Title: Salem Falls
Author: Jodi Picoult
ISBN-13: 978074318713
Publisher: Washington Square Press/2001
Pages: 434
Salem Falls is the last book I read in the last day of 2007. It was a great way to end the year. Picoult takes up issues, which are too close to home. One can instantly relate to it. Many do not like the realistic way she portrays in her novels. One thing about her is that she instantly sucks you into the story. Once I started it, I could not leave it until I finished it.
Jack St Bride, a former teacher in a girl's prep school comes to Salem Falls wishing to forget his past. He had been in jail for eight months for having a sexual relationship with fifteen-year-old girl, Catherine Marsh, who had a crush on him. His own mother does not believe in him and deserts him. A PhD in History, he ends up washing dishes in a diner for Addie Peabody, who too has a ghost to bury. Unassuming and very handsome John, finds a way into the heart of Addie. As he had been convicted for sexual offence, he has to report to the local police about his whereabouts.
In that quiet place, four girls are trying to be witches by following Wicca rituals. They fantasize about him, and then maliciously target him yet again. Because of his past, he cannot escape this allegation.
Addie is shattered, as she does not know what to believe. St Bride's lawyer too has misgivings about his innocence although he promises John the best deal out of it. John is defiant in the beginning and we see him slowly crumbling down under so much hatred. He accepts that he would get the maximum sentence and his life is over.
Slowly the dark secrets emerge, the witch hunting of John because of his past emerges, the girls try to stick to their story. We see dark magic and use of drugs by the sixteen year-old girls. Rape is a serious crime. However, it can be used as a powerful tool too. John is punished for what he would not do.
As with other Picoult books, we can see here too how power is misused. How law can be bended towards the ends, how a man despite being fulfilling his sentence still considered an offender. He is tried before he is punished. The title is very appropriate, as Salem Falls is a place,which has a previous history of witch hunting.
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Comments: 18
May your 2008 and beyond be filled with blessings to make your heart glow.
The Book Review
Salem Falls sounds very much like a novel for modern times. Almost every subject you mention has been in the local press at some point in time over the last few years. It's interesting ( and strange ) to think that these sort of activities are common place enough to be the subject of a novel.
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Wow! A powerful review...I must give Jodi Pilcoult another try. I tried to read her very first novel and sadly had to put it down, because I could not get into her style. Now that I'm slightly older and because of your wonderful reviews, I going to read one of her books this month and FEATURE YOU yet again on the The Book Nook!
http://booknookftl.gather.com/
I am still trying to get caught up on my messages since I had
to take time off because of my loss.
I just wanted to say I am finally going through my currently over 6,000 pieces of gather new mail that is in my inbox on here. So with that in mind I have finally come to a piece of mail that was addressed to me in regards this article submission you have created to share with the gather community. Thank you for taking the time and sharing your piece with us here at gather. :o)