Play Book Tag discussion

An emotionally distraught man, George Goddard, enters a women's clinic in Jackson, Mississippi, intent on destroying the staff that he believes helped his daughter, Lil, abort her baby. He opens fire on the owner, killing her immediately before turning his gun on the doctor. Seriously wounding the doctor, killing a nurse, and accidentally but seriously wounding another woman, George still has several other people trapped in the clinic with him and he holds them hostage. Police hostage negotiator Hugh McElroy is able to contact George on the clinic phone but Hugh sees that he has text messages from his own daughter Wren. She is trapped inside the clinic with her aunt Bex and Bex is the woman who is critically injured. Now Hugh has to try to stay calm, knowing his loved ones are in danger, and try to persuade a despondent killer to release his hostages.

This was a tough read in several different ways. First of all, I am not fond of the format, telling the story backwards by starting at the critical confrontation between George and Hugh and counting the hours back to the morning before the incident happened; I find that very difficult to follow. I also now know way too much about the procedure and if you are at all sensitive to the explicit medical explanation, definitely skip this one. Also, one of the main story lines, that of George's daughter, is not complete. That is a huge loose end. I gave the book 3 stars based on the fact that Picoult always raises issues that make me think and to feel emotions, good or bad, so her books stay with me for quite awhile. I'm not sure this one will stay with me for good reasons, though.

This is on my wish list. I can't wait to read it, Picoult is my favorite author.

I've got this on my TBR to read. I have read nothing from Jodi Picoult. This month I am reading Small Great Things.

Rachel wrote: "I've got this on my TBR to read. I have read nothing from Jodi Picoult. This month I am reading Small Great Things."

As was stated already, be prepared to be challenged (issue wise) when you read Picoult. That is her greatest skill.

I know I have shared this before, but one day I was able to see a video of Jodi Piccoult being interviewed in. Ew York City, by Alice Hoffman - which is a rare treat. They are actually close friends, and I would love to lunch with them.

Amy can you imagine? Just lunch would Alice Hoffman would thrill me!!