Monday, October 15, 2012

Sing You Home: Review and Gift Card Giveaway

Mission accomplished!  I've finally completed the reading challenge that I created a year ago, The Jodi Picoult Project.  My objective was to read three additional novels by Jodi Picoult, and I'm rather relieved to report that I've reached my goal--at last!

Time constraints have taken a serious toll on my reading the past few months, and it took me several weeks to read my third book for The Jodi Picoult Project, Sing You Home, published in 2011.  I picked up this book whenever I had a few minutes to spare, in various spots and locations, around the house, in my yard, waiting in my car, and I even did some reading outside one tranquil evening on a bench at the local arts center.

Since I purchased a used copy of this book on Amazon, it did not come with a CD, and I didn't download the soundtrack. But, I never felt as if I needed the music to read or understand the book (like the author herself, I love music and listen to it while I drive, but not when I'm reading or writing; I'd find that too distracting, although I could probably read with low, classical music playing in the background.)  Now that I'm done with the book, I may try to listen to the music, a collaboration between Jodi Picoult and singer Ellen Wilber, "the voice of Zoe".



"When I tell people I'm a music therapist, they think it means I play guitar for people who are in the hospital--that I'm a performer.  Actually, I'm more like a physical therapist, except instead of using treadmills and grab bars as tools, I use music.  When I tell people that, they usually dismiss my job as some New Age BS."
~Sing You Home, Jodi Picoult 

In Sing You Home,  Zoe Baxter is passionate about her career as a music therapist.  Through her job, Zoe meets a high school counselor, Vanessa Shaw, who wants her to work with a deeply troubled student, Lucy.  Zoe desperately wants to have a child, but has been very unlucky in this regard, in spite of extensive fertility treatments, and her marriage to Max suffers tremendously as a result.  That's nearly all I can say about this book without needing to add a major spoiler alert!

Best-selling author Jodi Picoult writes with her usual arresting honesty and sensitivity in this book, which features a love relationship between two women.  Set in Rhode Island, the author once again uses multiple perspectives to tell a story from all sides, and there's a legal battle as well. (I think Ms. Picoult would make an excellent lawyer; all the research she's done for her books would help her pass the Bar and win cases.)  In Sing You Home, we get the three perspectives of the main characters, Zoe, Max, and Vanessa, which provide an absorbing and well-rounded look at the complex issues and questions presented in the book, such as: who would make the best parents for a child?  (In my opinion, the best parents are simply people who truly want to raise and nurture children.)  She does not resort to stereotypes about gay people, but depicts them instead as unique individuals who deserve the same rights as everyone else.  At times I felt that the born again Christians in the novel were drawn in a stereotypical fashion, complete with holier-than-thou attitudes, but Max's brother's wife, Liddy, ultimately helps to balance this aspect of the book.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As promised, now that I've completed this reading challenge, I'm hosting a celebratory giveaway, for a $25 "Jodi Picoult Project" gift card from Amazon (good on anything sold by Amazon).  This giveaway is international.

  • To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment.
  • For another chance at winning, become a follower of this blog, or let me know that you're already a follower.
  • If you've participated in this reading challenge, you will get an extra chance for each book you've read and posted on (please indicate the number in your comments). This reading challenge runs until the end of October.
  • For an additional chance, post about this contest on your blog, Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter.

Enter by 5 PM PST on Monday, November 5.  One winner will be selected randomly and announced on Tuesday, November 6.  Good luck, and as always, thanks for reading!

35 comments:

  1. Congrats on finishing your project. I have only read one Picoult novel but I think they must be all good.

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  2. Congratulations on finishing the project! I haven't read this book yet, but I do enjoy Picoult's work. She's a wonderful speaker too - you must go if she ever comes near you.

    I subscribe in Google Reader.

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  3. I love Jodi Picoult, and I think this one is my favorite. I'm a follower.
    amandarwest atgmaildotcom

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  4. Congratulations on completing your project. Jodi Picoult's books are always unique and compelling. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  5. Congratulations on finishing your project. Jodi Picoult is a great writer. Haven't read this book. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  6. Congrats on finishing the project Suko! This book sounds like a great one. I do think the best parents are the ones who just want to love and nurture their kids as well.
    I've heard only good things about this author. I have Second Glance collecting dust on Mt TBR :P I have to get to it soon! Great review, I like the pic of your reading spot, nice touch.

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  7. Love the "Jesus was a liberal" button -- a lot of truth there! I have mixed feelings about Jodi Picoult's work, but this really does sound good. I loved your review -- it's beautifully written and definitely piqued my interest.

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  8. Congrats on this accomplishment. I enjoyed this story when I read it, and enjoyed your review as a nice refresher.

    Follower (of Course) I'd love to win. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  9. Congrats on finishing! That's so exciting! I still haven't read a book by her, but I swear I'm going to! I've heard nothing but amazing things about her books :)

    peacelovebooks5 (at) aol (dot) com

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  10. I'm also a GFC follower as Jessica (Peace Love Book)

    peacelovebooks5 (at) aol (dot) com

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  11. I'm not a big fan of Picoult, but this book does capture my interest and I think it would be neat to read the book and then hear the soundtrack and see how Picoult envisions her writing as music. Very interesting concept. I am glad you loved the book! Wonderful review today, Suko!

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  12. Congrats on completing your reading challenge. I've only read maybe two books by Jodi. Glad you enjoyed this book.

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  13. I've read her books before and would like to be counted in for this giveaway. Thank you for making it open to all.

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  14. I've never read Piccoult's books but the one that caught my eye was Lone Wolf...have you read that one?

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    1. Peppermint, thanks for stopping by! I haven't read Lone Wolf, the author's 19th(!) novel, by Diane from Bibliophile by the Sea has read and reviewed it: http://bibliophilebythesea.blogspot.com/2012/02/lone-wolf-jodi-picoult.html.

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  15. That's awesome you completed your challenge - congrats! I read this one awhile and thought it was pretty good. I always find that with Picoult books they are usually hit or miss, but make for easy reading. Glad you enjoyed this one ;) And, thanks for hosting such an awesome giveaway! I'm a follower and I have you on my blog roll on my blog which is how I read your posts. Cheers!

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  16. Well done on completing the challenge - I also read this for the project and agree with much of what you say. With regard to the CD that came with the book ..... I got my copy from the library and was surprised to see the CD still attached, not that I listened to it as to be honest I thought it was a bit of an unnecessary gimmick that I just wasn't interested in.

    A long term visitor (not too sure if I officially follow so I'll rectify that now) I've posted this on my FB page and have read 3 books for the challenge.

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    1. Thank you for participating in this reading challenge, and for posting this giveaway on Facebook, Petty!

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  17. Congrats on finishing your challenge! I believe she has a new book out now too … so I guess you could do it again if you want.

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  18. Having a backround in music I would love to read this!

    -blog follower
    -shared on google+
    -shred on fb
    -shared on twitter
    -shared on my blog

    Margaret
    singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  19. I love Jodi Picoult's books!

    I'm already a GFC follower.

    yvone473[at]optonline[dot]net

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  20. Congrats on finishing the challenge. I still haven't read a Jodi Picoult book but I do intend too. I even picked up a few of her books at one of the library sales.

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  21. I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed this one! I think that I have it on my shelves so I may just have to pick it up because I'm intrigued. My favorite that I've read by her still remains so far as My Sister's Keeper. Such a difficult subject but man did it knock my socks off! Great review Suko!

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  22. So happy for you that you met your goal! Picoult always gets me to think about not easy issues, but I've only read two of her books. I've quite a few to go to catch up to you!

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  23. It comes with a cd? I think my copy is an advanced reader one (which I have yet to read!) but I a off to check that out! Congrats on completing your challenge!

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  24. I'm like you, I cannot read with music on or the TV for that matter LOL! What can I say, I'm too easily distracted. :-P

    Congrats on completing your challenge. I'm only participating in the Goodreads challenge this year but I'm not even close to reading 165 books.

    I'd love to be entered to win the giftcard. I'm a follower of this blog and I tweeted the giveaway here: https://twitter.com/steelergirl83/status/259838040841789440 Thank you. :-)

    xoxo,
    Renee C.

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    Replies
    1. Renee, thank you for the comment and the tweet! :)

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  25. Thanks for the great giveaway -
    would love to win.

    emsfsemsfs at gmail dot com

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  26. Thanks for the giveaway!!!
    family74014 at gmail dot com

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  27. I follow via GFC
    family74014 at gmail dot com

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  28. thanks for the chance to win!!
    rjs682 at yahoo dot com

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  29. GFC follower- soccermom1

    rjs682 at yahoo dot com

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  30. https://twitter.com/rjs682/status/262365547235266561
    rjs682 at yahoo dot com

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  31. Glad you enjoyed this one! I've read 7 or 8 of her novels so far and have enjoyed them for the most part.

    I am a follower, and I just posted my review of the 1 book I read for the challenge.

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    diaryofaneccentric at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete

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