OK, obviously still on my Jodi Picoult kick. Of course, reading time is few and far between, so it's taken me awhile to get through this book. Although, towards the end, I was up all night finishing it.
I would say that this book is a bit unlike other Picoult books, in that there is not really a mystery. I find that most of her books have a mystery-a secret, a whodunit-some sort of something that the reader is trying to figure out (and usually can't).
Cassie Barrett is married to Alex Rivers. Alex Rivers is like . . .Brad Pitt? Maybe Alex has the charm and fuckability of Brad Pitt, but the talent of Johnny Depp. Not that Johnny Depp isn't fuckable or charming, but more people are attracted to the classic looks of Brad Pitt (and I am soooooooooooo NOT one of those people-I deplore the man). Anyhow . . . The character Alex Rivers is one famous and talented guy. And he married Cassie-a non-famous, everyday anthropologist.
The books skips back and forth a bit. It begins with Cassie having amnesia and being found in the cemetery, only to be rescued and discover: Ta-Dah! You are married to the sexiest man alive! Towards the end of the first part, she begins to remember what caused the amnesia. The sexiest man alive, also has a mean right hook. Her uber famous husband beats the shit out of her.
In the next section, we learn all about their romance and how the abuse began. I found it very hard to read this, because I could be Cassie. She loves Alex so much-a very pure love. All she wants is to be there for him, take care of him-save him. She is willing to take the pain, so that he doesn't have to. I feel that kind of love (although, let's clarify-I am not being abused).
The biggest discovery is Cassie is pregnant. Which is the reason she left (before her head wound cause amnesia) in the first place. Once she realizes this, she leaves. Well, she disappears. She calls on Will-the man who found her in the cemetery-and he takes her to South Dakota to live with his family. She assimilates and has her baby. Meanwhile, back home, Alex (who has just won 3 Oscars) is in a downward spiral. He can't explain where his wife is, rumors are rampant and his latest film is a flop.
Eventually Cassie comes back and believes he will do whatever it takes to change. He doesn't change. She leaves him and tells the whole world the truth-not out of spite. She tells them because it will make him hate her-the only way he will finally let her go. The ultimate sacrifice because she will still love him and have to deal with the pain of the hurt she caused.
I have to say, this is definitely one of my favorite Picoult novels. You can really see that she understands the complexity of relationships and writes them well-not text book, lifetime movie.
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