Salem Falls Reviews

• A haunting tale

  
  By A1BI8PUEHA5CHW on 2001-05-13
  I must confess that when I ordered this book, I was anxious to read it and put Harry Potter Vol. #4 aside so I can read it. I love Jodie Picoult's writing, and was eagerly anticipating more of the same with this book. I found to my disappointment that it wasn't as riveting as The Pact or as enthralling as Keeping Faith. I am disappointed ~~ while the writing is always lyrical and riveting, the story holds no surprises for me.

  Jack St. Bride is accused of raping a girl in Salem Falls ~~ and Jordan MacAffee is his attorney again. Addie, the woman who falls in love with Jack, also undergo a personal revelation as well in this multi-faceted novel. There is a group of teenage girls who practice Wicca ~~ which is interesting. And there's the showdown, which Picoult is known for ~~ but if you're looking for a great Picoult book, I highly recommend The Pact because the courtroom scene there is wonderful! It is suspenseful and breath-stopping. But in this book, it's lackluster and disappointing.

  Please don't hesitate to read this book ~~ it is still a good read. It just isn't up to par to her other books ~~ and it could be the subject is familiar to me. What teenage girl doesn't fanastize about her favorite male teacher? And what woman doesn't shudder at the idea of being raped? Or being accused falsely of a crime one didn't commit? And reading about some of Jack's past helps give him a human face in the book ~~ it just didn't explore his personality like I hoped it would. It's almost as if Picoult is trying to write about rape, sex and its effect on women ~~ but something's missing there as it leaves me with more questions than revelations. This is a powerful subject but it misses the mark somewhere.

  It is still a wonderful book ~~ just don't get your hopes up too much like I did. It just isn't my favorite Picoult book.
  
  

• A winner!

  
  By AX54G5AL870Q8 on 2004-06-16
  SALEM FALLS by Jodi Picoult

  Jodi Picoult does it again with SALEM FALLS, a story about a man who is falsely accused of rape. Jack St. Bride was a teacher and soccer coach at a small town high school, when he is accused of rape and is sentenced to 8 months in prison. When he is released, he finds his way to another small town, Salem Falls, to start a new life, hoping that anonymity will give him the peace he is looking for.

  The wheels of fate start turning when he has to report in to the local police department and let them know he is a sex-offender. In this small town, gossip spreads fast, and soon the entire town learns who Jack really is. Only two people feel that he is innocent of the crime he was accused of back home: Addie Peabody, who owns the "Do-or-Diner" and her father, Roy Peabody. Both of them are dealing with losses that have greatly affected their current life, and in some way they can relate to Jack as he struggles to escape from his past.

  At the heart of this story is the theme of "the witch hunt", as the towns people watch Jack closely with condemning eyes as they wait for him to make his first mistake. He is then accused of yet another rape, this time accused by the only daughter of the richest man in Salem Falls. Jodi Picoult keeps the reader guessing, as even the reader isn't sure whether Jack is guilty or not. As with KEEPING FAITH and THE PACT, this book ends in the courtroom, and it is anyone's guess what the final verdict will be.

  This is yet another Jodi Picoult book that I enjoyed a lot. Although it took me a while to get into the story, as I had a hard time relating to the teens who practiced witchcraft, it all came together in the end. Highly recommended, I am giving this book five stars.
  
  

• Where is the old Jodi Picoult?

  
  By on 2001-06-13
  I have read every one of Picoult's books and am sad to find that the quality has lessened with every book. In fact, I think "The Pact" was the last semi-plausible and well-written book that she wrote.

  This newest book was so full of inconsistencies, errors in procedure (police and courtroom),and sloppiness. There were too many different issues covered and consequently none of them was done well. Picoult needs better editing and much better advice on the legal issues, and she needs to stop churning out books at such a furious pace and be more careful. Readers are not stupid--we know when something can or cannot happen. I, for one, do not like to have a writer make something up so as to manipulate the story. For example--the crime scene was not cordoned off until the next morning. As if that would ever happen, no matter how small the town. But it was written this way to facilitate the direction in which the author wanted the story to go. Shouldn't the action determine the story, not the other way around?

  The characters in this book lacked any depth and were like cardboard cutouts. I did not care about one of them with the possible exception of Addie.

  It seems as though Picoult is only concerned with the final product, not how the story is put together. I see a novel as a tightly woven tapestry, a blending of many elements into a wonderful entity. In this book, I see disarray and holes in the fabric of the story.
  
  

• 3.5 stars probably but not Picoult's best

  
  By A2P3IZPG7ZJH6B on 2002-02-09
  I have to preface this by saying that I have read all of Jodi Picoult's books, and always wait anxiously for her next to arrive. She is an incredible writer, who always has compelling and interesting plots and characters, but Salem Falls was not up to her usual standards.

  It starts with a bang -- a brilliant Ph.D who landed himself in prison with false charges of statatory rape gets out and settles in Salem Falls, a quaint, nothing ever happens, type of North East coast town. I was immediately drawn to his character as well as that of the woman who "takes him in," Addie. She is a woman tied to the past, and psychologically impacted by it -- afraid that those she loves will leave her, and unwilling to accept that those she has lost are truly gone. It takes her many years, for example, to accept that her daughter has passed away.

  Aside from these two likeable characters and some less visible ones, the main characters are four teenagers. One of whom accuses Jack of rape, puts him on trial, and has the whole town defending her. And this is where the book lost its draw for me. The punch of a start fizzled out half way through as I began to piece together everything I knew would happen next, and it did. The ending might have been a surprise, had I not guessed it at the very beginning. And had I not been drawn to Jack, longing for him to earn the respect he deserves, I might have given up.

  I suppose if I had never read Picoult, this one might have appealed to me. But my expectations were so high that this was a let down. All of her other books are incredible, this one, mediocre in my opinion. But I would still recommend it, just not before any of her other jewels.
  
  

• A gripping, feverish read...

  
  By ARYF8JUHY2S1X on 2002-10-23
  I swear, Jodi Picoult is a magic story weaver! I am so impressed with this novel and the fact that it completely surpassed my expectations, especially after reading the stellar Plain Truth. Salem Falls is so juicy and exciting, an intoxicating cocktail of everything I love in a suspensful, page-turning drama. And even though I had a strong hunch about the book's ending, it was no less exhilarating to watch it unfold.

  Salem Falls tells the story of Jack St. Bride, a former teacher who, according to him, was wrongly accused of sexual assault against one of his students. After doing his time in jail, Jack heads out to start a new life and stumbles into the peaceful, sleepy town of Salem Falls. But it doesn't take long before his past catches up with him, and Jack finds himself fighting another battle for his life. And at its core is a quartet of girls, best friends who are part of a witches coven -- and one girl in particular who has the power to destroy Jack St. Bride.

  A perfect blend of magick, power, desire and betrayal, with an explosive courtroom drama of an ending, Salem Falls will have any reader glued to their seats, feverishly turning pages. I loved this book and look forward to reading the rest of Jodi Picoult's novels.
  
  

• Another winner from Picoult
  By A1KXA03BBJRZEB on 2002-12-04
  This is the third Picoult novel I have read and I am hooked! Her books are engrossing and always make one ask hard questions.
  The story begins with Jack, a high school teacher, as he is falsely accused of having an affair with a student. On the advice of his lawyer, he plea bargains and does 8 months in jail for the offense. Throughout his incarceration his one ray of light is that he was innocent of the charge and vows to never put himself in a position to be vulnerable to another accusation.
  Unfortunately for Jack, he moves to Salem Falls, a town with a history of witchcraft and false accusations, and becomes the target of a teenage femme fatale bent on seducing him.
  The past has a way of repeating itself in Salem Falls and soon Jack stands accused of rape again.
  The brilliance of Picoult's writing is that one never knows whether to believe in the innocence of the accused character or not (the same theme is present in Plain Truth and The Pact). In fact, the final explanation in this book isn't totally revealed until, literally, the very last paragraph. One which will leave you gasping in disbelief.
  An Excellent Read!!!
  
  
• Mystery and Intrigue
  By A2F4L44P7ZCSOB on 2002-10-26
  This book has a little of everything: romance, intrigue, witches and a courtroom battle.

  While I liked this book, I did find it to be somewhat predictable. I knew the ending before I reached it but Picoult has a way with telling a story.

  I found Jack to be an interesting character, a man with a past he cannot escape. His love interest, Addie, has her own haunting past. They were probably the most developed characters in the book. I found the teenagers to be a little too superficial, they just didn't come across to me as very realistic.

  I plan to read more from this author, especially her newer releases. For one of her better stories with a courtroom drama, try reading The Pact. It won't disappoint.
  
  

• Another Picoult Page-turner!
  By A2HR1Y2FK5KTWM on 2001-05-20
  As soon as *Salem Falls* hit the shelves, I picked up a copy at the virtual speed of light. Picoult's tales are always entertaining, thought-provoking and a joy to read. With the intriguing theme of witches and witch hunts, I knew this would be a shocker.

  Jack St. McBride is coming off of an eight month jail sentence for statutory rape and hopes to find a quiet town to start over. The small town of Salem Falls and the promise of a good job seems to fit the bill. With a possible love interest in his boss, things seem perfect.

  Well, then all heck breaks loose (inevitable for a book by Jodi Picoult). Jacks gets mixed up with a group of teen witches, one of whom claims Jack raped her. The town's reaction and the ensuing court drama make for a quick read and pure entertainment.

  Once again, Jodi gives us all something to escape from the normal day-to-day routine. This is definitely a keeper!
  
  

• Excellent
  By A11NGGHK1FU0XV on 2002-10-24
  Salem Falls

  In true Picoult style, Jodi has written yet another wonderful story combining romance and suspense. This author continues to be one of my favorites.

  Jack St. Bride find himself released from prison on a cold and blustery day with inadequate clothing and no place to go. A passing cab driver picks him up and with no clear destination in mind Jack finds himself in the small town of Salem Falls. Luck was on his side that day as he spots a help-wanted sign in a local café and Addy Peabody becomes his rescuing angel. Jack is determined to start a new life never imagining that he could possibly find love and happiness again.

  Salem Falls has it's share of secrets, lies and intrigue. Jack soon finds himself accused of a crime he didn't commit all because of the past that continues to haunt him. Mystery and a touch of the occult combine to keep the reader enthralled to the last page.
  
  

• A Man's Perspective
  By A1KBOCJWA6DO4X on 2004-05-01
  While sipping too-strong coffee in the bookstore cafe, I stumbled across the name Jodi Picoult in a Writer's Digest article on writing page-turners. I was in the mood for reading someone new, so I headed for the P's in the fiction section.

  Ugh! What a disappointment when I began reading the cover blurbs! Then I picked up Salem Falls. Witches! That was all I needed, so I headed for the checkout. Yes, I also bought the Writer's Digest.

  I must be honest and say that I needed a year to finish this book. However not because I found it unreadable, but because Ms. Picoult strikes a bit too close to home in her descriptions of how modern men must interact with teenage females. One of my male friends was falsely accused by his ex-wife of raping his step-daughter, and the next six months of his life were absolute hell. Reading the first half of this book was very discomforting.

  For her accurate portrayal of Jack's paranoia after his first conviction, I give Ms. Picoult five stars. However, Salem Falls is far from being a perfect book and the reader cannot analyze the investigative and courtroom procedures too deeply. Conversely, Ms. Picoult makes suspending belief easy, offering the reader a surprise or a new angle every ten paragraphs or so.

  Looking through descriptions of her other books, I do not find anything that particularly interests me, but for readers of this genre, you are in good hands.
  
  

• Just awful
  By on 2004-05-07
  A display of her books in the local bookstore led me to give this immensely popular author a try. I did not expect great literature, but I hoped for some diversion and a clever plot that would keep me turning pages. What I got was 400+ pages of cardboard characters, dreadful dialogue, a central romance without chemistry, wince-worthy metaphors that would not pass muster in Creative Writing 101 ("He felt as though he had been asked to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear") and a hackneyed plot devoid of any suspense or originality. The book culminates in one of the most ludicrous descriptions of a trial ever written, with a key witness interrupting the proceedings not once, but twice, to distribute homemade goodies. Remarkably, the judge not only fails to stop this nonsense, but devours the food with relish! The author does achieve the rare feat of simultaneously suggesting that most men are sexually-abusive beasts AND that women, especially young girls, can't be trusted when they make accusations of abuse. Last but not least, any reader who doesn't see the "surprise" twist at the end coming for several hundred pages has not been paying attention! Avoid this one.
  
  
• Disappointing!
  By A26T52R3HNF558 on 2001-06-12
  I was so keen to get started on this new Jodi Picoult, that I actually started reading it in the store before I bought it, so you can imagine my disappointment when I got down to the serious business of reading it! I found the story line predictable, the characters very flat, and overall, the whole novel was pedestrian. The "made for t.v." version of Wicca that was presented in the novel did nothing to improve my view of the story, and generally, I would have expected better from a writer of this calibre.
  
  
• clumsy yet engrossing
  By A3E31HYKCHO0RT on 2005-08-10
  Honestly, I have spent 434 pages in better company than this book. Picoult is heavy-handed and formulaic in a setting that has been overdone for years now - that of the quirky New England small town. Her slightly mad waitress is stereotypical and uninspiring. Her corrupt police officers make me crave another viewing of Fargo. Her portrayal of teenagers is laughably laced with outdated (even at the time of writing) pop culture references clearly written by someone twice the teens' age (although, being Wiccan and having been a teenager not long ago, I have certainly encountered their like). Further, there are times when she simply does not know when to stop using flowery adjectives to gild the wilted lilies of her characters. Her reference to someone's penis as "the plum-purple weight of him" made me cringe.
  
  The plot itself is a little more interesting. One of the few characters who actually engender some emotion - in this case, positive emotion - Jack St. Bride, is engaging, and one wants to see him through his struggle, which is described in admirable, if implausible detail. Even though his bad luck is literally unimaginable, the situations are painted vividly enough that we want to continue to follow them and learn more. However, the courtroom scenes are unrealistic and weak. Emotions which should be inferred simply from a given plot twist are overwrought with drama and laden with adjectives. The last page is predictable from halfway through.
  
  If I didn't like Jack St. Bride's character so much, I probably wouldn't have finished the book. However, there is enough juiciness and plot development to keep the reader engrossed, and despite the flaws in the writing, I got through it quickly and with some satisfaction. Don't read this if you are expecting great fiction. It is preferable to read this than to turn on a Lifetime special on the same subject - statutory rape, however. The book also appears to offer more information on Wicca than your average "Teen Witch" manual.
  
  
• Just when I thought it couldn't get any better....
  By A27AEDZ1OPR7CT on 2007-02-10
  I am a new reader of Jodi Picoult's books and I am never disappointed.
  
  However, I have to say that Salem Falls is by far the best I have read so far.
  
  A captivating story of a small town in New Hampshire, the story line follows a convicted sex offender, a group of teenage girls, and all of the things that can happen around them in a small New England town.
  
  Addie, a diner worker and main character of the story, is a fascinating figure and is somehow wound into all of the different story lines.
  
  Without giving much away, a series of riveting court scenes kept me absorbed, and the jaw dropping end me left me wanting more- the perfect way to end a book. I am still thinking about it weeks later!
  
  Thank you Jodi Picoult!! Keep your wonderful stories coming!
  
  
• A work that brings strenth into the reader's soul
  By AFVQZQ8PW0L on 2001-02-21
  In Loyal, New Hampshire, teacher Jack St. Bride cared so much about his students, he tried to be there for them. However, good intentions and deeds do not go unpunished as Jack learns when he is arrested, tried, and convicted for sex with a minor. Jack insisted he was innocent and so did his victim, Catherine Marsh, whose diary hung Jack.

  After eight months behind bars, Jack settles in Salem Falls where his Ph.D. in history makes him qualified to wash dishes at the local diner owned by Addie Peabody. Jack reports to Detective Saxton as required by state law of any sex offender. Over time, Jack and Addie begin to fall in love, but lightning strikes again. Four teens accuse Jack of raping Gilly Duncan, daughter of the town icon. With his past and the evidence against him very solid, Jack appears to be heading for his second pediophile conviction even if it seems more like a modern day witch-hunt.

  SALEM FALLS is an exciting legal thriller that focuses on whether an accused person with a previous conviction for the same crime can receive a fair trial. The story line is fast-paced, as Jack seems like an ordinary person caught in maelstrom of his own making or just bad luck (read the book if you want to know). Addie is a great heroine, but three of the accusers sans Gilly fail to come across as genuine. Still, Jodi Picoult provides her audience with a well-written tale that leaves the audience thinking about the varying degrees of justice.

  Harriet Klausner
  
  

• This is By Far Jodi Picoult's Best!
  By on 2001-04-06
  I want to write this review without giving any details of the story.

  The book held my attention and kept me at the edge of my seat for 4 days, I stayed up until 1am last night finishing the last 90 pages. The ending was quite a surprise to me, and although I kept believing the main character Jack St. Bride was innocent it was very hard not to feel that perhaps he was guilty.

  After you have read this book, you must go back and read "Plain Truth" by Jodi Picoult, another terrific book!

  What a great book!
  
  

• Picoult Does It Again!
  By A2RMUH7O7PBYUL on 2001-04-17
  Another great read by Jodi Picoult! Picoult captures the reader's attention right at the start. We are introduced to Jack St. Bride as he is finishing his term at 'The Farm'. Secondly, we are acquainted with Addie, a vulnerable woman of many losses. The reader will eagerly be turning the pages to find out what happens to each of these people as their paths intertwine.

  The story is set in the quiet and ordinary town of Salem Falls. For Jack St. Bride, Salem Falls means a new beginning and for Addie it means stability and the bridge to the past. Could history repeat itself? For Jack St. Bride it sure did. Accused for the same crime twice ~ it will be Jordan McAffee that assists Jack during his trial. Some may remember Jordan as the lawyer from Picoults previous novel, 'The Pact'.

  Picoult is the master of creating suspensful stories that immediately capture the reader until the very last page is turned. As in true Picoult style, there are many surprises and twists along the way. I guarantee if you read this novel, you'll be hooked and looking for more!
  
  

• The Crucible in reverse.
  By A3HTKV1AW14EDB on 2001-05-08
  Piccoult's new novel is another page-turner with plenty of twists and an old friend. Jordan McAfee has returned to us from THE PACT to direct the legal drama that ensues after a group of teenage girls accuse Jack St. Bride of a crime that is so damming to him, that at times I had to put the novel down because the injustice was not to be tolerated.

  Salem Falls is a sleepy little town in New Hampshire that is about to be awakened by a group of teen-age girls who have formed a wiccan coven of witches and decided to prey on the innocent, or not so innocent. That is the question and you will be left wondering till the end.

  There is a line up of vivid and amusing characters to support the accused, all with stories of their own neatly entwined within the main plot. This is what I enjoy the most about this author's books. Not so much that she does it, but how she does it, making her books a mad, page turning frenzy till the end, at which point I sit back with a smile, knowing I have read another great book. Kelsana 5/07/01
  
  

• Nothing special
  By A3B5YLUMTZD0CD on 2001-05-31
  I was hoping for more from Jodi Picoult after reading her other books. This is a pedestrian plot with unremarkable characters and an outcome that is predictable. By the time I waded through to the end, I was skimming the pages to finish it. I didn't particulary like or dislike any of the characters and I found the plot lacked believable substance. I should have foreseen it when a recently-released prisoner was picked up by a cab driver and taken to an idyllic destination where he immediately melded into the landscape. I know that Picoult can do better and I am eagerly awaiting her next effort.
  
  
• Good Read but Not Her Best
  By A5VY0Z2GSKKE1 on 2005-01-31
  I picked up this novel for two reasons. 1) I have previously really enjoyed Piccoult's novels and 2) I am Pagan.
  
  In terms of rating this book against Piccoult's others, I found it to be in the middle. Her characters were interesting, though the young teens engaged themselves in somewhat unrealistic behavior and language. I found there to be many cheesy cliches and dialog that left some to be desired.
  
  However, the end of the book was riveting. For the last 50 pages or so, I could not put it down. It was not that I did not know what would happen, I was just waiting for the "Piccoult-style" WAY for it to happen. She is a master at building her plot and twisting endings. I have never read a book before where the last sentence completely changes the entire novel. So if you are one of those people that like to read the last page- don't! It will hit you from left field.
  
  From a Pagan perspective, I found some of the information right-on accurate but also found some to be somewhat stereotypical. The "witch" who works for the Wiccan Rede that stands trial is absolutely ridiculous. Her "protection spell" she casts in the witness stand is stereotypical and frankly unnecessary. Any protection spell she may have felt she needed would have been cast in the privacy of her own home- not performed like a weird seance in front of hundreds of people. That was outlandish.
  
  Overall, this is why I give the book a 3/5. Whether Piccoult meant to or not, she fed into some of the stereotypes of Wicca and did not tap into the beauty of the earth-based religion at all. However, I enjoyed the building of her story line and also the way she explored sexual abuse/rape and recovery.
  
  
• A Good Read, Not Picoult's Best...
  By A1I5HDSFRG0CFR on 2005-12-14
  I'm not sure I will ever feel as satisfied as I did after reading My Sister's Keeper but nonetheless...
  
  A man tries to begin his life again in a new town after being falsely accused of rape and spending 8 months in jail. Small towns being what they are, it's not long before his secret is found out and Jack becomes the target of another young girl looking for an outlet for her "growing pains." In comes the Wiccan "coven", or a teenage group of girls consisting of a leader and her 3 followers. It is they that accuse Jack of rape for the second time.
  
  During his time in Salem Falls, Jack falls in love and makes enemies, both of which are aspects that add to the appeal of this book. The problem is that the ending is so very predictable (unusual for Picoult) that I could've writteni t myself.
  
  Not a bad read, but not her best.
  
  
• Jodi Picoult never disappoints.
  By AINRTJ8VUFDAV on 2006-11-07
  This story was riviting! Although I don't subscribe to Wiccan beliefs, this subplot added considerable depth and interest to the story. The trial captivated my interest, although the explanation of the DNA evidence was a bit too technical and confusing for the average reader to understand. I found the story hard to follow at times, especially in the beginning when I wasn't yet familiar with all the characters, because the scenes were very short and switched frequently between the parallel storylines. Rape was presented in a very sensitive manner from both the point of view of the victim and of the accused, and the two powerful themes of the story, that love can redeem a man and that lying has serious consequence, came through loud and clear. Kudos to the author for another wonderful story!
  
  
  
  
• Interesting subject, but sloooooow!
  By on 2001-04-25
  I rarely set aside a book without finishing it, but I am sorely tempted to stop reading this one. The writing is so-so (significantly more telling than showing), the plot fairly predictable, and the characters shallow. Worse still, it is boring. Perhaps it would be good for a leisurely vacation read. I realize that I am staking my review next to the Amazon's #1 reviewer(!!), but I wanted to give other readers an alternate opinion.
  
  
• I really wanted to love this book !
  By A1RKD1I8MW1LG6 on 2001-05-23
  It pains me to rank this book with just 3 stars because I think so highly of Jodi Picoult. She is a kind, generous, and talented author who always finds time for her readers.

  But this book just isn't up to the quality of writing of which I know she is capable, like "The Pact". (I sound like a teacher, don't I?) The bare bones are there--it is a page-turner, for sure-- but it seemed as though I were on an out-of-control train.

  The writing is formulaic, the plot is a tired one, the book skitters from one topic to another, and the ending is both rushed and predictable. It seems as though Picoult could not decide whether to write a police procedural, a trial book, or a romance. Consequently, all three are intertwined and leave the reader wanting more of something.

  The courtroom scenes were not at all believable. I think that it is a rare writer who can write courtroom scenes that are both realistic and interesting because trials can be very boring and tedious.

  To her credit, Jodi did give the reader a true sense of how lies and connivance can ruin someone's life...and how eager the public is to believe anything bad that they hear.
  
  

• Plausible Theme
  By on 2001-07-04
  This is the first book I have read by Jodi Picoult. She recently appeared at a bookstore to discuss this book, and I found her to be very animated and down to earth. I thoroughly enjoyed Salem Falls, even though I found it a little wordy at times and the ending disappointing (it seemed a little flat). It was refreshing to see "the other side"-that there are some women who do lie about getting raped and innocent people do go to jail. And yes, it IS possible that the police would not have cordoned off the crime scene until the next morning. I know someone who was accused of assaulting a young woman who was well known by the police as a pathological liar (she had accused several men in her small town of rape). Such women make it difficult for women who are truly raped. As we see in Picoult's book, Gilly is a disturbed young woman who, unfortunately, may never get the help she needs.
  
  
• Disappointing
  By AUYVF0D23DT32 on 2001-11-12
  I have read most of Jodi Picoult's books and could not wait to sink my teeth into this one. It was very difficult, for one, to get into the story. The book jacket tells you most of the story without turning a page. Secondly, I was really not interested in the characters. They seemed to be just that, superficial. Lastly, too much of the story was unbelievable.
  
  
• Fun, but flawed
  By A31RIMXR8GHXB9 on 2002-03-03
  "Salem Falls" is readable, likeable and decidedly unspectacular. Picoult masterfully weaves a suspenseful plot, yet the entire novel somehow manages to disappoint. Perhaps it was her somewhat flat portrayal of Jack, the main character. Despite having a rather intimate understanding of his situation, I found him to be a listless and uninteresting character.
  Or perhaps is was the rather trite manner in which Addie, Amos, Gillian and many of the other characters were crafted. Many of the images and characterizations seem overly dependent upon a twenty-first century sensibility. I often distrust novels in which the character portrayals are laced with media references and cliché images of current fashion and I found the four young girls to be very much to that effect. References to Alanis Morissette and electric blue nail polish may not withstand the test of time.
  On the other hand, I appreciated Ms. Picoult's lack of negativity toward wicca and her openness towards the possibility of magic. Although the love interest sub-plot did not work for me, those moments of "magic" rescued the novel from becoming overly trite and predictable.
  Such assets and flaws aside, I'll admit that read the book happily eagerly to discover the outcome. One cannot help being drawn into the story. It was simply a "fun read".
  
  
• Presumed Guilty
  By A1LKSZ9CYJ6829 on 2005-03-14
  For many people, the small town of Salem Falls is nearly an ideal place to live. But how much of that idyllic view is based on maintained appearances, facades, convenient fictions, and close-mindedness? Innocent people can be made to suffer when illusions and deceptions are substituted for actuality. That is the author's story.
  
  It all seems so innocent, normal, and decent in this small town: teenage girls giggling, awakening to their attractiveness, and having crushes on teachers or coaches; high school football players with a swagger of invincibility, picking the prettiest girls; the town fathers maintaining community order and morality, rooting out deviance and deviants; and the legal system providing official enforcement of community standards. On the other hand, where does a handsome, young teacher, accused of predatory behavior, turn in the face of unexamined assumptions of community goodness? Where does a teen-age girl turn when "selected" by the football stars against her will as an object for gratification? How does anyone who is "different" withstand the morality police, rumors, and vigilantism? Are the most self-righteous hiding the worst of transgressions? If truth cannot be discovered in a court of law, is it forever lost?
  
  The book is an interesting look at the consequences of illusions, deceptions, and morality held to excess. Unfortunately, the characters are not as compelling. They remain somewhat distant and in some cases are exasperatingly inconsistent. Basically the book is a good, it not disturbing, story.
  
  
  
• Not My Favorite Picoult Novel
  By AG2IEP1MJQHFS on 2005-06-15
  I adore Jodi Picoult. I have a very hard time putting her novels down. Her writing is mesmerizing, usually. I didn't find that to be the case in Salem Falls. I could not like nor related to Jack, the main character. He was too remote and distant from the reader. I felt like I was on the outside looking in at him. It was an unpleasant feeling.
  
  Also, I was more than a little unhappy with Picoult's depiction of witchcraft and paganism. I am a practicing pagan and I found that her explanations of how magick works and what paganism is very informed. However, her representations of pagans - 4 lying, scheming, teenage girls and 1 typical pagan/hippy hybrid - to be lacking and insulting. You can do much better than that, Ms. Picoult.
  
  
• EXCELLENT READ AND HARD TO PUT DOWN!
  By A1IIX764GG3WNZ on 2005-07-03
  I really enjoyed this book the more I got into it, finding it hard to put down.
  
  Jack St. Bride just got released from prison, and with nowhere to go to, finally reaches the small town of Salem Falls where no one knows him. He finds the Do-Or Diner, where Addy has owned the restaurant for years. Jack immediately hits it off with Addie there, and feeling he needs a job not knowing his prior history, she hires him on as a busboy.
  
  It isn't long though until Jack has to report to the officer in the county there, and it is then his history comes out to the whole small town including Abby. Abby, having had experiences in the past, is suddenly wary, but then chooses to believe the best about Jack. The whole town goes crazy with stories though, and many want him out. When a teenager and her friends hear this, they want Jack out, planning a terrible act to ensnare him, and get him accused of rape once again.
  
  Well of course, this whole saga comes to a trial in the court, with all sides of the story. But as Jordan, the defense attorney uncovers more and more facts, he can see right through Gillian as a terrible liar, and realizes Jack's innocence. Matt, the prosecuting attorney of course, does whatever he can to throw Jack behind bars for good, but as the story unfolds here, a whole different story emerges and the truth does come out.
  
  Abby is deeply in love with Jack. She always was since first sight, and eventually the two may get together depending on the outcome of Jack's trial-which remains to be seen until you read the book.
  
  

• Second Glance: A Novel
• My Sister's Keeper: A Novel
• My Sister's Keeper: A Novel (Picoult, Jodi (Large Print))

• Mercy
• Harvesting the Heart: A Novel
• Keeping Faith
• Picture Perfect
• Plain Truth