Title: Leaving Time
Author: Jodi Picoult
Publish Date: October 14, 2014
# of Pages: 398
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
(**Warning** Possible spoilers)
(From Goodreads) For over a decade, Jenna Metcalf obsesses on her vanished mom Alice. Jenna searches online, rereads journals of the scientist who studied grief among elephants. Two unlikely allies are Serenity Jones, psychic for missing people who doubts her gift, and Virgil Stanhope, jaded PI who originally investigated cases of Alice and her colleague. Hard questions and answers.
ReviewLeaving Time is a beautifully written novel by Jodi Picoult on the study of grief. Elephants and humans grieve differently, but they both grieve those who leave them behind. Picoult smooths the seams between elephants and humans flawlessly and leaves you questioning what really happens when someone you love dies.
Wow! This book was not what I had expected at all. It was like The Sixth Sense meets elephants, with intense twists and turns throughout.
So what did I like?
The elephants. Picoult did her homework and packed the book full of interesting elephant behavior facts. I’ve always been somewhat indifferent to elephants, but this book changed my mind to thinking they’re utterly fascinating animals. The way they grieve is very similar to humans, and the way they raise their babies reminds of me the adage “it takes a village.” I was impressed by the facts and research that went into this novel.
Jenna. Sweet Jenna. I did not want the book to end the way it did. A life gone too soon as a result of revenge and poor choices. The journey to find her mother was both heartbreaking and sweet.
Serenity. Serenity is such a fun, quirky character. She’s a gifted psychic who thinks her gifts have left her as she helps Virgil and Jenna in the quest to find Jenna’s mother. I really enjoyed her character and liked that she tied the book together in the end.
The ending. Talk about plot twists! I would have never guessed the ending of the book, but I loved it. What a surprise, even though it was a sad ending to a long journey.
What didn’t I like?
The pace. The book was slow and meandering in places and sometimes I questioned where the plot was headed. Since I was listening to this in audiobook format, I had to force my mind not to wander on occasion while I was listening.
Book StatsNone recorded.
QuotesNone recorded.
Buy ItCheck this book out at your local library, or buy it here* on Amazon.
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