In Jodi Picoult's "Nineteen Minutes," her writing style changes a lot from "My Sister's Keeper." The first difference that I noticed was the change from first person to third person. I've always liked books in first person that stay from the point of view of one specific character and doesn't change. I think these are my favorite because it's easy to fall inside the story where the reader is placed in the exact same position with all the knowledge and feelings of one character.The reader only has one angle to consider and whatever the protagonist feels is immediately transmitted to the reader. Third person becomes more complex because the reader is taken out of the story and put on the sidelines to watch. It makes it harder to read because the emotions are not provided for the readers, but rather they are left to decide how they feel about the unfolding events. The immediate reaction to the fact that Peter killed people is to feel sorry for the survivors and to condemn Peter. However, since it is in third person, the reader sees Peter's perspective and we're forced to understand why he committed his crime. One of the most confusing things about Picoult's book is while I'm reading it, I'm not sure what to feel. I still haven't made up my mind as to whether or not I want Peter to get thrown in jail. It comes back to ethics. He tried to settle things the right way but nothing worked. The other kids were truly monsters to him so why should he be any better? I'm excited to see how Alex, and all the other characters find Peter, seeing as they only have their own perspective, and are not enlightened to Peter's as well like I am.
Picoult, Jodi. Nineteen Minutes. New York: Washington Square Press, 2007.
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