My Book Club Will Discuss "The Pact" by Jodi Picoult
My Book Club meets tomorrow night, and I really hope we get a good turnout this time. This month, we're discussing Jodi Picoult's novel, The Pact. Here's the opening set-up (no spoilers here).
The Pact is about two families, The Hartes and the Golds, who have been neighbors and best friends for 18 years. As the kids grow up, teenagers Chris and Emily find their friendship turning into something else. Chris and Emily are both great students. Chris is the star of the school swim team; Emily is already gaining a reputation as a extraordinary artist. Both seem to be smart, responsible teens, destined for top colleges and successful futures. Everyone they know is impressed at the maturity of their relationship.
One night, both sets of parents are summoned to the hospital. Chris is injured, and Emily is dead of a gunshot wound. Even more shocking, Chris says her death was part of an unfinished suicide pact, and that he passed out before he could fire the other bullet, the one intended for himself. Both sets of parents are heartbroken. Nobody noticed any signs of depression in either teen. Most of the book deals with the anguish of the families, the effects on their friendship, and the search for the truth about what really happened that night. It culminates in a gripping courtroom drama that had me on the edge of my seat.
We're meeting at 8 p.m. Tuesday night in Alexandria; all are welcome to come. Let me know if you're interested, and I'll send you details on the location.
The Pact is about two families, The Hartes and the Golds, who have been neighbors and best friends for 18 years. As the kids grow up, teenagers Chris and Emily find their friendship turning into something else. Chris and Emily are both great students. Chris is the star of the school swim team; Emily is already gaining a reputation as a extraordinary artist. Both seem to be smart, responsible teens, destined for top colleges and successful futures. Everyone they know is impressed at the maturity of their relationship.
One night, both sets of parents are summoned to the hospital. Chris is injured, and Emily is dead of a gunshot wound. Even more shocking, Chris says her death was part of an unfinished suicide pact, and that he passed out before he could fire the other bullet, the one intended for himself. Both sets of parents are heartbroken. Nobody noticed any signs of depression in either teen. Most of the book deals with the anguish of the families, the effects on their friendship, and the search for the truth about what really happened that night. It culminates in a gripping courtroom drama that had me on the edge of my seat.
We're meeting at 8 p.m. Tuesday night in Alexandria; all are welcome to come. Let me know if you're interested, and I'll send you details on the location.