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Friday, May 27, 2011

Book Review : My Sister's Keeper


picture from : http://www.jodipicoult.com/my-sisters-keeper.html#questions

How I found out about this book ?
I was reading the Recommendation list by Popular bookstore . Upon reading just the preview synopsis , I knew that I had to read it . Its that strong ...

Author : Jodi Picoult

Synopsis 1 : My Sister's Keeper is a novel about a young girl who sues her parents for the right to make her own decisions about how her body is used when a kidney transplant is planned in order to save her older sister's life.


After reading the Synopsis above , who do you think is the right one ? Once you have figured that out , read Synopsis 2

Synopsis 2 : Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate - a life and a role that she has never questioned… until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister - and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable… a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves. My Sister's Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life… even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less?

from : http://www.jodipicoult.com/my-sisters-keeper.html#synopsis


Opinion :Very thoughtful , a very deep novel . The minute you touch this book , it is like you are part of the whole situation . As humans , we are always passing judgements, this is one book that will ruffle your judgements many times . Me being me :) , I felt the need to take sides the minute I read the synopsis of this book ( can't help it ) . Guess which side I took ? And the best thing was , I manage to stay on that side ..

It is extremely thought provoking , a no-perfect-way out novel and of course , a sad novel . Sad not only because of the sickness that Kate has but also the suffering and the mental torment that it inflicted on all the family members. The dread , the no-way-out situation .

This book got me the minute I touched it , really . One word : Read it . After you have read it : Think about it .


SPOILER ALERT ( Scroll Down fast to Spoiler Endsif you do not want to know ! )




Book Dicussions : ( questions from website )

1. Reread the prologue to My Sister's Keeper. Who is the speaker? Is it the same person you thought it was the first time you read it?
2. What is the metaphorical relevance of Brian's profession as a fire chief?
3. Why is Jesse's behavior so aberrant, while until now, Anna has been so compliant?
4. What might be a possible reason for Brian's fascination with astronomy?
5. On page 98, Kate is being admitted to the hospital in very serious condition. She mouths to Jesse, "tell Anna," but is unable to finish. What do you think she was trying to say?
6. On page 122, Julia says, "Even if the law says that no one is responsible for anyone else, helping someone who needs it is the right thing to do." Who understood better how to "help" Kate, Sara or Anna?
7. Did Anna do the right thing, honoring Kate's wishes?
8. Do you feel it was unfair of Kate to ask Anna to refuse to donate a kidney, even though this seemed to be the only way for her to avoid the lifesaving transplant?
9. On page 142, Brian says that when rescuing someone from a fire, that "the safety of the rescuer is of a higher priority than the safety of the victim. Always." How does this apply to his role in his own family?
10. On page 144, Brian says, "Like anything that's been confined, fire has a natural instinct to escape." How does this truth apply to Kate? to Brian himself?
11. On page 149, Brian is talking to Julia about astronomy and says, "Dark matter has a gravitational effect on other objects. You can't see it, you can't feel it, but you can watch something being pulled in its direction." How is this symbolic of Kate's illness?
12. For what reason(s) did Brian offer Anna a place to stay at the firehouse while the legal proceedings were underway?
13. How does Anna's decision to pursue medical emancipation parallel Campbell's decision to end his relationship with Julia after his accident?
14. Do you agree with Brian's decision not to turn Jesse in to the authorities for setting the fires?
15. Do you feel that it's ethical to conceive a child that meets specific genetic requirements?
16. If not, do you believe that there should be specific exceptions, such as the purpose of saving another person's life, or is this just a "slippery slope?"

Below is the Answers to the above questions . This is merely my opinion only. ( Disclaimer!)

Reread the prologue to My Sister's Keeper. Who is the speaker? Is it the same person you thought it was the first time you read it?
Big Spoiler , not telling !

What is the metaphorical relevance of Brian's profession as a fire chief?
He could save so many people from Fires and stuff and yet he is helpless to his own family.

Why is Jesse's behavior so aberrant, while until now, Anna has been so compliant?
I think that the position of the child in the family plays an important role. Being the eldest , I think Jesse feels that he should be more of a help than Anna and yet it is the other way round . A combination of these makes them the way they are . I have another theory also , it is the way they are born ( not about in-vitro or natural ) more about their personalities . We as humans react differently towards the same thing most of the time .

What might be a possible reason for Brian's fascination with astronomy?
He is seeking for answers and he is trying to understand what life is all about . And possibly making preparations to find Kate among the stars if she dies .

On page 98, Kate is being admitted to the hospital in very serious condition. She mouths to Jesse, "tell Anna," but is unable to finish. What do you think she was trying to say?
She wants Anna to be with her and she wants to live despite all ..

On page 122, Julia says, "Even if the law says that no one is responsible for anyone else, helping someone who needs it is the right thing to do." Who understood better how to "help" Kate, Sara or Anna?
Anna . Though the youngest among the three, she is the most objective . To her , "Do what makes you the happiest" rather than responsiblity .

Did Anna do the right thing, honoring Kate's wishes?
It was more important to safe herself at that point of time . I know I am not answering the question , but that was how I felt . The battle should be about her , and not what she should do to honour Kate's wishes . However , I think she did the right thing , whether it is for herself or Kate.

Do you feel it was unfair of Kate to ask Anna to refuse to donate a kidney, even though this seemed to be the only way for her to avoid the lifesaving transplant?
Yup , she should have help explained to Sara even if it does not help with the whole situation . And not leave the whole burden on her sister alone . But then if that were to happen , we have less of a story right? :)

On page 142, Brian says that when rescuing someone from a fire, that "the safety of the rescuer is of a higher priority than the safety of the victim. Always." How does this apply to his role in his own family?
The Opposite . Sometimes I wonder would Sara and Brian be able to face themselves if Anna were to die in one of the many procedures . Although relatively harmless procedures , there are bound to be side effects or risks too right . In one page , Sara said that she felt the same pain for Anna as she felt for Kate when they took Anna's blood . My opinion is that Sara is too into Kate that she forgets that she is mother to Jesse and Anna also . You cannot blame her for this though .Really . See what I mean by the book ruffling your judgements .

On page 144, Brian says, "Like anything that's been confined, fire has a natural instinct to escape." How does this truth apply to Kate? to Brian himself?

I don't get this question . Anybody? Please leave a Comment . Thanks !

On page 149, Brian is talking to Julia about astronomy and says, "Dark matter has a gravitational effect on other objects. You can't see it, you can't feel it, but you can watch something being pulled in its direction." How is this symbolic of Kate's illness?
Bad Luck or Death . It was really in Kate's fate , I think that was what it meant . Anybody thinks that it means something else ?

For what reason(s) did Brian offer Anna a place to stay at the firehouse while the legal proceedings were underway?
He feels indebted to Anna . That's the least he could do to remain fair to both of his daughters .

How does Anna's decision to pursue medical emancipation parallel Campbell's decision to end his relationship with Julia after his accident?
Not the same at all . Campbell's situation may be burdensome , but the risk of dying is lower than that of Kate's. So , I presume that the decision he made was to save Julia from having to share his burden and to keep some dignity , atleast that is what I think . Anna's decision, although was done for Kate was also done to save herself as she felt herself slipping off .

Do you agree with Brian's decision not to turn Jesse in to the authorities for setting the fires?
No comment . Anybody ? Please leave a comment.

Do you feel that it's ethical to conceive a child that meets specific genetic requirements?
If not, do you believe that there should be specific exceptions, such as the purpose of saving another person's life, or is this just a "slippery slope?"

It is just a ver very Slippery rope and slope . A tight line to be walked on between right and wrong .

Spoiler Ends

Note : If you would like to participate in the discussion and give your views , please do so ya ! Views and opinions are very much appreciated . You can even copy and paste the questions to the comment box and answer them . Thanks !!!


Overall view : If I were to be the judge , There would be no question that Anna should be granted with Medical Emancipation . It's simple , no matter what purpose you were born for , organs are the sole discretion of a person. Whether she wants to use it to save a life or not , remains up to her. And there is neither right or wrong.

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