Book Review: Songs of the Humpback Whale by Jodi Picoult
Posted By CarrieK on July 7, 2009
Title: Songs of the Humpback Whale
Author: Jodi Picoult
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
First line: In the upper right hand corner of the photo is a miniature airplane that looks as if it is flying right into my forehead.
The audiobook version of Jodi Picoult’s Songs of the Humpback Whale
Jane and Oliver’s marriage is falling apart. Jane still carries the baggage of an abusive childhood, and Oliver spends more time and attention on his research of humpback whale songs than he gives to his family. Their daughter, Rebecca, is about to turn fifteen, and when Oliver informs Jane that he won’t be around for her birthday party – again – it’s the last straw. Jane and Rebecca embark on a cross-country road trip, driving from San Diego to Stow, Massachusetts, guided by Jane’s brother Joley’s letters.
When in Massachusetts, Jane meets Sam Hansen, owner of a commercial apple orchard and Joley’s employer, and falls head over heels. Rebecca meets Sam’s best friend, Hadley, and also falls head over heels. Age difference is an issue here: Rebecca is fifteen, while Hadley is twenty-five; Jane is thirty-five, while Sam is twenty-five. Jane is disturbed by the relationship between Rebecca and Hadley, and makes a decision that results in a horrific tragedy.
The story is told in five voices: Jane’s, Oliver’s, Sam’s, Joley’s, and Rebecca’s. As if that wasn’t potentially confusing enough, Picoult chose to tell Rebecca’s story in reverse chronological order. I found this more annoying than clever. It is hard enough to tell a story with five different and distinct points of view and actually do it well, without throwing in a time-twisting gimmick.
That wasn’t the only thing that I disliked about this book, though. I found very little to like in the characters of Jane, Oliver, and Joley. The oldest characters, who should have been the most mature, were the most dysfunctional and resistant to change. The youngest characters, who seemed to show more sense and maturity than their elders in many ways, were the ones whose lives were completely devastated by the accident at the end of the story (or beginning of the story from Rebecca’s point of view – isn’t it confusing?). I wanted so badly for Rebecca, Hadley, and Sam to have their happy ending, but the emotional baggage carried by the other three characters made it impossible.
I did finish listening to this – mainly because I was enjoying the performances of the narrators so immensely, and because even though I knew the “ending,” I hoped maybe some good could still come out of the mess that was these characters’ lives. That hope was in vain.
I love audios that have multiple narrators…it just adds another dimension. However, I have always thought that Piccoult needs to be careful with herself. She does crank them out, and many of them are good. But like many successful authors, things can easily fall apart. The plot and development sounds like a disaster, and that shouldn’t happen with an experienced author like her. I have walked away from many a favorite author that has simply lost their mojo.
Sorry this didn’t work for you. I’ve enjoyed the Picoult books I’ve read.
I completely agree. I was close to putting this book down, for good, several times. Since Rebecca’s perspective was told in reverse order, we found out about Hadley in the beginning. Something, though, kept me reading. I found each character unique–I guess that’s what did it.
I wanted so badly for Sam to have a happy ending with Jane because he deserved it. The more I read and knew about Hadley, too, the more I wanted him to have a happy ending with Rebecca, but I knew that was impossible.
This book is haunting. It made me want to rewrite the ending and change a few things along the way, too. I have read several of Picoult’s books, and for the most part I have been content with the way they unfold. With this book, however, I was completely unhappy with the ending.
Like Kathy, I have enjoy the Picoult books I have read, but this is one I haven’t read. A book group I was in read it a few years ago and I don’t think anyone came away happy with it. I can’t say I’ve had the urge to read this one. If I decide I must read every book the author’s written, I might, but I’m not in a hurry. I’m sorry this one wasn’t more to your liking. Hopefully your next book was much more to your liking!
Sandy – Exactly! If the book can’t stand on its own without a gimmick, then fix it!
Kathy – I have enjoyed three of her other books, so I’m not giving up on her – just not a big fan of this particular title.
Courtney – after looking at some other reviews on Goodreads, I think we’re in the majority opinion on this one.
LF – There are a few authors that I would love to read every single thing they’ve written – but I don’t think Picoult is one of them. I’ve enjoyed three of her books, but stopped reading one because I felt like the plot was blatantly stolen from Stephen King’s The Green Mile.
I have recently read Change of Heart which was the fourth book of Picoult’s I read and now instead of thinking of her as my favorite author, I ‘m thinking that maybe Vanishing Acts and MySister’s Keeper were her only books I loved because the other two were a disappointment and now this one also seems like one as well. I am really confused about Jodi Picoult.
Lilly – I hear that from a lot of people – that Picoult is uneven, with some great books and some that aren’t all that great. Of course, I’ve also heard the extreme ends of the spectrum – those who love everything she does and those who can’t stand her.
Well, at least she gets people talking!
I’ve only read one Jodi Picoult book, which I didn’t like, but I’ve had this one on my shelf and wanted to give her writing another try. Hmm, maybe I should pick a different one!
iliana´s last blog ..Link-o-rama
Iliana – If you haven’t tried Nineteen Minutes, that’s the one I’d suggest. I thought it was excellent.
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