Review: Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult (audio book)

From back of audio case: From critically acclaimed, New York Times best-selling author Jodi Picoult comes a novel hailed as “absorbing and affecting” by Entertainment Weekly. Plain Truth is the engrossing tale of a murder that sends shockwaves through Pennsylvania Amish country.

Eighteen-year-old, unwed Katie Fisher is accused of birthing and then smothering her baby at the family dairy farm. But not only does Katie claim her innocence, she also says she didn’t even bear the child. Enter high-profile Philadelphia lawyer Ellie Hathaway, who may be Katie’s only hope.

A moving dual narration by two of Recorded Books’ finest voices, Christina Moore and Suzanne Toren, is the perfect compliment to this powerful novel. Many other of Picoult’s exceptional and extremely popular novels are also available from Recorded Books.

Read by: Christina Moore and Suzanne Toren

My thoughts: I love Jodi Picoult’s books and it seems they are the perfect books to listen to on audio because they always involve such compelling, controversial and timely topics. The stories grab you and hold your interest as you listen to the narrator(s) tell the tale. Plain Truth is the story of a murder, a mystery, lost love, family strife, but most of all, the search for the truth. It is a very intricate and richly detailed story of Amish life and a court case that shocked the small town of East Paradise. As it moves along, little snippets of the mystery are revealed bit by bit, keeping you hooked right from the beginning. The story is told from the viewpoints of two very different women: 18-year-old Katie Fisher, an Amish girl who gave birth to a child out of wedlock, and urban defense attorney Ellie Hathaway, who has emotional issues of her own. The two worlds collide when Ellie is forced to lived with the Fisher family on their Amish farm. I love when I read a book that gives me insight into another culture. The complexity of Amish life is quite surprising and lends itself to an interesting background for a story. The benefit of listening to the story is that when any of the Amish would speak in Deitch (a German language some Amish speak), I could hear it as it would be pronounced and not what I would stumble around with. This is the third time I’ve picked the audio version of a Jodi Picoult book over the physical book and I have not been disappointed. All her books stay with you long after you finish the last page or hear the last line and this one is no exception.

(I borrowed this audio book from the library.)

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4 Comments

  1. Bonnie
    April 14, 2011 / 4:05 pm

    I absolutely loved this book but never thought about listening to it as an audio book for the Pennsylvanian Dutch (I usually just ask my mother in law to pronounce it for me!). I'm glad you enjoyed it!

  2. Shirley
    April 14, 2011 / 4:30 pm

    I enjoyed this book too. I really should try some Picoult on audio.

  3. (Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea
    April 14, 2011 / 11:58 pm

    I liked this one; she is a favorite author of mine.

  4. Kate
    April 16, 2011 / 1:26 am

    I loved this book too! Agreed – I love it when I book gives you insight into another culture.