Call number
FIC PIC
Collection
Genres
Publication
Atria/Emily Bestler Books (2012), Edition: First Edition, 432 pages
Description
When his father and sister are injured in an accident that has rendered his father comatose, estranged son Edward decides to stop his father's life support so that his organs can be donated, a choice his sister urges him to reconsider.
User reviews
LibraryThing member CookieDemon
As a big Jodi Picoult fan I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. I have read all of her other novels and enjoyed them (barring `Songs of The Humpback Whale' which I found to be a bit bland), so it was safe to say that I was anticipating an excellent read here.
Picoult definitely doesn't
The book revolves around Cara and her father Luke, both injured in a car accident that unfortunately leaves Luke on a ventilator with a practically nil chance of waking- and even if he does, chances are he will be brain damaged. As Luke was a famous naturalist who has integrated himself into wild wolf packs, his estranged son questions whether his father would ever want to live such a different way of life. Cara meanwhile is determined to prove that any life at all, is at least worth living...
As the book unfolds, family secrets are brought to the fore which only adds further drama to the proceedings. Chapters are told from alternate characters perspectives which really adds a sense of tension to the story, as well as a degree of empathy and understanding as to what the family are going through.
I can concede other reviewer's reservations with this book however: first time readers may find her depth of detail and research slightly off-putting and indeed overwhelming at times, though I personally found it relevant to the plot; Picoult tells a narrative from Luke's perspective, in which the symbolism of the wolf-pack mirrors events occurring in his own family at the time. I found this to be an excellent device within the story with just enough level of detail around wolf packs to keep me interested, as well as educating me.
I have to admit that this book moves at a slightly slower pace than some of her earlier novels too, which other long time readers have highlighted. It is also more `clean cut' with its moral issue, in that suggestions right from the start of the story indicate the right decision to be made in the long term, though the journey in getting there is still a worthwhile narrative and (in my opinion) very worth a read.
I have deducted half a star merely because the supposed 'revelations' within the book were a little bit predictable. I suppose I expected a bit more twists and turns- this is a Jodi book after all! That is my only criticism of the novel however.
If you have not read a Picoult novel before then I would perhaps urge you to be a bit cautious in trying this one first- it is very different from some of her others. I would suggest starting with `Nineteen Minutes' or `Change of Heart' first and then move on to this one afterwards if you enjoy her style of writing. If you are a Picoult fan though, then you will enjoy it.
*This review is also posted on Amazon.co.uk*
Picoult definitely doesn't
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disappoint in this excellent story of a fractured family, hidden secrets and a horrific moral dilemma faced by an estranged brother and sister. I loved every word- the characterisation was excellent, settings believable and it really does make you think what you would do if you ever found yourself in a similar situation.The book revolves around Cara and her father Luke, both injured in a car accident that unfortunately leaves Luke on a ventilator with a practically nil chance of waking- and even if he does, chances are he will be brain damaged. As Luke was a famous naturalist who has integrated himself into wild wolf packs, his estranged son questions whether his father would ever want to live such a different way of life. Cara meanwhile is determined to prove that any life at all, is at least worth living...
As the book unfolds, family secrets are brought to the fore which only adds further drama to the proceedings. Chapters are told from alternate characters perspectives which really adds a sense of tension to the story, as well as a degree of empathy and understanding as to what the family are going through.
I can concede other reviewer's reservations with this book however: first time readers may find her depth of detail and research slightly off-putting and indeed overwhelming at times, though I personally found it relevant to the plot; Picoult tells a narrative from Luke's perspective, in which the symbolism of the wolf-pack mirrors events occurring in his own family at the time. I found this to be an excellent device within the story with just enough level of detail around wolf packs to keep me interested, as well as educating me.
I have to admit that this book moves at a slightly slower pace than some of her earlier novels too, which other long time readers have highlighted. It is also more `clean cut' with its moral issue, in that suggestions right from the start of the story indicate the right decision to be made in the long term, though the journey in getting there is still a worthwhile narrative and (in my opinion) very worth a read.
I have deducted half a star merely because the supposed 'revelations' within the book were a little bit predictable. I suppose I expected a bit more twists and turns- this is a Jodi book after all! That is my only criticism of the novel however.
If you have not read a Picoult novel before then I would perhaps urge you to be a bit cautious in trying this one first- it is very different from some of her others. I would suggest starting with `Nineteen Minutes' or `Change of Heart' first and then move on to this one afterwards if you enjoy her style of writing. If you are a Picoult fan though, then you will enjoy it.
*This review is also posted on Amazon.co.uk*
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LibraryThing member Beamis12
What sets this book apart from the usual Picoult is the wolves. It contains the usual family strife, moral and ethical dilemma, and a hard decision that need to be made. All the information on wolves and wolves packs and how they relate to a family was extremely interesting to me and adds a depth
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to this book that has been missing from her past several. I also really liked some of the characters, especially the step father, Joe and was very glad that Picoult gave him a voice in this novel. It also wasn't as overly sentimental as some of her others which I also appreciated. Show Less
LibraryThing member SugarCreekRanch
Lone Wolf is about a family dispute regarding the continuation of life support for an irreversibly damaged accident victim. The patient is a wolf researcher, modeled on Shaun Ellis (author of The Man Who Lives With Wolves). I'm a huge fan of Jodi Picoult, and was really intrigued by The Man Who
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Lives With Wolves when I read it a few years ago, so this book was aimed right at me. I loved it! Show Less
LibraryThing member MargaretdeBuhr
Not my favorite story line of Jodi Piccout but I did enjoy most of it.
LibraryThing member BookishDame
Disappointed. I wanted to love this book. I tried to find interest in the human struggle, but it failed in light of the naturalist information of Luke Warren and his wolf pack. What happened after a while was that the book wained and fizzled out. The question or the moral dilemma regarding what
I'm a huge Picoult fan who sits on the edge of my chair when I have a new novel of hers in my hands. I struggled through the beginning of this book because I kept hoping it would pick up. I loved the parts about the behaviors of wolves in the wild and how Luke Warren found a way to become a part of them. What I found watered down, the human family parts of the story, made the book boring and took away from it as a whole. The family secrets were over rated.
This isn't Jodi Picoult at her best. I'm sorry I can only rate this book at a C level. It's a book I'd only recommend to friends and readers as an eBook or paperback option.
3.5 stars howling at the moon in sadness
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constitutes "life" in brain damage and vegetative states was simply not tackled here in earnest, and that left a gaping hole. Cara's and Edward's tug of war over "pulling the plug" or not on their father, and who should do it because one was beloved more than the other, acted as the central point of the novel. I felt it was a book not well thought out. Something was missing. Something important was left out that should have anchored the whole. I'm a huge Picoult fan who sits on the edge of my chair when I have a new novel of hers in my hands. I struggled through the beginning of this book because I kept hoping it would pick up. I loved the parts about the behaviors of wolves in the wild and how Luke Warren found a way to become a part of them. What I found watered down, the human family parts of the story, made the book boring and took away from it as a whole. The family secrets were over rated.
This isn't Jodi Picoult at her best. I'm sorry I can only rate this book at a C level. It's a book I'd only recommend to friends and readers as an eBook or paperback option.
3.5 stars howling at the moon in sadness
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LibraryThing member l_manning
Luke Warren has had a fascinating live. Choosing to live among the wolves he studies has made him an international sensation, but it has come at a cost. He has lost his wife and older son, but still has his daughter who seems to understand him. Things change with Cara and Luke get into a car
I was of two minds about this book. I enjoyed the story, but I disliked several of the characters. I found Luke and Cara to be particularly grating. Luke didn't seem to care about anything except his wolves, and Cara was annoying, manipulative, and petulant. Although in retrospect that may just be really good writing given the fact that Cara is 17. I liked Edward a lot more than those two, and I found Georgie to be more sympathetic and sensible than all 3 of them. Georgie's husband Joe was my favorite character out of the bunch. He was smart and nice and ready to take care of things to the best of his ability.
So can you enjoy a book in which your don't like some of the characters? Actually, yes. I found the story itself to be very interesting. The way Luke's "journals" of his time with the wolves interwove with the main storyline was very well done. The issues brought up with regards to Luke's condition and future were thought-provoking. As the story unfolded, you certainly got a feel for why the characters were making some of the decisions that they did. The secrets that were uncovered added some interesting dimensions to the story. Overall, I did enjoy this book. It was interesting and in some ways very touching. Watching this family work through some of their issues makes one almost believe anything is possible.
Book provided for review.
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accident though, and now Luke is in a come with not much hope of recovering. Now his ex-wife Georgie and estranged son Edward are back to help make some hard decisions. Edward and Cara clash with what should be done, and a family that was already falling apart will be torn to pieces as secrets and lies come to the forefront. I was of two minds about this book. I enjoyed the story, but I disliked several of the characters. I found Luke and Cara to be particularly grating. Luke didn't seem to care about anything except his wolves, and Cara was annoying, manipulative, and petulant. Although in retrospect that may just be really good writing given the fact that Cara is 17. I liked Edward a lot more than those two, and I found Georgie to be more sympathetic and sensible than all 3 of them. Georgie's husband Joe was my favorite character out of the bunch. He was smart and nice and ready to take care of things to the best of his ability.
So can you enjoy a book in which your don't like some of the characters? Actually, yes. I found the story itself to be very interesting. The way Luke's "journals" of his time with the wolves interwove with the main storyline was very well done. The issues brought up with regards to Luke's condition and future were thought-provoking. As the story unfolded, you certainly got a feel for why the characters were making some of the decisions that they did. The secrets that were uncovered added some interesting dimensions to the story. Overall, I did enjoy this book. It was interesting and in some ways very touching. Watching this family work through some of their issues makes one almost believe anything is possible.
Book provided for review.
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LibraryThing member plm1250
Read 3/10/12
One of Picoult's better novel.
A man who becomes famous for living with wolves leaves the pack to return to his family after two years. Upon is return his soon ot be 18 daughter who worships him and he get into a car accident that leaves him in a permanent vegetative state. His older,
Back home he engages in a legal battle for medical guardianship against his sister as she adamently refuses to accept all medical advice ttelling her that her
dad will never recover and she should stop all life support so his organs can be harvested. The son on the other hand is more pragmatic and wants to get this draining and emotonally divisive affair terminated as he accepts the medical prognosis.
Ultimately they end up fighting the issue in court. Each accuse the other of acting out of non altruistic value, she because she was partially responsible for the accident and her brother feels guilt is dictating her refusal to accept reality. The brother on the other hand has along Hx of estrangement from his father and she feels he is acting out of spite /hate.
The chapters dealing w/ his life with the wolves are exceptional well written, informative and apparently factual, based upon a book by Shaun Ellis (The Man Who Lived with Wolves)
One of Picoult's better novel.
A man who becomes famous for living with wolves leaves the pack to return to his family after two years. Upon is return his soon ot be 18 daughter who worships him and he get into a car accident that leaves him in a permanent vegetative state. His older,
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estranged son comes back from Thailand where he has been living upon nearing the news.Back home he engages in a legal battle for medical guardianship against his sister as she adamently refuses to accept all medical advice ttelling her that her
dad will never recover and she should stop all life support so his organs can be harvested. The son on the other hand is more pragmatic and wants to get this draining and emotonally divisive affair terminated as he accepts the medical prognosis.
Ultimately they end up fighting the issue in court. Each accuse the other of acting out of non altruistic value, she because she was partially responsible for the accident and her brother feels guilt is dictating her refusal to accept reality. The brother on the other hand has along Hx of estrangement from his father and she feels he is acting out of spite /hate.
The chapters dealing w/ his life with the wolves are exceptional well written, informative and apparently factual, based upon a book by Shaun Ellis (The Man Who Lived with Wolves)
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LibraryThing member bdouglas97
Loved another Jodi Picoult book! Loved the story; Loved the twists that she always throws in; Loved the info about the wolves....
LibraryThing member shelleyraec
Lone Wolf has all the elements I would expect from Jodi Picoult, controversy, ethical conflict, and courtroom drama. Luke Warren is severely injured in a car accident and lies comatose in hospital. His estranged son returns from Thailand after a five year absence to be at his father’s bedside, to
The story of Lone Wolf unfolds through alternating chapters from the perspectives of the main characters, Luke, his children Edward and Cara, ex wife Georgie and briefly, Helen, the court appointed Public Guardian.
Cara, who was also in the accident, is devastated by her fathers injuries and unable to rationally consider his medical status. Having lived with her father for the past five years she feels she should have the right to choose the path of her father’s care and with the naivete of youth is determined that life support be continued indefinitely, convinced a miracle will occur. Cara deeply resents Edward, blaming him for the break up of their parents marriage and is irrationally convinced that Edward hates Luke and wants him dead.
Edward left home at eighteen after a fight with his father, allowing his mother and sister to believe it had to do with revealing his sexuality. Luke’s motives were actually more complicated and he has kept them hidden by keeping his distance from the family. Returning home forces him to face the consequences of his estrangement.
Georgie is torn between the needs of her children, her ex husband and her new family. She wants to support both Cara and Edward but the decision they face doesn’t allow her to.
While a large part of the novel concerns the issues of the withdrawal of life support, organ donation and medical guardianship it is also about who Luke and his wolves, though Luke remains unconscious during the entire book. Luke is a wildlife biologist with an obsession for wolves. His unusual study methods including living with a wild wolves in Canada and feeding from raw carcasses with his captive pack. The information Picoult shares about the wolves is interesting and she neatly relates it to her characters but Luke’s behaviour can’t help but strike you as a little bizarre. I also cynically wonder if Picoults choice of wolves to feature in this novel comes from the commercial appeal of their paranormal counterparts, particularly as Lone Wolf has a YA slant.
For me, there was nothing terribly bad about Lone Wolf but neither was there anything remarkable. I felt at times that Picoult favoured melodrama over real passion, the issues seemed to be little more than a surface debate and the plot was too contrived. Unfortunately the characters also largely left me cold. I was sympathetic, but Cara acted half her age and Georgie just sort of flapped around ineffectually. Of the three I liked Edward the most but there were a few incidents he was involved in that didn’t work for me as plot points.
I think fans of Picoult will be left distinctly underwhelmed by Lone Wolf but its an accessible title for a younger audience and a reasonably quick read as the typeset is quite large. The marketing drive is certainly quite extensive so I would expect that despite my opinion Lone Wolf will quickly appear on the bestseller lists.
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the disgust of his younger sister. Cara Warren is seventeen, too young to make medical decisions for her father and resents Edwards authority. When Edward makes the painful choice to discontinue life support, Cara accuses him of wanting to kill their father and seeks a legal order to stop him. The emotional battle will reveal the secrets of the broken family as the siblings each seek to honour their father in their own ways.The story of Lone Wolf unfolds through alternating chapters from the perspectives of the main characters, Luke, his children Edward and Cara, ex wife Georgie and briefly, Helen, the court appointed Public Guardian.
Cara, who was also in the accident, is devastated by her fathers injuries and unable to rationally consider his medical status. Having lived with her father for the past five years she feels she should have the right to choose the path of her father’s care and with the naivete of youth is determined that life support be continued indefinitely, convinced a miracle will occur. Cara deeply resents Edward, blaming him for the break up of their parents marriage and is irrationally convinced that Edward hates Luke and wants him dead.
Edward left home at eighteen after a fight with his father, allowing his mother and sister to believe it had to do with revealing his sexuality. Luke’s motives were actually more complicated and he has kept them hidden by keeping his distance from the family. Returning home forces him to face the consequences of his estrangement.
Georgie is torn between the needs of her children, her ex husband and her new family. She wants to support both Cara and Edward but the decision they face doesn’t allow her to.
While a large part of the novel concerns the issues of the withdrawal of life support, organ donation and medical guardianship it is also about who Luke and his wolves, though Luke remains unconscious during the entire book. Luke is a wildlife biologist with an obsession for wolves. His unusual study methods including living with a wild wolves in Canada and feeding from raw carcasses with his captive pack. The information Picoult shares about the wolves is interesting and she neatly relates it to her characters but Luke’s behaviour can’t help but strike you as a little bizarre. I also cynically wonder if Picoults choice of wolves to feature in this novel comes from the commercial appeal of their paranormal counterparts, particularly as Lone Wolf has a YA slant.
For me, there was nothing terribly bad about Lone Wolf but neither was there anything remarkable. I felt at times that Picoult favoured melodrama over real passion, the issues seemed to be little more than a surface debate and the plot was too contrived. Unfortunately the characters also largely left me cold. I was sympathetic, but Cara acted half her age and Georgie just sort of flapped around ineffectually. Of the three I liked Edward the most but there were a few incidents he was involved in that didn’t work for me as plot points.
I think fans of Picoult will be left distinctly underwhelmed by Lone Wolf but its an accessible title for a younger audience and a reasonably quick read as the typeset is quite large. The marketing drive is certainly quite extensive so I would expect that despite my opinion Lone Wolf will quickly appear on the bestseller lists.
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LibraryThing member Berly
What can I say? I love Picoult! I love the issues she tackles in her books, her characters, and the moral tension. I also like how often she publishes and while we are at it, I want her hair! Oh! Sorry. Back to the book.
A tragic car accident leaves a dad, Luke Warren, in a coma. His estranged son,
And most importantly, what would Luke want? Luke is a wolf researcher. He has spent his life tracking, watching, and even living out in the wild with his wolves. He is, in many ways, more at home with his animal pack than his human family. In the wild, a sick wolf can wander away to die, but humans aren't that lucky.
I have to say, I enjoyed this book a lot. Along with the really interesting medical dilemma of if and when to pull the plug, and whether or not to donate one's organs, I loved learning about wolves. I looked forward to Luke's chapters even more than any of the others. Picoult, through Luke, has revealed great information on pack mentality and the individual roles and hierarchy of wolves, as well as much more. Picoult talked with a real-life wolf authority to build the authenticity of these passages and I plan to read her source's book, The Man Who Lives with Wolves.
And if anyone has read this book, I'd love to talk to you about the epilogue...
Recommended.
A tragic car accident leaves a dad, Luke Warren, in a coma. His estranged son,
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Edward, returns home at the bidding of his mother, Georgie. She is no longer married to Luke and cannot make medical decisions for him. So who gets the right? Edward, at 24, is an adult but he left the country six years ago and has not spoken a word to his Dad in all that time. Cara, the younger sister, is not yet 18 and still a minor, but she was living with her dad and thinks she knows him well. Questions abound. Who wants to keep him alive, or not, and what's the motivation? How can they make any decision in the face of family secrets, pain and guilt?And most importantly, what would Luke want? Luke is a wolf researcher. He has spent his life tracking, watching, and even living out in the wild with his wolves. He is, in many ways, more at home with his animal pack than his human family. In the wild, a sick wolf can wander away to die, but humans aren't that lucky.
I have to say, I enjoyed this book a lot. Along with the really interesting medical dilemma of if and when to pull the plug, and whether or not to donate one's organs, I loved learning about wolves. I looked forward to Luke's chapters even more than any of the others. Picoult, through Luke, has revealed great information on pack mentality and the individual roles and hierarchy of wolves, as well as much more. Picoult talked with a real-life wolf authority to build the authenticity of these passages and I plan to read her source's book, The Man Who Lives with Wolves.
And if anyone has read this book, I'd love to talk to you about the epilogue...
Recommended.
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LibraryThing member Sharn
I love Jodi Picoult so it's no surprise that I loved this one as well. And I've said it before and I'll say it again, she gets an A+ for research and covering every angle.
This is a book about a father who is on life support and a daughter who wants nothing more for him to get better and a son who
The book started out a little weird for me as I had to get used to Luke and his wolves and how involved he was with them but as the story expanded, I couldn't put it down. I thought Jodi Picoult did a wonderful job making all of her characters personable - so much so, in one part, I felt my heart break. And of course, it was a Picoult book so she kept you on your toes with all secrets that were revealed at the exact precise moment.
And please, may I never be put in the same position Cara, Edward, Luke, Georgie or Joe.
I'm sad that I waited so long to read it and now it's done. But I will definitely recommend to everyone.
This is a book about a father who is on life support and a daughter who wants nothing more for him to get better and a son who
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wants to pull the plug. The family is torn at the seams but not for the first time, they've had to be strong in the past but this time it's a matter of life or death.The book started out a little weird for me as I had to get used to Luke and his wolves and how involved he was with them but as the story expanded, I couldn't put it down. I thought Jodi Picoult did a wonderful job making all of her characters personable - so much so, in one part, I felt my heart break. And of course, it was a Picoult book so she kept you on your toes with all secrets that were revealed at the exact precise moment.
And please, may I never be put in the same position Cara, Edward, Luke, Georgie or Joe.
I'm sad that I waited so long to read it and now it's done. But I will definitely recommend to everyone.
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LibraryThing member dablackwood
I really enjoyed the book within the book (living with the wolves). Honestly, Jodi Picoult has a formula and it's predictable and sometimes trite, but this book worked for me. I honestly cared about Luke and wished for a different outcome for him. Usually I wonder if I'll read Ms. Picoult's next
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book. This time I'm pretty sure I will. Show Less
LibraryThing member thewanderingjew
This book is a very emotional presentation about a patient’s right to life. It is reminiscent of the Terry Schiavo case. Many questions are raised. Who gets to decide whether or not to turn off the machines that are keeping the person alive? Who gets to decide whether organs are to be donated?
Luke Warren has gained fame by infiltrating a pack of wolves and becoming one of them. He ate with them, hunted with them, slept with them, and trusted them, and they in turn accepted him as one of their pack. He remained in the wild for about two years, and when he emerged back into civilization, the adjustment to normal life was challenging for him. His own family life disintegrated. He was more comfortable with wolves than humans. His son Edward left home with no forwarding address after a disagreement with him. His wife left him and remarried. His daughter Cara eventually chose to live with both of them at various times.
When Luke and Cara are involved in a catastrophic automobile accident, under questionable circumstances, he is left with a traumatic brain injury. There is little hope for his recovery. The ensuing family conflicts comprise most of the rest of the story as the family must decide whether or not to keep him alive on life support or discontinue it and pull the plug.
As Picoult builds her story by comparing and contrasting the way wolves and humans choose to live and die, as she compares their lifestyles and choices, their methods of survival and parenting, she seems to have overreached. The story begins to lose credibility as the thread of the tale becomes confused with facts that do not seem credible and characters that are difficult to like or to identify with are developed. They seem selfish and thoughtless. Cara is an almost 18 year old who behaves like a spoiled brat. She wants to be treated like an adult but refuses to act like one. Her mom seems too involved in her new life to notice the effect of all the changes on Cara. Luke, her dad, was a misfit preferring to live with wolves rather than humans, putting them before his own family. Her brother, Edward, ran away shortly after his 18th birthday, taking many catastrophic secrets with him, and he did not bother to reconnect with his family until he was called back when tragedy struck and the father, from whom he had been estranged, along with the rest of the family, was gravely injured. His sexual identity is a main theme of the story and yet it has really no impact and serves only to misdirect the reader in terms of the plot.
The best part of the book is probably the legal drama, but even that leaves a lot to be desired with the choice to include a lawyer who communicates with dead pets and dresses like Elephaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, in The Wizard of Oz, and another lawyer who is motivated by political aspirations rather than legality. I can’t imagine what Picoult was thinking when she included such ridiculous characters in the discussion of such a serious subject. It diminishes the importance of the message. Yes, it is nice to accept all people, regardless of their foibles, but sometimes, it is unnecessary to simply include them in the interest of political correctness.
This novel is not up to the quality of the author's past novels, for which she is known for her meticulous research and presentation of facts. In this one she has clouded the message by attempting to cover too many issues. She has included family dysfunction and conflict, divorce, secrets, jealousy, inappropriate teenage behavior, underage drinking, lying, extramarital affairs, inappropriate parenting, sexual identity, sibling rivalry, unethical lawyers and politicians, blended families, hippies, etc.
This is one book I would definitely miss, unless you have a need to read every published work of the author. Yes, her fans will probably buy it and like it, by force of habit, but it is not up to her usual standard.
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What if the closest person to the injured is under age? What if the family is not functional, but ripe with anger and petty differences, jealousies and old grudges? Is it fair to put the burden upon one person's shoulders? Should anyone have the right to determine when the quality of life is not worthy enough to sustain it? How do we know it won’t be a decision that is based on mercenary concerns, rather than the peace and comfort of the patient? Should this decision be left to the courts? Miracles have been known to happen. Who gets to play G-d? Luke Warren has gained fame by infiltrating a pack of wolves and becoming one of them. He ate with them, hunted with them, slept with them, and trusted them, and they in turn accepted him as one of their pack. He remained in the wild for about two years, and when he emerged back into civilization, the adjustment to normal life was challenging for him. His own family life disintegrated. He was more comfortable with wolves than humans. His son Edward left home with no forwarding address after a disagreement with him. His wife left him and remarried. His daughter Cara eventually chose to live with both of them at various times.
When Luke and Cara are involved in a catastrophic automobile accident, under questionable circumstances, he is left with a traumatic brain injury. There is little hope for his recovery. The ensuing family conflicts comprise most of the rest of the story as the family must decide whether or not to keep him alive on life support or discontinue it and pull the plug.
As Picoult builds her story by comparing and contrasting the way wolves and humans choose to live and die, as she compares their lifestyles and choices, their methods of survival and parenting, she seems to have overreached. The story begins to lose credibility as the thread of the tale becomes confused with facts that do not seem credible and characters that are difficult to like or to identify with are developed. They seem selfish and thoughtless. Cara is an almost 18 year old who behaves like a spoiled brat. She wants to be treated like an adult but refuses to act like one. Her mom seems too involved in her new life to notice the effect of all the changes on Cara. Luke, her dad, was a misfit preferring to live with wolves rather than humans, putting them before his own family. Her brother, Edward, ran away shortly after his 18th birthday, taking many catastrophic secrets with him, and he did not bother to reconnect with his family until he was called back when tragedy struck and the father, from whom he had been estranged, along with the rest of the family, was gravely injured. His sexual identity is a main theme of the story and yet it has really no impact and serves only to misdirect the reader in terms of the plot.
The best part of the book is probably the legal drama, but even that leaves a lot to be desired with the choice to include a lawyer who communicates with dead pets and dresses like Elephaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, in The Wizard of Oz, and another lawyer who is motivated by political aspirations rather than legality. I can’t imagine what Picoult was thinking when she included such ridiculous characters in the discussion of such a serious subject. It diminishes the importance of the message. Yes, it is nice to accept all people, regardless of their foibles, but sometimes, it is unnecessary to simply include them in the interest of political correctness.
This novel is not up to the quality of the author's past novels, for which she is known for her meticulous research and presentation of facts. In this one she has clouded the message by attempting to cover too many issues. She has included family dysfunction and conflict, divorce, secrets, jealousy, inappropriate teenage behavior, underage drinking, lying, extramarital affairs, inappropriate parenting, sexual identity, sibling rivalry, unethical lawyers and politicians, blended families, hippies, etc.
This is one book I would definitely miss, unless you have a need to read every published work of the author. Yes, her fans will probably buy it and like it, by force of habit, but it is not up to her usual standard.
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LibraryThing member loosha
Jodi Picoult takes on many important issues and this time it's organ donation and right to life. In the background is the structure and life of a wolf pack and the man who lived in the wild amongst the wolves. Not one of her best.
LibraryThing member stillwaters12
This is the best book I have read in a long time - maybe ever. Luke, a man who lives with wolves and, as close as possible, becomes one, is on life support and son Edward and daughter Cara struggle with what Luke would want them to do. There is a deep, rich story here about wolf packs, each
No way did I think a book about wolves would interest me or that a man who lived with them would be believable and multi-layered but Jodi Picoult has the writing genius to make this story one I didn't want to end and that rang true on every page.
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member's role in the pack, how and why decisions are made by the alpha wolf. It is totally fascinating. There is the tender story of Edward and his relationship with his father and his sister. There is the heartbreaking story of Cara who refuses to let her hero and father go. And there is the story of Luke who finds himself at home with wolves (for two years 24/7 for some of the book) and awkward and out of place in the "real" world and with his human family.No way did I think a book about wolves would interest me or that a man who lived with them would be believable and multi-layered but Jodi Picoult has the writing genius to make this story one I didn't want to end and that rang true on every page.
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LibraryThing member teeth
Another fantastic read from Jodi Picoult! She always presents both sides of a controversial issue.This story was about whether to take someone off life support.
LibraryThing member SweetReaderMA
Following in her usual footsteps, Jodi has written another story that you won't want to put down until you have finished. She has a talent for being able to successfully write a story about an issue from many different perspectives and fully explore each.In "Lone Wolf" she explores the dynamics of
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family- making parallels between human families and wolf packs in different situations such as what happens when someone you love or need is hurt severely and a decision has to be made to pull the plug or hope for a miracle as well as considering what the person may have wanted in that situation. Show Less
LibraryThing member Staciele
I am huge fan of Picoult's books and even met her at our local Barnes and Noble a few years ago. Picoult's books are known for grabbing you with some life-changing crisis and keeping you hooked with numerous twists and turns that will have your jaw dropping and tears flowing. LONE WOLF has the
If anything, this story will teach you about the life-styles and patterns of wolves and their packs which I found fascinating. But, the most important thing that I took from this book is the importance of having an Advanced Directive. An Advanced Directive is a paper that states how you want to be cared for in the case of an emergency, mostly relating to life-support. After working in Hospice, I found these to be essential to caryring out the wishes of the person who was dying. My husband and I drew up ours as soon as our children were born and we made up our wills. So, if you take anything from this story, I hope that you have a discussion with your family about end-of-life issues, how you want to be cared for, and your wishes regarding organ donation.
Jodi Picoult has brought another important issue to the forefront through an engaging and heart-wrenching story. I highly recommend it.
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life-changing crisis, but didn't have as many twists and turns as I was expecting. It was a page-turner and there were some surprises, but the story ended up as I expected and wanted it to. If anything, this story will teach you about the life-styles and patterns of wolves and their packs which I found fascinating. But, the most important thing that I took from this book is the importance of having an Advanced Directive. An Advanced Directive is a paper that states how you want to be cared for in the case of an emergency, mostly relating to life-support. After working in Hospice, I found these to be essential to caryring out the wishes of the person who was dying. My husband and I drew up ours as soon as our children were born and we made up our wills. So, if you take anything from this story, I hope that you have a discussion with your family about end-of-life issues, how you want to be cared for, and your wishes regarding organ donation.
Jodi Picoult has brought another important issue to the forefront through an engaging and heart-wrenching story. I highly recommend it.
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LibraryThing member spotteddog
Inhad stopped reading Jodi Picolt for awhile but did enjoy this one. Alot if interesting facts about wolves interwoven with the typical fami,y struggles.
LibraryThing member KWoman
Once again, Ms. Picoult delivers without hesitation another great book! The storyline is fantastic and has us facing the same dilemma as the characters in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it is a must read for all Picoult fans!!
LibraryThing member sskinsey
Everything you will ever want to know about wolves and more!
LibraryThing member LivelyLady
A book of values and current issues emerges from this tale of conflict over guardianship. When Luke, a man who has made his life's work the wolves, is in a vegetative state from a MVA, his children fight over what he would have wanted. Their agendas and experiences of him as a parent are different.
I found the information about wolves and their habits to be very interesting. Picoult, in her usual manner, has managed to educate through story telling.
For Picoult lovers, she has not let us down!
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In the end there is peace with the court ordered decision.I found the information about wolves and their habits to be very interesting. Picoult, in her usual manner, has managed to educate through story telling.
For Picoult lovers, she has not let us down!
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LibraryThing member JamesterCK
I was perusing the new releases and best sellers at Walmart, and found myself automatically gravitating toward Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult. I have yet to find one of her books that I don't like, this being no exception.
This novel follows the aftermath of a serious car accident, which injures Luke
As with any Picoult novel, you may think you are strictly on one character's side or another, but it's never so cut and dry. For example, I started out being very sympathetic to Cara's situation. This changed to annoyance as I found her behavior at times very childish, despite her being 17 years old. Yet in the end, I found myself understanding her better and re-thinking my harsh criticism. This was true for pretty much all of the characters in the book. My feelings for them changed from chapter to chapter, as more secrets and details were revealed. What this author does so well is make you stop and think about what is happening and try to put yourself in the characters' shoes; not everything in life is black and white.
I enjoyed how every chapter was voiced by a different character. I find that this is the absolute best way to ensure that the reader connects with all of the personalities in a book, although I admit it doesn't necessarily work in all cases. To be able to see through that person's eyes and get an in depth look at how they are feeling and why enables the reader to connect with the character on such a deep level. It helps the book stay with me even after I have finished the last page.
I only have one small complaint, and that is the fact that I had trouble pronouncing the names of some of the wolves. They were given names derived from a Native American language; with no pronunciation guide, I had to guess at how to say most of them. It bothers me when I don't know if I am saying a name as the author intended it to be, but overall it did not detract from the intriguing story.
As I said, this book did not disappoint. As with every Jodi Picoult book I've read before, I found it impossible to put down until I finished. I just had to see what was going to happen to these characters and I wanted to uncover all of the secrets. Also, just like with each of her other books, I cried like a baby. I've come to terms with the fact that it's inevitable, so make sure you have some Kleenex handy!
This novel follows the aftermath of a serious car accident, which injures Luke
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and his daughter Cara. This ends up bringing the estranged family, including Luke's ex-wife and son, back together in order to support each other and decide what should be done for Luke, who suffered immense brain damage. As with any Picoult novel, you may think you are strictly on one character's side or another, but it's never so cut and dry. For example, I started out being very sympathetic to Cara's situation. This changed to annoyance as I found her behavior at times very childish, despite her being 17 years old. Yet in the end, I found myself understanding her better and re-thinking my harsh criticism. This was true for pretty much all of the characters in the book. My feelings for them changed from chapter to chapter, as more secrets and details were revealed. What this author does so well is make you stop and think about what is happening and try to put yourself in the characters' shoes; not everything in life is black and white.
I enjoyed how every chapter was voiced by a different character. I find that this is the absolute best way to ensure that the reader connects with all of the personalities in a book, although I admit it doesn't necessarily work in all cases. To be able to see through that person's eyes and get an in depth look at how they are feeling and why enables the reader to connect with the character on such a deep level. It helps the book stay with me even after I have finished the last page.
I only have one small complaint, and that is the fact that I had trouble pronouncing the names of some of the wolves. They were given names derived from a Native American language; with no pronunciation guide, I had to guess at how to say most of them. It bothers me when I don't know if I am saying a name as the author intended it to be, but overall it did not detract from the intriguing story.
As I said, this book did not disappoint. As with every Jodi Picoult book I've read before, I found it impossible to put down until I finished. I just had to see what was going to happen to these characters and I wanted to uncover all of the secrets. Also, just like with each of her other books, I cried like a baby. I've come to terms with the fact that it's inevitable, so make sure you have some Kleenex handy!
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LibraryThing member Smits
Typical Picoult book. this time the family crisis in a brother/ sister relationship with their father who is a wolf specialist.Actually, an extreme one who lives in the wild with a wolf pack with all the anologies that creates with his human family. There is the usual courtroom playout and twist
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and secrets. the second half of the book was more engaging then the first half.I think we are suppose to admire Luke Warren but I didn't. Show Less
LibraryThing member justablondemoment
O M G...For me this was a special book that struck very deep chords. My mother-in-law was in a hooked up position, although there was no disagreeing on what to do, it is a very very hard decision to make. I got totally caught up in the whole live with nature and the wolves as well. At times I felt
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like I was reading two different stories and in fact they are. The wolf/man part of the story is based off a real person. How she tied the two together was brilliant. So far best book I have read in 2013 Show Less
Pages
432
ISBN
9781439102749