Change of Heart
A Novel
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4.3 • 428 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
The beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author and “master of the craft of storytelling” (Associated Press) weaves a spellbinding tale of a mother’s tragic loss and one man’s chance at salvation.
One moment June Nealon is happily looking forward to years of love and laughter with her family. The next, she is facing a future as empty as her heart as she waits for a miracle.
For Shay Bourne, life has no more surprises, and he has nothing to offer the world. In a heartbeat, though, his life is changed by one last chance for redemption through June’s young daughter, Claire. But between June and Shay lies an ocean of bitter regrets and a mother’s rage.
Would you give up revenge against someone you hate if it meant saving someone you love? Would you want your dreams to come true if it meant granting your enemy’s dying wish?
Soul-stirring and haunting, Change of Heart is “another ripped-from-the-zeitgeist winner” (Publishers Weekly) from Jodi Picoult.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
The themes of redemption and faith fill this deeply emotional novel. June Nealon is grieving the murder of her husband and eldest daughter while she witnesses the slow decline of her youngest daughter, Claire, from a heart issue. The last thing she expects is for Shay Bourne—the man convicted of the murders—to reach out from death row with a potentially lifesaving offer. Using alternating narratives, blockbuster author Jodi Picoult crafts a complex tale of restorative justice, faith, life, and sacrifice. Along the way, she deals with everything from the racism of the judicial system to the weight of personal choice. This profoundly affecting tale explores the limitless possibilities of the human heart.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Picoult bangs out another ripped-from-the-zeitgeist winner, this time examining a condemned inmate's desire to be an organ donor. Freelance carpenter Shay Bourne was sentenced to death for killing a little girl, Elizabeth Nealon, and her cop stepfather. Eleven years after the murders, Elizabeth's sister, Claire, needs a heart transplant, and Shay volunteers, which complicates the state's execution plans. Meanwhile, death row has been the scene of some odd events since Shay's arrival an AIDS victim goes into remission, an inmate's pet bird dies and is brought back to life, wine flows from the water faucets. The author brings other compelling elements to an already complex plot line: the priest who serves as Shay's spiritual adviser was on the jury that sentenced him; Shay's ACLU representative, Maggie Bloom, balances her professional moxie with her negative self-image and difficult relationship with her mother. Picoult moves the story along with lively debates about prisoner rights and religion, while plumbing the depths of mother-daughter relationships and examining the literal and metaphorical meanings of having heart. The point-of-view switches are abrupt, but this is a small flaw in an impressive book. 1,000,000-million copy first printing.
Customer Reviews
Another Picoult Page-Turner
I loved this book! Whenever i can guess the ending, or part of an ending, I have to take away a star. In this case, I knew from the very beginning that this man had interrupted a scene of sexual abuse, which led to the unfortunate and additional killing of the little Elizabeth. I felt that was obvious.
The rest of the book though …. Magical! And the ending was superb! Love me some Jodi Picoult and on to the next one!
Page turning and provocative for some
Is he or isn’t he? Murder or something else? Minutes into the book, you have suspicions, and you want to keep reading to confirm them. Along the way, readers might learn a thing or two about scripture and how the current canon was formed. An unexpected weaving together of modern questions with a 2000 year old narrative. Glad I read it.
Great book!!
I truly enjoyed this book. The storyline, the characters, the excellent writing that puts you where the characters are.
Highly recommend