Change of Heart: A Novel Reviews

• Not Jodi's finest...

  
  By A17OROWXTK3H50 on 2008-03-04
  I wanted to love this book. I really, really did. After hearing Jodi speak at the National Book Conference last September, and from being a fan for many years, I'd been waiting anxiously for March 4th to come around, and so was beyond thrilled last month when my boss at the bookstore where I worked parttime (not a Jodi fan herself) snuck an ARC in my mailbox before anyone else saw it.
  
  If you know and love Jodi's books, you know that they follow a formula, and you're ok with that. They all center around a legal/ethical/social/medical issue that's come to a head; typically have at least one sassy yet insecure single female in an investigative/advisory role (who frequently finds love by the end of the story), and all end with a twist. This twist leaves the reader in one of any number of states - lost in thought, changed on a certain issue, outraged at society, or drowning in a pool of tears. (Almost literally on that last one - in fact, when My Sister's Keeper came out in bookstores, one promotion included a pack of kleenex with every sale; also, Jodi told the story at the NBF about how her daughter, upon finishing the book, stormed upstairs, slammed her bedroom door, and would not speak to her for the rest of the day). For Jodi's fans, this formula works, though reading a number in a row (as I did when I first discovered her 6 years ago) can become tiresome (I took a long break after that, and in fact skipped the two books between My Sister's Keeper and Nineteen Minutes - 2 of my three favorites, along w/ Plain Truth).
  
  So having a background in bioethics, and being fascinated by criminology, I eagerly awaited this book and had the high hopes that I'd count it among my favorites. But this book, though gripping, made me roll my eyes WAY too often. Being a fan of Jodi's means that, in exchange for finding that rare book that you cannot put down, you also often have to suspend a bit of disbelief and roll along with some fairly unbelievable plot devices. Trust me, I'm willing to do that. But imbuing a character with supernatural abilities? Really? I just don't think this 'hook' was necessary to keep a reader's attention on a story dealing with as loaded and controversial a topic as the death penalty.
  
  Additionally, there was WAY too little focus on the background of the victim's family and the events leading up to the murders for which the main character, Shayne, was sentenced to death. The book made me feel very little sympathy for the woman whose daughter and husband were murdered, simply because her character was hardly fleshed out. Way too much focus was put on characters that, though entertaining and interesting, could easily have retreated to the background while still being worthwhile to include - particularly Maggie Bloom and the priest.
  
  I was also pretty annoyed that The Twist of the book seems to impact everyone besides Mrs. Nealon. Far be it from me to dance around the issue of whether or not to include a spoiler here - as a Jodi fan, I definitely know better. Suffice it to say - once you know what the twist is, especially if you've ever had a child you've loved, you may also think it was just too 'easy' that her reaction seemed like such an afterthought.
  
  That all being said, there were some positives. As a bookseller, I've gotten to a point where, if I see one more book called or 'the Mona Lisa Lexicon' or 'the Codex Conspiracy' or 'the Templar Legacy' (wait, I think that's a real one) or any other book trying to steal the thunder of the DaVinci code in all its trite glory, I will just cry. So when this book seemed to head in that territory, I very nearly stopped reading. But in the end, Jodi gave that genre a nice little ironic kick in the butt, and for that it earned 2 stars alone. The 3rd star is because, somehow, at the end of any Jodi novel, no matter how blah, I still have goosebumps for a good 20 minutes after putting it down.
  
  See my review of Nineteen Minutes to know that I bow to Jodi at her best, but unfortunately, this was just not it. Better than Salem Falls, but no Plain Truth or My Sister's Keeper. In any case, keep an open mind and enjoy! I'm anxious to hear what others think...
  
  

• Picoult tackles the death penalty and the lost books of the New Testament in her latest offering

  
  By A2EBLL2OYEQJN9 on 2008-03-05
  Jodi Picoult's fifteenth novel is set around an angel-like death row inmate with a profound desire to donate his heart to the sister of his victim. The challenge? Lethal injection would render the organ useless. The inmate starts performing miracles from prison (turning water into wine, reviving a dead pet, healing terminal illness) and media quickly labels him the next Messiah. Admirers start congregating outside the prison campus. A national dialog opens, and the mother of a dying child must ask herself if she can put away her hatred to accept the donated heart of her deceased child's killer.
  
  Change of Heart, like other Jodi Picoult novels, is told in brief chapters from over a dozen points of view. She tackles a new moral dilemma - the death penalty - complete with a true crime shock factor, courtroom drama, tension-filled romance, and an incredible twist at the end. Picoult has done her research and also introduces the Gnostic texts - namely the Gospel of Thomas, disregarded as the Church as heresy when it was discovered and published in 1975 - as a key plot element. The work comprises 114 sayings attributed to Jesus. Picoult artfully portrays her death row inmate, Shay Bourne, as a man eerily similar to that described in the Gospel of Thomas.
  
  Picoult succeeds at creating a general outline of Shay Bourne as a religious figure via a number of inventive modern-day twists on New Testament writings. Once she created the setting of a religious novel, however, she used miracles to escape plot holes willy nilly. How does the heart of a 30 year-old man possibly match that of a teen girl? Oh, it's a miracle. The same priest who convicted Shay as a jury member is assigned as his spiritual advisor? Miraculous coincidence. Let's not even mention that the entire plot twist which makes our convicted murder a martyr is (a) exploitative of child abuse as a hot button issue and (b) flimsily based upon the defendant just "not mentioning" most of the story surrounding the murder of his victims during his first trial.
  
  In other novels, the author has balanced the stronger elements of her formula against the weaker ones. My Sister's Keeper had a touching, tension-filled romance that helped carry the book, for example. In Change of Heart, the romance is weakly developed, one-dimensional, and requires a stereotypical over-stressed, weight-watching, desperate female character. The courtroom drama is for pure literary effect - fans of legal thrillers will instantly notice that lawyers seem not to have consulted their clients at all before throwing them on the stand and that arguments are occasionally based on legally irrelevant but passion-fueled aspects of the moral dilemma at hand.
  
  So how can I give this book four stars? Easy. If you picked up a Jodi Picoult novel, you know what elements to expect. You've accepted that you'll have to suspend belief during the legal proceedings. In Change of Heart, she succeeds with some great flourishes re-casting the son of God in the modern day. She's provides a powerful look inside the death penalty which is sure to inspire valuable dialog among readers. I learned a thing or two about religious texts, inspiring me to do some additional research on my own after finishing the book. I'm giving my copy of the book to a friend who might enjoy it.
  
  In a recent interview, Jodi Picoult stated that she is at work at a new novel about a wrongful birth suit in which a mother sues her obstetrician for not disclosing that her child would be severely impaired.
  
  

• Typical Jodi, but very predictable

  
  By A1P1C0MEKDD8XS on 2008-03-10
  I first became a fan of Picoult's after reading My Sister's Keeper on a friend's recommendation 3 years ago. Like most, I cried my eyes out reading the last 30 or so pages of the book and was hooked after that point. I've since read most of Picoult's 15-book library, most recently this book, Change of Heart. While I was excited for a new book of hers, I still haven't found another one that moved me like My Sister's Keeper yet. From reading the book jacket, I was hoping this one would come close. Unfortunately, it didn't even compare. While the story was told in the same manner as My Sister's Keeper (each "chapter" was a different character's voice) and made it a quick read (460 pages that I finished over the course of a weekend), it was much too predictable. I guessed what the "twist" in the plot was about 25 pages into the book (and my guess was confirmed around page 400) and found it so closely mirroring the storyline of Stephen King's "The Green Mile" that I was almost embarrassed for Picoult's lack of originality). While this book's main character is supposedly a Messiah and King's death row inmate was just supposed to be supernatural, without any sort of religious affiliation, the similarities will be clearly apparent to anyone that's seen the movie or read the book (one of the glaring similarities includes bringing a fellow inmate's dead pet back to life; a bird in this book, a mouse in King's). Despite these things, I still couldn't put the book down since it was such a quick and easy read, it was entertaining enough, and Picoult is an extremely gifted writer, even if her originality is lacking. I must agree with some of the other reviews in that Picoult does not develop a few of the key characters enough, particularly the mother/wife of the victims, June Nealon, and I found that the story line suffered because of it. One of the things that draws me to her books is her intricate character development that takes the reader into the mind and body of that character and makes them a part of the story. I felt that Lucius' character didn't add much in the way of plot development and didn't need to be focused on as much as he was.
  
  One thing that I always appreciate about Picoult's books is the extensive research she does as she's writing them. Because of this I can appreciate the laws, doctrines, gospels, etc. that she speaks of in her novels and know that she's done her fact-finding and not making up laws to suit her story. Her legal and religious research is apparent throughout the book and I found it to be a good learning experience.
  
  A warning - this book heavily involves religious doctrine, the Bible (both Old and New Testaments), unpublished Gospels of the New Testament. While I am not at all religious and can't count on one hand the number of times I've been in church in my life so I found no issues reading this book and was not offended in any way as I'm quite open to other belief systems, others may be quite sensitive to the ideas presented. Picoult treads a very thin line with several characters including the Priest who is in the midst of a moral and religious crisis, a reformed atheist, an outlandish televangelist, and the ACLU lawyer who was raised Jewish, but considers herself Agnostic and is fighting on behalf of the death row inmate, Shay who many believe is the second coming of Christ.
  
  Overall, it's an entertaining book, but don't bother spending the money on it. Borrow it from a library, wait until it's available on paperback, or borrow it from another Picoult fan that bought it with high hopes on the first day it was released (me!).
  
  
  

• Not very original

  
  By A160IH6SHLGDCB on 2008-03-10
  A mysterious double murder. A death-row inmate who can bring other inmate's small pets back to life. I think I already read this. No, wait! That was The Green Mile by Stephen King.
  
  I LOVE Picoult and am always ready to pounce when a new book comes out, but I think she needs to slow down and work on quality not quantity.
  
  

• At Last ...

  
  By A1BI8PUEHA5CHW on 2008-03-11
  Finally, Picoult returns to her earlier roots. In spite of the heavy subject matter (death penalty and Biblical texts, murder), this book is a welcome change from her previous two books. This book reminds me of her earlier works like, "The Pact," "Keeping Faith," and "The Plain Truth." However, this book is not as good as the others simply because of two reasons, it was predictable and there was a feeling that this book was written in a haste.
  
  Other than that, this is a fast-paced read and one that I wished didn't end. The characters were fascinating (even though most of them weren't fleshed out as much as her characters have been in the past). Their struggles, griefs, dreams and thoughts were all interesting and made this novel more real. There's June who suffered three tragedies in one lifetime, where she lost her first husband in a car accident, but their daughter is safe. Then she loses her second husband and daughter in the murder that Shay Bourne was accused of. Now she faces the ultimate question of all time: should she accept Shay's gift to her other daughter who desperately needs it? Then there's Shay Bourne, the man accused and convicted of murdering June's family. Did he or did he not? There are the inmates on his level at the prison, especially Lucius, the man dying of AIDS. Then there's Father Michael who was on the original jury that convicted Shay of the double murder and sentenced him to death. He ends up being the most interesting character of all of them simply because of his crisis of faith. Then there's Maggie, the ALCU lawyer who took on Shay's case at the eleventh hour.
  
  If it wasn't for several reviewers in here, I would have never got the idea that this is similar to the Stephen King novel, "The Green Mile." In my reading experience, novelists borrow themes from other books/stories/movies that they've read and tried to flesh it out in their own way. This novel is interesting since it deals with capital punishment and different people dealing with it in different ways. Then there's the religious factor as well, which I find very interesting. The two themes tie together very nicely in this novel and wasn't disturbing to me at all.
  
  This may not be the best novel that she has written, but in comparison to her last few, this is a better one. It definitely reminds me of her roots. It's been awhile since I have enjoyed Picoult's novels and this one, while rushed, definitely was enjoyable. It was definitely a good read and one I would recommend to everyone.
  
  3/10/08
  
  
• When You Question Your Beliefs...
  By A265NE6H6LYX87 on 2008-04-14
  Convicted murderers are sentenced to be executed on a regular basis in the United States; after many appeals and much time, some actually do face the final steps to their deaths in payment for their crimes. Whether or not you agree with this method of punishment, you will find much to ponder in Jodi Picoult's Change of Heart as you follow Shay Bourne, convicted of murdering a 7 year old girl and her stepfather, as he faces death and hope of compensation for the sister of the girl left behind.
  
  Picoult brings us a rich tableau of characters in Change of Heart, not all of them likeable. We have Shay, who has committed this unspeakable crime, yet seems to have some mystical powers; Father Michael, Shay's spiritual advisor who was the deciding vote to sentence him to death on his jury eleven years before; Maggie, the ACLU lawyer who feels allowing Shay to die as he wants will spotlight the wrongs of the death penalty; June, the mother who lost her husband and daughter in a heinous way and whose daughter Claire, born after the deaths of her sister and father, is now slowly slipping away from a defective heart. Shay wants to donate his heart to Claire in order to somehow make up for the losses but lethal injection won't allow him to, so he's asking for hanging instead. But does he even deserve to die? What of the "miracles" he's performing from his cell? And would Claire and June even want the heart of their loved ones' killer?
  
  Picoult takes a sensitive subject and embues it with excellent research on the origins of Christianity as well as believable characters with their own crises of faith. The action moves along well, and there is, of course, a Picoult trademark twist or two. Though the story does borrow from Stephen King's The Green Mile, it is so thought-provoking and well researched that the comparisons are superficial. I will be thinking about this one for a long time, and that, I am sure, was Ms. Picoult's goal in the first place. Highly recommended.
  
  ~taminator40
  
  
• not recommended
  By AF0DTAT0WX27V on 2008-03-24
  Ms. Picoult may be a talented writer. In fact,'My Sister's Keeper" was a beautifully made book. But she seems to have gotten herself on a toboggan with a formula that's far too slick and now a bit disturbing. It must include violence toward a child. preferably with an unusual death, a little hoodoo, a little love mess, a courtroom scene with far outdated Perry Mason ovetones and a "twist" ending that is anything but, since you can spot it a mile off. In this book, she also reduces a mother'd grief to an absurdity. Ms. Picoult, take a year off and re-charge your batteries.
  
  
• Not her best
  By A1028EO0SP6YCS on 2008-03-09
  I was very excited to read this book and brought it home without even reading the inside cover. The plot was sound, the writing typical Picoult, but I had the "twist" figured out by page 12. Seriously. And I spent the rest of the book hoping that I was wrong.
  
  Alas.. no. I don't know if I've just read too many of her books, it was a lucky guess, or if this was transparent to other readers, but it was disappointing. I do love the characters and the different points of view, and there were certainly plenty of "side trips" to keep me entertained along the way, but I don't fee that this book was on par with most of her others.
  
  
• So Disappointed
  By AYGN7AJKIQOI3 on 2008-03-23
  Jodi Picoult is my favorite author and I really looked forward to a book about a mother and daughter faced with deciding whether to take the heart of the man on death row who killed their family members. Instead, I read "Change of Heart", which focused on the inmate and his "spiritual advisor", a priest who doesn't know anything about Christianity. The priest's crisis of faith, which takes center stage most of the book, was unbelievable for 3 reasons: his guilt over a decision he made earlier in his life would have been dealt with in seminary, said seminary training would have helped him defend his faith with the liberal rabbi and self-proclaimed religious skeptic he seeks for guidance (rather than his senior priest), and the inmate he sees as savior doesn't claim to be a savior, nor does he act remotely like a savior. Picoult usually carefully researches her books, yet this one contains revisionist history of Christianity and the origins of the Bible presented as fact. A total disappointment; don't bother with this one.
  
  
• Disappointed!
  By A1VIA6UG0CVHRU on 2008-03-24
  After having enjoyed so many Jodi Piccault novels, I was so looking forward to this one. Sadly, I was disappointed. While there is a fascinating thread of plot as is typical of a Jodi Piccault story, this one is steeped in deep discussions of theology, none of which matched up with my own. I am a Christian and believe in the truth of Scripture. So when that truth was trivialized, embelleshed, twisted and debated, I found it difficult to commit to the story line.
  
  This could have been an excellent read, had Ms. Piccault not escaped into the realm of fantasy, but stayed on her turf of realistic fiction. I do love her as one of my favorite authors though, and will look forward to her next book.
  
  
• "Change of The Green Mile"
  By A3HC6DT3C7KGO2 on 2008-03-10
  Jodi Picoult is a fine writer, who seems to have found a formula that works for her. Her books always involve some life altering event, usually a death, where the victim or victimizer hides a secret until the final three pages of the book. There is usually a lawsuit of some kind, a semi-happy marriage, and children. "My Sister's Keeper" is her finest work, but only because the pattern was fresh at the time. With "Change of Heart," Picoult's ingenuity has begun to flag. She seems more intent in powering us through the novel, and making sure that she crams in all the usual aspects of her plots so that she could release a book within a year and a half of the last one.
  
  The problem is that she also seems to have taken a few pages from a couple of other prolific writers. The plot of this story- a deathrow inmate with messiah like qualities-is so similar to that of Stephen King's "The Green Mile" that I often found myself picturing the protagonist as Michael Clarke Duncan. She does make a few references to King's other work, specifically "The Stand" and "The Shawshank Redemption" so that it seems more like an homage and less like a rip-off. And she certainly does not plagiarize any of King's writing. However, it still seems lazy. As does the character of Maggie, who seems to have stepped out of a Jennifer Weiner book and fallen into the wrong story by accident. Again, there are enough references that it seems to be another homage.
  
  Picoult's only truly original character, the Catholic priest, has the most compelling backstory, and the least interesting part of the plotline. I wish that Picoult had stepped away from the sensational part of her story and devoted more time to creating believable and engaging characters. She has a gift at creating interesting relationships between both parents and children and man and woman, as readers have seen in "My Sister's Keeper", "Nineteen Minutes", and "The 10th Circle." I wish that she realized that could sell books just as well as the "Twist" she has become so known for.
  
  
  
  
• Picoult missed the mark on this one...
  By ANRUMYQFXRM6Q on 2008-03-29
  OK, I generally like Jodi Picoult. I think she's usually a thinking person's beach read. But this was CRAP. First, she owes Stephen King part of her royalties from this book, because the first quarter or so is a shameless ripoff of THE GREEN MILE (what, she couldn't have picked a more obscure text? Because, I mean, hardly ANYONE has read THE GREEN MILE, right?). Second, she also owes at least a small debt to John Grisham's THE CHAMBER, in that they are both incredibly heavy-handed indictments of the death penalty.
  
  But even separate from her blatant theft, the story line was just....perhaps cumbersome is the best word. The dialogue was stilted, the actions of all the characters were unbelievable (c'mon, folks, EVERYONE would JUMP at the chance for a new heart for his/her child if the alternative was death, I don't care if it was Adolf Hitler's), the romance was forced and irrelevant. UGH. I just really hated the whole thing, with one small redeeming factor - the character of Maggie (clearly modeled on Picoult herself) was well-drawn, and presented as someone the reader would like to have as a friend, but even she collapsed when, naturally, her miserable life was saved by the love of a good man. Why couldn't she just have achieved happiness on her own terms?
  
  And HOW could I have forgotten to mention the patented Picoult 11th hour "twist", only in this case you'll see it coming a hundred pages in advance, and only made me hate June even more than I already did.
  
  I just can't recommend this one for anybody.....
  
  
• Picoult Usually Offers So Much More!!
  By A1BIGYMFZOFTR8 on 2008-04-01
  This was approx. a 1.5 star -- not worthy of a 2 star review!! I almost returned this and now wish I had. There were times when I thought that I was reading Grisham's "The Chamber." However, that was really good and this was really bad!! Give me a break! This was so heavy-handed. I liked Maggie, but the font was so faint [in Maggie's sections] that one wonders if Picoult wanted the reader to diminish this character's importance [although this makes no sense, but the book makes no sense]. There were so many inconsistencies in this book. Whatever happened to Extreme Emotional Distress [EED] or just plain insanity as a plea?? If Shay had expressive language difficulties, how is it possible that he was so articulate most of the time? Do your prescriptions have your telephone nos. on them?? [Father Michael going through Gracie's medicine chest hoping to find her no. on her meds....] I found this to be unworthy of Picoult and am surprised that she released this inferior book. It's one thing to have strong opinions, but does an author have to treat their readers like young children?? I doubt that I'll read anything else by this author. Not recommended reading and not because I either agree or disagree with material[s] and/or Picoult's opinions. It's the entire book that simply does not work.
  
  
• Intriguing Novel
  By A10YWQ4AAAE29O on 2008-05-13
  I must admit that Jodi Picoult's novels are hit or miss for me. Though it could have been 60 or so pages less, this novel sparked my attention and held it throughout. As in most of her novels, I was educated. I learned more about the Gnostic Gospels, heart transplants, and death penalty statues. Weaved into a coherent, engaging, and, at times, exhilarating tapestry, the story lays out it's premise allowing the reader to ruminate on it's merit and believability.
  
  Shay Bourne is convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death in New Hampshire. Maggie Bloom is an ACLU attorney who at first fights the injustice of the death penalty until her client demands his right to die. Her case then alters to his right how to die; Shay's preference is hanging rather than lethal injection to ensure that his organs can be donated. To Shay this will redeem his past sins. I hesitate to share more as the surprising turns are half the fun of this read. Be assured you will find the twists intriguing and controversial at the the same time.
  
  Picoult offers several narrators who present Shay's case, maintaining a easy flow that guides the reader to the conclusion. What could have been choppy and confusing, instead aids in seeing perspectives on several levels.
  
  I enjoyed "Change of Heart" and venture to say most will find it a taut tale that spellbinds.
  
  
• Predictable and Disappointing
  By A2W93YT3J7N8E2 on 2008-03-12
  My Sister's Keeper is one of my favorite books...this one, however, doesn't work. I had the "twist" figured out immediately so the rest of the book bored me. Ms. Picoult does need to slow down and as one reviewer said, concentrate on quality, not quantity, because she's a great writer. Falling into that marketing ruse of producing a book a year only dilutes her product. I won't automatically buy her next book - will wait for the reviews and get it at the library. No sale here!
  
  
• Blasphemy
  By A2ZI38YPXTVOSH on 2008-03-14
  I'm a huge fan of Jodi Picoult's books, but this one has changed my opinion of her. This book portrays a convicted murderer as a Christ figure. Picoult's book is pure sacrilege.
  
  
• A Big Disappointment
  By AGY4BHQES9F5Y on 2008-04-25
  I have loved every other Jodi Picoult book I have read and was eager to receive this one. Well, I got it, I read it, and I threw it in the trash. I am a Christian and I was highly offended by her treatment of Christianity is this book. A convicted felon as Jesus? Come on. I know some people will point out that maybe his act of murder was in fact "justified." I just don't see it, he killed someone when there was no longer any threat to himself. The Gospel of Judas was elevated to the same level as the Bible and false information was provided on the start of Christianity and how the books of the Bible were put together. This book was blatantly anti-Christian. I will precede with caution before I purchase another Jodi Picoult book.
  
  
• `In the space between yes and no, there's a lifetime.'
  By A1DYMH30TSRONY on 2008-07-31
  One of the hallmarks of a Jodi Picoult novel is her ability to explore the shades of grey in the `hard' issues that her characters confront.
  
  In this novel Shay Bourne, convicted murderer of June Nealon's husband and daughter, offers his heart for June's younger daughter Claire who will die without a heart transplant. Will June accept the heart? Does Claire want it, knowing of its history? Is it possible to legally execute Bourne in a way that will enable his heart to be harvested in a state medically fit for transplant purposes? In exploring these questions and others Ms Picoult has assembled an interesting cast of characters and, at times, some quite unbelievable situations to keep us thinking.
  
  The power of this novel is the journey as much as the destination. And if, at times, the landscape seems familiar that doesn't detract from the power of the writing.
  
  Whether you enjoy the novel or not, what choice would you make in June Nealon's position?
  
  Jennifer Cameron-Smith
  
  
  
• It was.....ok
  By A3CAIXNDFR6JYG on 2008-03-12
  Jodi Picoult is a master storyteller, but CHANGE OF HEART was not her best work at all. I have read MY SISTER'S KEEPER (the best by far), PLAIN TRUTH, VANISHING ACTS, NINETEEN MINUTES, and THE TENTH CIRCLE, so I was really expecting the same style of writing, just with a touch of Picoult-ness. (Excuse my phrase)
  
  I highly anticipated this book, but to me this felt rushed, not at all as in depth as many of her books.
  
  I think Jodi needs to spend some time, not necessarily researching (because she does that very well), but more time writing, expressing her ideas thoughtfully.
  
  I will see what her next book has to hold. I hope she bangs out a winner.
  
  
• Thought-provoking...
  By A1YBVBU27AKJ1J on 2008-03-14
  I'm not sure how good or bad this book is compared to Picoult's other books, but I for one enjoyed it thoroughly.
  
  I've always liked any book that has made me think about social issues, and this book did just that. Picoult doesn't pull any punches here. She delves into the topics of religion, the death penalty, and even organ donation in a thoughtful, thought-provoking way. There are no easy answers when it comes to these subjects and she doesn't pretend there are.
  
  Another reviewer indicated that they had figured out the "twist" of the story early on. I don't think this was a twist at all. I think if you are paying close attention to the early "June" chapters, it is quite clear and should not be any real surprise.
  
  One thing Picoult does very well in all her books his create well defined, intriguing characters. All the characters here a wonderfully written, and in the same way she brought back Ian Fletcher from KEEPING FAITH, I hope we will hear more from Maggie and Father Michael in the future.
  
  
  
• No need to buy. Wait for library copy.
  By A3BRALV58AZPN9 on 2008-03-16
  Reading a Picoult book is like driving 55 in a 65 mph zone. You get to your destination but don't arrive until, well, whenever you get there. There always seems to be too much material that does little to advance the story. For example, what is with the obsession with Maggie's weight, sloppy eating habits, wide hips, frizzy and uncontrollable hair, thighs that rub together, inability to wear suits with stripes, etc? Makes me wonder if Picoult is actually describing herself. Having said that, I find that if I have the patience to work through the slow parts of Picoult's books that the core storyline in each of them is really pretty good. And for that, I give her credit. 3 1/2 stars.
  
  
• Tight writing, rehashed story... this one is missing originality
  By AS6SH2JM2YY3H on 2008-03-16
  Change of Heart is classic Jodi Picoult - human drama, rich in detail, and with that characteristic "tidal plot." The reader is brought into the story with the tide, through its high point, but as the tide recedes, there is something else left behind, a new story, a new kink, or a new perspective.
  
  In this case, is the guilty man really guilty?
  
  In Change of Heart, a handyman is convicted of a brutal double murder of a man and his daughter, and sentenced to death by lethal injection. After 11 years of appeals, the execution date is set. In the meantime, the grieved widow also has to deal with the pending death of her remaining daughter, who is in desperate need of a heart transplant. The murderer's offer to share his heart with her daughter puts everything, and everyone, in a tizzy.
  
  Weird things begin happening in the cell of the convicted murderer, a carpenter by trade. Water turns into wine. He brings a dead robin to life. An AIDS patient is miraculously cured. One piece of bubble gum "feeds the multitudes" (remember John 6:1-15?). And now he wants to sacrifice himself to save another life.
  
  It's not quite The Green Mile, but you can't help but sense the similarity here. And when the ACLU lawyer works to get the handyman hanged instead of injected with a lethal drug cocktail (to save the heart for transplantation), and discusses the nature of religion and ancient conspiracies to keep some testimonies out of the current Bible, well, this was some combination of The Da Vinci Code and Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith. What IS religion, anyway?
  
  This book should be very popular on the book club circuit.
  
  
• Tried To Be About Many Things And Ended Up Being About Very Little
  By A28WJUJF6D2ULA on 2008-03-17
  I liked the last novel I read by this author (The Tenth Circle) but Change of Heart was too scattered and perhaps far-reaching to find the solidity it needed to bring off this sort of plot. The religious aspects were leaden and heavy-handed, very much simplistic when in this particular circumstance some complexity of thought was required. Also the crimes central to the story were somehow glossed over and dismissed, even as Picoult tried hard to make them all the more lurid in their destructive aftermath. The prison chapters (and some of her chapters desperately needed to be longer!) were so weak and nimbly touched upon, and so painfully unrealistic that they lacked the horror they should have provoked from within a reader. Finally the idea of miracles occurring as she described totally undermined the last shred of realism she might have clung to in this already diluted tale. I found it a weak and unsatisfying sort of book, and I wish I had never bought it or read it.
  
  
• I may be the one with 'A Change of Heart' ...
  By A3RA920YVFLOIV on 2008-03-18
  Eagerly anticipating Picoult's latest work, I read the excerpt online and couldn't wait to sink my teeth into what I thought would be her latest masterpiece. After my disappointment with The Tenth Circle, tepid interest in Nineteen Minutes, and sheer love affair with The Pact, imagine my surprise when I was met with a prescribed plot without any of her stylistic twists. What My Sister's Keeper offered, this novel lacked. A cross between The Green Mile and The DaVinci Code, Picoult's work fell way short, and dedicated fans will be disappointed. Picoult will need to produce something miraculous with her next work, or my {literary} Heart will need to be Harvested elsewhere.
  
  
• Gimme a break!!
  By A2WU08UN52OHER on 2008-03-20
  Ok. I must admit that I'm one of those people who read primarily for pleasure - the same reason I watch movies. I thought that this book was excellent! Although I have read almost all of Jodi's books, I don't see a need to fit them into a "pattern" - I read them each with an open mind. I was delighted to see her bring in Ian Fletcher and his family from " Keeping Faith" and I absolutely loved the story of Maggie and Christian. I must disagree with many who say that this isn't a great read. After all - those who can, create. And those who can't, critique....
  
  
• Longtime Picoult reader - disappointed in this one
  By A22BUV2X4ZKPSF on 2008-03-21
  I've read all of Picoult's books. My favorites are My Sister's Keeper and The Pact. I was so excited to read this book and dove right in. About 75 pages into it I figured out the "twist" and hoped I was wrong. I was disappointed to wade through lots of religious history and found that it wasn't as fun a read as I had thought it would be. Unfortunately I was correct in my assessment of the twist. This was too much like Green Mile and way too predictable. It was also not very believeable in many parts. Overall I was disappointed in this book - I hope the next one is better.
  
  
• Desperately anticipated for something that didn't turn out the way I expected.
  By A3QSOASS8NIK01 on 2008-03-23
  When I heard Jodi Picoult was coming out with a new novel, I immediately thought, "I need to get this book!" The book, (like any other Picoult book) has wonderful, captivating facts about the death penalty in this case, and some twists pertaining to the beginning. I thought this book was going to be like My Sister's Keeper, maybe even better, since it involves medecine and knowing that the death penalty is such a controversial issue. However, Jodi Picoult continues to be one of my favorite authors and this book isn't all bad. On the bright side, the relationship with Maggie and Christian is pretty cute. Shay and Michael's relationship gets interesting throughout the book. Overall, it doesn't bother to read, it isn't a bad book, just not one of her best. Some parts are pretty clever that I would've never thought of. She continues to be one of the best authors in my opinion.
  
  
• Disappointing, but still better than many bestsellers...
  By A5A3C6XVDYUND on 2008-04-02
  Jodi Picoult's worst novel is by far. In saying that I will also note that it is better than many that are on top ten New York Times (such as any of the million of works by James Patterson). If you are interested in giving Jodi a second try choose "My Sister's Keeper" or "Plain Truth" well written with multi dimensional characters and plots to keep the pages turning. Fingers crossed the next new one by Ms. Picoult is better than this. Good luck!
  
  
• So many unresolved issues
  By A3B5YLUMTZD0CD on 2008-04-02
  I have always had respect for Jodi's topical plots and for the meticulous research that has to go into each of her books. That said, this book was difficult to finish. I found the supernatural elements such as bringing the dead bird to life simply weren't credible, let alone fascinating. I'm still not sure about the policeman/dad's relationship with his stepdaughter, and the ending with the dog added the final death knell for me. I wish I had "abandoned ship" long before the end. It seemed like Jodi found an interesting topic and then wrapped a story around it that was chock full of religion, faux-religion, and the supernatural. I would like to have seen some substantial character development. I gave it two stars out of respect for an author that I know can do much, much better.
  
  
• An engrossing read, don't miss it!
  By A1UCPXUBSESD65 on 2008-04-09
  The topic of the death penalty is always a controversial one and this is no exception. This novel also gives us much more than that, maybe too much for one novel, but it was written in such an engrossing way, that I won't complain about too much information.
  The religious aspect was intriguing. I loved learning things about the bible and the gospels that I didn't know. The characters were typical Picoult-fashion "fascinating" even the prisoners, but especially the main characters, Shay - the convicted murderer, Michael the priest, Maggie the attorney (delightful), the inmate with Aids, and even the attorney's Jewish parents. I liked reading it from each one of the main characters points of view. The only character I think was underdeveloped was June Nealon, wife and mother of the 2 victims, although if we are patient we learn a bit more about her at the end.
  
  The "Green Mile type miracles" could have been left out of this tale and it would have been more credible. It jumbled up the story line somewhat. I had a major twist in the plot line figured out early on, as I am familiar with her writing and she always throws in a surprise or two, but I was slightly disappointed by the ending, and in that case, a little more information may have made it more satisfying. I enjoyed the journey immensely, however, and will look forward to her next one. One can bet it will be controversial. This is a great selection for a book club, as there is much to discuss. Thanks, Jodi, loved it and already miss the characters, a good sign for a writer :)
  
  
  

• Salem Falls
• Songs of the Humpback Whale: A Novel in Five Voices
• Mercy

• Nineteen Minutes
• Harvesting the Heart: A Novel
• Mercy
• Certain Girls: A Novel
• The Senator's Wife