#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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I am a huge fan of Jodi Picoult and was so excited to receive this book for Christmas. It was initially very hard for me to get into as it was very textbook-like and information heavy in the beginning (most of which went right over my head since I read to escape, not necessarily learn). I’m so glad I stuck with it though as it did not disappoint. I had to read the last 75 pages through tears as it really got to me emotionally (which doesn’t happen often). Characters were well-developed and realistic, even though some of their choices made me want to scream. And that ending! No spoilers but ugh!
I had such high hopes for this book. I was highly disappointed. I could not connect with anyone. The whole thing was just not good to me. When this happens I hate leaving a review. I know the authors put so much work into them and for anyone to dislike it is sad. But it happens.
The writing is fine. The scenes are ok. The characters not at all. I heard a lot of good things but to me it fell way short. I’ve read this author before and loved her books but this one just didn’t pull me in at all. It didn’t hold my attention. I was able to lay it down and read something else. I went back to it several times just to finish it. I’m very sorry but I have to be honest.
I just could not get into the story and stay there.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #RandomHouseBallantine for this ARC. This is my own true feelings about this book.
2.5/5 stars and read if you want. I just didn’t like it.
A deeply passionate store of love and loss, life and death, and the question of “what it”!
25 year old Dawn Edelstein is working on a project in Egypt, a project central to her career plans, when she gets the call: her mother is dying and Dawn needs to come home. Rather than spending her day at ancient burial sites, Dawn takes on the role of mother to her younger brother, and eventually marries and has a child. But when Dawn left Egypt in a rush she left behind a man who could have been in her future, if things had been different. Instead of becoming an Egyptologist, Dawn becomes a death doula, someone who helps the critically ill have a meaningful end of life.
Fifteen years later, Dawn survives a plane crash. Given the option of a ticket to wherever she wants, Dawn opts to go back to Egypt rather than home to Boston, to see if the choices she has made are the right ones. Because when Dawn left Egypt, she not only left behind a promising career, but also a man who might have been her soul mate…
The story goes back and forth in time, and between possibilities, as Dawn struggles not only with her own choices, but with helping her patients through their choices. And Dawn’s work at burial sites in Egypt has brought her into contact with The Book of Two Ways. Unlike modern uncertainty about what happens after Death, The Book of Two Ways describes in detail what ancient Egyptians should do and expect in death.
Jodi Picoult always does an amazing amount of research, but The Book of Two Ways transcends everything that she has before. You will find yourself reviewing your life and your decisions, and asking yourself “what if?”. Sometimes a bit confusing, but always thought provoking, The Book of Two Way is a book that should not be missed.
While the time and details devoted to ancient Egypt might seem a bit overwhelming to some, stick with it. I loved how Picoult pulled together unlikely themes of Egyptology, quantum physics, and stories of two different women wondering “what if” about their life choices. Even the unresolved ending fit beautifully. This is a winner.
I am a big fan of Jodi Picoult and have read most of her novels. The Book of Two Ways is not among my favorite. The writing is powerful, the research is brilliant but the story left me cold. I hated the ending and I was frustrated by the lack of closure. I was bored by all the academics. The main character’s relationship with Wyatt was adolescent and though I marveled at her use of description I longed for the cohesiveness of her past novels. I recommend the book because Jodi is a fantastic writer but be prepared to be frustrated and disappointed in this one.
Way too much hieroglyphics! I also thought that the plot was kind of extreme. Jodi writes in stages: a couple of good ones, and then some like this.
Too many details about ancient Egypt
I didn’t think I’d like a book about the wife of Jesus, but I found it believable and interesting. I liked the way she wove words from the Bible into the narrative. Although I guessed the ending, I liked where the wife spent her final days and felt it accounted for her absence in the scriptures.
Is there such a thing as an alternate universe? Have you wondered “What if I had taken the other path?”
This book takes you through the what ifs of Dawn’s life. She had two very different paths she could have taken. When her mother becomes ill, her life takes a major turn. Did she fall into the life she had or did she make the active choice?
This book took me from love it, to do I even like it, to wow, this is amazing.
It definitely made me think about a lot things. It’s a good story!
I am not gonna lie. I love this author, and not just for her writing.
But for today, I’ll talk and rate The Book of Two Ways. Yes, there’s Egyptology and quantum physics in it, and if that bothers you, you can always skip it, but in doing so, you will miss the connections between life and death and a form of communication that I found fascinating.
I found this to be one of the most moving of Picoult’s book because it touches on some important questions: Is there only one true love? Can you have other attachments that are wonderful and worthy, yet still not the ‘one.’ And, to me, the most crucial question is: Can you go back (or forward) in your life at the cost of another’s joy?
These are my points, you might find so much more to examine and think about, and that’s what makes a Picoult book a worthwhile read.
Used to depth of characters. Expected to get better but disappointed.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this arc book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
“My calendar is full of dead people.”
I’m not sure why I have delayed writing this review. It was not because I didn’t enjoy it but rather the overwhelming thoughts of how to explain such a detailed story. Essentially, it explores how the choices we make in life lead is to where we are now. It explores the question we all have which is, “what if….” and how that might look. I also found some of the history on Egyptology intriguing, a subject of which I had zero knowledge! Much to my surprise it was the author’s own introduction to the subject that prompted the book.
The Book of Two Ways is literally a Map of the Afterlife, as understood my ancient Egyptians. For many people the detailed description and explanations of the Egyptian life and history might cause the story to drag on somewhat. Otherwise, the study of Egyptology in general might be of interest.
Dawn Edelstein, who published under her maiden name Dawn McDowell, works as a death doula. She is married to Brian Edelstein whose profession and expertise is in physics. Dawn finds herself on a plane preparing an emergency landing in Raleigh-Durham due to a clogged fuel filter on plane which ultimately crashes. She is dazed and confused when she realizes that she is 1 of 36 people who survived the crash.
Contemplating this near death experience leaves Dawn questioning her life and all her past decisions leading her to this point. She loves her husband Brian, daughter Meret and sister Kieran but she feels compelled to go to Egypt rather than head home to her family.
Her thoughts wander back 15 years to her unfinished dissertation. She wonders where her life would be if she didn’t feel obliged to abandon her life’s work to leave Egypt to return home. Her fascination with the Book of Two Ways which is thought to be the first known map of the afterlife was shared with fellow Yale graduate student Wyatt Armstrong. The Egyptian history is convoluted with theories and beliefs meticulously documented by the Egyptians. The Book of the Dead (Book of Going Forth by Day) contained part of Coffin Texts which was to include the Book of Two Ways.
This map of the afterlife was thought to be found in certain coffins in the Middle East during the Middle Kingdom. It showed two roads snaking through Osiris realm which is the corpse of Re the god of sun. The paths are separated by a lake of fire with both ending at the Field of Offerings where the deceased can feast with Osiris for eternity. Unfortunately some paths lead nowhere, and still others lead towards the demons or circles of fire. It is believed that embedded in the text was magic needed to get past guardians at gate when death called.
While she initially found Wyatt annoying and arrogant she did admire his dedication and commitment to the study of Egyptology. The crash draws her back to Egypt abandoning her family to seek unanswered questions from her past. Her story fluctuates between the present and past; the life lived and the lost opportunities. She eventually needs to confront the consequences of her past and present decisions.
I was so disappointed in this book. I love Jodi Picoult’s books and can hardly wait for the next one to come out. She is definitely my favorite author! Unfortunately, THE BOOK OF TWO WAYS is the first book by this author that I just couldn’t get into. I read about 35 pages and then did what Jodi Picoult herself once recommended: If you’re not enjoying a book, stop reading it. There are too many good books in the world. It makes no sense to read one that you’re not enjoying.
I then passed the book on to a friend who is also a Picoult fan and asked her to read it first and let me know if it was any good. In just a couple days, she called me and said she just couldn’t get into it.
Jodi Picoult’s latest book centers on a young woman who studies Egyptology in order to work as an archeologist. Her life then changes course and she becomes a death doula, but the parallels between her two occupations are explored throughout the story. There is much factual information included about the study of ancient Egypt and it provides a backdrop to her decisions about both her past and her future.
THE BOOK OF TWO WAYS is a beautiful, unique novel–a love story, yes, but also a story about motherhood and the choices we make. I was drawn to the characters and the intriguing premise, but I read it as a daughter still grieving the loss of her own mother. I didn’t race through to figure out what happens; I read and re-read slowly, fascinated by the nuggets of history about how different cultures and countries process death, grief, and the idea of an afterlife. Unlike others, I thought the ending was perfect (but can’t explain why without giving spoilers!). This story will stay with me. I found it soothing, hopeful, and philosophical.
I love Jodie Picolt books. She always has interesting situations and engaging characters.
Wonderful reading! Interesting and informative content. Tackles a difficult subject head on, like most of her books.
Loved it…
Just returned from a trip to Egypt md was enthralled by every page
I love books by this author but this book was disjointed and the story line was confusion most of the time. There were moments where I was like ok here we go this is when it gets good, but them then the focus of the story would change again. The idea that our choices in life can take us down one path but our “other self” might be going down a different path is something we can all relate to. The “what ifs…” in life and wondering where that other life might have been like. That is the story I wanted to read about, but there was to much other stuff going on that the story did not follow well.
Not her best