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Plain Truth

By Jodi Picoult, Suzanne Toren (Narrator), Christina Moore (Narrator)

(75)

| Audio Cassette | 9781419389429

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Book Description

Jodi Picoult has touched readers deeply with her acclaimed novels, such as Keeping Faith and The Pact. Gifted with "a remarkable ability to make us share her characters' feelings" (People), Picoult now explores the complex choices of the heart for a young Amish woman -- the Continue

Jodi Picoult has touched readers deeply with her acclaimed novels, such as Keeping Faith and The Pact. Gifted with "a remarkable ability to make us share her characters' feelings" (People), Picoult now explores the complex choices of the heart for a young Amish woman -- the compelling journey of discovery for an urban lawyer who befriends and protects her.

The small town of Paradise, Pennsylvania, is a jewel in Lancaster County -- known for its picture-postcard landscapes and bucolic lifestyle. But that peace is shattered by the discovery of a dead infant in the barn of an Amish farmer. A police investigation quickly leads to two startling disclosures: the newborn's mother is an unmarried Amish woman, eighteen-year-old Katie Fisher. And the infant did not die of natural causes. Although Katie denies the medical proof that she gave birth to the child, circumstantial evidence leads to her arrest for the murder of her baby.

One hundred miles away, Philadelphia defense attorney Ellie Hathaway has achieved an enviable, high-profile career. But her latest court "victory" has set the sands shifting beneath her. Single at thirty-nine and unsatisfied with her relationship, Ellie doesn't look back when she turns down her chance to make partner and takes off for an open-ended stay at her great-aunt's home in Paradise.

Fate brings her to Katie Fisher. Suddenly, Ellie sees the chance to defend a client who truly needs her, not just one who can afford her. But taking on this case challenges Ellie in more ways than one. She finds herself not only in a clash of wills with a client who does not want to be defended but also in a clash of cultures with a people whose channels of justice are markedly different from her own.

Immersing herself in Katie Fisher's life -- and in a world founded on faith, humility, duty, and honesty -- Ellie begins to understand the pressures and sacrifices of those who to live "plain." As she peels away the layers of fact and fantasy, Ellie calls on an old friend for guidance. Now, just as this man from Ellie's past reenters her life, she must uncover the truth about a complex case, a tragic loss, the bonds of love -- and her own deepest fears and desires.

Moving seamlessly from psychological drama to courtroom suspense, Plain Truth is a triumph of contemporary storytelling. Jodi Picoult presents a fascinating portrait of Amish life rarely witnessed by those outside the faith -- and discovers a place where circumstances are not always what they seem, where love meets falsehood, and where relationships grow strong enough to span two worlds.

Critics

  • Plain Truth

    Plain Truth The most interesting of novels provide the reader with insight into people and places, regardless of whether those places are our own backyard or far off lands. Plain Truth goes one further and delves into not only people and places, but ... (read full critics)

    likesbooks published on Tue, 31 Aug 2010

10 Reviews

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  • For me this book is one of Picoult's best. I am a huge fan of Jodi Picoult anyway but without a shadow of a doubt, this has to be a favourite. The author's ability to get inside her characters, to give them such depth and turn them inside out in this way is a rare feature in storytelling. There a ... (continue)

    For me this book is one of Picoult's best. I am a huge fan of Jodi Picoult anyway but without a shadow of a doubt, this has to be a favourite. The author's ability to get inside her characters, to give them such depth and turn them inside out in this way is a rare feature in storytelling. There are few storytellers with the knack of writing about their main subjects with such intricate detail. Not only did Ms Picoult get inside her characters but also showed extensive knowledge of the community, lives and beliefs of all her characters.

    I felt that I was starting to know Katie Fisher, how scared she was of her circumstances, and I could understand her initial denial and the fear of being shunned. Yet, just as I thought I 'knew' her, Picoult would give the reader something new which would turn it all on its head. Also, Ellie Hathaway, the successful defense lawyer - her character developed, unravelled and grew. I was not surprised at the ending, I had predicted this and I am sure many readers would have seen it coming but even so, there was some element of surprise. An excellent book.

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    Booketta said on Oct 15, 2011 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

  • I read Picoult’s The Pact last year, I’ve recently read Plain Truth. The two plots are not comparable, but I can say that I enjoyed The Pact much better for the fact that as soon as I finished the book I blurted out “wow.” However, Plain Truth was a good book.

    Picoult is a master of drawing the rea ... (continue)

    I read Picoult’s The Pact last year, I’ve recently read Plain Truth. The two plots are not comparable, but I can say that I enjoyed The Pact much better for the fact that as soon as I finished the book I blurted out “wow.” However, Plain Truth was a good book.

    Picoult is a master of drawing the reader in. I also found the story interesting because it takes place where I live in central Pennsylvania. An unwed Amish teenager gives birth to a baby alone in a barn. The next day the baby is found dead and the mother is charged with its murder. The story leads the reader through Amish customs and lifestyle to show the affect that this type of pregnancy has on the community. The story was very good; however, I thought the ending was predictable. Although the book doesn’t specifically say, it’s implied that there wasn’t actually a murder and that the baby died of a natural cause, but the person who covered up the death was predictable. I take this into account when comparing it with The Pact which had a very surprising ending.

    Although the underlying ghost story running throughout the book is really intriguing to me, it felt out of place. Picoult tries to build multi-dimensional characters and stories, but in Plain Truth the integration of these layers is a bit rough.

    Read my review on my blog:
    http://ethosinterrupted.wordpress.com/2010/06/27/book-r…

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    Harmonyanne13 said on Jun 28, 2010 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

  • I really liked learning about the Amish and their culture, their beliefs. The book is very suspenseful. This was the first book I read from Jodi Picoult. Later, by reading more books by her, I discovered she loves tragedy and most times there is going to be a court trial involved. However, her novel ... (continue)

    I really liked learning about the Amish and their culture, their beliefs. The book is very suspenseful. This was the first book I read from Jodi Picoult. Later, by reading more books by her, I discovered she loves tragedy and most times there is going to be a court trial involved. However, her novels are generally based on very controversial, thought provoking subjects and that is always entertaining, at least in my case.

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    VeraHuff said on Oct 24, 2009 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

  • This is only the second Jodi Picoult novel I have read, the first was 'The Pact' which I enjoyed but I think 'Plain Truth' is better. I like to learn about new things when I read a novel if possible and this fiction based in reality, Amish culture, fulfilled that criteria.
    The ending was not re ... (continue)

    This is only the second Jodi Picoult novel I have read, the first was 'The Pact' which I enjoyed but I think 'Plain Truth' is better. I like to learn about new things when I read a novel if possible and this fiction based in reality, Amish culture, fulfilled that criteria.
    The ending was not really a surprise, as like Bookcrosser tutleymutley I had decided for myself what happened. In fact I think maybe the author intended that the reader would work out the ending by the subtle clues placed throughout the text? Anyway an enjoyable read that i would recommend to others.

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    Lindyloumac said on Oct 20, 2009 about the School & Library Binding edition | Add your feedback

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