Happy happy THURSDAY, friends!
I have TWO very different posts for you today.
First up, it’s my 10 RANDOM THINGS: OCTOBER EDITION + it’s also BOOK CLUB DAY!
I hope you make time to check out both posts on this Friday Eve 🙂 .
Alrighty, first up…
…let’s chat about BOOK CLUB #32!
Before we start, if you would like to read the “rules” of Shay’s Book Club and see a complete list of every book we’ve read as a group along with my personal “star” ratings, they are all RIGHT HERE.
In this blog post and in the comment section, WE WILL BE DISCUSSING SPOILERS. If you are interested in reading this book, you might not want to read below this line. In OCTOBER’S BOOK REVIEW later this month, I will give a quick recap and let you know if I recommend the book or not, so if you haven’t read it, you might want to wait until that official BOOK REVIEW because there will be no spoilers and based on that, you can decide whether or not to read the book.
***Anything below this though will include spoilers as everyone commenting here has already read the book.***
Ready, set, here we go!
This month’s book was…
…Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult.
Wow!
Wow!
Wow!
Jodi Picoult delivers once again.
The thing about Picoult’s books are that they are almost always socially relevant, timely alongside events in this world, slightly (if not overtly) controversial, but always, always, always gripping. You can also almost always bet there is a “moment” in each one where your mind is blown.
Blown.
Blown.
As I began reading this novel, I was bracing for impact of what “that moment” would be and honestly, I never.saw.it.coming.
Her twisty moments typically happen about halfway through the book, but this one caught us all off guard only about 20%ish of the way through when we realize that Eloise isn’t dead.
Whoa.
Okay, I have some thoughts, and then I am POSITIVE we will have a lively conversation in the comment section.
I easily gave this book 5 Stars because the writing was brilliant, the story moved effortlessly while still being meaty and substantial. I thought the two main topics (dealing with the death of a loved one and also postpartum psychosis) were timely, relevant, and written in very real ways despite the story being fiction. Just the entire book was one that not only could I not put it down, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the themes even when I wasn’t reading it.
That being said, the 5 STARS does not mean I wholly agreed with every character/flaw/storyline. I really struggled with the fact that Eloise faked her death specifically in the 9/11 tragedy without any consequences and what that meant/impacted those who did lose loved ones on that terrible day. Could the author have had her fake her death a different way? Perhaps in a fictional attack? It was unsettling for me to tie that date and those events to this story…but it certainly made me think.
Thought provoking is the best way to easily sum up this story…your thoughts will without a doubt be provoked.
Here are just a few of my thoughts, musings, opinions from this book (just a few as there were way too many!):
#1: I picked up this book because I had read that it was about a woman whose mother was killed on 9/11. That in itself started off as a very interesting plotline, and I was fully engrossed…but now upon reflection, it’s easy to see that this book was from beginning to end about postpartum psychosis which, unfortunately, could not be a more timely topic. The author’s descriptions of PP and its affects on Eloise were terribly sad, absolutely horrific and yet thoughtfully written.
#2: Molly felt like a very real character to me. She wasn’t perfect. She had trauma and tendencies but also a lot of love for her friends and family. I do wish I could have seen more from her relationship with Eloise after she found out her mother wasn’t dead. I could have read chapters and chapters on those conversations…and on conversations between Eloise and Adam. I felt like there were a lot of moments left out between those two as well.
#3: Jesse was such a solid character. In a story with a lot of surprises, twists, ups and downs…it was nice to step off the emotional rollercoaster from time to time with his character.
#4: In her very Piccoult-way, she was even able to weave the trauma of sexual abuse and suicide into this story which were absolutely terrible to read but gave me so much more empathy and understanding for Eloise.
#5: “Georgia’s” relationships in Atlanta were some of my favorite to read about in this story. I loved Ximena and her girls. I loved how they championed each other and helped pull each other up during their own hard times. I was cheering for Eloise when she was dating both Edward and Kai and heartbroken for her when they didn’t work out.
#6: The author did a great job effortlessly showing how a little lie can become “truth” when told over and over again even to those who love us most.
#7: The backstory, struggle, and slow unraveling of Eloise weaved throughout the book really explained her situation as a woman living with bipolar disorder and struggling immensely postpartum. The flashback sections gave me great compassion for her which tempered my disappointment in some of the character’s decisions.
#8: I really hated that Evie became the “bad guy” at the end. I really liked her character throughout the entire book, so to see her wrapped up in a few paragraphs as the antagonist was unfortunate.
#9: I loved the little snippet of closure she had with her mom in the dementia care facility.
#10: The topics of both altruistic homicide and postpartum psychosis are everywhere right now which is honestly just incredibly sad and heartbreaking. I enjoyed reading the Author’s Note at the end as much as I did the book itself. If you didn’t read that portion, I highly recommend it.
I could keep going and going, but let’s get to the comment section and chat. I know this is a fictional story, but like many of you, my own family and some dear friends have struggled with mental health issues. If you are struggling. If this is you, my prayer today, truly my prayer is that you reach out to someone for help. Please seek help.
Next month, we will be reading…
…Every Story is a Love Story by Imbolo Mbue .
I’ve heard amazing things about this one, friends! I hope you’ll all read along with me. We will be discussing this novel on November 22nd.
Before you leave, let’s chat books, and then don’t forget to pop over and read my 10 RANDOM THINGS: OCTOBER EDITION too!
I’ll see you tomorrow. xx
Kristen Thompson says
I also gave this book 5 stars! So good! So much going on but she wrapped it all so well. I agree that reading the authors note is so important to the story. I felt very sympathetic towards just about every character in the book at some point. Very well done!
Emilee says
So many twists in this book that I never saw coming! Absolutely loved it and I’m still thinking about it.
Eileen says
I have been looking forward to this book club because I absolutely loved this book. I found myself not wanting to put it down, but also putting it down because I didn’t want it to end. I think it was much more a classic Jodi Picoult style book which I loved. I thought the way she brought back Jesse, a beloved character from one of my other favorite Jodi Picoult books, was brilliant and I loved his character. I didn’t like Evie at all and was glad she got her due at the end. This was such a powerful, thought-provoking book and it will stick with me forever.
Becky G says
I gave the book 4.5 stars. I did love it. As someone who struggled postpartum and seeing everything on the news, it was very emotional but I took away the 1/2 star because of how Evie became the villain at the end. I don’t justify her actions any more than anyone else’s but everyone else was forgiven and all forgotten and yet she was thrown out. I struggled with that.
Mix and Match Mama says
“Everyone else was forgiven”…spot on observation.
YOLANDA MCLEAN says
Yes, everyone else was forgiven. Mic drop!
Paula says
Couldn’t have said it better myself! There could be a 2nd book with just Evie’s story alone.
Nicole N says
I also loved this book! I also didn’t love how Evie was kind of tossed aside once Eloise came back. She may have made some mistakes/ poor decisions but she did raise Molly all that time and they had a good relationship so it seemed strange that she was so easily tossed aside by everyone. That was my biggest problem with the book but the author’s explanation about postpartum psychosis really helped me understand it a lot more. I love that she brings real issues to stories.
Mix and Match Mama says
Tossed aside is a good phrase to summarize my feelings as well. She certainly made some poor choices. Perhaps I would have been less sympathetic to her character if their relationship had not been so solid all of those years in between?
Addy Robinson says
I agree, very good!
I had not read My Sister’s Keeper but I knew the general outline of the story and I don’t think you have to have read it to enjoy this one.
Jesse — for a long while I thought there was going to be a twist that he was antagonistic. Molly kept repeating that he was everywhere she was when they were dating, so I thought that it was going to be revealed that he was stalking her, and had tampered with her birth control when she got pregnant. I don’t know if there were intentional herrings to throw off the reader? But I was getting subtle bad vibes about Jesse for most of it.
Evie — she was hard for me. I thought it was sad that all the good she had done for Molly felt erased. But if I put myself in Eloise’s shoes and imagine my best friend lying that I had tried to drown my baby— very bad. But she was also going to an extreme measure to get Eloise help when Adam was refusing to pay attention. It felt wild how quickly Adam dropped her after all of their years together.
I live in Atlanta and there was lack of research with the comment that a character couldn’t be from Atlanta because they didn’t have an accent– LOL! You don’t have an accent if you grew up in Atlanta and there is massive in-migration. If you grew up in rural Georgia, yes, you likely have an accent. Just thought that was funny!
Mikayla Amsden says
5 stars from me too!! You might be interested to know she was inspired by an anonymous “post secret” that read “everyone who knew me before 9/11 thinks I’m dead”. So someone out there has a real story and it inspired Jodi to write a book about what would make someone use a tragedy like 9/11 to escape their life and why…. I’ve been waiting to read this book ever since she announced that inspiration story, and she did not disappoint.
Stephanie Harris says
I have an audio for you with a British voice. This Book Made me Think of You. Libby Page
Kind of chic lit , a bit bittersweet
There’s love books travel…
All the good stuff !
Megan Ferchen says
I just finished this one. LOVED IT!
Michelle says
I listened to the audible and enjoyed the narrators. I did like the storyline and found it very intriguing but I my realistic brain kept trying to figure out how on earth she could have worked, filed taxes, rented housing, traveled on a plane, etc. with fake credentials. LOL On my scale I gave it 4 stars. It’s definitely not up there with The Calamity Club (that is my #1 pick for this year so far!!), but still one I enjoyed and won’t forget.
Lynn says
You are always spot on with your reviews! I loved this book. I also gave it 5 stars. I had the exact issue with the fake death and 9/11. I was just thinking of the people who read this that did lose a loved one that day. I rarely stop reading a book but I had already started the book for November and 1/2 through I was done. I’ll be interested to see what everyone thinks next month.
Debbie Lang says
I LOVED this book. It was a quick read, and I could not put it down. I am still thinking about it even weeks later, which to me means it was a good book. Your analysis is spot on with all the characters as well as the plot. So many twist and turns as well as topics touched. So good.
Elspeth Mizner says
I have this on my to be read list! I’m eager to start it!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Brooke Griffith says
I’ve been so looking forward to this book club day to hear everyone’s thoughts. Woah!! I can’t stop thinking about this book even two weeks after I finished reading it. It made me so sad that Evie was the bad guy in the end 😢 Overall it has been the best book I have read this year!
Megan Ferchen says
First of all, if you’ve never heard Piccoult speak, I highly recommend go next time she’s in town. She’s an incredible speaker and she shares a lot about her process, research, etc. It’s so interesting to hear about how she gets ideas and writes her stories. I don’t remember if this is mentioned in her author’s note, but the idea for this story came from a post on the ‘Post Secret’ Instagram page (a page where people share their deepest darkest secrets). In this case, someone shared something along the lines of, “Everyone who knew me before 9/11 thinks I’m dead.”. I struggled some with the age difference between Molly and Jesse. I didn’t really understand why there needed to be such a gap until I realized Jesse is JESSE from ‘My Sister’s Keeper’. Such a fun twist!
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but it wasn’t my favorite Piccoult book.
Mix and Match Mama says
I don’t think I’ve read that book?? I need to go back and look, but wow, what a crossover!
Megan Ferchen says
Oh my gosh! Brace yourself! ‘My Sister’s Keeper’ is a doozy, but it’s a good one!
Laura Sotelo says
Your review was spot on! 100% agree with all of it. I feel like Jodi Picoult books are always like this and I should expect something with twists and turns but somehow I’m always surprised. She tells a very real story including all the uncomfortable parts and I’m shocked every time. I hope this book brings more awareness to postpartum psychosis. There is such a huge hormonal shift for all moms and we need, as a society, to support moms better postpartum. Thanks for another great book club pick!
Katie Compton says
I have been a Jodi P fan since my college days… about 30 years ago! This one was just amazing. It is easily a 5+ star book. I agree with all of your review, so I don’t have much to add there. I am so glad you mentioned the author’s note. I have always respected the amount of research JP puts into her writing, and her note just made me respect her even more. I’ve had a hard time explaining what the book is about without giving too much away, so I’m axious to read your review. I’ve just basically been telling everyone I know, to read it b/c I said so. Haha!
YOLANDA MCLEAN says
I have been looking forward to today to read all the comments, your thoughts, etc. I would rate this 4 stars.
I think the book could have ended two tragedies sooner. I mean it seemed to linger on and on . The trip with the tragedy etc, just too much.
I hate that Evie ended up being discarded. She and Adam were married so long and he and everyone just dumped her. Eloise/Georgia lived a lot of life beyond her intense struggles with PPP. She could have revealed she was alive for a VERY long time. Evie truly cared for Molly and Adam and they all believed that Eloise was gone. I don’t feel that Evie intended ill intent when she was lining up for Eloise to receive care.
I agree with the commenter that felt it was far fetched that Georgia is able to just begin a new life. She was receiving medical care, traveling, etc. all these things that aren’t easily accessible without benefits, income, etc. Anyway it felt like a lot.
So cringe that Georgia could just get a job at the obstetrician where her abandoned daughter is receiving care.
I think the book was very timely to delve so intently into PPP.
I enjoyed the book but I thought it would never end.
Kay says
I really liked this book! I actually listened to the audio version and I also liked the readers. I was also completely surprised by the plot twist. I thought I misunderstood for a good five minutes! I agree that it sheds light on important and timely subject matter. Although 9/11 and PPD are sensitive topics, I thought she did a really good job of covering both in a very human way. I absolutely loved that Jesse was from another of her books! My Sister’s Keeper is also a really good one if anyone wants more of Jesse’s story. So glad we read this one for book club-it had been on my list!
Madison says
Only 3 stars for me. I felt the story went on way too long and I lost interest after she found out her mom lived and thought that would have been a great ending place. I wasn’t interested in Jesse’s chapter and it just seemed like a bunch of separate plots put together. Felt sad reading about her abuse from her father. Ready for next month!
YOLANDA MCLEAN says
I agree! The book could have ended when she found out her mom was alive – periodt! This went on and on.
Julianne says
Okay coming to be the naysayer here! I gave this 2 stars. I have been a huge Picoult fan from the beginning, My Sister’s Keeper was my favorite book for years, but I just didn’t this was her best. I actually thought it moved really slowly at the beginning and I had to really push myself to keep reading. I loved the Jesse connection, but that was about it. I totally agree with the early sentiment that everyone else was forgiven except Evie. Yes she lied, but also that was the ONLY reason Eloise was willing to take the next step. I just really prefer Picoult’s older works.
Dani R. says
I think this book should have come with a trigger warning. I enjoyed it but read it as a 9 month pregnant person so some parts were really hard as one could imagine. I love Jody Piccoult though and she did a really good job telling this story.
Kay says
For those reading next month’s book-“Every Story is a Love Story” it is ABSOLUTELY amazing so far as an audio book! The narrators are incredible and I feel like it’s one of those rare occurrences where listening to it may be even better than reading it. So far, I LOVE THIS BOOK, and I’m so happy Shay picked it because I hadn’t heard about it. I can’t wait for next month’s club.
And HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SHAY! Hope you had a wonderful day celebrating. We so appreciate all you do for this lovely online community!