When I heard that Jodi Picoult had a new book out, I was overjoyed! Rob was not so thrilled. He knows that her books are the sort of books I am unable to read independently. I have to talk about them and I have to talk them through. Reading one of her books means work for him. He has to listen. I think I did OK this time, though. I only subjected him to the 5 minute synopsis of the book (or where I was in the book at the time of the 5 minute talk) last night before dinner, with a few updates as I kept reading later. I finished the book this morning, during the last few peaceful moments while the girls slept in on this surprise of a snow day. So, Rob's not here to hear my final thoughts about the book and to discuss all of the "what would you dos" that often accompany a Jodi Picoult novel. Too bad for him. It would've been a good conversation.
Lone Wolf, like Picoult's other books, touches on the hard-hitting subject of life support. Luke, Edward and Cara's father, is in a coma after a car accident. Edward wants to end life support; Cara does not. Here begins the story and the drama and, usually in my house, the discussions over the controversial issues. But, because it is Jodi Picoult who is crafting this story, there's so much more to it that than. Let's throw in two additional characters...Georgie (Luke's ex-wife) and Joe (Georgie's new husband, who happens to be a lawyer) and some interesting plot twists and turns (I counted 3 instances while reading when I said, "No!" outloud while reading this book because something happened that I did not see coming AT ALL) and you have the making of an extraordinary story, which Lone Wolf is in my opinion.
In addition to crafting an amazing story, Picoult uses a literary technique in Lone Wolf that I find to be most enjoyable when reading a book, and it's a technique she uses often (which probably explains why I love to read her books). Each chapter is dedicated to a different character and the story progresses through their words and thoughts. While it doesn't repeat in a certain order, we hear from Luke, Cara, Edward, Georgie, and Joe in separate and repeated chapters (they also are each given their own font, which is super cool as the font seems to give more information about their character). At the end of the book, a few other characters appear to add their thoughts and ideas to the story. Since Luke, the dad, is in a coma, his chapters focus on telling the readers everything they ever wanted to know about wolves and wolf packs. Now, if you are not a fan of wolves, don't dispair. It's actually quite interesting to read as you discover quite quickly that the life of the wolf pack that you are learning about directly parallels the human lives in the story. I was fascinated. Honestly.
Had Rob been home to talk about this with me, we would've talked not so much about comas and life support (although I did remind him that we had to get a will made before our trip to Vegas this summer) because there are certain things that he knows about me (probably learned after our discussion's surrounding Picoult's other book Mercy). He knows that it is my wish to never be placed on life support and that I want all of my viable organs donated (although I think I do need to follow up on this one, as the books hints that just checking the box on your driver's license is not enough, you also have to register). Furthermore, he knows that I am not to be buried (a claustrophobic's nightmmare), but am to be cremated. So, we wouldn't have talked about any of that stuff. That's old news.
Instead, I think I would've wanted to talk with him about the parallel story of the wolves and the humans. How each person in a family, or a wolf in a pack, has a distinct role and function and without that one person, a family, or pack, can't function and cries out for the missing one. It makes me wonder what my role is, and if I was in the wolf pack, who I would be. I have to be honest and admit that I lost track of all of the different wolf roles and jobs and instead focused on how the wolves were foreshadowing the events with Edward, Cara, and Luke. But, I do know that in my house, I am the order restorer-- I am the one that shuffles through the papers, throws things away, puts things away, and makes things run smoothly. I am not sure that there's a wolf equivalent for what I do, but I do know that in my house, when I am not here to do my job, the piles build up, nothing ever gets thrown away or put away, and order becomes chaos. Lunches aren't made, homework doesn't get done, and my family runs the risk of going naked to school and work. I guess this is important work, but in the grand scheme of things, it seems a little mundane. Especially when you compare it to Rob's function--the leader of the Whitt wolf pack, who makes things safe for all of us, who makes sure we have what we need when we need it, who provides for us, and who watches over us all. I guess I did birth two little wolves, that accounts for something, right?
In addition to roles performed in a family, Picoult also tosses in, for us to ponder further, the question of what makes a family a family. I love Cara's thought: "I wonder if what makes a family a family isn't doing everything right all the time but, instead, giving a second chance to the people you love who do things wrong." (p.312) I can only speak for my family, but there's not a whole lot of perfection coming from any one of us (even Abigail who likes to think she's perfect, but oh-so is not!). How nice to think, though, that even we do something wrong, family is there to forgive and to love you anyway. I think Cara is on to something here.
Finally, the book forces us to think about how the roles of the family and the definition of family changes as a member leaves, in this case by death. Who takes over the missing role? How does the family react to this? On page 347, Luke reminds us that, "You have to reach the point of utter chaos before a new leader can emerge." Isn't this what death is? Utter chaos for a family? A time to regroup, to restructure roles, and to appoint a new leader? All while trying to say good-bye. Sadly, I think my family has perfected this chaos. I know when it will be my time to be the alpha female and I am not looking forward to it at all.
Which leads me to my final thought, and my final quote. Another issue this book touches on, in light of the life support issue, is the age of majority. Cara is not yet a legal adult; Edward is. So, who gets to decide about Luke's life and when it should be over? What does it means to be an adult? What responsibilities come with the job of being an adult? As this issue is fought and as each person truly fights for what they think is right and best, and as Cara discovers that being an adult isn't all that it's cracked up to be, Cara discovers that, "being a grown-up doesn't mean you're fearless. It just means you fear different things." (p. 350) Amen. As a child, I knew I was fearful. My mother knew I was fearful. I think everyone who knew me knew that I was fearful. And, I think they all hoped that I would one day become a confident, fearless adult. Wrong. I went to college and feared not getting a job. Once I had one, I feared losing it (and still do). I got married and worried that he'd leave me. I had kids and am fearful for them every waking moment. If I could release some of these fears, I think I might live longer. But, perhaps, in the Whitt wolf pack, my job is to fear. It keeps me on high alert and it helps me to keep my family safe.
Family is everything. In a wolf pack and in the human world. Read Lone Wolf and allow yourself to be reminded.
Happy reading!
:) Dodie
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