The Rory Gilmore Book Club discussion

Hello! In case you haven't read my first message in this group yet, I'm Audrey and I'm new to this site. This group seems like so much fun and I'm definitely looking forward to sharing thoughts and reading along with you all.

I was wondering, who here has read My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult, and/or The Third Angel by Alice Hoffman? I'm aware of the hype over these two books but I have yet to read them. Without giving away any spoilers, do you think they're worth reading?

I can't help you - haven't read them. I'm sure someone in here has... But this is a great idea for a topic. If we are curious about a book we can come here and ask! Good start, Audrey!

Audrey, I've read the Picoult book but not the Hoffman one. I think it can be pretty stressful to read as it deals with heavy and controversial issues. And there's an unrelated side story that I don't really care about. Also, some people say they're disappointed with the ending -- but I was pretty okay with it. Overall I think it was worth the read and gives a lot of things to think about.

I really liked My Sister's Keeper but haven't read the other one. I'm a big fan of Picoult and tend to read her books as they come out. Her books have a way of totally sucking me in. They may not be the most literary books out there but she does tackle controversial issues and her books will make you think about where you stand.

My Sister's Keeper is really sad and as Dini said, it's pretty heavy but I think it's worth checking out.

Audrey, I agree with Joanie. I have read 6 or 7 of Picoult's books (huge phase my 3rd year in law school). While I think she is a bit overrated in some ways, she is actually really innovative with her narration techniques and her ability (mostly, sometimes she gets a bit judgy) to show the complete picture of each character. Her topics and themes are incredibly thought provoking in almost a Dickensian (or is it Dickensonian?) way and her plots are well-paced and suck you in.

Of all of her books, this is the one I would recommend the highest. I think its her most innovative and thematically rich. Unfortunately, some of her other books can tarnish the richness of Her Sister's Keeper, but if you read this first, as I did, you won't have that experience.

I have not read The Third Angel but adored Hoffman in the 1990s, with books such as Practical Magic and just have not gotten back to her. I'd be willing to say, pretty much everything written by her is worth a go. In fact, I think The Third Angel is going on my mooch list.

Yeah, I've been meaning to pick up My Sister's Keeper for some time now, and although I've heard good things about it, I had my doubts only because it seems really sad and, as Dini said, heavy. I think I'm going to put it off for now but it is still part of my to-read list for sure.

Joanie and Courtney, I've actually never read anything by Picoult though I've been meaning to. I've also heard good things about The Pact?

Argh, The Pact! I've read the first few chapters of it as an excerpt at the back of my copy of My Sister's Keeper, and it already seemed so depressing. I'd still like to try another Picoult though... maybe Vanishing Acts. Any of you have read it?

The Pact was the first one I read. I had never heard of Picoult-this was back in the late 90's -but it sounded good so I grabbed it. I really liked it at the time but her work has definitely improved by then. The next one I read was Plain Truth which was great, then Keeping Faith, Salem Falls, Perfect Match,Second Glance, My Sister's Keeper up through the newest one, Change of Heart. I have tried to read some of her first ones, Harvesting the Heart, Song of the Humpback, but haven't been able to get into them.

Dini, Vanishing Acts was one of my least favorites. It was okay, but if you're looking for one to make you want to read more Picoult, that might not be the one. All of the others were good though. I loved Second Glance, it's really different. It has some ghost story type elements with some stuff on the eugenics movement thrown in-really good. Nineteen Minutes is about a school shooting, also good, not fantastic, but it will suck you in.

I have to say that I'm a huge fan of Jodi Piccoult. All of her books that I have read deal with some big issue, and I was always impressed with her ability to show the whole picture of the issue. My Sister's Keeper was the first book i read of hers, and I have to say that it is my favorite (my sister and I are close, so it made a big impression on me). I have to say that Keeping Faith was probably the most "uplifting" that I've read. I read The Pact, and, Dini, you're right, it is a little depressing, but really good. Each of her books sucks you in to the story. They will make you think, and they are all better than your general mysteries and stories that you can pick up at a news stand in the airport. I love them, but I can't read more than one in a row. I would recommend reading My Sister's Keeper first, and see what you think. If you don't like serious books, then you may not enjoy them. But I always came away from the couple I read thinking, "Oh..... I've never thought about it that way. "

If I had to recommend any 2 of Piccoult's books, they would be My Sister's Keeper and Plain Truth, in that order, with Perfect Match a somewhat distant 3rd. I really didn't enjoy The Pact or Salem Falls or Tenth Circle, although 19 Minutes was decent. Apparently I like the children stories rather than the teenage ones,w hich bode poorly for my future parenting... hmm. I digress -- in short, yes, I think Sister's Keeper is worth reading. I agree that it is very thought-provoking.

Haven't read any Hoffman, but it does sound good.

Ha! Again you make me laugh, Rebecca!

The only Jodi Picoult books I have read are My Sister's Keeper, and Plain Truth, and I would highly recommend them both. While its been a couple of years since I finished My Sister's Keeper, I still remember being enthralled with the story line and completely blown away with the ending. Plain Truth I found to be a little more slow moving, but definitely worth reading as well. I haven't read any Hoffman either, but I have heard good things.

I recommend My Sister's Keepers- there were a couple of boring parts but mostly it kept me interested! And like the others on here, I think MSK was thought provoking-I even found myself asking others teh question of, "what would you do...?"

I am currently reading My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult I agree with most of the posts. Picoult's writing totally sucks you in. I have not read The Third Angel by Alice Hoffman but I have read other Hoffman books and I really like her books, they suck you in as well.