Click here to buy Vanishing Acts by: Jodi Picoult
"Vanishing Acts"

by: Jodi Picoult.

2005; 448 pages.

Rating: 4.5

"Vanishing Acts" is the first Picoult novel I've read. For some reason, I just never jumped on this author's bandwagon. But, that's about to change.

I borrowed this book from a friend. (A rare treat now that I'm traveling.) And, to be completely honest, I wasn't all that excited about reading it. I just thought "Hey a free book!", I'll take it anyway.

Boy, am I glad I did. When my friend first told me that it was a book about a kidnapped child, I had no desire to read it. Really. (I chose it from the 3 she offered because it was the shortest, and I didn't want to hurt her feelings.)

I have little tolerance for violence in my books. I get enough of that from movies thank you very much.

But, from nearly the first page, I was hooked. I really liked the way that Picoult had each of the main characters tell their own side of the story in their own chapters. I thought it was a great approach, and one that hasn't worked as well since Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying".

There was very little violence, which also pleased me greatly.

I highly recommend that you read "Vanishing Acts". I recommend it to everyone, even if you've already read it. Give it another read.

My version came with book club questions at the end. And those made me want to suggest it to my book club even though I've already read it now.