Hello Beautiful People,
I have read every single novel Jodi Picoult has ever written. Every. Single. One. Her books, well, they’re like old friends They become a part of my being. They provide comfort & laughter. I get swept up in her words, her stories, and her characters. I quite literally lose myself in her words, and yes, there are times when I never want to be found.
When I was a sophomore in high school, Jodi came to speak at my school, and at the time, I really didn’t know who she was, or that I was in the presence of such greatness.
Photo by Megan Minutillo
Years later, I met Jodi again in New York, and I think it’s to say that her gracious nature and magnificent presence has just… intensified.
Now, lets talk about The Storyteller.
I became tired when reading this book. Scratch that. I became EXHAUSTED when reading this book, It was like a workout for the heart & soul, and I mean that in the best way possible.
Once again, Jodi has managed to do impeccable research that allows her story to just come alive – her characters literally jump off of the pages and work their way into your mind, your subconscious, and your heart.
The story centers on Sage Singer, a young twenty-five year old with a painful past, and she holds onto a strong belief that her future is bleak and lonely. In meeting Josef Weber, Sage learns more about herself, her families past, and life than she had ever anticipated. Josef is a former SS officer, a Nazi in hiding, who cannot deal with the guilt of what he’s done any longer. And so he asks Sage, who was raised in the Jewish faith, to kill him.
Talk about a loaded question.
I refuse to give any more of the plot away, because I urge you to read this one, as it may be one of her best yet, (although I will always be partial to Second Glance).
What I will say is this – it’s outstanding. Absolutely amazing. It will take you into the horrid days of the Holocaust, and yet force you to rexamine the way we treat one another today. Decades later, do we hate any less? Do we let love triumph? Have we learned anything?
Teacher friends – this is perfect to fit your Common Core Curriculums. It lends itself to a plethora of nonfictional supportive text, and the quotes alone are perfect for all students of all learning styles to examine. A few of my favorites:
“It does’nt matter who forgives you, if you’re the one who can’t forget.”“I don’t know what it is about death that makes it so hard. I suppose it’s the one-sided communication; the fact that we never get to ask our loved one if she suffered, if she is happy wherever she is now…if she is somewhere. It’s the question mark that comes with death that we can’t face, not the period.”“Fiction comes in all shapes and sizes. Secrets,lies,stories. We all tell them. Sometimes,because we hope to entertain. Sometimes,because we need to distract. And sometimes, because we have to.”“The only person who suffers, when you squirrel alway all that hate, is you.”
Live, Love, Learn,