Skip to main content

My Sister's Keeper

This is my first time contributing here and I thank Tushar for the invite. I read a lot of books when I have the time and I've reviewed a few on my own blog. I decided as my very first post, to review a book that I already have on my blog. So here goes.


My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult has got to be one of the most powerful books I've ever read.

No other book has made me sob like this one.

No other book has made me smile like this one.

No other book has felt so real (in spite of it being fiction)

No other book has made me experience the wide gamut of emotions that I did whilst reading the book.

So what is it about the book that makes it so special?

Well, for me personally, the style of the book was awesome to start of with. Almost every character is presented in first person. How does Picoult do that? She lets each character have a say and have their voice heard in each chapter. Then of course, the story itself is a heart-wrenching one.

The book is about a family...a family with 3 children and one of whom (the middle child) has cancer. The third child was conceived to be a donor for the girl with cancer. She doesn't have a say in the matter until 12 years on, she is frustrated. She has had to forego more things than just donate a bone marrow or blood. She has had to put her life on hold for her sister. And she has had enough. She goes to see a lawyer to get the rights to her own body. And all hell breaks loose when the family finds out. Is there a right answer? I don't know. The mother is livid; the father torn. The daughter that has cancer does not have an opinion in the book i.e. she is the only character whose point of view is not presented to us. The older brother could not care less. The book takes us through all of their thoughts, their feelings, their emotions. The reader manages to empathise with each and every character (which is saying something...) I don't want to give away the ending in case you haven't read the book...but it is possibly one of the most unexpected endings.

The book makes you ask the biggest question: Would I do this for someone I loved?

The answer: I don't know.
I would donate if I had a choice.
But would I like to if I wasn't given one? If I was forced to without being asked? If I were made to feel guilty for not wanting to?

Like I said, if I were in Annie's place, I don't know what I'd do.

What would you do?
Labels:

Comments

d gypsy! said…
gets me interested
January 4, 2009 at 2:02 PM
Akansha Agrawal said…
Hmm... this really sounds interesting, a different take it seems!
January 4, 2009 at 8:45 PM
Dewdrop said…
Interesting... will pick up a copy!
January 6, 2009 at 1:58 AM
ANDROID!!! said…
haven't read it...but surely the next book on my racks!
January 16, 2009 at 2:08 AM
Post a Comment

Also read

Does India need communal parties?

I think, it was Tan's post on this blog itself, Republic Day Event, where this question was raised. My answer. YES. we need communal parties even in Independent, Secular India. Now let me take you, back to events before 1947. When India was a colony of the British Empire. The congress party, in its attempt to gain momentum for the independence movement, heavily used Hinduism, an example of which is the famous Ganesh Utsav held in Mumbai every year. Who complains? No one. But at that time, due to various policies of the congress, Muslims started feeling alienated. Jinnah, in these times, got stubborn over the need of Pakistan and he did find a lot of supporters. Congress, up till late 1940's never got bothered by it. And why should we? Who complains? No one. But there were repercussions. The way people were butchered and slaughtered during that brief time when India got partitioned, was even worse than a civil war scenario. All in the name of religion. And there indeed was cr...
40 comments
Read more

Debate : Do the ends justify the means...

Note : Give it all a fair thought before you jot down... Flaming and religion-bashing will not be tolerated. Your participation is gladly appreciated. I dunno if you folks remember this incident; a couple of yrs back, the UPSC exam had a question where the emainee had to assert his views on *revolutionary terrorism* initiated by Bhagat Singh. As is typical of the government, hue and cry was not far behind... Anyway, let us look at some facts -   Bhagat Singh was an atheist, considered to be one of the earliest Marxist in India and in line with hi thinking, he renamed the Hindustan Republican Party and called it the Hindustan Socialist Revolutionary Party. Bhagat Finally, awaiting his own execution for the murder of Saunders, Bhagat Singh at the young age of 24 studied Marxism thoroughly and wrote a profound pamphlet “Why I am an Atheist.” which is an ideological statement in itself. The circumstances of his death and execution are worth recounting. Although, Bhagat Singh had a...
30 comments
Read more

Spill the Tea: The regret of not loving someone who loved you

Aarohi admits the regret no one talks about: not having feelings for the one person who loved her without conditions. Still close, still cared for, yet emotionally untouched, she now lives with regret and the fear that no one will ever show up like that again. Part of the Spill the Tea series, this story explores desire, guilt, and the cost of delayed regret. --- Aarohi arrived with her bag slung over one shoulder, rain still caught in the ends of her hair. She shook it out at the door, apologising for nothing in particular, and stepped inside like she already belonged to the space. “I didn’t want to catch you off guard,” she said when I opened the door. She stepped in and looked around the kitchen like she was orienting herself, even though she had been here before. “I brought nothing,” she said. “I’m sorry.” “That’s fine,” I said. “I already cooked.” “It smells nice,” she said. “What did you make?” Her eyes went to the counter. Pav bhaji. Masala idli. Everything covered, stil...
Post a Comment
Read more