticky emotionalism. I would be thrilled to be instructed in the proper use of the word, with examples if possible. :-)

A final note: the cover of this copy is better than the one pictured, since it shows Paige looking out the window at clouds, and only after a few seconds do we see the mother's head - a good depiction of Paige's talent for including unseen elements in her drawings.

But that's just one person's opinion. What do YOU think about this book, future reader?

On bookshelves