The Book of Two Ways

By: Jodi Picoult

Narrated by: Patti Murin

Length: 15 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's Summary

Dawn thinks she knows everything there is to know about dying. As a death doula, she helps her clients fix what is left undone so they can peacefully make the final transition. But when her plane plummets from the sky and she thinks she is experiencing the last moments of her life, she is shocked to find that she isn't thinking of her husband or teenage daughter - but of a road she strayed from 15 years earlier, when she turned her back on her PhD studies.  

Against all odds, Dawn survives, and the airline gives her a free ticket to wherever she needs to get to. In alternating chapters, we see possible choices: land - returning to her husband, a quantum physicist who studies the possibilities of parallel universes, she is faced with a test to her marriage and a daughter who is struggling with self-image issues. And water: returning to her studies and the archaeological site she worked on 15 years earlier, where the man she abandoned is about to make the discovery of a lifetime.  

But time may not be as straightforward as we think. As Dawn explores her possible futures, she is finding out what a well-lived life means, what we leave behind of ourselves when we leave the earth, and who she might have been.... 

©2020 Jodi Picoult (P)2020 Penguin Random House Audio

Different from her other work; but worth reading.

A beautiful journey and lovely characterization. The structure of this book took me a while to wrap my mind around-very cleverly done. As always the subject matter was sensitivity handled.

A bit disorientating at times

I struggled to stay orientated between timelines at times, but overall really loved the story.

Disappointed

I really did not enjoy this book, I struggled from the beginning. I have read many of Jodi Picoult 's books and this is by far my least favourite. The storyline was all over the place and never really tied nicely together. The ending was really awful, I listened until the end just for something to change my feelings, but I was very disappointed. Sorry Jodi maybe your latest soon to be released will be better.

Upsetting

It irritates me the way tthe book jumps back and forth between decades. Youre listening to one story line and then the next sentence is a different story line

Reminded Me How Much I Love Egyptology

I loved this from start to finish. The factual information not only about Egyptology, but also about Quantum Physics & the role of a Death Doula. It was an insight into something I have always avoided thinking about.

Jodi Picoult is one of my favourite authors and this book has made its way to the top end of my favourites list.

Whilst some found the parallel timelines confusing I revelled in them - I may have found it easier to follow because I listened to the audio most of the time rather than reading the hardback I also bought (because it was too beautiful not too).

This book has made me think about where I could have been if the choices I made were different and where I may be in the future.

I don’t have a bad word to say about this book.

Boring

Normally I love Jodi Picout but this book was more like a guide to Egyptology. Much too factual unless you are really into Eygptology Gave up about a third into the book as no real story was developing. Bored to the stage where I kept falling asleep. I expect better from this author

Two confusing ways...

I loved and hated this in equal measure. The overall premise is really interesting and a lot of the detail is too (and there is a LOT of detail). The narrator was ok when she was doing most of the voices but her faux English accent was excruciating (and somebody really should have told her how to pronounce Marquess). I found the whole book very long and drawn out and while I kept going until the end I would never listen to it again. Not sure whether to try other books by this author.

Thought provoking

Thought provoking. I found myself torn between the two men. I suspect that my choices would have been different to Dawn's. But Jodie always makes you consider the options which is good.

Good story, not so good accents

Good story and well read, although the attempt at an upper-classed British accent wasn't great.. Worth working past the accent issues though, got me thinking and considering my life & death choices. Some interesting concepts.

not Jodi Picoult"s best

Some interesting bits but mostly boring. Would have returned the book but wanted to give it a chance. I wish I hadn't bothered.

Excellent listen

This was well written, well narrated and I really loved that the story went beyond where most writers would see a conclusion. I often did ah books and still have questions but tbh is one satisfied me. All of the historical discussion around Egypt was really interesting. Excellent life questions in this book. An easy but enjoyable listen

The Epitome of First World Problems

I’ve never read any Jodi Picoult books before; this story will not persuade me to try one of her novels again. The main character is unsympathetic and selfish, the dialogue and plot cliche heavy and the fascinating subject of Ancient Egypt is recounted in mind-numbingly dull detail. Added to this mix is a narrator who’s English accent is laughable - at least that provided some entertainment!

Okay read, much longer than it needs to be

The story is far too drawn out, a couple hours in the middle could've ben condensed - I had to persevere to get to the ending.
Jodi clearly did exceptional amounts of research , but this book was a little too much Egyptology for me. Some was interesting but some didn't seem relevant.
I'm a fan of many of Jodi's other novels, but I think this one was missing a gritty issue to really think over. I thought the conclusion was a little too easy on the character too!

Disappointed

Stuck it out but found it quite tedious. Would have stopped if actually reading