#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the author of Small Great Things and A Spark of Light comes a “powerful” (The Washington Post) novel about the choices that alter the course of our lives. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY MARIE CLAIRE Everything changes in a single moment for Dawn Edelstein. She’s on a plane when the flight attendant makes an announcement: Prepare for a crash landing. … when the flight attendant makes an announcement: Prepare for a crash landing. She braces herself as thoughts flash through her mind. The shocking thing is, the thoughts are not of her husband but of a man she last saw fifteen years ago: Wyatt Armstrong.
Dawn, miraculously, survives the crash, but so do all the doubts that have suddenly been raised. She has led a good life. Back in Boston, there is her husband, Brian, their beloved daughter, and her work as a death doula, in which she helps ease the transition between life and death for her clients.
But somewhere in Egypt is Wyatt Armstrong, who works as an archaeologist unearthing ancient burial sites, a career Dawn once studied for but was forced to abandon when life suddenly intervened. And now, when it seems that fate is offering her second chances, she is not as sure of the choice she once made.
After the crash landing, the airline ensures that the survivors are seen by a doctor, then offers transportation to wherever they want to go. The obvious destination is to fly home, but she could take another path: return to the archaeological site she left years before, reconnect with Wyatt and their unresolved history, and maybe even complete her research on The Book of Two Ways—the first known map of the afterlife.
As the story unfolds, Dawn’s two possible futures unspool side by side, as do the secrets and doubts long buried with them. Dawn must confront the questions she’s never truly asked: What does a life well lived look like? When we leave this earth, what do we leave behind? Do we make choices . . . or do our choices make us? And who would you be if you hadn’t turned out to be the person you are right now?
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Had a hard time getting into this book, but once I did, I was pleased. I’ve always enjoyed her books, but this one was different than most I’ve read.
So disappointed!!! Couldn’t get past second chapter. Wish I’d read reviews before purchasing.
I don’t do this very often, but I found myself flipping back and forth to reread sections as the story unfolded. I wanted to be certain that I got the most understanding. Wonderful!
Excellent read as only Jodi Picoult can write!
It had a LOT of technical info in it – certainly more than I expected or needed. I did like the storyline about being a death doula. That was very interesting.
Very timely and informative. BLM
I think one of the reasons I love Jodi Picoult so much is because her stories almost always cause a visceral reaction in me. They are gut wrenching and emotional and everything I love in a book.
Some of the Egyptology flew right over my head but it didn’t diminish from the characters or the story. I loved learning about it and I really appreciate how invested she is in researching topics for her books. I will always be a fan.
I just couldn’t get into this book at all. It was like a nonfiction (boring one) on Egyptology, a topic I’m not particularly interested in. It was not a typical Jodi Picoult book. I usually love her books!
A very thoughtful read. Very well-written, especially considering the complex structure. Really liked the characters, flaws and all, and the story was very interesting. Would highly recommend.
This was a DNF for me which is really tough because I usually really enjoy Picoult’s book. There was just too much emphasis on the Egyptology theme and the quantum mechanics aspect. It really bogged down the flow of the book.
Way too much time spent on Egyptology that didn’t add to the storyline. Found myself skipping over entire paragraphs and/or pages at times. I usually enjoy the background information Jodi includes in her books but this seemed to go to the extreme.
I liked the book. I always love Jodi Picoult books. But the ending both surprised and disappointed me. I just hate books that end this way. Won’t say more in case people haven’t read it. Most of my friends got bored with all the Egyptology but I didn’t. However, I could never once find the symbols she was describing in the pictures. I loved the concept of the possibility of multi-dimensions.
I had read previously that people giving their opinion of this book thought it had too much technical info on archeological and also writing a book
I could not take it anore and just went through the pages until story began again
Which is what other people said. Gor this I waited months for my turn to come at the library. Do not waste your time
This might be Picoult’s BEST yet. IT is so thoroughly researched. I have always been fascinated by ancient history, especially that of Egypt, that I could not put it down.
3 stars
I am so torn on how to rate The Book of Two Ways. On one hand, I absolutely loved the story, I loved the dual time line and the writing was excellent. But on the other hand, there was way, and I mean WAY too much Egyptian history and Egyptology.
At first I thought Picoult was just setting up the story and the Egypt story line, but it ended up being as much of the book as anything else. And for me, it was boring and did not hold my interest at all. If I had wanted to read a book on the tombs and the interpretation of hieroglyphics in Egypt, I would picked up a book on that subject. I found myself skim reading and skipping these sections altogether so that I could actually get back to Dawn, Wyatt and Brian.
I suppose I will settle on 3 stars, right down the middle. The actual story was a 5 star to me, but all of the filler information most definitely knocks down a couple of stars. I have read so many books by Picoult, but this one didn’t hit the mark for me and is certainly pretty low on the totem pole.
Thank you to Random House Publishing for my copy of this book via NetGalley
This women’s fiction novel delving into Egyptology was different from Jodi Picoult’s previous novels. I enjoyed reading this novel but it was a little difficult to keep my interest. I rate this book a 4 out of 5.
I am such a fan of Jodi Picoult’s books. I have read and loved so much of her earlier works like Plain Truth, Keeping Faith, My Sister’s Keeper, Vanishing Acts, and Nineteen Minutes. I was so excited to get an Advanced Readers Copy from #netgalley to review for my honest opinion. One thing I love about Jodi Picoult’s style is that she creates such intriguing characters that stay with you after the final chapter. She tackles controversial themes that really make you think about life – what you think you know and what you take for granted. All of her books are so well written and researched that it never ceases to amaze me and how fast she is able to publish. Her fans are grateful because we want more! This book was a little harder to read than some of her other books, but I attribute that to knowing so very little about Egyptology (and quantum physics for that matter). I had to reread sections at times to verify if we were talking about the past or present. At times it was very sad thinking about the profession she choose and what she left behind. I loved her relationship with Winn (she deserves her own novella!). I loved the tangled love story and the theme of a mother’s struggle to make the best life choices for both her and her daughter. The ending was well done (but would love to read alternate endings the writer prepared!).
ÝI listened to this book on Audible. An amazing production. But I also recommend that you listen to this book on Audible because of the amount of info about Ancient Egypt that could slow your progress if you read it the traditional way. I didn’t have to figure out pronunciations, etc. And if the info got a bit thick I could let it drift over me. Rewinding if necessary.
And I loved this story. Wow. Complex, time and space jumping plot wrapped around a question in many of our hearts. What if you had never met your current partner? What if you could return to an earlier love?
And so much more.
Jodi Picoult has redeemed herself in this latest book. I had been disappointed in a few of her most recent books because I had not been able to wrap myself around the characters and their story. I had first loved her books because of the unexpected turn as the novel concluded. I thought she had departed from this kind of plot but this book delivers.
One of the best books I’ve read recently. Wonderful story and I learned so much about the subject matter.