The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult

The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult
Expected publication: September 22nd 2020

This is a difficult review for me to write because I typically enjoy Jodi Picoult's novels but this is my least favorite novel of hers. I felt as though my brain was being bombarded with information I didn't want to know or care for and as a result of that I found myself getting lost over and over again. Egyptology is interesting to a degree but the over abundance of it just left me drained resulting in me  putting the book down over and over again.  I spent so much time looking up and researching information from this read that I ended up feeling like I was tasked with a project rather than just being able to enjoy a read. 

The gist of this book is that a woman named Dawn, survives a plane crash and has some kind of moment and rather than returning to Boston to be with her husband and daughter, she jumps on a plane and goes back to Egypt to met her previous lover. 

In typical Picoult fashion the book flips back and forth, telling several stories from the past and current day. We find out that Dawn is a Death Duola, her marriage is on the rocks and has a daughter who is shy and struggles with her weight. 

The Death Duola portions were the most interesting part of the book and I wish that it had taken a larger portion of the story as opposed to Egyptology. As the Death Doula is more interesting, makers her  character is more likable and is probably more relatable to readers. 

The ending was not satisfying to me as a reader but I understand it. I am glad that I read this book because I have enjoyed so many of Picoult's other reads and am a long time fan but I would not recommend it to a first time reader of Picoult's.

* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.