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Fiction. Literature. HTML:From the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Small Great Things and My Sister's Keeper, a novel exploring the story of a young woman overcome by the demands of having a family. Paige has only a few vivid memories of her mother, who abandoned her at five years old. Now, having left her father behind in Chicago for dreams of art school and marriage to an ambitious young doctor, she finds herself with a child of her own. But her mother's absence and shameful memories of her past force her to doubt whether she could ever be capable of bringing joy and meaning into the life of her child, gifts her own mother never gave. Harvesting the Heart is written with astonishing clarity and evocative detail, convincing in its depiction of emotional pain, love, and vulnerability, and recalls the writing of Alice Hoffman and Kristin Hannah. Out of Paige's struggle to find wholeness, Jodi Picoult crafts an absorbing novel peopled by richly drawn characters, and explores motherhood with a power and depth only she is capable of. �??A brilliant, moving examination of motherhood, brimming with detail and emotion.�?� �??Richmond Times-Dispatch �??Jodi Picoult explores the fragile ground of ambivalent motherhood in her lush second novel. This story belongs to�?� the lucky reader.�?� �??The New York Times… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member bbellthom
I listened to this book on my MP3 player. In the beginning I thought this book was very slow moving. As I was farther into the book I really began to connect and like the characters. The two main characters of this book are Paige and Nicholas. Paige whose mother left her at the age of 5 questions
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her ability to be a good mother and care for her newborn son. I think all new mothers question there ability to raise a child, especially during the newborn months when lack of sleep makes you question all decisions that you make. Show Less
LibraryThing member DevourerOfBooks
Least Favorite Jodi Picoult Novel Ever. That's really not even a fair comparison, since I LOVE most of the rest of her books. This book was like a chore to get through. Unlike the rest of Picoult's books, I never once cared an ounce about any of the characters, they were boring and unlovable.
LibraryThing member Cigani
This book started off slow, but by the middle, I was hooked. I was pleased with the ending because it was not neat and tidy and unrealistic. It was raw and real...just how I like it. I am curious to see how Jodi's early work compares to her latest work (Change of Heart). Sometimes I feel she
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surprised is more in the beginning. Show Less
LibraryThing member framberg
This was Jodi Picoult's second novel, and it's missing the shocking twist at the end that marks most of her other novels (at least the ones I have read). Because of this it actually feels more real, more possible than her other novels. I appreciated the unresolved ending, the redemption she offers
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all of her characters but never insists on. Often when I finish a Picoult novel I feel exhausted. I enjoy the ride, but I feel manipulated and annoyed with myself for giving in to the soap opera. With "Harvesting the Heart" I merely felt as if I had finished a decent escapist novel, not as if I had been put through the wringer. I think that for my next Picoult novel - because as much as it can irritate me, I keep coming back for more - I'll try to find her first. Show Less
LibraryThing member scoutlee
Before I begin, I have to say that I'm very biased when it comes to Ms. Picoult. I first saw her at a book signing for Nineteen Minutes and instantly liked her. Since that book signing, I've read nine of her books, with the intention of reading her entire collection. Having said that, I have to say
I don't want to say too much about the storyline and when things began to pick up for me, (may be a spoiler for some) but after a certain event happened, I couldn't stop reading. After I finished reading the book, I thought about my feelings regarding the first chapters. When Paige and Nicholas first meet, they are from different worlds. He has had everything handed to him and she has given up a dream that she feels she doesn't deserve. Despite their differences, they fall in love and decide to marry. During the early years of their marriage, I consider Nicholas to be extremely selfish and Paige to be very passive. Even for them, it was hard for both of them to be with the other. So, I'm wondering, as the reader, was it hard for me to be with them as well.
As I mentioned earlier, Paige comes to a crossroad in the marriage where she has to choose to move ahead or finally deal with the past she left behind. She makes a decision, that will set in motion events that will determine the fate of her marriage. Harvesting the Heart, for me, was typical Jodi Picoult. I finished the book with many questions and could not stop thinking about the characters. Actually, what was missing was a trial scene. Having read most of her recent books first, it was nice to go back and read one of her earlier works. Ms. Picoult has grown as a writer, however even then she knew how to tell a story.
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the first part of Harvesting the Heart was extremely difficult for me to get into. I never thought of putting it down or reading another book. At times I had to force myself to read and looking back, I'm glad that I did.I don't want to say too much about the storyline and when things began to pick up for me, (may be a spoiler for some) but after a certain event happened, I couldn't stop reading. After I finished reading the book, I thought about my feelings regarding the first chapters. When Paige and Nicholas first meet, they are from different worlds. He has had everything handed to him and she has given up a dream that she feels she doesn't deserve. Despite their differences, they fall in love and decide to marry. During the early years of their marriage, I consider Nicholas to be extremely selfish and Paige to be very passive. Even for them, it was hard for both of them to be with the other. So, I'm wondering, as the reader, was it hard for me to be with them as well.
As I mentioned earlier, Paige comes to a crossroad in the marriage where she has to choose to move ahead or finally deal with the past she left behind. She makes a decision, that will set in motion events that will determine the fate of her marriage. Harvesting the Heart, for me, was typical Jodi Picoult. I finished the book with many questions and could not stop thinking about the characters. Actually, what was missing was a trial scene. Having read most of her recent books first, it was nice to go back and read one of her earlier works. Ms. Picoult has grown as a writer, however even then she knew how to tell a story.
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LibraryThing member sharlene_w
Wasn't up to the caliber of some of Jodi Picoult's other books. A heartwarming story nevertheless. I wish the ending had not been as abrupt.
LibraryThing member brsquilt
Do people really misunderstand each other that much? I found it overly dramatic and people who don't reason things out. Frustrating to someone who comes from a good functioning family.
LibraryThing member jessicaslilcorner
I thought this book was just an ok read...I liked the way the book was simple to read but wasnt a huge fan of the ending. The book was just okay for me, but I think the author does GREAT work!
LibraryThing member Cailin
This is my first book by Jodi Piccoult. I've heard so many things about her books and I decided to try one.
Harvesting the Heart tells the story of Paige O'Toole. In many ways Paige spends a large part of her life trying to define herself. At the same time she's running to and from her mother who
I enjoyed the book, I was surprised that I felt at times Paige was annoying and then other times I understood how she felt.
I found the connections to Jake and Nicholas and the surrealism of Paige's drawings in which she drew secrets about her subject a bit hard to believe but other than that it was a good first book to read by this author. I will read others.
Harvesting the Heart tells the story of Paige O'Toole. In many ways Paige spends a large part of her life trying to define herself. At the same time she's running to and from her mother who
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left her. I enjoyed the book, I was surprised that I felt at times Paige was annoying and then other times I understood how she felt.
I found the connections to Jake and Nicholas and the surrealism of Paige's drawings in which she drew secrets about her subject a bit hard to believe but other than that it was a good first book to read by this author. I will read others.
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LibraryThing member carmarie
I love Jodi Picoult! And although this wasn't one of my favorite of hers, I still have to give it to her! And I just want to say that I love all the covers of her books. She has the gift of looking outside the box of a story. To Jodi, she doesn't care that we might hate the ending (just read My
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Sister's Keeper!). According to her, it had to be done. Ugh. Show Less
LibraryThing member Justjenniferreading
I loved this book. It was such a touching story. I was so captivated by the characters that I just let myself get lost in the story. It only took me a few hours to read it.
The character development was great. I loved Paige and Nicholas. Even the secondary characters were great. I had great images
The story was very good. Picoult did a great job with the narration changes, which I think can sometimes make a story seem choppy. The changes didn't affect the flow of the story at all.
The story spans quite a bit of time, and I found myself forgetting that so many years had passed but that didn't really take away from the story.
I really liked this one. It wasn't an excellent book, but it was pretty good. It was a quick read and it was easy to attach to the characters. If you like chick lit this is a good one to pick up. This was the first of Picoult's books that I've actually read, but I've added her to my list of favorite authors.
The character development was great. I loved Paige and Nicholas. Even the secondary characters were great. I had great images
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of them all, and I could even hear the accents in their voices as I read. I think Nicholas comes off as being a bit superficial and at times a real jerk but I almost understood where he was coming from and felt that he was justified in his actions (sometimes). The story was very good. Picoult did a great job with the narration changes, which I think can sometimes make a story seem choppy. The changes didn't affect the flow of the story at all.
The story spans quite a bit of time, and I found myself forgetting that so many years had passed but that didn't really take away from the story.
I really liked this one. It wasn't an excellent book, but it was pretty good. It was a quick read and it was easy to attach to the characters. If you like chick lit this is a good one to pick up. This was the first of Picoult's books that I've actually read, but I've added her to my list of favorite authors.
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LibraryThing member AmberAnoka
I am reviewing Harvesting the Heart. The book was written by Jodi Picoult. I chose to read this book because it was a Jodi Picoult book and I like all of her books. I thought the characters were realistic and the storyline was creative, detailed, and easy to follow.
When Eighteen year-old Paige
From the beginning to the end, I was enthralled with this book. Jodi Picoult did an excellent job of drawing the reader into the book. I felt the heartbreak and confusion that both Nicholas and Paige went through, as well as the anger that Nicholas later felt toward Paige. I recommend this book to any reader.
When Eighteen year-old Paige
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O'Toole left her house and travelled to Massachussetts, it was seemed like something that would happen in real life. When Nicholas and Paige decided to get married after only a few weeks of dating, it seemed a little far fetched, however the arguements that followed with Nicholas' family, did seem like something that could happen any day. Paige's decision to leave in search of her mother has probably been made by other adults before.From the beginning to the end, I was enthralled with this book. Jodi Picoult did an excellent job of drawing the reader into the book. I felt the heartbreak and confusion that both Nicholas and Paige went through, as well as the anger that Nicholas later felt toward Paige. I recommend this book to any reader.
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LibraryThing member XxKateexBooxX
This book was really hard for me to get into. I love Jodi Picoult's books. I am currently trying to read everyone of them. So, this book was next on my list and for me it actually didn't become a page-turner until (i'm not going to give anything away) She returns. But I (obviously) pushed myself
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through it. It was not her best book, but it was still rather good, I kept waiting for that unplanned, unaware, off-guard, shocking ending, and I was disappointed when it ended with the obvious. I still love the book, and the character Paige. Unlike her husband Nicholas, who I thought to be selfish and greedy in a way. Show Less
LibraryThing member LibraryOMidas
This is the first Jodi Picoult that I've picked up but it will not be the last. I grew up wondering why some mothers just leave, so for me this book was very close to home and I felt somehow personally connected to Paige, who thinks that her mother's wrong doings are going to be hereditary. When
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Paige meets and marries Nicholas and they have their first child, she runs away scared that if she stays she will turn out to be as dysfunctional a mother as she had. The reader follows Paige on the journey that leads her away from and ultimately back to herself; and on this journey with Paige, I for one shared tears. Show Less
LibraryThing member Leeny182
This story is about a woman named Paige. She was raised by her father after her mother disappeared when she was five and never returned. Paige leaves home after high school graduation and meets her future husband Nicholas while working as a waitress. Nicholas sweeps her off her feet and she is
I loved this book.I liked Jodi Picoults earlier novels. This is the 2nd book she wrote and it is much different than her more recent stuff. The story line is similar to her first book Songs of the Humpback Whale. It differs in that it doesnt change narrators quite as much as her newer books which sometimes confuses me. Also its not so technical and doesnt involve any type of legal battle like her new work does. I honestly would like it if her next book goes back to some of the similarities of her earlier stuff. I really liked this one as it was refreshing and a change from the same routine of her newer books.
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surprised that a man from such a wealthy family, whos going to med school, would be interested in someone like her. This book follows her life of never feeling good enough. Her and Nicholas have a child. She doesnt feel like she is competent enough to be a mother so she runs away scared. In the end though everything works out like it always does. I loved this book.I liked Jodi Picoults earlier novels. This is the 2nd book she wrote and it is much different than her more recent stuff. The story line is similar to her first book Songs of the Humpback Whale. It differs in that it doesnt change narrators quite as much as her newer books which sometimes confuses me. Also its not so technical and doesnt involve any type of legal battle like her new work does. I honestly would like it if her next book goes back to some of the similarities of her earlier stuff. I really liked this one as it was refreshing and a change from the same routine of her newer books.
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LibraryThing member LauraMoore
I believe this was Jodi Picoults second book and you can definitely tell her writing has matured over the years. jodi's writing usually captivated me and takes me for a ride but this book just made me feel annoyed to be honest. I didn't like or relate to the characters and found their decisions to
Paige was abandoned by her mother at a young age so when she finds herself a mother herself she soon begins to doubt her ability for being a mother herself and makes a decision to temporally follow in her mothers footsteps and abandon her family. I honestly despised Paige's character she annoyed me every step she made. The decisions she made made her weak and honestly she needed therapy not a temporary vacation from her family. Uhhh unfortantly I cannot say anything nice about her character I found no emotional connection with her and I think maybe in retrospect that she ruined this story for me.
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be ridiculous everyvstep of the way. I love Jodi Picoult but unfortantally I would say don't waste your time on this book.Paige was abandoned by her mother at a young age so when she finds herself a mother herself she soon begins to doubt her ability for being a mother herself and makes a decision to temporally follow in her mothers footsteps and abandon her family. I honestly despised Paige's character she annoyed me every step she made. The decisions she made made her weak and honestly she needed therapy not a temporary vacation from her family. Uhhh unfortantly I cannot say anything nice about her character I found no emotional connection with her and I think maybe in retrospect that she ruined this story for me.
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LibraryThing member MsGemini
This was the first book I read by Jodi Picoult. I loved it! I was not able to put it down. I have been a huge fan of this author ever since.
LibraryThing member shifrack00
Not bad, but not as strong as some of her other books.
LibraryThing member jennstarr12
This book was a good read but a bit predictable at times. Sometimes, the descriptive paragraphs could seem lengthy and boring. Overall, though, a nice little love story.
LibraryThing member meredith12
I was not impressed by this book, I had a hard time getting into the book towards the middle/end. The characters were very frustrating, Paige never knew what she wanted and Nicholas was always rude and not understanding of Paige and when it comes to taking care of a baby. I did like the story line
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though, it was a very emotional book but, it was so slow moving. When it came to Paige taking care of their baby boy Max, she was very nervous and never knew what to do. And she did not know how to fit into Nicholas' high status life because she grew up in a completely different life style. This was a good book but I just got annoyed with it and how slow it was moving. And Jodi Picoult did do a good job with the characters and giving a good look into their lives. Show Less
LibraryThing member JJamieson
Sentimentality at its worst.
LibraryThing member terrybanker
Innovative writer, using 21st century fiction techniques.
Slow to no-go middle section.
Okay ending....
Slow to no-go middle section.
Okay ending....
LibraryThing member AJBraithwaite
Not a book I really enjoyed. There was a bit too much detail about Nicholas's career as a heart surgeon. Not that I'm squeamish, but I didn't think it advanced the story - seemed like so much filler. And I found his reaction to his wife's post-partum depression completely unconvincing for a
And, just as an aside, I read the ebook and it was a really poor conversion: lots of OCR errors, and a whole chunk of repeated text at one point.
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medically-trained person. Paige's drawings were the most interesting part of the book, with their hint of magical realism, but they didn't seem to add much to the plot, either.And, just as an aside, I read the ebook and it was a really poor conversion: lots of OCR errors, and a whole chunk of repeated text at one point.
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LibraryThing member hobbitprincess
Paige had a mother who disappeared when Paige was 5, and this haunts her for years to come. After an abortion at 18, she runs away to Cambridge, Mass. where she meets a medical student. After marriage, medical school, etc., Paige has to come to terms with her mother's disappearance in any way she
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can. This book dragged in places, and at times I wanted to string up both main characters. Paige had too many secrets and was too immature many times, and Nicholas was a real jerk a lot of the time. I didn't particularly care for the ending. An epilogue chapter would have been nice. Still, Picoult deals with some difficult issues like she does in many of her books. This one just didn't click with me like some of the others have. Show Less
LibraryThing member HeatherLINC
Not the author's usual style of writing but I still really enjoyed 'Harvesting the Heart' and found myself sympathizing with Paige despite the fact she ran away from her husband and baby for three months. Despite her flaws I admired her strength and courage.