The references to food in particular create this effect brilliantly and I found The Storyteller such a visual read that it was as if I were present watching the action rather than reading about it. The experiences so many of us thankfully will never encounter become completely knowable. However, The Storyteller is not a depressing book because Jodi Picoult examines the strength of human nature even when humanity is at its worst, making the book truly immersive. The sections relating to the Holocaust are extremely powerful and I think some readers might find them distressing because they have obviously been carefully researched so that they are authentic, vivid and affecting. Indeed, aspects of the narrative invaded my dreams, so powerful is the writing. At times I didn’t find the content easy, but I was so ensnared by Jodi Picoult’s writing I couldn’t tear myself away. The plot races along and as someone not usually keen on multiple timelines or points of view I can honestly say I was captivated by the quality of the writing and structure in The Storyteller. The Storyteller embodies the traditions of created narratives from fairy tales, mythology, allegory, history and personal circumstance until it mesmerises the reader. Leo is chasing and verifying the stories told to him. Minka is a catalyst for so many of the stories, including the one she begins to write as a child. Josef has a story to offload to Sage, wanting to write his own ending. For example (and without spoiling the plot) Sage creates a narrative about her own life, deciding, without knowing, how others view her. Not only is Jodi Picoult a consummate storyteller, but the novel itself has so many layers of storytelling that it is quite astounding.

The Storyteller is fiction at its very best. I cannot begin to tell you how angry I am with myself for not having read a Jodi Picoult book before. What she hears shatters everything she thought she knew and believed.Īs Sage uncovers the truth from the darkest horrors of war, she must follow a twisting trail between terror and mercy, betrayal and forgiveness, love – and revenge. When Josef decides to confess, it is to Sage Singer, a young woman who trusts him as her friend. The Storytellerįor seventy years, Josef Weber has been hiding in plain sight. Published by Hodder in 2013, The Storyteller is available for purchase through the links here. I’ve long been meaning to read Jodi Picoult but never quite got round to it, so when The Storyteller arrived as the latest read for my U3A book group, I was delighted. Netgalley Advocate Netgalley General Data Protection Regulations

Lyrics for the Loved Ones by Anne Goodwin.

Mature Characters: A Guest Post by Allie Cresswell, Author of The Widow’s Weeds.

The storyteller jodi picoult summary