“You can
take dead trees in an orchard, and bring them back to life.”
I
thought this novel would be about humpback whales, but humpback whales do not
take center stage here. After having a strong argument with her spouse, Jane
Jones packed up and left California with her fourteen-year-old daughter, to
drive across America and reach Massachusetts. The odyssey was made even more
incredible by Jane’s poor sense of direction. Her brother, Joley, helped guide
her through letters.
Bear in
mind the story took place in 1990, when GPS devices were not common. Her
brother, Joley, knew how to make the journey more exciting for her while she escaped
from her concerned husband, Oliver Jones, a famous researcher with a passion
for studying the singing of humpback whales. As you may know, it is hard to put
Jodi Picoult’s books down.
What hooked me to this peculiar story straight
away was the bond between Joley and Jane. Her brother’s genuine interest in
helping her, their loyal relationship and the mysterious adventure Jane
embarked upon piqued my curiosity. To make the read even more lively, Jodi
Picoult unfolds the secrets of each character slowly, enhancing the motivation
to learn about their personalities and life trials as we embrace the
uncertainty of Jane’s journey throughout the landscapes of America.
The novel has a dash of Kate Chopin’s The
Awakening and a dash of Romeo and Juliet. There are alternating
chapters written from the points of view of different characters, a literary
strategy that has the potential to elicit empathy in the readers.
Jodi Picoult’s books are addictive. This one
is not an exception.
While
wondering whether Oliver would find them, I enjoyed reading about the
relationship between Rebecca and Jane as they roved the roads and highways of
America, discovering places that I will probably never visit myself. I liked
how the suspense of the story soars, even though I was a bit irked by the lack
of chronological order… Rebecca’s narrative starts from the end, whereas the
other characters’ narratives are presented in chronological order.
I
appreciated the bond between mother and daughter. Sometimes I was struck by the
special moments they shared, conversations that seemed to promise new
dimensions of understanding between mother and daughter. Therefore, I was
disconcerted and disappointed by Jane’s unexpected reaction to Rebecca’s love
interest while they spent time in Massachusetts. When Rebecca fell in love,
Jane behaved in an irrational, selfish way that was not consistent with the way
she normally interacted with her daughter. I did not expect that sort of
response from Jane. It was puzzling to me. It made me pause and reflect. I
wondered if Jane would have behaved differently if Rebecca had been a teenage
boy. The adverse situation led to a tragedy that could have been avoided. I did
not like that a young person died in this novel. The dramatic outcome could
have been fleshed out more. I still have questions about it.
Jodi
Picoult’s interest in family relationships becomes clear in her novels, and is
one of the reasons why I enjoy reading her books.
Like the male character who researched wolves
in Jodi Picoult’s Lone Wolf, Oliver Jones had neglected his family and
had also been unfaithful to his wife a few times, but Jane’s escape appeared to
be life transforming for him: Oliver is ready to change because he loves his
wife and does not want to lose her. At least this is the hint Picoult offers
the readers. On the other hand, his own attitude toward his previous
infidelities is not something that ignites remorse in him. He seems to accept
his past infidelities as a normal part of his cultural landscape.
Oliver Jones was passionate about his
research, just like the wolf lover in Lone Wolf, but what about Jane
Jones? She was a speech pathologist, but I did not get a deep sense of her love
for her career. How did she feel about her career and hobbies? Jodi
Picoult could have dug deeper into this aspect of her as a human being. Are
women not expected to devote time and motivation to their own passions? Or do they need to
follow the motions of the novel to satisfy the plot? Hence, I would not
describe this novel as a journey of self-discovery because there are important
branches from Jane’s personal tree of life that appear to be missing here. Is a
woman’s identity only defined by her family relationships?
I don’t
think so.
With
poetical language Jodi Picoult throws us into the world of her characters, imbuing
situations with vibrant sensations, displaying vivid settings and painting
memorable experiences. This novel conveys the expression of different forms of
love and how relationships change over time. Picoult uses humor to dilute the
tension, but she also reveals pain and the simplicity of everyday life while
weaving into it intrigue and mystery, twists and surprises about the characters
and their intimate experiences. There is a lot I would like to write about
here, but I will refrain from doing so lest I spoil the story for my audience.
Go ahead and enjoy this one. I can’t wait to read more of Jodi Picoult’s books!
I would
like to add a special comment for Jodi Picoult here. Dear Jodi Picoult, please
avoid using the word “pig” as an insult in your characters’ conversations. Pigs are compassionate, complex, intelligent beings who deserve to be treated better. Thank
you.
Songs of the Humpback Whale made me muse and reflect on the future of the characters. It is a good choice for a book club. I don’t belong to any book club myself, but I know this novel may spark controversy and fiery arguments and discussions. It is what thought-provoking books do, so let’s keep the waters of literature flowing. Enjoy the stream of reflections and emotions that can well up from Picoult’s novel. Let the bumpy ride make you uncomfortable. Good literature does that.
I wrote
about two other books by Jodi Picoult:
Here’s an
interesting article on relationships between siblings: