Plain Truth

Most of the books I read are classics. Most of my reviews include detailed plot summaries. But this book is not a classic and because it is a mystery a summary would undermine its ability to surprise the reader. So to avoid that issue I’m not going to include a detailed plot summary.

This is the first book I’ve read by Jodi Picoult and I’m impressed. I had mixed expectations that this would be just a commercial success and not much of a challenge. I was wrong. It’s much better written than what I had been expecting. It’s definitely a page turner and I read it quickly as I kept on wanting to know what was going to happen. The basic story is about a young Amish girl, Katie, who has a premature baby out of wedlock, the newborn show more dies. The question quickly becomes did she kill it. The narrator is a high powered Philadelphia lawyer, Ellie, who discovers that Katie is her cousin. There’s also a parallel subplot throughout the story. Ellie hires a psychiatrist to evaluate Katie who denies being pregnant. The psychiatrist she turns to was in love with Ellie twenty years ago when they were in college. That’s the setup.

What stands out about this book is its breadth. The author gives us an in depth understanding of Amish life. Even the book’s title, Plain Truth, plays on the double meaning of the word plain. I only understood that when I learned that Amish are considered “the plain people”. We also learn much about their relationship with others, whom they call “English”; their farm customs; their communal justice system; their restricted use of modern technology especially electricity; the role of deacon and the bishop; the importance of family; their courting process; how individuality always defers to the community and standing out is frowned upon; their avoidance of the English judicial system; how individuals cope with all of this; how females defer to males; how the rest of the world adjusts to them; why they can not lie; the role of confession and forgiveness; how shunning and excommunication work; and much more.

Then there are all the medical details. The changes to the body during pregnancy; what causes premature delivery; what happens during birth and immediately after; the role of the umbilical cord; what medical examiners look at; what pathologists look at; what psychiatrists look at; how different foods impact the body; how females are different; the role of emotions; the role of social expectations; what Pasteurization achieves; and much more.

Then there are the legal details. The expectations of all lawyers; the role of judges, defense attorneys, prosecutors, police, expert witnesses for each side; when clients can overrule their lawyers; when lawyers can overrule their clients; how a trial proceeds; the role of doubt; the role of all witnesses; the role of forensics; how punishment options factor into the picture; how bargaining over pleas work; and much more.

Beyond breadth the author has also mastered storytelling. While this is quite detailed it keeps us entertained. There are events early on that make sense only later. There are plot twists that keep us wondering where this will end. The subplot enriches our insight into the main plot. The story is complex. There are issues that never get thoroughly resolved, allowing the reader to make their own decisions about pieces of the plot. Bravo. show less

Ich muss zugeben, als ich anfing dieses Buch zu lesen bezweifelte ich, ob das unerklärliche Verschwinden eines Neugeborenen (und der damit aufzuklärende Zeitraum von zwei Stunden) ausreicht, um bei einem Buch mit 460 Seiten am Ball zu bleiben. Meine Zweifel schwanden, ich blieb dran.
Der Tod des Neugeborenen ist der Anlass, dass zwei Welten aufeinanderprallen, die unterschiedlicher kaum sein könnten: Die der Amischen und der 'Englischen' (moderne westliche Gesellschaft). Die 'englische' Anwältin verteidigt ihre unbekannte amische Cousine und zieht aus diesem Grund für eine längere Zeit bei ihr und ihrer Familie ein. Der Zusammenstoss dieser zweier Welten ist für beide Seiten nicht einfach.
Picoult beschreibt eindrücklich nicht show more nur die für uns recht unbekannte Lebensweise der Amischen, sondern vermittelt auf einfühlsame Art und Weise auch einen Einblick in die Gefühls- und Gedankenwelt dieser Menschen, die der unseren sehr fremd ist. Durch die wechselnde Erzählperspektive (ein Kapitel erzählt Elli, die Anwältin, das andere ein 'allwissender' Erzähler) werden immer wieder Denkanstöße im Hinblick auf unseren eigenen Lebensstil geliefert, ohne jedoch mit dem erhobenen Zeigefinger zu winken.
Diese unterschiedliche Perspektive liefert auch die Spannung: Durch den 'allwissenden' Erzähler weiss man immer ein bisschen mehr als die Anwältin, aber nie genug, um alle Fragen zu klären.
Vier Sterne gibt es 'nur', weil so einige Ungereimtheiten auftauchen: Die am Tatort verschwundene Schere interessiert keinen Menschen (ok, hätte man sie gesucht und gefunden, wäre der Schluss ohne Aha-Effekt. Aber trotzdem.), Katie, die amische junge Frau, macht ein Geständnis und Elli, die sie mittlerweile schon Monate sehr gut kennt, merkt nicht wie es gemeint war (sogar ich hab's gemerkt :-)), Und ein wirklich übler Fehler: S. 311, Katie hat acht Monate die Schwangerschaft verborgen, S. 312, die Geburt war 2 1/2 Monate zu früh (also 6 1/2 Monate), S. 316, die Schwangerschaft wurde sieben Monate geheimgehalten. Ja was denn nun?
Ansonsten aber ein guter Roman mit einem guten und (so hoffe ich) realistischen Einblick in eine recht unbekannte Welt (nicht auf den Klappentext achten, es ist kein Thriller, auch kein psychologischer; eine mitreißende Freundschaft zweier...Frauen - stark übertrieben). show less

In a barn in Paradise, Pennsylvania, a newborn baby is found dead. The only suspect is an eighteen year old Amish woman who, despite all medical evidence to the contrary, contends that she was never even pregnant. Ellie, the woman’s relative from the city, also becomes her attorney. The case will be different from any Ellie has ever tried, however, especially because she must learn about the Amish faith and community in order to learn about, and earn the trust of her client.

Quote: “If Katie is arrested, if you listen to Aaron and turn the other cheek and don’t get someone to stick up for her in court, then they’re going to put her in jail . . . how many children are you going to let the world take away from you?�€?

I really show more thoroughly enjoyed the vast majority of this book. Interesting fictionalization (but researched) view of Amish life, good court scenes, a romance or two. And of course, I was prepared for a classic Picoult twist at the end of the book, when all the carefully laid pieces come together. With this book, however, instead of saying “Aha!â€? at that point, I said “Okay, I guess . . . whatever.â€? After a few minutes, however, my brain woke up and said, “Actually, no, that makes no sense, no pieces have come together, and I refuse to accept this.â€? And then I made up an alternative twist, one that is at least partially justifiable. The last two pages have left me feeling bitter about the book, which is unfortunate because I liked the rest of it show less

This was another Picoult novel that gives an inside look at the challenges that can occur with the American justice system. This is the story of Katie Fisher, a young Amish woman, living in rural Pennsylvania. She is accused of murdering her newborn baby boy - a birth and death that she cannot recollect. In fact, she completely denies the idea that she had been pregnant in the first place.

As usual, Picoult gives us such complex characters - even though one may find individual acts reprehensible and completely against one's moral code, there's usually something so compelling in so many of the characters that they're hard not to like. In this case, we are presented with the accusation of the purposeful death of a newborn child, and are show more meanwhile presented with the fascinating way of life the Amish live and how murder is so totally out of tune with the ethics of that community. It was truly delightful to learn a little bit about a way of life so foreign to mine (even as a nonreligious person).

So what did happen to Baby Fisher? As usual with Picoult, there are many twists and turns that keep the pages turning. As soon as you think the mystery is solved, we're presented with a new piece of evidence that throws every theory out the window. This was another great page turner from Picoult! show less

This is a review I wrote in 2007:

I approached this novel like a blank canvas, as it's the first of Picoult's novels that I've read. I was totally captivated from the start by the author's obvious depth of understanding and involvement with the "Plain" people she writes about, The Amish of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Having visited an Amish town only once (as a tourist), I'm no expert on Amish culture and have been mystified by it in the past, but I do now feel as though Picoult has given me some insights into their beliefs and way of life.

The discovery of a dead newborn baby on an Amish farm shocks the community, and as it turns into a murder investigation draws in renowned lawyer, Ellie, caught up in the drama as she visits her aunt show more nearby. Ellie soon finds herself agreeing to represent the young girl accused, Katie.

Picoult soon draws the reader into an empathy with both Ellie and Katie, and the twisting plot which slowly and cleverly unravels held my attention right the way through the novel. I found my attention slipped only when the case came to trial and there was a lot of repetition of detail already covered. However, I was really just impatient to reach the end and the outcome of the trial! The twist at the end of the book is clever and thought provoking, but in a way it's a shame it wasn't left open....

A great read. Couldn't put it down. Highly recommended! show less

The discovery of a dead newborn baby in an Amish farmer's barn sets up the action in this well-written and thought-provoking novel.

Picoult's strength is in creating believable characters faced with no-win moral scenarios, and she repeats that theme well here without falling into formula. I did have a bit of trouble differentiating between the woman detective and the woman lawyer -- it was well past the halfway point in the book before I stopped thinking "now, which one is that?" when one returned to the scene after being out of the action for a while. She could have used one more run-through of the galleys by a "fresh" eye -- in one scene a team of horses suddenly becomes a team of mules on the next page; in a tense courtroom scene a show more witness makes a statement the reader (and the witness, and the attorney involved) know to be false, and nothing in the narrative addresses this perjury. Since the attorney at this point has been very, very careful to utilize vague language and misdirection to avoid such issues, it's jarring to see the statement -- which really has no direct bearing on the outcome of the trial -- pass without comment or justification.

Points deducted for these quibbles, however, have to be given back for Picoult's presentation of the Amish community as they attempt to navigate the realities of the 21st century while still remaining true to their moral core. She goes far beyond describing the outward "quaintness" of beards and buggies to delve into the heart and soul of the Plain people. show less

Review contains things which might be considered minor spoilers.

Another great book by an author who is quickly becoming one of my favorites. This book centers on the mystery surrounding the death of a newborn baby found in an Amish barn in Pennsylvania. My favorite thing about this book was the description of the Amish community, and the way Picoult portrayed the culture "clash" between the Amish and the "Englishers" (everyone else) when Katie, the young, unwed woman accused of giving birth and then killing the baby, is made to stand trial in a Pennsylvania courtroom.

Several years ago, I lived in a part of Indiana which has a large Amish population, so it was not uncommon for me to see horse-drawn buggies on the roads, or to see Amish show more folk out shopping at the big market in Shipshewana (and sometimes even in the mall - usually late teenaged girls, ones whom I'm assuming were in between the age when they were being schooled, and the time when they had to decide whether or not to be baptized). Once, I was even a guest for dinner in the home of an Amish family. From the experience I had with this community, Picoult's characterizations seemed spot on. I loved the way she showed us the Amish way of life: Katie's attorney, Ellie, finds herself forced to live in Katie's household before and during the trial, so we get to see the family and community life through the eyes of an outsider. It was interesting to see how Ellie's relationships with the family developed, and what things she found challenging - as well as those things which she found comforting.

In particular, I thought Picoult did a wonderful job of highlighting one of the main differences between Amish and "English" philosophy - that in the "outside" world, it is acceptable - even encouraged - to stick out from others, to be different, to be unique; while for the Amish, blending in with the community is the most important thing. I was touched by the way Katie (the young, unwed mother of the child) was unable to fathom how the U.S. legal system worked - how is it possible that NOT telling the truth could be the best way to "win?" For Ellie, winning meant Katie being acquitted no matter what (at least that's how she felt when she took the case); but for Katie, telling the truth and being forgiven was the most important thing.

The "mystery" itself (who killed the baby, if it was indeed a murder and not a death from natural causes) was interesting, and the characters were well drawn. There were also interesting parallels in the lives of the various characters which help to bring the book's issues into clearer focus - in this case, issues of motherhood, and fitting into ones family and community. All around, this was an excellent book, with a satisfying ending; a courtroom drama, but also so much more. show less