What Lone Wolf is about:
Edward Warren, twenty-four, has been living in Thailand for five years, a prodigal son who left his family after an irreparable fight with his father, Luke. But he gets a frantic phone call: His dad lies comatose, gravely injured in the same accident that has also injured his younger sister Cara.
With her father’s chances for recovery dwindling, Cara wants to wait for a miracle. But Edward wants to terminate life support and donate his father’s organs. Is he motivated by altruism, or revenge? And to what lengths will his sister go to stop him from making an irrevocable decision?
When I first started reading Picoult, I couldn't get enough of her books or her characters. Now, thirteen years later I'm actually thinking of never picking up another story by her. I'm tired of the courtroom drama. I'm tired of the do-good liberal and the evil conservative. I'm tired of the repetitive cycle and I'm ready to get off the gerbil wheel! The whole premise of this book was so out-there that I'm actually a bit surprised at myself for being drawn into the 'man becomes one with the wolves' tale. I did not buy into the idea that a man would leave his family for two years in order to be accepted and live with the wolves. A man who went out into the wilderness with no extra clothing, food, or housing options and lived through the harsh winters, and then made it back alive??? Right. Whatever.
Recommend? I think I would have been better off reading the book because the female narrators annoyed the crap out of me. My patience was starting to wear thin with their lack of animation. If the character is upset, then the narrator's voice should sound the same way right?? Or it could all be me. I could be asking for too much? I have one more Picoult book in my Audible.com library....pray for me to make it through House Rules, without throwing my iPod out the window.
Source: Public Library
Narrators: 7..too many to list. Here's the link for their names.
Length: 12 hours and 56 minutes
Bookish Thoughts #52
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Bummer that this one wasn't good for you! The synopsis sounded pretty good!
ReplyDeleteI also read in another review that she got wolf culture wrong.
ReplyDeleteI read this in print and enjoyed it more than you did. I haven't read that many of Picoult's books but they do all follow the same formula. The wolf guy character was actually based on a real guy - I'm not sure he has a family though. It does sound like the narrators were a bust for this one.
ReplyDeleteI don't read this author.
ReplyDeleteThat many narrators? Huh, I did not know that they could use many :)
ReplyDeleteI probably won't read this one. I have grown tired of her usual formula as well, though I did enjoy Second Glance recently...probably because it didn't venture into the court room!
ReplyDeleteMy book club is reading House Rules in January and I have never read anything by her because I've always been wary of the procedural nature. Perhaps just reading one here and there is the way to go - sorry this one didn't work so well for you!
ReplyDeleteLove how you've worded this review, "get off the gerbil wheel" bahaha, true, true. I loved her early work and have read everything since (except this one) but the last few books I've read with an increasing sense of dissatisfaction. Probably time to put Picoult to bed ;)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed House Rules but the "Clayton" ending was a huge disappointment, and yep narration can make or break a story.
I have heard from other Piccoult fans that she's become a bit formulaic. I've never read any of her books; I always felt like it sounded like she put too much in and pushed an agenda. It certainly sounds like it has come to that last point for you.
ReplyDeleteI've had no desire to read this one and you've convinced me that I'm not missing much. It really sounds like a strange plot! I have a few more of Picoult's more recent works waiting on my shelves, but I'm a bit burned out on her usual formula. Like you, I think it's time to get off the gerbil wheel. :)
ReplyDeleteI'll pray for you :D
ReplyDeleteShe used to be one of my favourite authors and then somewhere along the line her books just weren't the same anymore. I haven't been at all interested in picking one up in a few years. It's too bad really because her books used to be unbeatable.
ReplyDeletePoor narrators! I don't think it's too much to ask for emotion when needed, but I also do not like too much dramatization. They really have a fine line to walk to make me happy.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember the last time I read anything by Picoult... She has always been hit or miss for me.
ReplyDeleteI sadly don't need to read anything else either. My book club read this one... I listened to it and thought 'enough with the wovles'. I all but hated this book.
ReplyDeleteI'm burned out with Picoult, but am sorry to hear this production was such a disappointment . My Sister's Keeper was an excellent multi-voice performance... one of my first, and one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteI've only read a few by Picoult but I've enjoyed them. Probably because I haven't read many and there are loong breaks between. The wolf thing would bother me too!
ReplyDelete