Less Than Perfect

Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult

A quick glance at my list of recent reviews makes it obvious that I am a fan of Jodi Picoult's novels. Of her ten released books, this is the ninth that I have read. I have written several reviews praising Picoult's descriptive storytelling and her ability to weave together intricate plot lines and interesting characters so, it is now unfortunate that I write a review about how disappointed I was with Picture Perfect, third published book, and the only one, so far, that I don't recommend. It's not that Picture Perfect is bad; it's just not up to par with other Picoult novels.

In Picture Perfect, Jodi Picoult introduces us to Cassie Barrett. Cassie wakes up in a cemetery, bleeding from the head and suffering from amnesia. She cannot remember who she is, or where she lives. Will Flying Horse has just arrived in Los Angeles to join the local police force. By chance, or by design, Will finds Cassie and helps her to discover her identity.

As it turns out, Cassandra Barrett is a renowned anthropologist who is married to Alex Rivers, Americas Hollywood hotty. Cassie returns to her mansion with Alex, trying to get reacquainted with her glamorous life style. As her memory slowly returns, she begins to recall instances of physical abuse. The "picture perfect" marriage between Alex and Cassie is far from the fairy tale romance that the public imagines.

When Cassie discovers that she is pregnant, she flees her home in an attempt to protect herself and her baby from Alex's rage. She runs to Will, who agrees to take her to live with his grandparents on the Sioux reservation. On the reservation, Cassie is exposed to a culture and a lifestyle that is completely new to her. While the isolation of the reservation might have been stifling to some, it was liberating to Cassie.

Like other Picoult novels, Picture Perfect is a quick and engaging read. Unlike other Picoult novels, there isn't much substance here. We meet Cassie, Alex, Ophelia (Cassie's best friend), Will, and Will's grandparents, but we don't really get to know them the way we get to know characters in other Picoult novels. We learn of their lives, their demons, their fears, and their dreams; but we can't really feel their emotions or empathize.

Picoult hints at some thought provoking themes, but the story itself is not rich enough for those themes to completely surface. In her work, Cassie is torn between the study of physical and cultural anthropology. Her experience with Alex and with the Sioux Indians allows her to merge the two schools of studies. The idea that people's history is defined not just by their physical being and remains, but by their interactions in society is interesting, but is not substantially developed. Alex, Cassie, and Will all had difficult childhoods, and all try to run away from their pasts. They struggle with the question of nature verses nurture and how it defines an individual, yet those ideas and questions are not woven into the literary tapestries that Picoult has presented in other novels.

The plot has some interesting moments, but mostly I found myself thinking "who cares". Alex and Cassie have a whirlwind romance and end up living the lifestyle of the rich and famous; a lifestyle that I couldn't relate to. I think that perhaps, Picoult's aim was to show how this story tale life wasn't at all how it appeared, but frankly, I would have preferred to read a similar story about more "average" people. I would have understood better the conflicted emotions of a middleclass couple struggling to maintain a semblance of normalcy while trapped in a cycle of abuse and remorse. I never cared enough about Cassie or Alex to become invested in their story. In the end, while Picture Perfectwas a quick and somewhat entertaining novel, it was not nearly as developed as others by Picoult.

If you've never read Picoult's books, I recommend that you do! Her novels, for the most part are entertaining, thought provoking, and engaging. Picture Perfect, unfortunately, falls short by comparison.

-- D. Igo