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Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult, Atria, 2011, 480 pp, ISBN: 1439102724
Recap (Caution - This is a pretty detailed recap! I don't tell you end, but there's a lot of info here!):
Zoe and Max have been married for almost 10 years, and want nothing more than a baby to complete their family. Yet after another failed round of in vitro fertilization, Zoe learns that she and Max aren't exactly on the same page anymore. In fact, when Zoe expresses her desire to try for another baby, Max leaves her and files for divorce.
In the months that follow, Max moves back in with his big brother Reid and his wife Liddie, while Zoe spends more and more time with her friend Vanessa - a school counselor who had hired Zoe in the past for her skills as a music therapist.
As time passes, Zoe realizes that her feelings for Vanessa have progressed beyond friendship. In fact, she has fallen in love, a sentiment that is whole-heartedly reciprocated by Vanessa.
When the two women decide together that it's not too late to have a child together, Zoe approaches Max to ask permission to use their three remaining embryos. After all, he made it very clear that he had no desire to start a family when he left her.
What Zoe doesn't yet understand is that, in their time apart, Max has given his life to Jesus and the pastor of his church isn't about to let Max give his "pre-born children" away to his "deviant ex-wife."
The court case and evolution of relationships that follow are something that no one involved will ever forget.
Review:
Can I just take a moment to tell you how much I love Jodi Picoult? Seriously, this woman is brilliant. She does meticulous research for each of her books, and somehow always manages to present all sides of an issue without ever revealing where she stands. She doesn't shy away from controversial issues, or an anti-happy ending. Plus, her story telling methods are incredibly creative. From the graphic novel elements of The 10th Circle to the audio CD included with Sing You Home, she isn't afraid to partner with expert artists who can make her stories even more captivating.
Sing You Home, which will hit bookstores on March 1, is yet another stunning example of this master story-teller at work. Right away, the reader is knotted to the heartstrings of Zoe Baxter, a music therapist who is absolutely desperate for a child. When Max leaves her, only days after scattering the ashes of their stillborn child, one would think that the reader would hate him for such a heartless move, but I actually empathized with him instead. Max knew that he was no longer enough for Zoe, that no matter how much he loved and supported her, she would never be happy without a baby.
When Zoe fell in love with Vanessa, I was actually pretty shocked! Even though their relationship is the basis for much of the book, I hadn't known that before starting. Regardless, Zoe and Vanessa's relationship felt authentic and real. It was easy to see how well they complimen
5 Comments on Sing You Home, last added: 1/14/2011
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I want your copy! Want to send it to me with The Unidentified?
I love Jodi Picoult! All of her books are so wonderful, even if the almost always make me cry. Looking forward to this one!
To Sarah: I WISH I could send it to you! I got to read it as part of a "book tour" which means that a whole bunch of bloggers get about a week each to read/review and then send the book on to the next person. We definitely need to buy a copy when it comes out though!
To Shannon: Yay! She really is the best. I hope you get to read it SOON!
I was a little disappointed with the ending of her last book. Glad to see that you really liked this one. Her books definitely provoke discussion. I did read one review (Publishers' Weekly) that suggested that she wrote the book in a one sided way, portraying Zoe and Vanessa as "saints" and Max as a "right wing puppet". I will have to read it for myself when it is published! Thanks for your sharing your thoughts.
To Christina: I absolutely agree that the reader was made to feel much more sympathetic toward Zoe and Vanessa. The people on Max's "side" were pretty extreme in their words and actions. However, there are absolutely thousands of people who believe exactly what those characters believe and wouldn't have seen those views as "extreme" at all. (I know quite a few of those people) So even if Max was somewhat "right wing puppet-ish," I never read his character as unrealistic or inauthentic.
I hope that you read Sing You Home and love it!