Customer Reviews

Nineteen Minutes

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This time around, Picoult finally lived up to my hopes and she did so by tackling a difficult subject, one that has been in many novels thus far...a school shooting, a look at both the victims' world and that of the shooter (who is also a victim, in his own way), the alienation of kids who are on the outside and the interconnection between the popular kids and those who aren't. Although the novel is graphic, it would certainly provoke plenty of discussion and understanding between parents and teens, although parents may want to consider how ready their teen is to read a book so detailed and so complex and with graphic sexuality (including rough sex).

As a long-time reader of her books, my one disappointment with Picoult has always been how often her endings seemed to fall apart into stereotypical or "pat" solutions, when the rest of her writing, up to that point, would be so very, very strong. And yet, I KEPT buying her books, because she did everything else so well - solid, compelling characters, great plots (until those endings), riveting events. I kept rooting for her. I knew she had the chops to produce a solid book, from start to finish, without those letdowns at the end (and I'm sure others will disagree with me about the endings, as she IS a popular writer).

This time,with Nineteen Minutes, she pulls it off, does everything right...and I'm delighted to be able to say so. I wasn't able to stop reading, except for short periods when I had to stop and think about WHAT I was reading. I have raised three teenagers and her portrayal of teenage life, the cruelties of the bullies, the fears and insecurities suffered by even the most popular kids, was eerily accurate.

Buy this one, savor every word and take time to think about how you'd feel in a similar situation. This is the kind of book that can be life-changing and motivate readers to change things and make the world better for our children. How and why readers do that is up to them, of course but, at the least, they'll be haunted by this book long after they finish it.

As for me, I'm going to reread it - and soon. It is simply that good.

These are the words that seventeen-year-old Peter Houghton says when he is found after a school shooting spree huddling with a gun in his hand by Detective Patrick Ducharme. An outcast who had been bullied since kindergarten, Peter kills ten, including a teacher, and injures many more.
At first glance, it looks like a straightforward act of revenge, but things are revealed to be more complex. One of his victims is Matt Royston, the boyfriend of his former childhood friend, Josie Cormier, and others are members of the in-crowd, but others have seemingly no relation. In the days before the trial, and in the days leading up to the shooting, we are given the backstory, told mostly from Josie's, Peter's, and their mothers' viewpoint. We learn of the incessant teasing this boy received, adults' unsuccessful attempts to help him fit in, and of the stormy relationship between Josie and Matt. During the trial, we hear from the victims who survived and the devastation the crime has wrought on their lives. In the end, the reader may still be undecided whether Peter is primarily a victim, perpetrator, loyal friend, or all three, but that is the point.

What this book has that others like it often don't is compassion not just for the bullying victims, but for the "in-crowd" as well. It is more complex than "We Need to Talk About Kevin" because Peter is capable of love and not just a run-of-the-mill sociopath. The end is a little odd, but not as jolting as the one in "My Sister's Keeper." Highly recommended.

Jodi Picoult is generally a good storyteller. She does not let us down in her latest novel, Nineteen Minutes. This is solid writing and gives the reader one glimpse into the minds and lives of some young folks who wind up on the cutting room floor. Jodi deftly shows how its not always the ones you think will wind up in trouble that often get overlooked and in the process run adrift of the world, winding up in terrible circumstances that even the most vigilant parent may not see coming.

I felt Josie's mother's character seemed a bit shallow for a judge and didn't symbolize the career woman that she was representing--changing her clothes three times before her first day on the bench and then throwing up twice before going to the courthouse. No one knows what she's wearing under her robes! She's supposed to be an accomplished attorney who has tried hundreds of cases! Also, not immediately recusing herself from this case was another stretch too far. And, what about Peter's brother? This was an area that could have been delved into deeper and may have helped with the overall understanding of Peter's actions. Since it was not developed, it may have been better let out??

The stereotypes of the various cliques were probably a bit pedantic but characteristic of what goes on in schools. I can still remember the ones who were picked on and made fun of when I went to school. But I actually believe, with all the litigation and the restraints on teachers, children today could actually be crueler than in years gone by. And, with all the blended families and dysfunction in general, it's fortunate that children are more resilient than we truly know or this could be an even greater problem than it already is.

I almost felt that the added twist near the ending was a plot device constructed to provide a "shocking" turn of events. It seemed a bit forced. While it may have been alluded to, it was not developed enough to be believable and therefore probably could have been eliminated for the sake of flow and consistency. Also, it was incongruent with Josie's actions before and after the shooting, as well as her character generally. While she was always Peter's protector, this act was way out of character for her and just didn't fit.

I haven't decided if I really liked all the bouncing around the book did. While this often works for plots that cover long periods or different timeframes, it was almost distracting in this storyline. However, I believe Jodi did her research and I imagine that a story of this kind would be hard to tell. Unfortunately, we'll never know in many cases what actually leads up to final shoot outs because the shooters generally do not live to stand trial. But human nature wants to know why and we'd also like it to be a BIG why, (physical abuse, sexual abuse, deranged parents, religious zealots with misguided beliefs, etc.) not the seemingly "usual" harassing climate that permeated Nineteen Minutes.

Overall, this was a tragic story and worth the read, especially for high school and junior high students who might not recognize the long term effects of their everyday actions. I can't quite express what it is about this book that made it less than the sum of its parts, but I wasn't as impressed with the writing as I would have expected considering the topic. However, while this is not my favorite Picoult book, I admire Jodi's willingness to tackle contemporary, relevant, and highly charged themes with compassion.

After a very disappointing THE TENTH CIRCLE, Jodi Picoult rebounds with the excellent NINETEEN MINUTES. This book, which centers on a school shooting, is one of her best yet.

Picoult really knows how to develop her characters. Each one is well defined and real. I totally believed the way the characters were portrayed, especially Lacy and Peter. And yes, I found myself having a great deal of sympathy for Peter. Some could say that the characters were a bit clichéd (Matt, the abusive boyfriend, Josie, the wanna-be, Lacy, the mother without a clue, etc.), but I think these characters are reflective of a great many people in the real world. I also liked the way Picoult used Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a defense for Peter. Wonderfully done. I give credit to Picoult for always addressing issues in her books that are topical and thought provoking.

I've read some reviews that criticize Picoult for not having the character of Alex recuse herself as judge at the trial. This is totally becomes a non-issue as you will see as your continue reading. Also, regarding the "twist" ending I've seen some complaints about, it's not such a twist if you are paying attention as you read. It's actually quite obvious from very early on in the story.

I enjoy the fact that Picoult brought back characters from previous books (Patrick from PERFECT MATCH and Jordan from SALEM FALLS and THE PACT.) I understand that Ian from KEEPING FAITH makes an appearance in her next book. I definitely look forward to it.

I have to admit that I never picked up a Picoult novel because the covers reminded me too much of chick lit. But I kept hearing great things about her writing. Intrigued by the premise of 19 Minutes, I picked up the book out of pure curiosity. Now, I'm mad at myself for not having discovered this amazing writer sooner.

19 Minutes affected me greatly. Being a teacher, school violence is a problem I have to deal with every day of the year. And 19 Minutes presents teenagers and their problems and issues in a very natural, very realistic way.

When Peter, a young boy who has been bullied all of his life for no reason, walks into his high school with guns and bombs, a nightmare scenario no one thought possible happens. After his 19-minute rampage, Peter has killed 9 students, one teacher and has injured a series of others. The killings themselves are never graphically presented (a wise choice by the author). Instead, they are retolled through various narratives. We have Josie, a girl who used Peter's friend when they were children but who became one of the popular kids as he grew up (but as the story unfolds, we soon realise that she's hurting as well). We also meet Jodie's mother, a judge who might very well sit on the case. We have Peter's lawyer, who is trying to defend this boy as best he can. And we have Peter's mother, who can't help but blame herself for what happened even though she's always been a loving parent to Peter.

The book is a perfect example of what can happen if a child is put aside, forgotten, teased and hurt every day of his life. You can't help but sympathize with Peter. To him, what he did was an act of self-preservation and self-defense. And after you learn everything that has happened to Peter, you start seeing his point of view and undestanding why his idea of what happiness should be is all messed up.

The book presents both sides of the medals, while remaining impartial. Picoult's writing is tight and precise. She knows exactly what to say to hit a nerve. And she's not afraid of keeping things secret and slowly revealing them to her readers. This book is 450 pages long but has enough surprises and twists to keep you reading well past your bedtime.

19 Minutes is the best book I've read in quite some time. I can't wait to read Picoult's other novels. After just one book, she's already made a new fan out of me!

Jodi Picoult's latest novel, Nineteen Minutes, begins on a normal morning in a normal town on what would appear to be a normal day. Alex Cormier leaves her daughter Josie to finish getting ready for school as she rushes off to the courthouse where Alex serves as a judge. Families begin their days and children settle into another day of school tedium. That is until gunshots tear through Sterling High School. Chaos ensues, fear is palpable in the air, and when all is said and done, 10 students are dead and the town of Sterling, New Hampshire, must pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.

Jodi Picoult is one of my absolute favorite authors. The way she constructs images and detail is amazing. Nineteen Minutes was fantastic. Picoult's best work since My Sister's Keeper. The plot was gripping. I had trouble putting this book down. In a post-Columbine world, I think the reader is searching for an answer as to why something like this would happen, even if it is a work of fiction that provides it. I cannot praise this novel enough. I highly recommend this novel and all of Picoult's works.

I found this novel incredibly moving and incredibly sad. Picoult dealt with what is most certainly an issue that is very fresh in many people's minds and she did so without making it melodramatic and without making things too simple and neat.

I liked how the story was presented from multiple points of view and how the setting jumped from past to present and back again. This enabled me to really get into the heads of the characters and to understand what it was that was motivating them. It also enabled Picoult to sometimes turn things on their heads so that what once seemed obvious and ideal turned out to be something much more complex, just like real life.

I felt her handling of Josie and Matt's relationship was especially representative of this. As a parent of a young child, reading this book often made me want to just hold and cuddle her and keep her where she is because I know what's coming for her. The struggles of Josie and Peter were very authentic for me, their high school world very reflective of what exists out in the real world.

Picoult also did a superb job of detailing the parent/child relationships. The parents in her book were not superhuman and sometimes did things that were petty and repugnant. Picoult remembers that parents are people too and that they do and say things that they later really regret. They are sometimes so fixated on their own problems that they're not attuned to those of their children.

In the end, I think Picoult makes no apologies for the actions of any of her characters. The things they do are often incomprehensible and sometimes downright wrong so that the only thing left to do is to strive for acceptance and understanding. The realities of Picoult's world are those of our own: life isn't always pretty and it isn't always fair but it is always full of possibilities.

Jodi Picoult's books are all starting to run together in my mind. Her best, I believe, was My Sister's Keeper. But I kept feeling while reading Nineteen Minutes that she covered this material elsewhere. Her stories are becoming formulaic. If you want to read a haunting novel about school shootings, read "We Need to Talk About Kevin", a truly amazing, memorable, gut wrenching book.

I am a Picoult fan, a parent and a teacher. Perhaps that makes me easier to disappoint.

This novel seems less researched than most of her works, and often takes the easy route. Perhaps she and her editor were not enamoured with the conflicts or characters of Nineteen Minutes, and therefore rushed to finish. It may be due to my familiarity with her writing style/patterns, but I was able to predict the course of the plot and its denoument quite early in the book.

A deft and meticulous editor could have made this a more successful novel. At one point, Picoult writes that the Houghton family bought a dog when their youngest son was THREE. Two pages later, there is a memory of the same dog and son playing when he was TWO. Even tiny errors make an editor and author appear lazy.

Nevertheless, I was riveted. Picoult's insights regarding human nature and the bonds we form (or fail to) are persistent and potent. I will continue to read Picoult's work, and I will pass this book along to friends and family.

I'm a fan of Picoult's and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Yes, Picoult has a formula and there were no big surprises here. However, the book was thoroughly engaging.

Like a number of Picoult's books, the plot is fairly straightforward- the meat of this book lies in how the lives of her characters intertwine in the small town of Sterling. The plot centers around a tragic school shooting. How did they all come to be where they were during those 19 minutes?- the victims, the girl that was marked to "let live", the shooter, the detective who feels responsible for letting this happen in his town, the judge. As in real life, Picoult's characters are three-dimensional, showing their less than admirable traits while being sympathetic, as well. What happens when the tables turn and the victim becomes the agressor and turns his agressors into victims?

This book is a study in reality and had me asking where is the line? and why do some people cross it while others continue to play by the rules of society?

I stayed up way too late to finish reading this book. Easy to get into and hard to put down. A definite should-read especially if you are a fan of Picoult's more introspective work.