Saturday, May 10, 2008

Book review: Changing Heart

Title Change of Heart: A Novel
Author: Picoult, Jodi

Rating ****1/2
Tags fiction, mystery, execution, death row
You have to love an author who creates a fictional bird and names it Batman the Robin. The book is an easy read in the sense of being absorbing and holding the interest, but is not easy in any other sense. The characters are not always easy to understand or accept, including the pivotal character, Shay Bourne, who is on death row after being convicted of killing a 7 year old girl and her stepfather father, a cop. Maggie, the easiest-to-like character, is an ACLU lawyer who is trying to have Shay executed by hanging rather than by lethal injection, so that he can donate his heart to the sister of the murdered girl. Meanwhile Shay develops the disconcerting habit of performing miracles. This shakes the faith of his spiritual counselor, Father Michael. The book asks difficult questions and so challenges the reader in an interesting way.Recommended.


Publication Atria (2008), Edition: 1, Hardcover, 464 pages
Publication date 2008
ISBN 0743496744 / 9780743496742

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