The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Jodi Picoult keeps amazing me, book after book! Another incredibly difficult subject matter revolving around the Holocaust- Auschwitz in particular, and moral topics such as forgiveness, mercy killing and the elusive hope of redemption. This story is woven together with a variety of quirky characters and multiple viewpoints, adding to it’s already daring topic, but Jodi Picoult pulls it off. I was riveted by the will of the survivors, mournful of so many lives lost and sufficiently horrified by the atrocities of Auschwitz.
I cannot even fathom the things the people went through there, and even though its hard for me to read about it, I feel like it honors those who went through it. Every part of it is unconscionable, and it must not be forgotten.
There’s a part in the book when Minka (a holocaust survivor) is talking about her heavy responsibility as a writer. She realizes the affect her words can have on people- that what she says about her story can forever change a person, mold how they think or feel about something. I love that, because that’s when you know you have a good book- when you know you’ll never be the same after reading it. That’s how I felt about this book.
I love Jodi Picoult’s signature mind shifting – how you will judge someone in the book and then something happens that makes you rethink your previous position. I love how she blurs the lines of black and white into gray, making you dig deep to find your stance on an issue.
This book is tough subject matter, so those who read it should know that in advance. But, its absolutely worth reading. It’s horrific and tragic and hauntingly beautiful, chock full of moral dilemmas. Jodi Picoult’s writing is amazing. Pure and simple. This is a book I won’t forget.
