The queen of novels with ethical issues at their core, this is classic Jodi Picoult, taking on the abortion debate, possibly the most fraught of them all. And boy, does she cover some ground in this story. She must have brainstormed every single argument, medical fact, scenario where an abortion may be considered, laws, religion, every everything in putting together a story around this issue. Centred on a clinic in the middle of the US, a tiny weathered island in a huge storm, where women and staff run the gauntlet of protesters, militants, crazies. Even her descriptions of these scenes, before people make the entry point, are raw and passionate. In the clinic on this particular day, a man has taken staff, patients, and supporters hostage, his rage and despair overwhelming him following his own daughter having an abortion. Told from varying viewpoints of those mixed up in the hostage taking - a doctor, a patient, a anti-abortion militant pretending to be a patient, a nurse, a young girl wanting contraception, her aunt accompanying her, the local police hostage negotiator, a young girl arrested for having an abortion, a woman who became pregnant after being raped - all these many and various scenarios are thrust in front of the reader. To her credit, the author is very good at raising both pro and anti arguments/dilemmas, giving the reader a very comprehensive education in the politics, the social, economic and emotional impacts of pro and anti. It is overwhelming, to the point where the plot gets lost at times, especially seeing it tells the day of the hostage taking in reverse - starting late in the afternoon, working hour by hour back to early in the day. I am and always be pro-choice, but this novel does raise some very good points and with Jodi Picoult's ability to always throw in twists and surprises. The only right answer of course is choice. What you do with that choice must always be respected and encouraged, whether it is to continue with the pregnancy or not.
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