Book Review - The Pact

 

The Pact - Jodi Picoult 

The Hartes and the Golds have lived next door to each other for eighteen years. They have shared everything from family picnics to chicken pox - so it's no surprise that in high school Chris and Emily's friendship blossoms into something more.

When the midnight calls come in from the hospital, no one is prepared: Emily is dead at seventeen from a gunshot wound to the head, inflicted by Chris as part of an apparent suicide pact. He tells the police the next bullet was meant for himself. A local detective has her doubts And the Hartes and Golds must face every parent's worst nightmare and question: do we ever really know our children at all?

I don't usually read two books by the same author in a row (unless it is a series) but I started another book after reading House Rules and decided that I wanted a quick read before going back to school so chose a different Jodi Picoult book. Overall it was a great book, however there were a few things which I didn't like about it, compared to House Rules. But it also has similarities to House Rules (and also Handle With Care and My Sisters Keeper, both books by Jodi Picoult which I have read in the past).

Similarities include the fact that there is a court case in the book. This ANNOYED the hell out of me as all four of the Jodi Picoult books which I have now read have all contained court cases, can't she think of anything else? Also I didn't like the ending to the book, I thought, just like I did with House Rules, that the ending was too quick and sudden. However a difference was that unlike the other three, the main character of this book isn't ill unlike the other three, he is completely normal really.

The book starts off with the two sets of parents out having a meal and then separating off to do there own things. Then there are the hospital calls which tell them about there children. I liked how this happened within the first chapter, taking us straight into the action. However I got a bit confused with all the names within the first few pages. The Golds consist of Michael and Melanie, and there now dead daughter Emily. The Hartes consist of Gus (Augusta) and James and their two children, Chris and Kate. It took me a while to remember that Michael and Melanie were together, and Gus and James were, and not mix and match the lot. However, I soon got the hang of it and was into the book within a few chapters.

I started this book on Saturday and finished it today. I however think that I rushed this book, as I do not understand why a few of the things which occurred...happened. For example, Emily want's to commit suicide and I do not fully understand why she is unhappy with her life. I understand the deal with her feelings for Chris, so if that is the only reason to Emily's actions then okay...but I'm sure there would have been something else, and why couldn't she have spoken to Chris?

The book is told in 3 parts altogether, however there are different 'chapters'. This book, unlike the other three which I have read, isn't told in POV's which I liked the change. It is told 'Now' with what is happening at that moment in the book, the death of Emily and the stuff which Chris faces. And also 'Then' which is more about the kids growing up together and the events leading up to the death of Emily. The 3 sections to the book are labelled 'The Boy Next Door', 'The Girl Next Door' and 'The Truth'. The Boy Next Door, when it goes to the 'Then' sections, is more about Chris and how he felt growing up around Emily. The Girl Next Door is the opposite, and you see more about Emily and she gives her feelings about Chris and her reasons (which I don't fully understand) for not wanting to be alive anymore. I like this format as it gives us an insight into their lives in a different and unusual way.

For example, the main point to which is shown through this layout is when the kids are about 10 and Chris dares Emily to go into the mens toilets in McDonald's and she does, but we don't find out what actually happened until we get into the 'The Girl Next Door' section of the novel. I didn't fully get the importance to that part of the book as nothing came of it in the end (apart from the fact that she doesn't want to/like to do stuff with Chris) and I wished that Emily had left messages or something to Chris explaining her feelings and what had happened beforehand which made her want to die, so that Chris could have a rest of mind.

The ending of the book was a disappointment if I am honest, too quick and it didn't make any sense as that's no way what would have really happened. I won't go into detail as I'll give away the end of book but let's just leave it at: great book apart from the ending. I would recommend you read it, but don't get your hopes up about the end. Not the most amazing book in the world...