From the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Small Great Things and My Sister’s Keeper, a novel exploring the story of a young woman overcome by the demands of having a family.Paige has only a few vivid memories of her mother, who abandoned her at five years old. Now, having left her father behind in Chicago for dreams of art school and marriage to an ambitious young doctor, she finds … marriage to an ambitious young doctor, she finds herself with a child of her own. But her mother’s absence and shameful memories of her past force her to doubt whether she could ever be capable of bringing joy and meaning into the life of her child, gifts her own mother never gave.
Harvesting the Heart is written with astonishing clarity and evocative detail, convincing in its depiction of emotional pain, love, and vulnerability, and recalls the writing of Alice Hoffman and Kristin Hannah. Out of Paige’s struggle to find wholeness, Jodi Picoult crafts an absorbing novel peopled by richly drawn characters, and explores motherhood with a power and depth only she is capable of.
“A brilliant, moving examination of motherhood, brimming with detail and emotion.” —Richmond Times-Dispatch
“Jodi Picoult explores the fragile ground of ambivalent motherhood in her lush second novel. This story belongs to… the lucky reader.” —The New York Times Book Review
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This is a lengthy, complex, but very human book about relationships between normal, dysfunctional people.
We discover how the two primary players, Paige and Nicholas, are very much influenced by their respective mothers, both of whom abandoned their families in different ways and for different reasons.
Paige agonises with the deprivation of her childhood, her strict Catholic education, and the cruel fate and consequent guilt she fell into on account of her lack of a mother’s love. Surviving on practically nothing, time and again it is her natural artistic talent that proves her salvation. But her inability to care for her baby drives her to flee, as did her mother.
Nicholas, on the other hand, from a prestigious, self-made family, is driven by a need to succeed as a successful cardiac surgeon; nothing else matters. So baby Max is an untimely intrusion in his career path, especially when he is left to cope with him alone.
The emotional struggles of both protagonists, and the unexpected way they find solutions, are told very realistically and form the bulk of the story. The explicit sexual scenes, although central to the story, might offend some readers.
Picoult is a incredible writer, she has a talent for taking touchy issues and using her characters to show both sides of the issue. She has a wonderful way of showing the complications of an issue from all sides and adding in humanity to characters no matter what you see as good or evil.
Not the best of her books. Too simplistic and soap opera-like.
Not one of Picoult’s best reads. Too long and overly dramatic.
I love this author and again she doesn’t disappoint!
A peek into the life of a new mother. Very enlightening. I love Judy piccoult!
Good book! Realistic characters and circumstances. Have lived through this book in my life. Captures feelings and love.
As in anything and everything written by Jodi, it is a page turner. Her research is always spot on and no matter the subject, I always learn from the topics she chooses. Have read all of her books and she never disappoints.
I love Jodi Picoult
Jodi Picoult, is one of my favorite authors. This book is certainly no exception. A complete page turner.
Too much back and forth senerios
I like Ms. Picoult. This tale would make a good movie.
Although this isn’t the author’s best book, and although its basic premise is flawed, the engaging main character brings the story to life. It’s easy to pull for her, to join her on her quest for maturity and competence.
Great writing and story. Kept my interest.
Always like her books. Keep them in my head for a long time
This book was OK but not one of Ms. Picoult’s best.
Not one of her best…
This book just wasn’t for me.
As readable as all Jodi Picoult. Love her books and find them very thought provoking
Her books are always enjoyable