June 25, 2022

Wish You Were Here

Fiction
2021 Ballantine Books
Finished on June 19, 2022
Rating: 4.5/5 (Very Good)

Publisher's Blurb:
 
Diana O’Toole is perfectly on track. She will be married by thirty, done having kids by thirty-five, and move out to the New York City suburbs, all while climbing the professional ladder in the cutthroat art auction world. She’s an associate specialist at Sotheby’s now, but her boss has hinted at a promotion if she can close a deal with a high-profile client. She’s not engaged just yet, but she knows her boyfriend, Finn, a surgical resident, is about to propose on their romantic getaway to the Galapagos—days before her thirtieth birthday. Right on time.

But then a virus that felt worlds away has appeared in the city, and on the eve of their departure, Finn breaks the news: It’s all hands on deck at the hospital. He has to stay behind. You should still go, he assures her, since it would be a shame for all of their nonrefundable trip to go to waste. And so, reluctantly, she goes.

Almost immediately, Diana’s dream vacation goes awry. Her luggage is lost, the Wi-Fi is nearly nonexistent, and the hotel they’d booked is shut down due to the pandemic. In fact, the whole island is now under quarantine, and she is stranded until the borders reopen. Completely isolated, she must venture beyond her comfort zone. Slowly, she carves out a connection with a local family when a teenager with a secret opens up to Diana, despite her father’s suspicion of outsiders.

In the Galapagos Islands, where Darwin’s theory of natural selection was formed, Diana finds herself examining her relationships, her choices, and herself—and wondering if when she goes home, she too will have evolved into someone completely different.

Wow. This turned out to be a powerful and thought-provoking read. In some ways it's nothing like Picoult's previous novels; there is no courtroom drama and no alternating points-of-view. And yet, I was immediately drawn into this timely story, nodding my head as Picoult reminds us of those first terrible months of the pandemic. As I got further into the book, however, I began to feel impatient. I was quite sure I knew exactly where the author was leading me, irritated that her plot had become predictable and almost tedious. Boy, was I ever wrong! I won't say anything more, so as  not to spoil the story, but I will say that this is an exceptional book. The characters and details of the Covid pandemic are remarkably genuine, the book reading like nonfiction. Some may say it's too soon to chronicle the horrors of the pandemic, but I didn't mind reading it a little over two years after the United States went into full lockdown. I devoured Joyce Maynard's coming-of-age novel, The Usual Rules, which was published two years after 9/11, and I've sought out and read books on grief just months after a personal loss. It's through the written word that I find answers to the unimaginable and Jodi Picoult's latest work paints a vivid portrait of our shared experience of this global pandemic. Isolation, survival, and resilience are just a few themes that make this novel a terrific book group choice. There is plenty to discuss, with the caveat that everyone is prepared to discuss all spoilers. Highly recommend. (Knocked down half a point for the uneven pacing in the first half of the book.)

14 comments:

  1. I thought this would be predictable but then...over the waterfall! I liked this one.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I checked this one out of the library and tried to read it right after it came out. It was too soon. I've found that with some of the books I've read that included a lot of the pandemic stuff. However, others have been ok for me. I haven't read one in a while that has included much of the last two years. Maybe I could try again. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kay, you might find it worthwhile now rather than when you first tried to read it. I think it's one of her most thought-provoking books I've read.

      Delete
  3. "Jodi Picoult's latest work paints a vivid portrait of our shared experience of this global pandemic." That's a hearty endorsement for this book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Deb, I'm still thinking about the book and hope my book group is willing to read it next year. There's a lot to ponder and discuss.

      Delete
  4. I loved this one and so surprised along the way as well. Timely and so well done IMO.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Diane, it really wasn't predictable after all, was it?! :) Yes, so well done and timely. I loved it.

      Delete
  5. It's been a long time since I've read Jodi Picoult, but this one is going on my list! Thanks for a great review.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JoAnn, you are in for an incredible story. Can't wait to hear what you think!

      Delete
  6. I felt the same way about this book. It was surreal to read about the early months of the pandemic (how quickly we forgot) and I was also sure I knew where it was going. NOT!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Helen, isn't it strange to think of all the little details of the pandemic and realize that you've forgotten them? I have a blog draft about the whole experience, but have decided to just save it for my own memories. And, yes! I wonder if any reader knew where Picoult was leading them...

      Delete
  7. Wow glad you liked this one so much. Sounds like it might be a good read for a book club? Actually a lady in my book club was also in the Galapagos when the pandemic struck ... and I think she got the very last flight out ... so perhaps she might like this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan, yes. It would be a great book to discuss with others. Interesting that you know someone who was in the Galapagos when the pandemic struck. I'll bet she'd enjoy this novel!

      Delete

I may not answer your comments in a timely fashion, but I always answer. Check back soon!