Welcome to Litsy!

“My calendar is full of dead people.” This explores how the choices we make in life lead us to where we are now. It explores the question common to all which is, “what if”. Dawn questions her life and past decisions after a near death experience. She loves her husband Brian, daughter Meret and sister Kieran but she is compelled to go to Egypt rather than head home to her family. Her thoughts wander back 15 years to her unfinished dissertation.

This was not the classic controversial subject matter that Picoult is known for, but there was a lot going on in this one. Not my favorite, but also certainly not my least favorite of hers. I had trouble with the shifting timelines, which made more sense as I made my way through the book. Still, a good one for discussion.

I listened to this over the course of four days while I've been sick. I didn't think I'd finish because the beginning contained a bit more about Egyptology than I had bargained for. So, I continued to listen while I waited for another hold to come in. I'm so glad I didn't bail. Picoult's writing is so well researched and beautiful. Such an important story about life, love, and death.

Finished this one in the Nick of time. Stupid head cold got me down.

Jodi Picoult does it again. A beautiful and heartbreaking book about our choices in life, and the damage we leave behind. I have never read a book by Jodi that doesn‘t have me in tears lol.

I didn‘t expect to like this one as much as I did. Doing the audiobook version helped I think because it does get bogged down in details so I found parts easy to fall into background. Probably could have used a bit more editing. Ultimately though, it was an interestingly told story about life and the multiverse and liked most of the characters and their varying complexities.

This one was just okay. I honestly read it months ago (I‘m catching up on posting 😂)

Started off slow, but really picked up towards the middle. Intriguing, heart wrenching. Solid 7/10. Will never be a favorite but very deep and very thought provoking

This was really good. 4 star

Started this last night, about 150 pages in.

My Book Club's January Read. I'm seeing some mixed reviews and only read one other book by this author, Plain Truth which I found so-so. I thought about skipping this month but then read the description and it caught my interest, Ancient Egyptian Mythology and Burial sites. So I picked up my copy and going to at least give it a Go.

*****

Here I go!

I fell out of love with Jodi Piccoult‘s writing style a while ago, but at first I thought this one was going to win me over. In some ways it did; the writing felt different, with less moral-condundrum-cliffhangers. The “sliding doors” style love story was initially quite compelling. But then there were large sections that felt lifted from an Egyptology textbook, and in the final third the story lost me completely. A book of two ways for certain!

1. Finally finding doctors who are listening when I say something is wrong with my hips (long story).
2. When summer ends 😜 3. I‘ve started several books over the last few days. If, by some miracle, I‘m able to finish at least one of them, I‘d like to start The Book of Two Ways. @MoonWitch94

Jodi is a masterful writer- I‘ve read many of her books and she writes with incredible knowledge of the world she‘s chosen to inhabit. It wasn‘t my favorite plot wise, but I also couldn‘t put it down.

Thank you so much @Lovesbooks87 . The decision of what to read next just got a little harder! This, and so many other Jodi Picoult books, are so far outside of what I usually read which is exactly why I‘m excited to read it. 😊

I‘m sorry, but what?!
My heart has been torn in two, and I‘m left unknowing. I went on a journey with multiple people, felt pain, happiness and loss in so many ways- only to be left with a million questions.
This book will have you looking at life in a new way, it explains life and death seamlessly, but it also has you questioning your every move.
I can see how some people may hate it, but for me this is a must read.
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved this, although I have always been a Picoult fan. It may also have a bit to do with finding the perfect book at the perfect time. Shockingly enough (knowing myself) I found myself becoming immersed in the Egyptian history.

Love isn't a perfect match, but an imperfect one. You are rocks in a tumbler. At first you bump, you scrape, you snag, but each time that happens you smooth each other's edges until you wear each other down, and if you are luck, at the end of all that, you fit."

Book 84

I listened to The Book of Two Ways.The protagonist, an Egyptology grad student, abruptly leaves her program to raise her younger brother and instead becomes a death doula, helping the dying and their caretakers prepare for death. The research about Egypt is fascinating, and the theme of death preparation was unique and refreshing. That being said, it should have ended a lot sooner! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I have a real love/hate relationship with Jodi Picoult's books. But this one is squarely in the love camp.

#catsoflitsy #litsycats

Ancient Egyptians believed in 2 ways to heaven & quantum physicists, a theory of parallel lives. What if you aren't living as you're meant to live? What if obstacles throw you off course? Dawn's life changes with a plane crash & new client's death. Does she stay in the safety of love & comfort with her daughter & husband or seek the path of love & passions she once left behind? Too much Egyptology/Quantum Physics threw me off the path on this one.

Loved this!

Subtitle: woman obsessed with death makes bad decisions. The story was okay, but all of the descriptions of physics and Egyptology just dragged it down. I‘m glad I listened to the audio so I could zone out when I needed to.

Another great day spent gardening and cooking while I listened to the tagged audiobook. It‘s perfect because I can listen to the story but zone out when she gets too in depth about the ancient Egyptians. #AwesomeApril

J Picoult is one of my favourite authors, but I have to admit that this book is the first book of hers that I did not love.
The book was, of course, written extremely well, and also very well researched.
However, I could not find a connection with any of the characters. I'll go as far as saying that I almost disliked the main character.
It is still a very good book, a very interesting topic and a great story. Just not my absolute favourite.

Up next!

I wanted to love this book, but I didn‘t. I have loved all of Jodi‘s books that I have read but I felt like this one was missing something. It didn‘t have the spark that all her other books have. I think that if I would have read this book instead of listening to the audiobook I would have bailed on it shortly after starting it.

Oh how I wanted to love this book 😩! Jodi Picoult has always been a much loved storyteller but this just didn‘t do it for me. I found the main character wishy-washy and couldn‘t believe the choices she made. I did enjoy learning more about Egypt, archeology, and death doulas, as well as thinking about the possibility of the multiverse and endless possible life outcomes, but it wasn‘t enough to make me love the overall story. 🌟🌟🌟

#bookspinbingo

What the hell did I just listen to?

1. No plans
2. Not read it. Seriously. But since it‘s a buddy read and I‘m 3/4 through it, take out the details and unnecessary parts of the story. Most of the Egypt details are not relevant to the story. Plus the author uses a few stupid “woke” phrases.

A stunning and beautiful story⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My review of this book can be found on my Youtube Vlog at:

https://youtu.be/MviAjhMGhfw

Enjoy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Loved this book so much!

This book was fascinating. I learned a ton of Egyptian history. As a former hospice nurse it was refreshing to have a more accurate depiction of home hospice and the dying process in a fiction novel. The characters were well rounded, I just had very mixed feelings about the way it wrapped up.

Read the back synopsis before starting the book... Only realized there were two parallel stories three quarters into the book... Still not sure if I understood it all at the end

Thank you!!! @ncsufoxes 🤗

I may have squealed when i opened the book!
Im so excited for this one!
And my two favorite chocolates!!
Thank you again!!
#LittleChristmasSwap

Yes my tree is still up! I threw my back out and havent been able to take it down!! 😩

MISTY!!! Your gifts finally made it to me today and I am just overwhelmed. I‘ve been wanting to read this since I heard it was coming out! Thank you, my friend - it‘s been my pleasure to help with #LitsyLove and lovely to get to know you better this year ♥️♥️ @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I wanted to be an Egyptologist when I was young. I loved learning about the pyramids, the Sphynx, Pharaohs, and hieroglyphics. So I was thrilled to sink back into learning about Egyptian discovery. I also loved learning about death doulas and the bits about quantum sciences.

I didn‘t love Dawn or her handling of her marriage and family life. But her story made me feel lucky that I‘m happy in the life and love I have. I don‘t have regrets.

I wish I liked this one as much as her others, but the death doula stuff totally resonates with me and so did a lot of the Egyptology stuff. The whole plots and framing did a bit less for me. Worth a listen, though.

Is it possible to fall in love twice?

Dawn is married to Brian, with a daughter and career as a death doula (which was new to me!) but once upon a time there was Wyatt, working side by side as archaeologists, and also who she had madly fallen in love with.

Now as life passes in front of her eyes during a literal plane crash, who is the ONE love she is meant to spend the rest of her days with?

Would not recommend to a first time Picoult reader.