Wish You Were Here: A Novel
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This book is a bit of a departure for Picoult, as it doesn't involve an ethical dilemma where both sides are, if not sympathetic, at least fully fleshed out. Here, the focus is on one character, Diana, who must decide if she really wants what she always thought she wanted from life.
The story starts just when things are starting to get serious in New York City with the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses and schools are being shut down and Diana's doctor boyfriend tells her how the hospital is becoming overrun with patients. Is it too soon for a novel about the pandemic? Maybe, but not in Picoult's hands. Perhaps because the first part of the book keeps the pandemic at a remove. I think the bigger reason (for me at least) is that, because the timeline of the book is largely the spring of 2020, I was able to read about what was going on with a whatever-the-opposite-of-nostalgia is (because I definitely wouldn't wish for those days all over again). "Oh yeah, I remember all those celebrities singing on YouTube!" "That's right, I had forgotten about wiping down packages!" "Oh yeah, I remember how we thought this was only going to last two weeks!"
Being able to achieve that kind of perspective is one of the great gifts of fiction and Picoult gives it to us in abundance.
FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.
The story starts just when things are starting to get serious in New York City with the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses and schools are being shut down and Diana's doctor boyfriend tells her how the hospital is becoming overrun with patients. Is it too soon for a novel about the pandemic? Maybe, but not in Picoult's hands. Perhaps because the first part of the book keeps the pandemic at a remove. I think the bigger reason (for me at least) is that, because the timeline of the book is largely the spring of 2020, I was able to read about what was going on with a whatever-the-opposite-of-nostalgia is (because I definitely wouldn't wish for those days all over again). "Oh yeah, I remember all those celebrities singing on YouTube!" "That's right, I had forgotten about wiping down packages!" "Oh yeah, I remember how we thought this was only going to last two weeks!"
Being able to achieve that kind of perspective is one of the great gifts of fiction and Picoult gives it to us in abundance.
FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.
Diana is a 30-year-old woman whose life is on the right track. She has her dream job of selling other artists’ pieces, a boyfriend who she suspects will propose soon, and a relaxing getaway to Galapagos planned.
When the Corona Virus hits New York, her boyfriend informs her that he needs to stay behind and help take care of patients at the hospital he works at. Diana is left questioning her life and what she wants for her future. Is selling other people’s art really what she wants to do?
This is my first book by this author, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I really enjoyed the writing style of this book, and loved the plot. I believe it is important for readers to know that this book discusses the Covid-19 pandemic due to it being a very sensitive topic. The book shows how the lockdown and virus caused such significant changes to our daily lives - from jobs to relationships.
When the Corona Virus hits New York, her boyfriend informs her that he needs to stay behind and help take care of patients at the hospital he works at. Diana is left questioning her life and what she wants for her future. Is selling other people’s art really what she wants to do?
This is my first book by this author, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I really enjoyed the writing style of this book, and loved the plot. I believe it is important for readers to know that this book discusses the Covid-19 pandemic due to it being a very sensitive topic. The book shows how the lockdown and virus caused such significant changes to our daily lives - from jobs to relationships.
I’m a nurse who just went through the pandemic- good summary about what healthcare workers went through. I wasn’t really wanting to read about it though. Great twist in the middle ( won’t include spoiler). I was ready for a great ending but was left hanging with my imagination to figure out what happened.
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