Visit Salem Falls With Jodi Picoult

Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult

I first "discovered" Jodi Picoult when I read Songs of the Humpback Whale, and now, just a few short novels later, she is quickly climbing towards the top of my favorite contemporary novelist list. Picoult has delighted me with the diversity of her writing. In Songs of the Humpback Whale I was intrigued by her writing style, which enticed me much more than her actual story. In Salem Falls I found myself immediately drawn into a rich story filled with multiple characters, sub-plots, and intrigue.

The novel opens with Addie Peabody being called to pick up her father, Roy, who has been detained by the police for public drunkenness. We see a very loving but strained relationship between Addie and Roy. Enter Jack St. Bride. Jack, a former schoolteacher, has just been released from an eight-month prison term for allegedly assaulting one of his students. He maintains his innocence, and insists that he pled to a lesser charge on the advice of his attorney. Now, required to register with police as a sexual offender, he must rebuild his life with a huge scarlet letter on his chest. Fate brings Jack to Addie's diner, where he is given a job as a dishwasher. Both Jack and Addie have many skeletons in their closets, and it is no surprise when the two find themselves attracted to each other.

Wes Courtmanche one of the local police officers, is also attracted to Addie, and resents Jack's interest in her. He goes out of his way to publicize Jack's "criminal past", and what follows is a modern day witch hunt to oust Jack from the community. Did I say, "witch hunt"? Interestingly enough, four of the town's teenagers practice Wicca, and secretly experiment with the powers of witchcraft. After a Wiccan ceremony, Gillian Duncan accuses Jack of rape. Gillian's father, Amos Duncan, is the town's wealthiest resident, and uses his influence to push for Jack's conviction. With Jack's criminal record, the case seems opened and closed, yet Jordan, the attorney assigned to defend Jack, finds some inconsistencies in the case. With the help of his former girlfriend and private investigator Selena, and his son Thomas, a classmate of Gillian and her Wiccan friends, Jordan is able to uncover information that turns the case upside down.

The town of Salem Falls is full of "ghosts" and secrets that are the source of much internal conflict for its residents. Jack struggles to maintain his identity despite the label of "sexual offender" that his been branded upon him. Addie struggles to resolve the conflict between the deep love she feels for Jack, and the doubt she experiences about his innocence. The police in Salem Falls struggle to maintain order in the town while protecting their own daughters.

I could try to impress you by telling how this story is in many ways an updated version of Arthur Miller's The Crucible. I could write a long analysis of how Salem Falls explores issues of identity and relationships; how it makes us think about how the past shapes the present; how it speaks of relationships - specifically those between fathers and daughters; and how it explores one very special relationship between a mother and daughter. I could mention Picoult's writing style, and how she tells the story of Salem Falls chronologically, but shares Jack's life story backwards, so that as current events unfold, we slowly learn more about Jack's history and upbringing. I could talk about themes of religion, of the struggle between good and evil, of the lasting power of love, and of the destructive forces of dishonesty; but the truth is that while all of these topics would be valid points of discussion, I enjoyed this novel on a much more simple level.

The fact that Jodi Picoult could weave all of these story lines and themes into one coherent and riveting novel is a testimony to her skill as a storyteller! This novel was thoroughly entertaining. It took me away from my own reality, and transported me to the town of Salem Falls where a scandalous story was slowly unfolding. I found myself interested in all of the characters and sub-plots, and I never felt lost or overwhelmed. The only fault that I could find with the novel is that the tension seemed to break down a bit during Jack's trial towards the end of the story. Despite that minor complaint, reading this novel was a true delight, and as icing on the cake, Picoult managed to conclude her story with a great surprise ending that puts an unexpected twist on the reader's understanding of the plot's events.

If you are looking for a well written, entertaining novel that discusses themes of morality and identity while offering a great escape from the stress and hustle of your every day life, try reading Salem Falls. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I give this novel a solid 4 and one-half stars.

-- D. Igo