Friday, October 29, 2004

'Plain Truth' by Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult would have to be on my Top 3 list of best authors. Her themes are contemporary, characters well-developed, plots engaging and suspenseful, and reading her always leaves me with something to think about. Her 'Plain Truth' is no different. Set in an Amish community in the US, a dead baby is found in a barn and a teenage girl is accused of its murder following giving birth. Ellie Hathaway decides to defend her and is required, because of the bail conditions, to go and live within the Amish community. She has to come to grips with a completely different culture to what she knows -- one which has different understandings of morality, justice, and community. It's a gripping read -- psychological thriller and court room drama. It provoked me to think about the way that we all come from our own unique frames of reference and the potential to misjudge and misinterpret the intentions and behaviours of others. Highly recommended! Jodie Picoult has her own website here.

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