Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

Synopsis from www.goodreads.com

One miscarriage too many spelled the end of Max and Zoe Baxter's marriage. Though the former couple went quite separate ways, their fates remained entangled: After veering into alcoholism, Max is saved in multiple senses by his fundamentalist conversion; Zoe, for her part, finds healing relief in music therapy and the friendship, then romantic love with Vanessa, her counselor. After Zoe and Vanessa, now married, decide to have a baby, they realize that they must join battle with Max, who objects on both religious and financial grounds. Like her House Rules and several other previous Jodi Picoult novels, Sing You Home grapples with hot button issues. The novel also includes a CD of songs, each matched with a chapter in the book. Perfect for book clubs


My Comments

This is the most frustrating book by Ms Jodi that I have ever read. It simply draws out all sorts of emotions from me.

Most of all is my hatred against Max(the ex-husband), Pastor Clive and Wade Preston. Would you not feel anger against Max who walked out on Zoe and preach to her of her sin for being involved in a lesbian relationship while he, himself did the same thing though it's the opposite sex.

Then Pastor Clive and Wade, talked about God and twisted God words as a way to get what they wanted. Fame, glory and in Wade's case $$$. Pity those poor blind sheep that follow them and listen to their twisted words. I really can't stand their double standard and their holier than thou attitude. Thank goodness, these are just fictional characters.

I think Ms Jodi is very brave to write about this. There might be such people in real life. They preach one thing and does another thing or does not practice what they preached. Maybe they thinks that those things is not applicable to them.

Another kudos to Ms Jodi is her bravery in highlighting the plight that are encountered by gay couples. Hope she won't get much bashing from it.

Yes, I love her writing. Her writing is has become more daring from her previous books. I can say that some may not like this book as it brings out anger in them and Ms Jodi had portray some characters to the extreme end where some people like me would happily give them a piece of my mind if they are real people.

I give this book 5 stars out of 5.

If Today Be Sweet by Thrity Umrigar

Synopsis:

Tehmina is a 66 years old Parsi woman who have to make a tough decision in her life after the death of her beloved husband Rustom. That is whether to live with her son, Sorab and his wife, Susan in Ohio which meant to leave everything that she is familiar with or to live in Bombay.

Her hesitation causes a lot of tension between herself, her son and his wife.

Story is told from Tehmina point of view. She worries that she might not be able to change and grow accustome to living in Ohio as the way they do thing here is simply very different from what's done in Bombay.

My Comment :

I have fell in love with Thrity Umrigar works since the first time I got it from BookXcess and I was very happy to find this book at the last Big Bad Wolf Sale.

Some may not like this book as Tehmina seems to be dragging her feet in deciding what she wanna do. But for me it was interesting as many things are not black and white as ones may perceived.

We get to see thing from Tehmina point of view. I am sure each of us have things that they fear.

Anyway, I guess, you will have to read this book to understand it better. Not an easy read but it certainly is an eye opening read.