A review of Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

Change of Heart is the kind of book that a man would not read as June seems to be fixed for a sad life by author Jodi Picoult. On the other hand, it is the kind of novel that a woman would read hoping for a happy ending. That explains why it is another best-seller from the pen of Ms Picoult.

Tragic lady

Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult is a 400 page novel which has been loved by the die hard Pi-Cult. The story is told by the four prominent characters in the novel and they are June, Michael, Maggie and Lucius, another inmate with the killer Shay Bourne in the prison. June loses her husband in a car accident. She meets a police officer at the scene of the accident and eventually, they marry. Shay Bourne comes into their life as a man helping to construct the nursery. He kills her new husband and four year old daughter. June is pregnant at the time. Years later, June’s second daughter has a heart problem and Shane volunteers to donate his heart.

Positive points

The book is a spiritual inquiry into restorative justice. Shane seeks redemption through this donation. It is for June to accept or reject. It also introduces the Gospel of St Thomas which is not included in the canonical Bible. Shay Bourne quotes from the Gospel of Thomas and performs many miracles. The parallels to condemn Jesus Christ are there for everyone to see. The religious motif runs throughout the book. June tells her sick daughter that she was named Claire after the nuns of Poor Claire. Father Michael Wright tries to explain to Shay Bourne that redemption cannot be sought through giving away something. Redemption has to be sought by submitting to Jesus Christ. Michael is perplexed by the miracles performed by Shay. A change of heart and submission to God is required for true redemption. The questions raised by the novel are whether it is right to give up thoughts of vengeance to save a loved one? Are religious people more tolerant or less? Finally, should people's own beliefs be questioned? It is a fast paced novel which also questions the need for capital punishment.

Negative points

A honest reading of the book finds the book a bit contrived as if it is written with an eye on movie or TV rights. It is a page turner, but rather predictable. Characters in the book say things which obviously are juicy bits which Jodi Picoult found in her intense research on the various subjects dealt in the book. It is overall a good book to read, but not one of her great books.