Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

Sing You Home is the first novel that I’ve ever read about gay relationships. I got caught up in the story and it glued me to the book. This story made me think about my own values and views.
 
Even though there is the same formula in the story as most of Picoult’s novels, I really like the way she narrates the story through different characters which helps readers to understand the every aspects of the story rather than knowing the story from one side. And her emotional writing made my eyes filled with tears.

One thing I really like about Picoult’s books is the characters which feel so real. In this Story Max, Zoe, Vanessa, Reid, Liddy, Pastor Clive, they all are real to me. I’ve met many of them in my real life. Picoult nicely built their personality throughout the story and sometimes I forgot that I am reading a fiction.

I really liked Zoe and Max. Also I liked the passages of Zoe’s music therapy sessions.  One character I really admire in this book is Zoe’s mother. She is a unique character and I loved her courage. Also Zoe’s lawyer, Angela, is a valiant woman. She made readers realize that you don’t have to be gay to understand them or to help them.

I really admire Picoult’s courage for writing such controversial issues as gay rights, parenthood, religious beliefs. And I watched her interview with Ellen DeGeneres in her show and Picoult said that her own son came out to her while she’s writing this book. I really respect her for being such an understanding and supportive mother.

I really enjoyed the book, though the story was little bit predictable. When I finished reading the book, I felt as I needed more things to know, about Max and Liddy, what happened to Reid, about Lucy. However this book is a page turner.

     

Some quotes from Sing You Home:

“Beliefs are the roads we take to our dreams. Believe you can do something-or believe you can't-and you'll be right everytime.”

“One of the fantastic things about music is that it accesses both sides of the brain--the analytical left side and the emotional right side-- and forces a connection. This is how a stroke victim who can't speak a sentence might be able to sing a lyric; how a patient frozen by severe Parkinson's disease can use the sequence and inherent rhythm in music in order to move and dance again.”

“I eat king pao chicken like its going out of style, but I'm pretty sure I don't have an Asian cell in my body. I love Toni Morrison novels and Tyler Perry movies although I'm not black." Angela smiles. "I'm straight, Zoe, and happily married. The reason I work here is because I think you deserve that, too.”

My Rating: 4 out of 5