This novel takes place in Vermont and is a mixture of mystery, history, Indian culture, and love story. All four aspects are nicely done. I have read several of Ms. Picoult's novels- a few stand out and stay with me, some I would not want to read a second time. This novel is in the first group. It is a complex novel with many main characters; surprisingly, the relation between them is tied together into a satisfying package with a really WOW!!! punch near the end. Although the story is complicated at first and alternates between character narratives and past and present stories, it was not hard to follow, and is such a good story that it's easy to keep reading until it all makes sense.
After I finished the book, I read an interview with the author about the historical aspects of the book. It was very interesting and I think should be included at the end of the book.

I could NOT put this book down! I enjoy how Picoult can weave in history into a story. I also loved how the book moved from character to character until you could connect all the dots together. I was surprised a few times by the turn of events, and I was surprised also at the ending.

If you like mystery, fantasy, romance, and history, then this is the book for you!

When I first read the brief description of the book, I thought it was about a man and his failed relationships, intertwined with some paranormal encounters. Great for an audio read. I was so surprised about the other more significant storyline of the eugenics project of the 1930s, I had to look it up when I got home. The book was riveting and educational too! This was my first Jodi Picoult and so far, it is my favorite. I have recommended it to many, as it has so many good elements: intrigue, romance, mystery, anger, heartbreak, and ghosts. What a weird combination yet it works so well.

Second Glance, my favorite Picoult novel so far, is unusual, because it is a ghost story. It is also a love story, like all of Ms Picoult's other novels that I have read. The added element of ghosts and hauntings effectively add an unusual dimension. The realistic characters blossom in our hearts, while the mysterious past shows its impact on both the present and the future. Reinforcing the idea that life is priceless, no matter what kind of life it ends up being, we find ourselves consoled by the reoccurring theme that maybe everything really does happen for a reason. The message that life is to be cherished is clearly presented, as the author benignly queries some highly-controversial topics. All of this is accomplished with the poetic grace of Ms Picoult's writing.

I have read two of her books and she is wonderful. I am going to read everything she writes, I have become a fan.

This was my second book by Jodi Picoult. I liked it, but not nearly as much as My Sister's Keeper. It was a little slow in some areas, predictable in others and completely unbelievable in parts. I also felt like the character development was a little weak. It certainly won't keep me from reading another Jodi Picout book.

very well written book with theories to make you think about the reality of ghosts

This book was hard to understand at the beginning because so many different characters were introduced, but I kept pushing through it because I love her writing. It was worth it, the characters started to show their personalities and they were wonderful. I highly recommend this book, it's a little bit different of a story than Picoult usually writes, but it is fantastic.

Book arrived in good condition a few days ahead of schedule. Seller let me know shortly after order was placed shipping datel

I purchased the audio version, but had been warned there were many characters to follow... so I made an extra effort to keep track of names as they were introduced. It really wasn't hard and this novel was worth it. I have to agree with a previous reviewer that the second section, the history portion, was a bit tedious. But it all came together in the end, with a twist that made things interesting. I usually save the audio books as incentive when I work out, sometimes I listen on long car trips... but this one enticed me to listen at home to learn what happened. My first Jodi Picoult book, I'm sure I'll read (or hear!) more.

I loved this book. I liked all the characters and the way their stories/life were entertwined. For some of my friends they did not like that there was so much jumping around and said it was hard to follow. Not for me, I highly recommend this book it is hard to put it down.

For some reason, I keep buying Jodi Picoult books, although I know, and everyone else that knows me knows, that there's never really anything new about them. Nearly always, there's a court case/murder trial, which she seems to enjoy writing about for some reason, but I find seriously boring. And then she always, always, messes up the ending.

Second Glance is her latest book out in the UK, and is mainly about ghosts. It's split into parts - part one, I swear took me over a week to wade through. She throws all these different characters at the reader, none of whom you're given any reason to particularly care about, and none of whom bear any relation to each other. You've got a stressed out mother, with a son suffering from XP (can't be in sunlight), with a brother who's always on the edge of the cliff, trying to commit suicide, to get back to the love he lost. He's a ghost hunter, to put it nicely, and is trying to see if his lost love will 'visit' him.

There's a bunch of other people as well - a mum with a kid who sees ghosts, an old Native American, a cop, etc. You now the drill. She could throw any characters into this, it really wouldn't make a difference.

Then the second part comes as a complete and throws the reader 70 years back in time. Finally, things begin to make sense. Kind of. At least we know why some of the characters are there, and it makes more sense, now we actually get to meet a ghost.

So once everything begins to fall into place, she has to throw in a couple more characters, and give them more meaning. But there's just too many characters. The beginning of the book, I kept stopping and starting, and then forget what a charater was doing, who was related to who, etc. If she introduced them slowly, maybe I wouldn't have such a problem.

There's no court case in Second Glance. Yeh! There's a fight over some land - minor plot point - but no court case. Even when I was on holiday, the person I was with asked me if there was a court case in the book by Jodi I was reading at the time. It's a major thing with me how much she writes about court cases. But this time, there is none. (These books are regular holiday reading for me, cos they're so dispensable. Weighs down my suitcase/hand luggage, but I still end up with too many books with me!)

But she still messes up the ending! How many times can a writer mess up an ending to one of her own books? Each book I've read (and it's been nearly all of them), the ending has either fallen flat, or there's too many loose ends, or it just doesn't work and has an almost rushed feeling to it. Second Glance has a rushed feeling about it - as if she'd run out of ideas, and just ended it. But it has been slightly better than a couple of her other books, but I just get the feeling now I'm wasting my time reading the books. Will I stop? Someone needs to stop me next time I see a book of hers!!!

I love the story, characters and outcome of the book, but I was offended by the language and sexual situations. I would have highly recommended it for my book group if they had of been left out. I won't even mention it now, and if I see a book written by Jodi Piccoult, I pass it by. This is a shame because I think she's a very good writer.

I had a hard time getting into this book.
However it still only took me a week to finish it.
The worst was trying to get through part 2..The diary.
Part 3 went by very quickly as Jodi pulled everything together.
Was over all a pretty good book.
I might re-read it to see exactly what I missed, now that I know how it ends!!

I had a hard time getting into this book.
However it still only took me a week to finish it.
The worst was trying to get through part 2..The diary.
Part 3 went by very quickly as Jodi pulled everything together.
Was over all a pretty good book.
I might re-read it to see exactly what I missed, now that I know how it ends!!

Love most all Jodi Picoult books and this one is no exception. Jodi keeps you guessing and wondering throughout her stories. Love the little twists and turns!

This was a great book. I've read one other book written by Jodi Picoult and also loved it. This book begins a little slow, but with interest, and then becomes a roller coaster of emotions. This is a story with many stories that seem separate but are woven together to leave you with both relief and questions about your own human values. It really is a ghost story and a murder mystery and a history lesson and a course in advance philosophy. There are parts that are very difficult to read...emotionally difficult...because Picoult doesn't pull any punches about humanities treatment of humanity. However, in the end, there is a kind of calmness that emerges out of the tumultuous tale. Don't miss reading this.

This was the first of Jodi's novels that I've read. After reading all the wonderful reviews, I have to say I was a little disappointed. Maybe it was because it was built up so much. It was entertaining, but not a "great read". I don't think it is one that I would re-read. There is nothing to pinpoint my disappointment, other than it just wasn't as exciting, or emotional, or intense as a really great book is. Because I keep on seeing that this is one of Jodi's best books, I'm wondering if I should even bother with the rest of her books.

I'm not good at writing reviews for things like this, but I bought this book in a used bookstore because one of the characters had my name. I didn't really expect the book to be any good, but it was one of the best things I read that year. I'm going back now and reading as many of this author's books as I can find.

Ross Wakeman, ghost hunter, fails to kill himself several times before he ends up clincally dead then revives to shock a doctor. Jodi Picoult's "Second Glance" with it's maze-like introduction of characters; keeps you turning the pages as each one falls into the scheme of her complex plot. She builds her story around the little known movement in the US during the 1920's and 30's of eugencis. Racial cleansing through "voluntary" sterlization was conceived in Natzi Germany based on an American practice.
Ross is lead through the maze of fable and fact by one of the most intrinsic ghosts in current fiction.
Each new addition to Ms. Picoult's literary work is greeted with anticipation.
Nash Black, author of "Taxes, Stumbling Blocks and Pitfalls for Authors 2007" and "Qualifying Laps."

This book had a great plot twist and wasn't afraid to deal with a hot point topic (as Picoult's books always do). I loved the ghost story angle and was rooting for Ross from that great first line. It was one of those reads that kept me up until the wee hours of the morning.

This is a ghost story, a love story, a history lesson, a telling account of the passion of motherhood, the tenacity of fatherhood, the connection of human life through many generations, the danger of stereotyping, an account of an obscure Native American tribe, and the common struggle of individual human beings in every generation living their daily lives and emerging triumphant!

Jody Picoult is a master wordsmith and George Guidall the perfect narrator for this tale. I din't want it to end.

Another amazing book by Jodi Picoult. Just as you think you have it figured out, another twist makes sure you don't. WOW!!! Loved this book.

Another amazing book by Jodi Picoult. Just as you think you have it figured out, another twist makes sure you don't. WOW!!! Loved this book.

I have read every book written by Jodi except her latest "19 Minutes." I find her to be one of the best story-tellers on the market. Her characters become real and it's sad when the book ends because so do the characters. This book has a lot of characters but Jodi does a good job of developing them. It was a little difficult in the beginning to keep up with who was who and in what era they lived but once you get through the first few chapters, you'll be hooked. I have always been interested in Native American burial grounds and the sacred meaning they have for Indians. I was shocked at some of the history of Vermont and its desire to try to create a perfect race (a little like Hitler). This is a real page turner. I can't wait for some director to decide to turn one of Jodi's novels into a movie. All of them qualify for a major motion picture. An avid fan of Jodi - Deborah Shawn

I found this book to be a real page turner. I loved the historical aspects displayed and the clever way all of the characters inter-twined. Great Book!!

Jodi Picoult's "Second Glance," is a combination ghost story-mystery, with a distinct chick lit flavor. It opens in the small village of Comtosook, Vermont, as the usual callous developer is attempting to put up the usual strip mall on what's considered by some to be the usual ancient Abenaki Indian burial ground. This has caused strange supernatural doings throughout the village. Rose petals fall profusely from the sky; the ground freezes in August; sensible people see ghosts.

The plot concerns not one, but two single mothers with troubled children; the brother of one woman is a ghost hunter come to town to try to sort himself, and things, out. Eventually, after more than 100 pages of strange supernatural doings, feelings, and meeting many people we never will meet again, we finally arrive at the mystery. It appears that 70 years ago Cecilia Pike and her newborn daughter were murdered in the big house on the land the developer wants.

We learn that poor Cecilia was both the daughter of, and the wife of, ultra-respectable, professorial "eugenicists" who wanted to sterilize, by any means, the unsatisfactory lower classes. Apparently there was such a movement in Vermont at that time. It gained some success until being driven from respectability by the advent of Hitler and his Nazi party: they too had this horrifying aim. Like the young boy at the heart of this story, this idea could not stand the light of day.

The mystery is eventually solved, with the benefit of various ghosts, and the use of modern scientific forensic method on the evidence left behind. The story does gather some narrative thrust, and emotional power: its solution is reasonably interesting, and has some unforeseen twists. But it has to be a sad story.

Never mind: Picoult arrives at a happy ending, ties up all the loose ends, in a book that's so awash with feelings that even men cry. You could call it a chick lit mystery, or even a valentine.

This was an amazing book. The twists and turns that Jodi takes you through in this book both suprise and amaze. There was no figuring out the ending of this book long before getting to it and there was a new suprise on every page. My advice, don't pick up this book unless you have time to read it because you truly will not be able to put it down until you've read the last word. It is one of those books that makes you wish it would never end and when it does it leaves you wanting more!! Bravo to Jodi Picoult she is an amazing writer!

I have read most of Jodi Picoult's books. This wasn't my favorite one of hers, nothing was as good as The Pact! But, I did really enjoy reading Second Glance. They way Picoult develops her characters makes you want to keep reading more and more about them. This was a very good read!

It took me more than 100 pages to really get into this book but it was a good read anyway. I felt Ross's return from the dead a little "out there", but still really enjoyed this book.

Excellent writing, almost poetic at times and the characters were well developed. The fact that this is based on true history of eugenics in VT grounds the book a bit.

This is one author I won't give up on. After having read My Sister's Keeper and Keeping Faith, I'm on to Plain Truth next...

I have never read any of this author's works before. I picked this book up because it had a supernatural edge to it that I was intrigued by. From the first chapter I was hooked. This book was phenomenal. I have to admit that I enjoyed every page and was not the least bit bored at any point. This book was both emotional and uplifting. The book took on the harsh topics of eugenics without taking too much of a personal opinion with it. I loved the interweaving of the characters. The characters were introduced early on in the story seemingly without much connection between them. This was at times a bit daunting, trying to keep them all straight. The characters themselves were interesting and they simply draw you in. The focus of this book was family in its many forms. I simply adored this book which to be honest is not something that happens very often with me. I loved how as the story progressed you got to see how those seemingly unconnected characters came together. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a book that is both complex and thought provoking.

I really enjoyed this book. I was interested to see how all of the characters fit together - though I will admit that Ross's heart broken melodrama bothered me somewhat. Maybe I just couldn't relate but the volume of self pity she deposits in this character produces nausea. I also didn't understand why the Sheriff dreamed and hallucinated the mother of the albino boy (please forgive me as it was at least four books ago and I don't remember all of the names). With all the ghost sightings was he supposed to be seeing the specter of his future wife? His soul mate? Not clear.

Okay, the question here: We are supposed to be shocked and appalled by the eugenics project, right? We are supposed to see that it's all a load of crap and we couldn't believe that they thought this way not so long ago. But isn't Cecelia a tad insane? Instable and out of touch with reality. Isn't every one confused about her inability to cope and frequent suicide attempts. And then we discover that she is part Indian... wouldn't a eugenics supporter see that as proof that race and genes do matter?? Someone write me and tell me what I am missing...
Maybe her insanity has nothing to do with her race but rather the oppression and lies that she has lived under...she's just that sensitive. But it seems to me that the one crazy lady - amidst a flock of eugenics scholars - only reinforces eugenics thinking by being of mixed genetic heritage.

P.S. No court room scenes. Yay!!

i was hesitant to read this because of it being on the supernatural side, but my friend encouraged me to read a couple of chapters befor making up my mind, and i am so glad she did. it is one of the best books i have read. even if you don't buy into the whole ghost thing, i think that most will still love this book. before you know it, you are totally wrapped up in it-- i couldn't put it down!!

A developer intends to build on a plot of land when an elderly Native American begins a protest, claiming that it is a burial ground for his people. As construction gets underway, the whole town begins experiencing odd phenomena: rose petals that fall like raindrops, dramatic temperature changes, ground frozen solid in the middle of the summer, a house that will not stay destroyed. The developer calls in a ghost hunter, Ross Wakeman, destroyed by his past, who tries to discover what spirit is restless, while searching for his own ghosts. As usual in Picoult's novels, paths intertwine, shocking connections are made, twists occur, and individuals are drawn together.

Quote: "Just as Ross knew that in eight hours the sun would come up- just as he knew he'd have to go through the motions of another day- he also knew he couldn't die, in spite of the fact that it was what he wanted, more than anything."

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would- paranormal ghost hunting . . . eh. But the story line was interesting and enjoyable. To be sure, the level of suspended disbelief necessary to read it is huge (and I'm not just talking about buying into the ghost part, it is the degree to which the characters intertwine at every turn. While I am used to this in Jodi Picoult novels, sometimes I wanted to say `Oh, come on!' But I got over it). If you can take it all, even if just for the sake of the story, it's a good read.

When I read the back, I thought this story sounded ridiculous, but read it as I love other books of hers. It starts off a little slow with many characters, but relatively quickly I got into it. And...wow! The book is a great mix of historical and fiction...the different times meld and the characters are distinct and believable... a great book! It touches several different issues without becoming too dense and really makes you feel like you are in their world. While it does have supernatural phenomena, it is so well-written that it doesn't seem silly or fake. A great one!

This was a very well written novel. It always keeps you guessing.

This was the third book I have read by Jodi Picoult. I first read Plain Truth and then My Sister's Keeper. By far, Second Glance is definitely my favorite. The entire story keeps you guessing, even when you think you have everything figured out. The characters are so real you can see them in your mind's eye, detail for detail, emotion for emotion. In the beginning of the book, way too many characters are introduced, sending your head spinning. Be patient though; Picoult more than adequately gives you time to get to know each character in depth and connects the lives of the characters so well in the end of the book that you can not imagine not being introduced to so many in the beginning. I could not put this book down and still think about the serious issues discussed in this book. Definitely a must read.

As someone who finds the supernatural absolutely fascinating, I have always found Picoult's novels intriguing. However, unlike some of her other works, this novel is a slow starter. No less than 20 characters are introduced in the first few chapters of the book and it is sometimes tedious to remember who is who. That being said, the characters finally begin to mesh and flow...the dross drains away and the pure gold of Picoult's writing talent emerges.

As a hopeful romantic, I am drawn to the main character, Ross Wakeman, who has experienced love so profound it permeates to the bone. Once love on that level is experienced, and then lost, life's orchestral crescendo fades into a single note of woeful desperation and despondency. A suicide attempt seems the only answer...not once, not twice, but thrice. The enthralling encounter that enables Ross to knit together the broken pieces of his life is central to the plot of the book, and every bit as exciting as the ghosts who also haunt the pages. Ultimately, Ross learns the enigmatic truth that life isn't defined by the moment one dies, but by all the moments one truly lives.

"True love is like ghosts, which everybody talks about and few have ever seen."

Unlike other Picoult novels I have read, this one does not grab you and have you hooked by page 10. Rather the beginning is a series of disconcertingly short and seemingly unrelated scenes, in which many characters are introduced. However, as the story unfolds and the connections begin to reveal themselves, it just keeps getting better and better. So hang in there and you will be rewarded.

This is truly a rich and complex novel with a bit of everything. Families, ghosts, relationships, tragedy and love all come together to make up one powerful and highly enjoyable story. I was a little leery of reading a "ghost story" by an author who does not typically write such, but as the story unfolded I was pleasantly surprised again and again. One reviewer described the supernatural elements as "Stephen Kingish" but I think they are more Alice Hoffman than Stephen King. But in my opinion, Picoult is much more convincing than Hoffman, integrating these elements more smoothly and without hurting the believability of the story.

The plot twists and turns are amazing. Three quarters of the way through you will find yourself thinking "how the heck is she going to end this?" I never knew where it was going and I really respect an author who can keep me baffled for so long.

The bit about eugenics was also fascinating and thought-provoking.

The only downside was that there are too many characters to keep track of. True, the web of connections woven between them is nothing short of stunning, but I wasn't sure that Lucy was even necessary to the story. Maybe she should have met Ethan sooner, or maybe she was just a little too "Sixth Sense" for me. I know she's supposed to have dark hair, but I kept picturing Dakota Fanning whispering "I see dead people".

Bottom line: highly recommended.

I have been a big fan of Jodi Picoult since reading THE PACT. In her books the characters are so rich and well developed and she writes so well about such touchy subjects and the complexity of human relationships that you can't put her books down and are left wanting more.

For me this book was not a "spell-binding suspense novel" as touted on the cover, rather a story of family and relationships and inner deamons. I love the fact that Jodi's characters are so multi-faceted and so real that you actually care what happens to them long after you finish the book.

If you are just discovering Ms. Picoult, I envy you, if you've been a fan and have read several of her books, you know that every time you crack the cover on a new one, you can count on a satisfying, substantive read.

This is one book in which the book jacket does NOT do it justice. I thought I was in for a gentle novel about learning to value life, with a little hint of something spooky-- to be honest, the kind of thing I don't usually enjoy, but the writer had been praised in a book group so I thought I'd try it out.

But what I got instead was an exciting, gripping tale of love across time, a ghost story, a historical novel dealing with a little-known eugenics program in Vermont (who knew that Nazis claimed to get their inspiration from American eugenics bills! not me!) and well-- yes, life and love, but told with so much humor, clarity and vivid language that I truly could not put the book down. I stayed up until 5 AM to read it.

Examples: when the little town of Comstook becomes haunted, odd things happen like coffeemakers will only brew lemonade, rose petals fall from the air, photographs float off of development paper. These are tiny details but the author's invention is so generous that they stand out.

The first couple of chapters are a little confusing, as there are multiple points of view, but stick with it: all becomes clear. In fact this is one of those books that when you get to the end you want to go back to the beginning, because now that the clues are filled in the early parts and the connections have even more interest.

On top of all THAT, this is a great murder mystery, complete with forensic detail and investigation worthy of any in the L&O universe. The supernatural stuff is both funny and elegant. In short this is one of the best books I've read in a long time-- as much plot and excitement as any lightweight read, but written elegantly, sparely and with a lot to chew on afterwards. This is the kind of book that reminds you again why you like to read-- it has as much invention and wit as any good YA novel but as much depth and insight as any serious adult novel. This is the first Picoult I've read but definitely will NOT be the last!

Jodi Picoult explores life, death, the afterlife, and the enduring quality of love in her novel Second Glance. When a developer wants to build a strip mall on top of an Abenaki Indian burial ground, suspicious circumstances lead the town folks to believe the land is haunted by the spirit of the Abenaki. Ross Wakeman, a ghost hunter, comes to the small town to visit his sister and quickly becomes embroiled in the situation. He is hired by the developer to find out if the property is haunted or not. What he finds on the land will change the rest of his life.

It is truly impossible to not be smitten with Jodi Picoult. I have the hardest time putting her novels down. Unlike most of her other novels, Second Glance does not involve a court battle, which was a nice change of pace. This novel is so complex that it is really hard to describe. All the many stories are interconnected. It's complicated, but thrilling. I highly recommend it.

Jodi Picoult brings the supernatural world of ghosts and other phenomena to life in an unusual tale of love that transcends time and death. Second Glance is a story about the difference between life and really living. It is also about love.
As the tale evolves the possibilities of loving and living beyond all time are gently unwrapped and placed before the reader.
There is the mother with a son who has a rare disease, and as she focuses all her energy on him, the child sees the importance of living a rich full life.
A young man who is a ghosthunter enters. He is haunted by past events in his life that grow more and more confusing to him as he delves into the lives of those surrounding him, both dead and alive.
A young girl who lives far away from all of this, is thought to be going mad when she claims to be haunted by visions that are unexplained....
The stage for this story is a building site that once disturbed, seems to trigger a series of unnatural occurrences in a small Vermont town. When these phenomena cause the construction crew to walk off the job until an explanation can be found the ghosthunter is called in. The existence of an Indian burial ground elicits an investigation into that possibility. Between the ghosthunting and the legal and historical investigation, the facts of the past are uncovered, and the events that link everyone together are laid bare,and the truth is revealed.
Each person in Second Glance questions the value of time as it relates to living and loving and Jodi Picoult brings them to a wondrous revelation that will change the very fabric of their lives.

It's weird that some people couldn't get into this book, because I was hooked from the first pages, and I tore through it so fast that I was depressed when it was over! I'm a big Picoult fan, and this might be my favorite. I love how the characters' stories came together, and it has an awesome ending. If you like this book, try Keeping Faith - another intricate and thought-provoking Picoult novel.

For some reason, Jodi Picoult's books sound alot better when I read about them instead of actually reading them. This book just dragged on and on, and just didn't provide any real suspense or excitement. Moreover, the characters were somewhat boring and unlikeable. Good reading for the insomniac.

After getting past a few chapters of confusing dialogue, too many characters and intense language, Second Glances comes together to be an inteteresting and informative story of history, love and relationships. Set in picturesque Vermont, a tumultuous Ross Wakeman is looking for paranormal disturbances on what is said to be an Indian burial ground. In his search, he happens upon Lia - a long-deceased woman who comes to him in a loving manner. Unable to forgive himself for the death of his girlfriend, Ross sets out to find out why Lia's spirit features prominently on this land. In doing so, he meets many people and learns interesting news about the small town as well as about himself. A wonderful story.

I'm the biggest Jodi Picoult fan, but wow, am I impressed with this book. What a story! Some of the best plot twists she's ever done. If you are into the paranormal (like me--yes, I have had experience with ghosts), you're gonna love this book. If you are not, you will suspend your disbelief. She went on real live ghost hunts with pros to research this. The book introduced me to the pseudo-science of eugenics, which attempted in the 1920s and 1930s in this country to achieve "racial purity" and formed the model only a few years later for the Nazis'euthanasia and sterilization programs to weed out "inferior" traits. This was mentioned in the film Judgment at Nuremberg (based on real cases) but I'd never heard the term before and had no idea of the widespread movement in the U.S. Picoult ties all the characters and incidents together very well without making it seem pat or contrived, and there is no lack of action. I say it's one of her best novels.

Now for the nitpicking criticism. One thing I thought was inaccurate was people drinking openly in bars in 1932 when prohibition was not repealed until 1933. One man freely tells the police he tends bar for a living and gives the name and address of the place. Not that cops wouldnt have known where speakeasys were, but prohibition is never mentioned. The other thing that bothers me is not unique to this author, but is becoming a trend with many fiction writers today: the "screenplay" approach where scenes are sometimes two paragraphs, and we cut to another scene with different people in a different place. I wish she would cut this down a little, it is distracting and frustrating when you try to follow what is happening. At least make the "scenes" longer. After all, these are not lightweight books. I feel my train of thought being constantly interrupted. Let's hope this technique dies out.

Not only was it a great chance to escape from reality for a while it also kept touching on and teaching about a little known (well, at least I didn't know about it) piece of our history. I had never even heard of an eugenics project until I read this but it has me searching for more information. The story itself was fascinating. At first, each character seemed so disconnected from the other that I couldn't even imagine where we were being taken. By the end of the book their lives are so intertwined...amazing. What a wonderful way to tell a great story.

I was blown away by this book--by its subject material. This is a marvelous story based on fact in the state of Vermont and the sterilazation laws that were passed. It is also the story of lost love and second chances. What I can't understand is why this isn't continually a bestseller. What a story! And the way it's told is riveting! Five stars are not enough.

Also recommended: THE BARK OF THE DOGWOOD--harrowing, funny, and moving.

This is a great book. The story grabbed me from the beginning, and I really enjoyed the way the author fleshes out each character. I do not agree with some of the comments that the structure of the story is too confusing or that the author jumps around too much. Just the opposite, I found that the way the story jumps from character to character was one of the things that kept me on my toes, and helped to tie the characters together throughout the book. This is the first book by Jodi Picoult I have read, but I will definitely be getting more.