Puthagam, the book club hosted by Ammani chose Jodi Picoult's My Sisters Keeper for discussion. Despite the lure of Harry Potter and Godfather (which incidentally I did succumb to), I finished reading MSK last week and have uploaded my comments on to the bookclub. All readers are welcome to view the discussion, participate in it and share your views on what I feel is a rivetting read.
*For those lazy people who will indulge me by reading my part of the discussion but would not take the trouble of going through others, I have attached it in the comments section.
1 comment:
Firstly I am eternally indebted to Ammani for starting this Book Club and suggesting 'My Sisters Keeper'. It is beyond my powers of imagination to visualise how I would react if I were Sara. Would I hold-on to Kate? Would I demand a Kidney of Anna? Would I even be able to decide with my heads firm on my shoulders? Even if I did, is there a 'correct' decision at all? Would I neglect Jesse? Give up on him.
I encountered a not very different situation when one of my friends' younger sister had congenital heart problem and had to be rushed to the hospital often. My friend felt unloved and he coped with the situation by falling sick (he had Asthma) just as frequently as his sister. He was later diagnosed of psychogenic illness (to attract attention) by a psychiatrist and after some counselling he is now fine, but yes! neglect causes much disturbance in the impressionable mind of children.
As Lavanya pointed, there was perhaps no need for the particular climax after having put forward all that needs to be said on the issues of organ donation but I should say that the twist rent my heart. I have lost my sister in a freak motor accident. I would know; I could relate. I have sat for days wondering, wishing that there was something I could do, something; anything I could give, to just get one more day with my sister. So, personally I treasure the denouement. I am surprised though that Campbell (he was driving the BMW) did not feel guilty (perhaps he did... we didn't exactly go to his life after the accident) and nobody in Anna's family seemed to blame him.
As Ammani rightly and succintly wrote in QT 55, for me, as a contender of the most-read crown, it was more important to read, an obsession, a compulsion. What was learnt mattered less. Not anymore. I can't even articulate what I learnt from 'My Sisters Keeper', from Anna and her fight to decide for herself, from Sara and her infinite love and determination, from Brian and his decisions, his support, from Jesse, from Kate, from Julia, from Campbell. Perhaps it is love. Sara's love for her children though more pronounced to Kate, the love and easy companionship of the sisters,Kate and Anna, Campbell's love for Julia and hers for him, Jesse's yearning for love and a love for life that is present throughout. I am sure. The lesson to learn is 'Love'.
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