Harvesting the Heart explores the story of a young woman overcome by the demands of having a family. Written with astonishing clarity and evocative detail, convincing in its depiction of emotional pain, love and vulnerability, Harvesting the Heart recalls the writing of Alice Hoffman and Sue Miller. …more
Picoult brings her considerable talents to this contemporary story of a young woman in search of her identity… Told in flashbacks, this is a realistic story of childhood and adolescence, the demands of motherhood, the hard paths of personal growth and the generosity of spirit required by love. Picoult's imagery is startling and brilliant; her characters move credibly through this affecting drama.
The novel is divided into three distinct sections: Conception, Growth and Delivery. It reveals rich nuances and complexities in close family relationships like that of mother and child, and husband and wife.
Publisher: Viking, 1993; paperback edition published by Penguin, 1995. (Book 2)
Paige O’Toole has only a few vivid memories of her mother, who left when she was five. Now, having left her father behind in Chicago for dreams of art school and marriage to an ambitious young doctor, she finds herself with a child of her own. But her mother's absence, and shameful memories of her past, make her doubt both her maternal ability and her sense of self-worth.
Out of Paige's struggle to find wholeness by searching for her mother and, eventually, returning to be a mother, Jodi Picoult crafts an absorbing novel peopled by richly drawn characters. Any mother— or child— cannot help but to relate to the issues and emotions explored within this book.
“A brilliant, moving examination of motherhood, brimming with detail and emotion.»
— Richmond Times-Dispatch
Recipient, Barnes and Noble DISCOVER GREAT NEW WRITERS Award.
“Reminiscent of Sue Miller's The Good Mother, with a voice all its own.”
— Chicago Tribune
“Picoult weaves a beautiful tale from threads of sympathetic characters into a pattern told from two points of view, then fringes it with suspense and drama.”
— The Charlotte Observer
“A brilliant, moving examination of motherhood, brimming with detail and emotion.”
— Richmond Times-Dispatch
“Picoult's depiction of families and their relationships over time is rich and accurate… Harvesting the Heart [is] a moving portrayal of the difficulties of marriage and parenthood.”
— Orlando Sentinel
“Picoult brings her considerable talents to this contemporary story of a young woman in search of her identity… Told in flashbacks, this is a realistic story of childhood and adolescence, the demands of motherhood, the hard paths of personal growth and the generosity of spirit required by love. Picoult's imagery is startling and brilliant; her characters move credibly through this affecting drama.”
— Publishers Weekly
“Jodi Picoult explores the fragile ground of ambivalent motherhood in her lush second novel. This story belongs to… the lucky reader.”
— The New York Times Book Review
