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The Pact

A Love Story

By Jodi Picoult

(98)

| Paperback | 9780688170523

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Book Description

Friendship, loyalty, lifelong love -- and teenage suicide. A riveting, timely, and terrifying novel from an acclaimed writer who skillfully intertwines the intimate perceptions of Anne Tyler with the dramatic tension of John Grisham

The Golds and the Hartes, neighbors for eighteen years, have alwContinue

Friendship, loyalty, lifelong love -- and teenage suicide. A riveting, timely, and terrifying novel from an acclaimed writer who skillfully intertwines the intimate perceptions of Anne Tyler with the dramatic tension of John Grisham

The Golds and the Hartes, neighbors for eighteen years, have always been inseparable. So have their children-and it's no surprise that in high school Chris and Emily's friendship blossoms into something more. But the bonds of family, friendship, and passion-which had seemed so indestructible -- suddenly threaten to unravel in the wake of unexpected tragedy.

When midnight calls from the hospital come in, no one is ready for the truth. Emily is dead at seventeen from a gunshot wound to the head. There's a single unspent bullet in the gun that Chris pilfered from his father's cabinet-a bullet that Chris tells police he intended for himself. But a local detective has doubts about the suicide pact that Chris describes.

This extraordinary, heart-rending novel asks questions that every parent faces: How much do we know about our children? Our friends?
What if . . .? As its chapters unfold, alternating between an idyllic past and an unthinkable present, The Pact paints an indelible portrait of families in anguish . . . and creates an astonishingly suspenseful courtroom drama, as Chris finds himself on trial for murder.

It's rare to find a writer who combines Alice Hoffman's gift for evoking everyday life in pellucid prose with a remarkable ability to create a legal page-turner that will keep you up all night reading, but this is such a book. The Pact rings true: wonderfully observed, truly moving, frightening, and utterly impossible to put down.

5 Reviews

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  • *** This comment contains spoilers! ***

    ...a love story??

    I seriously cannot see how so many people found this book even slightly "romantic". There is nothing romantic in Emily and Chris's relationship, but rather I found their "love" disturbing. He almost forces himself on her, not understanding (or maybe ignoring) her discomfort. Then, how are we are sup ... (continue)

    I seriously cannot see how so many people found this book even slightly "romantic". There is nothing romantic in Emily and Chris's relationship, but rather I found their "love" disturbing. He almost forces himself on her, not understanding (or maybe ignoring) her discomfort. Then, how are we are supposed to believe these two were two halves of a whole?

    I could not empathize with Emily at all, I was completely unable to feel sorry for her. The plot was just not really credible. It all felt pretty unnatural, I was expecting something more by this author, which usually entertains me pretty well.

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    Vaiolet said on Jul 4, 2011 | Add your feedback

  • Synopsis:Amazon.co.uk
    A riveting, timely, and terrifying novel from an acclaimed writer who skillfully intertwines the intimate perceptions of Anne Tyler with the dramatic tension of John Grisham. For eighteen years the Hartes and the Golds have lived next door to each other, sharing everything ... (continue)

    Synopsis:Amazon.co.uk
    A riveting, timely, and terrifying novel from an acclaimed writer who skillfully intertwines the intimate perceptions of Anne Tyler with the dramatic tension of John Grisham. For eighteen years the Hartes and the Golds have lived next door to each other, sharing everything from Chinese food to chicken pox to carpool duty. Parents and children alike are best friends - so it's no surprise that in high school Chris and Emily's friendship blossoms into something more. They've been soul mates since they were born. When the midnight calls come in from the hospital, no one is prepared for the appalling truth: Emily is dead at seventeen from a gunshot wound to the head as part of an apparent suicide pact. The gun holds a single unspent bullet that Chris tells police he intended for himself, but a local detective has doubts. And the Hartes and Golds, in a single terrifying moment, must face every parent's worst fear: do we ever really know our children at all?

    This is the first novel I have read by Jodi Picoult and it will certainly not be the last. I throughly enjoyed this riveting story. It seemed so sad that for one tiny but dramatic incident in her life that she wrongly kept to herself that Emilys life became unbearable to such an extreme that she wanted to commit suicide. As a parent it made me think very hard about the excellent relationship I had with my daughters as they were growing up. Very scary actually, quoting from the back cover, do we ever actually know our children at all? Highly recommended.

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    Lindyloumac said on Dec 4, 2009 | Add your feedback

  • Sort of a jaded version of a modern Romeo and Juliet gone wrong? Great book, interesting and intense. Secrets and interesting characters.

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    SaraA said on May 19, 2008 about the Mass Market Paperback edition | Add your feedback

  • As suggested by the subtitle of the book, this is a love story. Two couples became friends, and their teenage kids grew up together and finally fell in love with each other. When the girl was found dead, her boyfriend was charged with murder although he claimed that she wanted to commit suicide. T ... (continue)

    As suggested by the subtitle of the book, this is a love story. Two couples became friends, and their teenage kids grew up together and finally fell in love with each other. When the girl was found dead, her boyfriend was charged with murder although he claimed that she wanted to commit suicide. This tragedy not just impacted the boy, their parents were also affected - the friendship between the two families was over and their marriages were put to test as well. As the story continued, further truth and secrets were discovered, revealing what actually happened between the young couple.

    I won't say this is a super great story but it is a good one. I enjoyed reading it. In fact, it is hard for me to put down the book.

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    Tiny said on Oct 13, 2006 | Add your feedback

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9780688170523 Paperback $14.00 -- The Book Depository
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+ 2 copies tradable: 1 in USA
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