This book is well written but difficult to understand what is real and what is imagined. Maybe that’s the point based on the subject matter but I found it too confusing.

I love Picoult novels, several of them on my list of all-time favorites: Small Great Things and 19 Minutes. Both of those titles literally change your perspective by the time you are finished reading them. However, this book does not quite reach the highs of those two favorites. Character development is fine and the main story is fine. However, the text is so heavy with scientific explanations that I had the feeling I was in class, leading this book to have more of a college class experience than a novel experience. It is not bad, it is just not quite to the level of my favorite Picoult novels.

This book was a dnf for me. Picoult is almost always a page turner for me. I made it 20% and just didn't love it. And I've decided there is not enough time in life to spend hours reading books you don't love.

Jodi Picoult has amassed a devoted following who appreciate her intellectual approach to women’s fiction. In recent years, each book has a setting that includes some topic of interest to Picoult: wolves (Lone Wolf), elephants (Leaving Time), Galapagos (Wish You Were Here) and, in The Book of Two Ways, Egyptology.
The novel opens with a literal bang, as the plane carrying Dawn Edelstein plummets toward the ground. It’s not a spoiler to reveal that Dawn survives the crash, and her brush with mortality propels the action of the book. She is compelled to reconsider her life decisions, and wonders if the semi-traditional existence she’s living–with husband, children, second-choice career–is really right for her or if she should retrace her steps to 15 years ago and pursue her twin obsessions, archaeologist Wyatt and her own research into ancient Egypt and The Book of Two Ways. To Picoult’s credit, she manages to depict allure in both options.
Dawn is an expert in the ancient manuscript, the title of which serves as a metaphor for her life: when faced with two roads converging in a wood, does she regret the road not taken? Is it possible to go back and take it, unlike Robert Frost’s traveler? Dawn’s questioning of her own choices resonates, and she recognizes that she may be applying a rose-colored gauze to the dusty life of the Egyptologist she might have been.
Like Dawn (and, presumably, Picoult) I had a brief and intense obsession with Egypt. The U.S. tour of King Tut’s tomb relics was a pivotal moment in my childhood and occupied much of pop culture, from opulent museum tours to Steve Martin’s send-up of the pharaoh “buried in his jammies.” The Egyptology here is rather crammed down our throats, with pages and pages of dry, academic background information interspersed in the narrative. Picoult did some prodigious research, and she wants to share it all. These sections dilute some of the romance, both of ancient Egypt and our main characters. But the emotions are authentic and the ending is somehow satisfying.
As a longtime fan of Picoult, I most enjoy her ripped-from-the-headlines plots that include some time in a courtroom (yes, My Sister’s Keeper, but also Nineteen Hours and Small Great Things). This book is not that kind, but I enjoyed it immensely and I consider it one of her better deep-dive, topic-centered books. 4 out of 5 peaches

This one just didn’t work for me. It was so bogged down with terminology and information about archaeology in the first section that I felt like I was reading a textbook. I was bored immediately.

Jodi! That ending! Why did you do us dirty like that?! I could not believe that ending. It was a little slow going, but I missed the legal issues of her past books. I liked some of the Egyptian stuff, but had trouble following some of the timelines near the end of the book. I was not a Wyatt fan. I was a Brian fan. However, I do realize that she loved Wyatt first. I wish Picoult would have explored more of the death doula side of the novel. There was a lot going on in this book. I think it should have been pared down to just the Egypt stuff or just the death doula stuff, even though they KIND OF went together. I could see where they meshed.

Jodi Picoult takes us on an epic journey weaving back and forth between Dawn's past and present to bring us a story of love and acceptance while questioning how much science impacts our choices. Some say our timeline is decided and marked by faith. Others might say it's written in the stars, or perhaps our journey is destiny no matter what you do. Whatever way you hold belief, your story is either already written or in process and this will leave you questioning everything once you finish the last page..

One phone call will change Dawn Edlestein's life forever leaving behind her dream exploring ancient worlds in Egypt, a man she loved, and a life she envisioned. Dawn will discover that perhaps there is some truth into what her husband Brian believes in relation to quantum physics and science. What would you do if you could go back and make one tiny change that could alter your future? Would you choose differently?

Faced with finding acceptance in the past, being honest with our own desires and brave enough to follow our heart. Dawn will have to make a decision. Is she strong enough to be honest with those she loves to finally have the life she's dreamed of?

A heartwarming, gripping tale that spans across continents as we journey through the past to unlock the future. Seasons bring people into our lives for various reasons. Sometimes they stay, sometimes they die. It's a fact of life. Who will you be with in the end, that's all that matters. Will that change your choices now?

I wish I had realized this book wasn’t time my liking before requesting. I couldn’t get past the first few chapters because it felt very dry to me. I will not be sharing my review because it will not do the book any service.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was hoping to absolutely love this one, but sadly I didn't. I was interested in the Egyptian history and hieroglyphics sections but they were just too slow for me. That being said, parts of those sections were insightful especially the parts about death.

The story is told in two different places: WATER/BOSTON and LAND/EGYPT and at the end CAIRO to BOSTON There was a AFTER section that tied up the loose ends pretty well for me. And the Author's Notes< added good information as well.

Dawn is the MC who is an Egyptologist who is married, has a daughter, and lives in Boston; however, her heart is still with Egypt and a man named Wyatt with whom she'd had a romantic relationship as well as a common interest in Egypt. Dawn decides one day to up and go to Egypt and see what she discovers there and how she still truly feels about Wyatt. Dawn is also a Death Doula, which I'd never heard of before. One of the characters is dying and she helps that person go through the death process. Those sections really resonated with me and piqued my interest, plus there were some really interesting Egyptian cultural rituals that I learned about from the reading of this novel, including what the Egyptians do with body parts when they mummify someone. Very interesting.

Too many sections of the book were just too slow for me, so it took me over 3 days to read it because I'd lose interest in parts and have to set it aside. Otherwise, the parts I enjoyed I liked a lot, thus 3 stars.

“A thrilling adventure . . . With Picoult’s stories, there is always something new to learn, and The Book of Two Ways is no exception. . . . A fun and interesting read, one that will lead readers to both learn a lot and also ask themselves key questions about how to create happy lives for themselves during the short time we have on earth.”—Associated Press

This one was hard for me, it was dense. I started it a few times and had a hard time sticking with it. I do like history, and the story was very interesting, but it had a lot of details and didn't pull me in the way Picoult usually does.

I love anything that Jodi Picoult writes, but this one felt a little different than what I am used to from her. I just couldn't get into the characters or really invest in them. I didn't love the storyline. But no matter what Jodi Picoult can draw me in and make me feel like I am right there in the story!

This is a great book group book. Death is such a taboo subject and this gave our group an opening to have some really good discussion.

The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult starts off with what might be one of my greatest fears, a plane crash. Dawn Edelstein survives and is met with two choices. Does she go back to her life that includes her husband, daughter, and job as a death doula? Or now that she has quite literally escaped death, does she return to Egypt, picking up where she left off 15 years ago and reuniting with her first love? Each chapter takes us through a part of Dawn's life, both past and present, as they intertwine to one ending.

While the pages are strong with themes like living life to the fullest, learning from mistakes, and chasing what we love; they are also overly crowded with Egyptology, body image, Quantum Physics, life and death. Ultimately, I must say that I felt the story got lost and I had a hard time navigating it. While I know how talented Jodi Picoult is, I do not think this book was her best work as it was simply overwhelming in content. Concluding with a rating of 3 stars.

In The Book of Two Ways, Jodi Picoult tells the story of a woman who examines the possibilities of what life might have been if other choices were made. Dawn Edlestein at one time was an Egyptologist, but now is a death doula who ministers to people in their final days. A series of events causes Dawn to re-examine her life.
I was given an ARC of this novel by NetGalley, but I wasn't able to read the book before it was published. At that time, I had recently buried both my parents after being their caregiver for many years. Before I could find any time to read, I found myself being a caregiver to my husband. My husband passed away nine months before I finally was able to read The Book of Two Ways. This book is full of the subjects of death and choices; The Book of Two Ways has filled me with many reflections on life, but especially death. I am fascinated by the concept of a death doula. Some readers might be frustrated by the open ending, but in life, we don't get all the answers.
#netgalley
#jodipicoult
#thebookoftwoways
#deathanddying
#choices

One reason I love Jodi Picoult's books is because of the in-depth research contained in the pages. Not only is her research impeccable, but she finds a way to communicate that research to a diverse audience of readers. Though I loved the story of the protagonist, and found it very relatable, my favorite part of this book was learning about ancient Egyptian culture and archaeology. I recommend for general collections.

Jodi Picoult is one of those authors where I'm obsessed with the ideas for her novels. Her plot lines are so unique, but sometimes the execution misses the mark. The subject of death is so difficult and I so appreciated the different thoughts and views. I also loved ALL the characters .... And I love the way Picoult writes and weaves stories and characters together. I did not enjoy all the Egyptian parts of the story with the illustrations, but do understand the importance to the story. But overall very much worth it.

I finished this book over a year ago and had an awful time writing a review. I received an arc from NetGalley promising to give my unbiased review so I needed to fulfill my duty.
I love Jodi Picoult books. Her research is superb and normally her writing style keeps me turning pages. This book was different. I was overwhelmed with the Egyptology stuff, and I like Egyptology, but it was too much. Jodi Picoult always gives the reader something to ponder and research to back up both ways of thinking. I did that. I just felt it was overload this time. Maybe it was my mindset at the time and I should reread it.

When I think of literary fiction, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels. This is a perfect book to snuggle up with on any day.

I have loved every Jodi Picoult book I've read--Spark of Light, Wish You Were Here, and My Sister's Keeper being my favorites. Unfortunately, this one was not one of my favorites. I can't put my finger on it, although there was so much Egyptian history and info I had a hard time reading. I also got really annoyed with the way Dawn dealt with--or maybe didn't deal with--the relationship with her husband and daughter, like just up and going to Egypt to look for a man from her past. All in all, this was still a decent book, it was just not my favorite from Jodi.