Some stories just break your heart so completely. Technically I had a 4 day read time on this book but I put it down for over a month in-between reading. Part short reading slump but also part I was literally just too busy to have a moment to read more than a single page. Hate when life’s responsibilities get in the way of my hobbies haha. Anyway, let’s review.
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
- Category – Contemporary Family Fiction
- Length – 423 Pages
- Read Time – 41 Days
- GR Rating – 3 Stars
This book was originally published in the early 2000’s & was film adapted a handful of years later in 2009, staring Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin & Sofia Vassilieva in the stories most prominent roles. I’ve never seen the movie but now that I’ve read the book, I think I will. I do love comparing books to movies. The main characters in this story are, mom Sara Fitzgerald & daughters Kate & Anna. While yes dad is very much in the family/picture, this is not a 1 parent family dynamic, I got the sense that dad was more of a supporting character. Especially in terms of thee thing the book revolves around, to me it seemed mom was the decision maker per say.
Older sister Kate is sick, unfortunately dealt the cancer hand in life. She has spent the bulk of her youth in & out of hospitals, tests, surgeries, treatments, immense suffering, battling a rare & very aggressive leukemia. Little sister Anna has also spent her young life in & out of hospitals, tests, treatments, surgeries… difference is Anna is healthy.
Anna was born to keep her sister alive.
As a parent this book made me so sad but also soo mad! I can empathize with Sara, as a mother, of course knowing your child is suffering is heartbreaking, & heartbreak can easily control ones thinking. However, also as a mother, I can’t understand knowingly & willingly subjecting your child to suffering.
Anna, at just 13 years old decides to sue her parents for medical emancipation.
Every aspect of this story is extremely melancholic, everyone was battling internally with this tragic reality, which was affecting every member of the family. As a sister, Anna was weighed down by wanting her sister alive & healthy, knowing that her sister is also exhausted of suffering & wanting autonomy of her body. Anna was weighed down by feeling like wanting autonomy of her body made her a bad sister & daughter. Kate, as a sister, was weighed down by her staying alive being at the expense of her sisters suffering, & feeling like being exhausted of the fight made her a bad daughter & sister. Parents were of course weighed down by the suffering of both of their children & their direct roles in Anna’s.
This book is a tough read, heavy subject. Beginning at Anna seeking out legal counsel & taking us through the court proceedings of the suit as the story progresses. It’s a story about a family dealing with a very difficult hand in life & that is definitely felt throughout the story.
As always happy reading & thank you for joining me for another review.
Hasta la próxima – V
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