I really didn’t like the ending at all. I guess I’m not really a fan of twist endings. I really don't think that Josie should have killed her boyfriend, no matter how much of a jerk he was, but I know why she did.
So Peter killed himself anyway. He could have done that in the beginning and avoided much heartache from the whole entire town, but then, i guess, he couldn't have helped Josie kill Matt (which I still think was unnecessary). Even after getting to know them more and more throughout the novel, I still can’t relate to some of the characters.
I am happy, though, that Alex and Patrick ended up together. It was sad to see him want Nina so badly, knowing he could never have her. Maybe Alex will feel more confident being a mom the second time around. I think Alex really grew throughout the book.
Lacy and Lewis must be beside themselves with grief, having lost two sons. I don’t think they will ever get over it. It will probably be especially hard for Lacy, since it's her job to bring new children into the world.
Overall, Nineteen Minutes was a really fun read for me. It went so fast and it was very exciting. Even though I didn't like the ending too much, I still thought that it was well-planned and attention-grabbing.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Glad to be finished
Wow. I can usually figure out how a book will end a little before it does, but this one put me through the ringer. I could not for the life of me figure out how it was going to end and honestly, I’m glad I couldn’t, because what happened was way better than I could have imagined.
I could not believe that Josie would be the one to kill Matt. It was incredibly unexpected but also extremely well supported and developed so I didn’t feel like Picoult just wrote about it to twist the plot.
I was kind of mad that we never learned who was narrating the chapters and I felt like in general Picoult left the story kind of open ended. The reason that Josie killed Matt doesn’t surprise me but I really want to know what happens to her once she goes to jail. It makes me crazy not knowing what she feels now that it’s all over. The loose ends just still feel loose to me and I would have appreciated like twenty-five more pages about the aftermath. What happened to Peter, Lacy? Did Josie get to have a normal life, finally?
Oh well. Ultimately I thoroughly enjoyed the story much more than I thought I would and I might be willing to read another Jodi Picoult novel.
222 Words
I could not believe that Josie would be the one to kill Matt. It was incredibly unexpected but also extremely well supported and developed so I didn’t feel like Picoult just wrote about it to twist the plot.
I was kind of mad that we never learned who was narrating the chapters and I felt like in general Picoult left the story kind of open ended. The reason that Josie killed Matt doesn’t surprise me but I really want to know what happens to her once she goes to jail. It makes me crazy not knowing what she feels now that it’s all over. The loose ends just still feel loose to me and I would have appreciated like twenty-five more pages about the aftermath. What happened to Peter, Lacy? Did Josie get to have a normal life, finally?
Oh well. Ultimately I thoroughly enjoyed the story much more than I thought I would and I might be willing to read another Jodi Picoult novel.
222 Words
Third Section
The ending was definitely suprising and shocking, but I think that I am okay with that. I was completely dumbfounded when Josie told us that she was the one that killed Matt. I didn't want her to be with him, but I definitely didn't think she should have killed him. I am still confused as to where her suicide note comes into play. Why didn't she ever actually do anything with it? What was the point of it?
I guess I am pretty happy with the way things turned out for Peter. By the end of the book, I was more so on his and Jordan's side, hating every word that came out of Diana and the witnesses mouths. They were all so fake and ridiculous. They didn't learn anything from Peter's "lesson." One part that I really liked was when Dr. King was on the stand. I liked the way he explained everything Peter was going through, whether it was true or not. It gave meaning to Peter's side of the story. King made me realize that Peter really wasn't this cold-blooded killer that hated everybody. He was just a victim, one that was sick and tired of being beat down by almost everyone surrounding him. I think he got the punishment he deserved and I was satisfied with that.
Another I liked was the way that Patrick and Alex turned out. I finally don't think Alex is crazy anymore. It took her a heck of a long time, but I think she finally realizes what it means to be a good mother. I think Patrick was her fresh new start, giving her a chance to be the mother she only now realizes she wants to be. I guess the only thing that wasn't really solved was that Peter's victims are still the same as before, only now they are wounded and some disfigured, but there still seems to be that hierachy and it is really upsetting. You would think that they would have learned.
I guess I am pretty happy with the way things turned out for Peter. By the end of the book, I was more so on his and Jordan's side, hating every word that came out of Diana and the witnesses mouths. They were all so fake and ridiculous. They didn't learn anything from Peter's "lesson." One part that I really liked was when Dr. King was on the stand. I liked the way he explained everything Peter was going through, whether it was true or not. It gave meaning to Peter's side of the story. King made me realize that Peter really wasn't this cold-blooded killer that hated everybody. He was just a victim, one that was sick and tired of being beat down by almost everyone surrounding him. I think he got the punishment he deserved and I was satisfied with that.
Another I liked was the way that Patrick and Alex turned out. I finally don't think Alex is crazy anymore. It took her a heck of a long time, but I think she finally realizes what it means to be a good mother. I think Patrick was her fresh new start, giving her a chance to be the mother she only now realizes she wants to be. I guess the only thing that wasn't really solved was that Peter's victims are still the same as before, only now they are wounded and some disfigured, but there still seems to be that hierachy and it is really upsetting. You would think that they would have learned.
Ending
oh my gosh! i absolutely LOVE books with twisted endings, and this sure fits that category. I was completely not expecting Josie to be in on the whole shooting plot. I thought that from the beginning when she was this little piece of sass that wouldn't stick up for herself (which is when i lost respect for her) and that there was no way she was ever going to get out of that relationship. She proved me wrong. She not only got out of the relationship, but she insured that they would never be together again. Her means, i must admit, were a bit extravagant, and i feel like maybe she could have found a more mellow way to deal, but i guess it's whatever works for her... It does kind of bother me that Peter was involved, i think instead of having him help her, Josie could have gotten help for him and then, he most likely wouldn't have bit the dust. Also, it bothers me that the blame was on Peter through out the entire book, because then, even though Josie was convicted, it still seems like mostly Peter's fault because that's what we got used to as readers, and at least i will always think of him before Josie as the school shooting cause. However, i guess if we would have known the whole time it was Josie than there would have been no surprise ending and i therefore would have not enjoyed the book. So I'm glad it went the way it did. Kudos Jodi Picoult
word count: 260
19 min. Blog 3
Wow! I absolutely love this book! I heard from many people how Jodi puts amazing twists in her books, but never did I suspect Josie helping Peter with the shooting and the suicides! As I was reading, I did notice the hidden connection between Peter and Joise especially at the piont in the book when Josie confides in Peter with Matt abusing her- which by the way is soooo uncalled for! The first time Jodi brings this new conflict to light, I just wanted to kick Matt to the curb! I couldnt even believe Josi would put up with such doings and all this was occuring at such a young age! What has society come to?
Anyways, I always did secretly want Peter and Josie to get together. They were both going through the same situations, just at different levels. Maybe this is a bit weird but they just seemed to work well together and she was the only girl that truely brought out the "male" in Peter- if ya'll know what I mean.
After reading this book, I certainly MUST read her other books! I think I will start a little collection and become one of those that reread books over and over again and again- it does sound like much fun! ;)
(word count- 219)
Anyways, I always did secretly want Peter and Josie to get together. They were both going through the same situations, just at different levels. Maybe this is a bit weird but they just seemed to work well together and she was the only girl that truely brought out the "male" in Peter- if ya'll know what I mean.
After reading this book, I certainly MUST read her other books! I think I will start a little collection and become one of those that reread books over and over again and again- it does sound like much fun! ;)
(word count- 219)
Wrapping it up
So here's we are at the end of what seems to have taken a lifetime. Peter is dead, Josie is in prison, and Patrick and Alex are together. Time to go into some more depth. Peter finally realized that he really couldn't live like that anymore, hating his imprisonment from the very beginning. For a while, he clung to the hope that he might get off easy, but the weight of a life sentence was too much for him. Besides that, Dr. Wah was right, Peter welcomed death. On a side note though, I still think that I am right about the suicide note. The book mentions nothing of it (or perhaps I missed it) so that either means one of two things - either Josie will eventually kill herself, or the note is just from a suicide note that someone else (in real life) had written, and the author felt that it should be included.
The suicide note just seems exactly like Josie's type. In the last section, the note refers to life as a DVD, and Josie watches the DVD that Matt made earlier on as a comforting measuere. It also talks about being popular, yet misunderstood, which is essentially Josie's character in 3 words. Speaking of Matt however, the whole thing about Josie shooting him adds MUCH more depth to her character. My initial impression of her as a whiny teenage drama queen who nobody "gets" (except Matt when he's drunk and horny) was thrown out the window. She hates the lie she lives in, and she hates the popular crowd to the same extent as Peter.
That leads to my final point towards the suicide note being Josie's. There are several parallels between Josie and Peter - they began as friends, worked together, and both shot Matt - so why wouldn't the final parallel be the two of them committing suicide. In fact, it would make some sense if she did it in response to hearing about Peter's death.
As a last note, I would hate to go to Sterling after the shooting. The memories would have nothing to do with it, however. I think that it is unreasonable to think that privacy and rights should be restricted, when the problems can be averted through less tolerance for bullying and more active counsellors. Sacrificing freedom for order is sacrificing faith in the human spirit.
The end...
Okay, the ending of Nineteen Minutes was just…awesome. I loved the major twist at the end, because I was totally kind of hoping for something like that to happen. I’m just honestly surprised that Jodi Piccoult actually had Josie as part of the murderous duo. Oh, my GOD, I loved it.
I think I’m mostly relieved that Josie was actually willing to stand up for herself and for what was right, even if that wasn’t exactly the BEST way to handle the situation. I’m glad that after taking all that abuse from Matt she finally helped to do something about it. Granted, shooting him may not have been the greatest career move…but I think it was better than continually taking the mental/physical beating she had endured.
What’s even stranger is that I almost am grateful for Peter’s role in helping Josie grow a backbone. Yes, Peter still ended up being the super creeper/murder mastermind/villain, but he also helped someone. And maybe in the long run, that counts for something for him personally. Maybe it’ll help him sleep at night, instead of thinking about all the dead kids whose parents still hate him. Something.
The other thing that really stuck with me was Alex Cormier having another kid. I mean, it was obvious from the start that she was going to hook up with Patrick and have some sort of fling with him…I’m just glad it lasted longer than a fling. Maybe it’s healthier for her and Josie, once Josie’s done with her stint in prison.
Overall, I just loved the end of the story. I loved the way the characters all seemed to get their acts together in their respective ways. I loved it loved it loved it.
Word Count: 288
I think I’m mostly relieved that Josie was actually willing to stand up for herself and for what was right, even if that wasn’t exactly the BEST way to handle the situation. I’m glad that after taking all that abuse from Matt she finally helped to do something about it. Granted, shooting him may not have been the greatest career move…but I think it was better than continually taking the mental/physical beating she had endured.
What’s even stranger is that I almost am grateful for Peter’s role in helping Josie grow a backbone. Yes, Peter still ended up being the super creeper/murder mastermind/villain, but he also helped someone. And maybe in the long run, that counts for something for him personally. Maybe it’ll help him sleep at night, instead of thinking about all the dead kids whose parents still hate him. Something.
The other thing that really stuck with me was Alex Cormier having another kid. I mean, it was obvious from the start that she was going to hook up with Patrick and have some sort of fling with him…I’m just glad it lasted longer than a fling. Maybe it’s healthier for her and Josie, once Josie’s done with her stint in prison.
Overall, I just loved the end of the story. I loved the way the characters all seemed to get their acts together in their respective ways. I loved it loved it loved it.
Word Count: 288
Thrid Blog
All the words can’t sum up this book. The struggles and problems have a feel of some closure. The reflection of the year afterwards, gives this book the final closure.
I have always wondered if a medical condition can be blamed for someone’s actions. Can a medical condition like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder be the “thing” to blame for what Peter did. To a point, I can understand that high school drama and bullies, places an emotional hardship on the outcast students of the school, but I still don’t think a medical condition is to be solely blamed. I also believe that situations other than school shootings would hold the same principle. I believe regardless what medical condition a person may have that might compromise their outlook of what’s right and what’s wrong should still be held somewhat accountable. What do you think?
I also have a good point to bring up about the title. Right now, I am studying Shakespeare and he uses numbers to symbolize several main events, conflicts, or resolutions. I wonder which accounts in the book “19” would refer to. I can think of several possibilities like that number of minutes it took for the school shooting to be over. What other events in the book would you think symbolizes the number 19.
I was very surprised by the ending of the book. To believe that Josie played a role in the shooting, and being found guilty of manslaughter wasn’t a major shock. After reading for awhile, I thought that Peter was completely innocent. I started to believe that Josie was saying she couldn’t remember anything to get off the hook of shooting everyone. It would make sense that Peter would take the blame if Josie was the one who did the shooting.
Overall, I really liked reading the book. I was placed into a perspective that shootings affect not only the victims and families, but the entire community around them.
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I have always wondered if a medical condition can be blamed for someone’s actions. Can a medical condition like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder be the “thing” to blame for what Peter did. To a point, I can understand that high school drama and bullies, places an emotional hardship on the outcast students of the school, but I still don’t think a medical condition is to be solely blamed. I also believe that situations other than school shootings would hold the same principle. I believe regardless what medical condition a person may have that might compromise their outlook of what’s right and what’s wrong should still be held somewhat accountable. What do you think?
I also have a good point to bring up about the title. Right now, I am studying Shakespeare and he uses numbers to symbolize several main events, conflicts, or resolutions. I wonder which accounts in the book “19” would refer to. I can think of several possibilities like that number of minutes it took for the school shooting to be over. What other events in the book would you think symbolizes the number 19.
I was very surprised by the ending of the book. To believe that Josie played a role in the shooting, and being found guilty of manslaughter wasn’t a major shock. After reading for awhile, I thought that Peter was completely innocent. I started to believe that Josie was saying she couldn’t remember anything to get off the hook of shooting everyone. It would make sense that Peter would take the blame if Josie was the one who did the shooting.
Overall, I really liked reading the book. I was placed into a perspective that shootings affect not only the victims and families, but the entire community around them.
(326)
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