What Colors Our Perspective?

Small Great Things is the latest book from author Jodi Picoult.  In her latest book she covers the topic of racism and how it affects different groups of people.  I debated with myself on whether I wanted to cover this book on Writer’s Corner. 

 Synopsis: 

Ruth Jefferson an African American has been a nurse for over twenty years.  She has worked in the Labor and Delivery ward in a small hospital in New York.  She has one sister Adisa who is lives in the ghetto and gets by on benefits and minimum wage jobs.  Her answer to everything is to turn to her prejudices for solutions to her problems.  One day while Ruth is at work she is assigned to a couple with a baby. The father asks her to not touch their baby and has her removed from the case.  The father Turk is a white supremacist and does not want anything to do with African Americans.  When his baby dies he wants to blame someone for his death.  So Ruth is promptly arrested and charged with the crime.  Is she really guilty?  Enter Kennedy McQuarry public defender who takes on Ruth’s case.  Does she really understand what this case is about?

My Thoughts:

I feel that this book is well written.  It is a powerful and moving story! Ms. Picoult does a great job of covering all the different viewpoints, in this hot topic.   I remember seeing her in Atlanta while she was on tour discussing this book.  She interviewed a skinhead to get an idea for how to write the character of Turk.  The story is set in New York.  

I have always operated from the perspective that everything is not always obvious to everyone.  This often annoys my family.  Would it be accurate to say that when taught to hate via circumstances; our views are colored by what we see?  The past cannot be changed but the future can.  Do two wrongs make a right?   I will leave with this parting thought.  “16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” 1 John 3:16 (Bible gateway)

Rating: 

4.5/5


Jodi is busy working on her next project.  Purchase Small Great Things here.

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