Today I've finished reading Jodi Picoult's House Rules. Well, actually I started reading it the night before, and finished reading it this morning,but I didn't skip my 'beauty' sleep.
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| From Google |
Why I read that book? Because on its front cover, it claims that its author is an *International Bestseller* (well, that's what it says on my copy of the book). Yeah, this thing intrigues me to know more on her writing style. And yeah, I got to know Dan Brown from that tagline too.
What is it about? It's about a family of three, a single mother with two boys, the older one has Asperger's syndrome. It's a syndrome where a person couldn't understand someone else's display of emotion, and the patient himself couldn't understand or express emotions well. That's what I understand. And if you have watched the movie My Name is Khan starring Shah Rukh Khan, you might know a bit about the syndrome. To know more, search for it (do I have to even tell you that?).
My opinion about it? Well...average. Maybe it disappoints me a bit. I expect something from it, and it isn't met. Please note that I'm not a professional and am very far from claiming to be one, but hey, this is my blog (deal with it).
The language level is not as challenging as Dan Brown's (maybe I shouldn't compare my newly bought novel to my all time favorite). Some words are being used repetitively (which *doesn't* help with my vocabulary building), and I find it a bit boring (from the lack of challenges of having to open a dictionary to look up for the words, and thus learn something new!)
Even though I do like how she writes from the perspectives of different people, some of them have less importance and somehow I wish the story is told from someone else's view.
Some facts mentioned in the beginning are being repeated somewhere in the middle or at the end of the story. I kind of, don't like that because it feels like it's telling that I'm not competent enough to remember those facts (hey, just mention some keywords on what you wanna refer back to and I can just easily flip back through a few pages).
That, and also to mention, some sentences that are written in the middle of the story doesn't match with what was being told before. I mean, the story is about Asperger kid with crime scene, some lawsuit and all, but one time I notice the witness is talking contradictory to the time he arrives at the crime scene. Well, maybe you would say that the lawyer in the story supposed to (really) suck, but as for me, (who likes to read investigations with no stones left unturned, and also who has finished playing Ace Attorney series on NDS), these kind of contradicting details that goes unnoticed make this novel falls one star behind Dan Brown (despite the claim that it's internationally bestselling). In the story, the crime scene is not properly described, (or investigated), and no one ever mentioned about *murder weapons*! How can you charge someone with murder if you don't know what kills the corpse? (and oh the prosecutor is so convinced that she's gonna win the case!). How can the most basic thing like this be forgotten by the cops, and the lawyers (and the judge)?Well, maybe you'd tell me that this novel isn't supposed to be a crime investigation novel, but, I've said what I wanna say.
Other than that, I don't like reading about sex (even a hint of it, well, maybe a peck on the cheek would be passable). Luckily, this novel is not as bad as some other novels that I've stumbled upon.
Last but not least, I don't like it when the novel ends when it reaches its climax. I wanna see how the complicated turns of events untangle themselves free from all my doubts. Yes, you've told me all the truth that have been kept inside, but then you end the story abruptly, leaving me to imagine: Even though the truth has been told, would they win the trial? What will happen to Jacob and Theo? Emma will end up with Oliver, or does Henry want her back? What about Detective Matson who likes Auntie Em a lot, would he develop a relationship with Emma?
(Yes, I know none of these characters are alive for me to know and care so much about them. But I just don't leave things as they are without being solved thoroughly).
Fuh. I think I've finished ranting. Oh no wait. Maybe I haven't. Maybe I'm just sleepy and couldn't think anymore (it's 1.18am now). Anyway, still, congratulation on being and international bestseller, and I wouldn't be afraid to look up for your other books to read from, Mrs. (or Ms) Jodi Picoult. I've said it, and I'll say it again. I'm not a professional novel analyst, so you can take in or ignore what I've said in this blog. Thank you.
p.s: Waiting for Dan Brown's Inferno to be published in May.