Welcome from your moderator [ Edited ]

[Stephanie]

Hello Everyone,

I'm Stephanie, your moderator for Jodi Picoult's Nineteen Minutes.  I'm so pleased to be discussing this amazing novel with you. 

I'm a longtime Picoult fan, and I suppose what I love most about her work is that her endings never fail to surprise and satisfy. 

I hope you'll join in the discussion with your own views and questions regarding the novel - the best way to have a great book group is to have lots of participation.

Happy Reading!

Message Edited by Stephanie on 03-03-2008 09:47 PM

[Chrissy5280]

Hi everyone --

I have started reading Nineteen Minutes about a week ago.  I love it.  Does Jodi usually write her novels from so many different characters views?  I think it is fast pace and I can hardly put it done.

The in crowd/ out crowd topic has made me think of my own actions towards others.  I have never really thought about the point where you make it in or you're out-- why they liked me or didn't.  I think we forget how hard it is to be a kid.

Chrissy

[Stephanie]

Chrissy,

When I talk to my 12 y/o son, I sometimes remember those days of the "in crowd" and I wonder why kids are so cliquish.  He has no answer, just that some kids are cool and some are not.  It serves virtually no purpose - so I think what it stems from is the all too human fear of difference.  That's what creates fads, too, I suppose. 

[Wrighty]

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Stephanie wrote:

Chrissy,

When I talk to my 12 y/o son, I sometimes remember those days of the "in crowd" and I wonder why kids are so cliquish.  He has no answer, just that some kids are cool and some are not.  It serves virtually no purpose - so I think what it stems from is the all too human fear of difference.  That's what creates fads, too, I suppose. 

---

Kids aren't the only ones who are cliquish. Grownups are the same way. It's fortunate that we may gain confidence as we get older but it's not true for everyone. Some workplaces and social situations are just as bad as high schools.

[Stephanie]

Deb,

I've seen that a time or two as well- but I have told my children and other teens I know that real life is not like high school, that people will not call you fat, tell you to shut up, or laugh at you if you make a mistake or trip over your feet.  I think human nature is to gravitate toward those like ourselves, but that outward meanness that kids have, a total disregard of propriety, manners, etc-  it's unbelievable to watch.  You have to have a pretty thick skin to be a kid these days. 

[kiakar]

Hey Chrissy,

Yes, most of Jodi Picoult's novels are very fast pace but she does surprise you along the way and most of the time at the end. And most of them are about issues that are very controversial.  If this is your first, you need to get you some others.  My sister's keeper about a young girl having leukemia and The tenth Circle is about date rape and teenagers.The Pact was about teenage sucicide.   There are so good. Her first one, I think it was her first. The Plain Truth was so good, that really hooked me. It was about the Amish people. So look into some more down the road.You want be sorry. Glad you here with us on this one.

[Wrighty]

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Stephanie wrote:

Deb,

I've seen that a time or two as well- but I have told my children and other teens I know that real life is not like high school, that people will not call you fat, tell you to shut up, or laugh at you if you make a mistake or trip over your feet.  I think human nature is to gravitate toward those like ourselves, but that outward meanness that kids have, a total disregard of propriety, manners, etc-  it's unbelievable to watch.  You have to have a pretty thick skin to be a kid these days. 

---

Kids can be so cruel but when you watch very young children at play they don't care what someone else looks like. They just want to have someone to play with. It's a learned behavior to be mean and it's so sad what innocent children can turn into because of the grown ups.