A few weeks ago I reveiwed The Truth About Melody Brown and commented that the storyline were better off handed to a more talented author, with Jodi Picoult being that person: Delia wakes up one morning as a different woman with the knowledge that she was kidnapped and her whole life has been a lie. With her father in prison and her finance' struggling to cope she begins to unravel. This book deals with the themes of love, family committments, trust and disappointment. Picoult merges gang and Hopi culture seamlessly together whilst the key characters take on aspects of those around them to help them cope with the turmoil of their lives.
Picoult's technique of using multple narratives allows the reader to understand the motives and emotions of a variety of characters. It becomes hard to sympathise with one character above others, challanging our perspectives and beliefs. What we may condemn in one chapter can be easily condoned in the next. This technique is often hard to master, but when done by Picoult it's hard to imgaine that a book can be written any other way.
An engaging read which opened my eyes and mind. Vanishing Acts proves that Jodi Picoult isn't a one-hit wonder, and deserves every bit of praise she recieves. 5 out out of 5.
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