Quick Review – Vanishing Acts – Jodi Picoult
An agent recently mentioned that I should read more of Jodi Picoult’s books. Instead of women’s fiction, she said, I think you write issue fiction, and should brand yourself this way. I’d read Ms. Picoult in the past, but found the situations to soap opera/Oprah – ish, and the stories too angsty for me. But, when I’m given advice, sometimes I take it. So in the last few weeks, I’ve rounded out my Picoult library with Change of Heart, two weeks ago, and with Vanishing Acts this week.
#Spoiler Alert#
Let me say I think my books are not nearly as angsty. I don’t insert issue of the moment into my character’s lives and see what happens. Vanishing Acts annoyed me on so many levels. The characters were too passive. Delia is lied too her whole life, but she stands by her father/kidnapper. Delia puts up with her loser/alcoholic fiance. Fitz has always loved Delia and acts as her lap dog until she turnes to him. Her mother is villianized. There’s a last minute revelation of sexual abuse (a la Change of Heart). Throw in a little Native American mysticism and jail violence, and stir – instant angsty novel. If you like angsty white people who create their own drama, well, then, this may be up your alley.
