Book Review: The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult

Title: The Tenth Circle
Author: Jodi Picoult
Publication Date: October 2006
Page Count: 386
Genre: Fiction

From goodreads.com

Bestselling author Jodi Picoult's The Tenth Circle is a metaphorical journey through Dante's Inferno, told through the eyes of a small Maine family whose hidden demons haunt every aspect of their seemingly peaceful existence. Woven throughout the novel are a series of dramatic illustrations that pay homage to the family's patriarch (comic book artist Daniel Stone), and add a unique twist to this gripping, yet somewhat rhetorical tale. 

Trixie Stone is an imaginative, perceptive 14 year old whose life begins to unravel when Jason Underhill, Bethel High's star hockey player, breaks up with her, leaving a void that can only be filled by the blood spilled during shameful self-mutilations in the girls' bathroom. While Trixie's dad Daniel notices his daughter's recent change in demeanor, he turns a blind eye, just as he does to the obvious affair his wife Laura, a college professor, is barely trying to conceal. When Trixie gets raped at a friend's party, Daniel and Laura are forced to deal not only with the consequences of their daughter's physical and emotional trauma, but with their own transgressions as well. For Daniel, that means reflecting on a childhood spent as the only white kid in a native Alaskan village, where isolation and loneliness turned him into a recluse, only to be born again after falling in love with his wife. Laura, who blames her family's unraveling on her selfish affair, must decide how to reconcile her personal desires with her loved ones' needs. 

The Tenth Circle is chock full of symbolism and allegory that at times can seem oppresive. Still, Picoult's fans will welcome this skillfully told story of betrayal and its many negative, and positive consequences.

My Review

My first finished book of 2011.  My first book by author Jodi Picoult. I wasn't terribly impressed with this book. It makes me curious to know why she is such an acclaimed author. If her other books are similar to this, I don't think I would be able to handle it over and over again. 

This book was 386 pages of way too much storyline.  She put way too many implausible plot twists throughout the pages, some of which felt like they were added simply for the shock and awe factor. The book centers around a family, the Stones, Daniel, Laura and their daughter Trixie. Trixie's character gets raped (or does she? it never really is clear?) She attempts suicide. She cuts herself. Laura (the mom) is having an affair with one of her grad students, who turns out to be the one who sells drugs to high school students (which is barely referred to, you really have to be paying attention). The dad, Daniel, is from an Eskimo village in Alaska, and has dealt with a pretty horrific tragedy that he ran away from. There is a story line of murder, of Eskimo culture, of comic book writing, of Dante's Inferno, and that just scratches the surface. 

Because there were all of these different aspects of the book, none were well-developed. If I had been Picoult, I would have probably made this into a series of books which could have really helped flesh out some of the story lines and given me more to hold onto (and probably made her more money, heh) The way she wrote this book, it made the end abrupt and uninspired. There were several lose ends that were tied so quickly (or not at all) that I was left with a bad taste. 

I may or may not attempt another Jodi Picoult book (I don't have any on my shelf at this moment), but I do know that I will most likely read reviews before I choose one. I also have heard that this book was made into a lifetime movie.... figures. :)

Overall rating: 6/10

Next Review: With or Without You by Carole Matthews