So, many of us have seen the commercials of My Sister’s Keeper, and to some that may be enough to have us feeling a tear coming along. One random day, my dad announces, “Oh hey, a new shopping district opened.” So I’m like, “LET’S GO.” There was an Indigo store there and I was thinking of the commercial so I randomly bought the book by Jodi Picoult since I wasn’t go do anything afterwards. Also I decided that if I was going to watch the movie that was originally in book from, I better read the book first.
So, after a couple of on and off reading, I’m here trying to keep myself together but sniffing continually, and it isn’t due to allergies. Not going to give it away, but here’s the intro:
Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate – a life and a role that she has never questioned… until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister – and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable… a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves. My Sister’s Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child’s life… even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less?
- Jodi Picoult’s website
The ending was very ironic and incredibly sad. I haven’t watched the movie yet and I heard the ending is different so I will withold my judgements about that one, but based on what I know about it (I love spoiling myself) I think in the end I would have cried more tears for the book than the movie since the movie ending looks more logical and what I was prepared for when I started reading the book.
This book is INCREDIBLY well written. I have 2 other books I just can’t seem to keep reading (even though they’re really good as well) but I just plowed through this one. I love the fact that there were many different POVs and that it involved everyone’s past, present, and future. It was as if the author was trying to get all the possible sides out there so that everyone that read this book could have a character they relate to or at least understand more than the others(I found Anna’s side more comfortable to read than Sara’s). It’s also great how the author kept alternating between past and present yet it just made sense. The little short stories all made as much as an impact as the present storyline. Massive amount of meaningful quotes in this book. There’s a bit of humour mixed in. Very witty.
So on Wednesday, Canada Day, I shall go and see the movie and cry some more (which is bad since I have school the next day)
BTW, I’m still teary.
PS: After you’ve read the ending to My Sister’s Keeper listen to some sad piano songs. It’s a very good way to end it. Listen to Chopin’s Tritesse or something. I’m listening to 想い出は遠くの日々(Omoide ha Tooku no Hibi) from the movie 5 centimeters per second. I know its Japanese but it’s only piano and I’m thinking its probably the most perfect sad ending song. For those who can get their hands on it, do try after reading the book. Only Human (cello version) is pretty sad too and it sort of connects with My Sister’s Keeper because it was used for a JP drama about a girl who has medical problems as well… OMG I’m still such a band geek. Oh well, still teary here.
