The Tenth Circle: A Novel

I very much enjoyed this book, the first of Ms. Picoult's that I've read. I must admit that the graphics sometimes disconcerted me, but that wasn't a huge deal.My enjoyment sprang from the relationships developed in the novel: father/daughter; wife/husband; mother/daughter; wife/affair partner; teenage girl/boyfriend; teenage girl/best friend. All of them got a good amount of attention and were fascinating to me. I especially loved learning the background of the father, the way he went from being a fairly milquetoast character to someone with far more depth and darkness. The daughter is similarly intriguing, especially since teenaged girls are often drawn very stereotypically. Ms. Picoult did a great job of making this young woman someone whose feelings and actions were understandable and sympathetic. In fact, perhaps there's one thing about the novel that really rings true for me and which guarantees my enjoyment: these characters are well-rounded: flawed and strong; victims and survivors; angry, hostile, and loving; cheaters and committed partners. Each one is a tiny world of motivations, desires, and actions.The only reason this is getting four stars from me instead of five is that I felt the ending was very abrupt. I kept expecting another chapter, but no--there wasn't one. Argh.Regardless--excellent!

There is so much I love about Jodi Picoult's writing and I always look forward to each new book of hers. I was intrigued that this one combined traditional writing with parts that were portrayed in comic book form (she got an actual professional comic book artist to do the drawings and they are nicely done. However, I found the story to be very convuluted and the premise (was a young girl raped? Or not?) to be unbelievable in the way it played out, taking the whole thing to court. The case was far from clear cut and there were all sorts of potentially incriminating circumstances (at least, from a jury's point of view). Picoult's greatest strength is her ability to glean insights about human behavior and the darkest, most hidden parts of people...and then bring them to light. In that regard, she doesn't disappoint this time around. I was intrigued by each character, from Daniel, a man who spent a great deal of his life in Alaska and had a dark, troubled past...to his wife, Laura, a woman who'd been drawn to the rebel spirit in Daniel and then grew disappointed when he became more conventional. At the heart of the book is Trixie Stone, the 14 year old daughter of Daniel and Laura, a teen who may or may not have been raped by her ex-boyfriend. I believe Picoult skillfully portrayed all the emotional highs and lows of today's 14 year old girls, half women, half girls...and growing up far too fast. I felt for Trixie and parts of the book were almost too painful to read as her heartbreak and pain shone through so clearly. Where the book failed me was in the plot which veered and teetered close to soap opera material. There were just too many "over the top" moments and that's when I started to lose interest. I found myself saying, "Oh, come on!" with each moment of high drama, from suicide attempts to screaming at a funeral. There were far more moments like that and I didn't find them believable. I couldn't help contrasting this with other of Picoult's books (Her Sister's Keeper, for instance), books which stayed much more true to form. While I always finish Picoult's books (for, even at her worst, she is very, very good in fleshing out characters and gleaning insights about human behavior) I was hoping that she'd create a tale that seemed believable in both tone and plot. This one did not. Still, she gets kudos for taking risks, for combining comic book form with straight narrative and for making comparisons to Dante's Inferno in much of the situations. This time, however, she just couldn't seem to pull all the various parts together...but she came very, very close. I'll be looking forward to her next book, just as I have so many others of hers.

When you read Jodi Picoult's work, you enter a world filled with knowledge, caring, support and more. She is an excellent author. Her characters are well developed and her storyline is well written and read. You will be on the edge of your chair and, at the same time, relaxed. Jodi's one who gets your attention from the first page and never loses it. You are so engrossed in the book that you can't stop reading. On the other hand, you love her writing because it is so well done. After I finish reading one of Jodi's books, it's very hard for me to start another book until the next day. I am still thinking about the story.This book was another well written book. Here you will learn about love of family, self doubt, teenage pranks, and more. You will learn how a person can go from innocence to an adult in the flicker of an eye. You will learn coping mechanisms to help you deal with life's handouts.This book is about a small family who all have doubts. Don't we all? Their doubts affect each and every one of the family as well as the people they interact with. Don't our doubts do that? Well, this book beautifully shows us how to see and feel what others see and feel. When a father is the main caretaker of his child, his doubts come forth as you have never seen them before. The mother has her insecurities and doubts and this affects her husband and daughter.Survival is the key. How do you survive with life's cruelties? Our lives are filled with choices. Each time we make a choice, it affects others. Survive.Pick up a copy.

I just love Jodi Picoult’s work and am going back and reading her back catalog. Most I’d give 5 stars. This one: first half of the book was four stars plus bonus points for all the Dante stuff. Second half was (imo) like watching a slow-motion train wreck. That’s a plot comment, not a writing comment. She’s an excellent writer and (again imo) greatly underrated. Oh well, Can’t win ‘em all.

I enjoyed this book. Unfortunately, I usually work out the ending half way through Jodi's books, and that was the case with the Tenth Circle. Nevertheless, it was still entertaining. As usual, I was captivated by the characters and easy writing style.

I love Jodi Piccoult, she is the master storyteller. I love how she includes the thoughts and views of all the characters, it feels like you know them. A magical way with words.

Condition of book is old and brown. Disaapointed!

Meine Bewertung hat nichts mit dem Inhalt des Buches zu tun - ich habe schon viele von Jodi Picoults Büchern gelesen und mag auch dieses sehr gern. Ich habe erst jetzt, 4 Jahre nachdem ich es bestellt hatte, gemerkt, dass es noch ungelesen geblieben ist und bin gerade bei Seite 182. Ich lese die Seite fertig, beginne gerade mit der nächsten und merke, dass ich auf einmal total aussteige, weil das, was ich lese, überhaupt keinen Sinn mehr macht. Trommelwirbel bitte - die folgende Seite ist Seite 199. In meinem Buch fehlen 15 Seiten!Und es ist gerade so spannend geworden...

I didn’t like this book as much as I’ve enjoyed her other books, but won’t stop me reading her books.