Title: My Sister's Keeper
Author: Jodi Picoult
Publisher: February 1st 2005 by Washington Square Press
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 423
Rating: 4 Crowns
Synopsis: Can a parent love too much? Or is too much never enough?
Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate - a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now.
Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister - and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.
A provocative novel that raises some important ethical issues, My Sister's Keeper is the story of one family's struggle for survival at all human costs and a stunning moral parable for all time.
My Review: I found this to be a difficult novel to read, both because of Kate's illness and the situation that Anna finds herself in. I've seen the movie, so I kind of knew the story already, and it was still a very sad book. I found myself asking, over and over, what would I do in this situation?
What made it a little more difficult for me was that to an extent, I didn't really like Anna anyway. I found her to be annoying and it was frustrating to see how she just couldn't seem to make up her mind. Then again, I would probably waiver were I in her position, so I don't feel like I can be too critical of her. And I haven't been a thirteen year old for a really long time, so maybe I'm just too disconnected to really identify with much of her life.
The novel raises a very big ethical question - how far should you go to save the life of one child, and at what cost to another? Anna's parents never intended to let things go as far as they did, yet it seems a lot of the time that Kate is the only concern. As a reader, you see the story of the entire Fitzgerald family, and I found myself wondering which of them genuinely suffered the most: Is it Kate with her illness? Anna having to be the perpetual donor? Jesse as the neglected eldest child? Or the parents, having to live this life and make decisions for all three of their children?
The perspective trades off from one character to another at each chapter break, which provided an interesting way to hear the story. The only one missing is Kate - you hear her story through everyone else's. I definitely felt sympathy for Anna throughout the novel, but I couldn't help feeling bad for Kate. Not simply because she has leukemia, but also because she has no real choice about what happens to her either. And the sad thing is that you know there is no real happy ending to a story like this.
For those who have seen the movie and not read the book, I highly recommend you make the time to read it and make your own comparisons. Although there is an epilogue, I would be interested in seeing a sequel at some point, because I was left wanting more. This was also my first Jodi Picoult novel, and I will absolutely read more of her work after this.
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7 comments:
I have never read the book or seen the movie. It seems important but I don't know if I could. My niece is suffering from leukemia and I'm not sure I could read this book and come away without a major depression. But, I think this book and this ethical question needs to be addressed.
Clarissa - It can absolutely be made worse based on personal experiences. I have several friends who's children are currently suffering from leukemia, so it made this book hit closer to home for me as well. I hope your niece goes into remission soon, I'm so sorry to hear about that.
I read this book for my honours thesis for my law degree - I did it on medical ethics and consenting to medical treatment on behalf of children. It was a good read, even though I am not normally a fan of Jodi Picoult. The ending in the book was heartbreaking though. Its a shame they changed it for the movie
I fully intend to pick up other Jodi Picoult novels, but I kind of also have a problem with authors who always have to make a statement. I did like this book, but I likewise worry that I might get tired of her formula after awhile.
The ending is totally heartbreaking, and I do wish they had kept it for the movie. I wish the whole movie had been more accurate to the book, I think it would have been even better.
Have seen the book and heard about the movie, but never took the time to find out what they were about. I never would have thought of this as the topic. It sounds like one I'll have to read.
It's definitely a surprising, yet good, topic to read about. I hope you enjoy it when you're able to get to it!
This book killed me; absolutely killed me. I cannot imagine being anyone in these circumstances, becuase everyone had a tough road and choices. And then the end...uh! Great review.
No, I haven't seen the movie, the book was plenty.
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