Harvesting the Heart - Softcover

Picoult, Jodi

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140230270 ISBN 13: 9780140230277

Publisher: Penguin, 1995

Synopsis

Jodi Picoult earned rave notices for her debut novel, Songs of the Humpback Whale. Now this gifted young writer turns her considerable literary talents to the story of a young woman overcome by the demands of having a family. Written with astonishing clarity and evocative detail, convincing in its depiction of emotional pain, love, and vulnerability, Harvesting the Heart recalls the writing of Alice Hoffman and Sue Miller. Paige has only a few vivid memories of her mother, who left when she was five. 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, make her doubt both her maternal ability and her sense of self worth. Out of Paige's struggle to find wholeness, Jodi Picoult crafts an absorbing novel peopled by richly drawn characters and explores issues and emotions readers can relate to.

About this title

Review:

"Picoult writes with a fine touch, a sharp eye for detail, and a firm grasp of the delicacy and complexity of human relationships."
-The Boston Globe

"Picoult has become a master-almost a clairvoyant-at targeting hot issues and writing highly readable page-turners about them . . . It is impossible not to be held spellbound by the way she forces us to think, hard, about right and wrong."
-The Washington Post

From the Author:

Every mother I've met who's read the book connects with it.
I wrote HEART after having my first child, and feeling completely overwhelmed---in retrospect, it was a cheap alternative to psychological counseling, I think...which is why so many mothers I've met are moved by the story of Paige and Nicholas. I used to dream about leaving my son with my husband when I went grocery shopping...and then I'd just keep going! After speaking to other women who'd harbored the same secret thoughts, I decided to create a character who might actually do it. HEART has turned out to be quite a favorite of book discussion groups, because of the issues raised regarding motherhood and marriage. I'd love to hear comments from readers!

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0140230270
• ISBN 13: 9780140230277
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 464