fiction
The Pact by Jodi Picoult, is based upon the lives of two families. Specifically, their children. These two families, the Harts and the Golds, are next door neighbors who are very close friends. The two wives even become pregnant at similar times. The children, Emily Gold and Chris Hart, are expected to become best of friends. Chris and Emily become inseparable from birth, first as best friends, then later as boyfriend and girlfriend. They are both perceived to be perfect teens who excel at what they do - Chris at swimming, and Emily at painting. They are both expected to go to fantastic colleges and have great lives. Among all of this, Emily and Chris try to navigate the uncertainty of Emily's sudden admission. She wants to die. What follows is a tangled web of love, trust, betrayal, and pain as the Golds and the Harts try to decipher what happens when the inseparable pair is divided by the death of Emily.
"The Pact is so good that we can't put it down... suspenseful, intelligently written, topical." - Detroit Free Press
The Pact does a good job of showing the reader what is often the truth when it comes to parent-teen relationships: no matter how well you might know someone, you can always know them better. As the story progresses Picoult deftly alternates between 'then' and 'now,' referring to before Emily's death and after her passing. While reading the then and then later the now, Picoult offers intriguing allusions as to what transpired in Emily and Chris's shared past that brings them to the present. At one point I was so curious that I skipped a whole 'now' part just to find out what happens during one part.
Another thing that I like about Jodi Picoult's works is her attention to detail. In the other book I read by her, My Sister's Keeper, it was obvious that Jodi did her homework on her topic. In The Pact, it's obvious tedious research is involved when a psychologist, art therapist, and coroner are brought in to testify during the trial. I like that she researches her topics so thoroughly because it gives the story a more authentic feel.
"'It was no big deal,' Emily murmured.
'Oh yeah?' He whispered. 'Then how come you're shaking?'
'It's nothing.' She said, shrugging, but she would not look at him. She methodically ate a burger she could no longer taste, and slowly convinced herself that she had told him the truth. (67)
I loved this book, a lot. I do like most of the books I read, that's the truth, but this book really shook me. When I started it, I was immediately drawn in by the two main characters, Emily and Chris. They seemed like every other 'poster high school college sweetheart couple' that you might read about, totally cliche, but they had flaws. The story reminded me of "Romeo and Juliet" in a way, but completely reversed. Instead of being pried apart by their families, Emily and Chris were almost forced together. Picoult brought up points about Emily's unhappiness that I would have never thought of. This book was so realistic and touching that one time during C block I almost started crying, and that is really saying something!
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