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Jacob Have I Loved Review

This book has broken my heart and then put the pieces back together so gently I didn't even realize it was mended.

It was difficult for me to get into the beginning of Jacob Have I Loved. I thought I had read it before but it turned out to be a different book than I thought so I didn't know what to expect. Then, I kept waiting for Jacob to appear. Who was he? What was his story?

Finally, about 50 pages in, I let go of waiting for Jacob and just fell into the story. I couldn't put it down after that. The story grabbed me and wouldn't let go. Then, it began shaving off pieces of my heart until it finally shattered what was left with one quick moment.

I knew it was coming. I could feel it about to happen. Well, I could feel the build-up that something was going down but at first I didn't know if it was going to be good or bad. I just knew it was big. Then, I knew it was bad. I could see what was going to happen but she didn't know yet. I wanted to shake her "don't you know what is going to come next?" Then, she knew, and I was heartbroken. I didn't know if we would ever recover but by the end of the book I was yelling "don't forget the first one." And after all that I closed the book with a smile on my face.

I love Louise and though she lived a very different life from me, so much of her felt familiar. Oh Jacob Have I Loved, how I have loved you.

Jacob Have I Loved Overview

Esau have I hated . . .

Sara Louise Bradshaw is sick and tired of her beautiful twin Caroline. Ever since they were born, Caroline has been the pretty one, the talented one, the better sister. Even now, Caroline seems to take everything: Louise's friends, their parents' love, her dreams for the future.

For once in her life, Louise wants to be the special one. But in order to do that, she must first figure out who she is . . . and find a way to make a place for herself outside her sister's shadow.

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Customer Reviews

Not at all what I thought - Mathew Murray - Texas
Because it had won a Newbery Award and sounded great from the cover, I was so looking forward to this book. What a let down!

A classic - VoraciousReader -
I've read this book a hundred times over the years, and each time I enjoy it a little more. It is a true classic and should be read by children of all agres. The author paints a timeless portrait of the difficult life in a harsh climate. The characters are also well developed and very sympathetic. I love this book.

Unbelievably bad - meepozoid -
I would never, ever recommend this book to anyone.

The language reads like a cheap Bronte sister rip-off. I kept expecting to read "Last night I dreamt I was in Manderley again". Paterson's many attempts at subtlety are blocky and clumsy, and stick out like a sore thumb. If Louise is a representation of Paterson herself, it's no wonder that the character kept getting rejected by publishers.

The characters are flat, forgettable, and one-sided, with the exception of Louise herself. As in all of Paterson's books, any character who is devoutly religious is portrayed as either stupid or evil. Louise (like Paterson?) blames God for all her troubles. Caroline is unabashedly selfish, with no comeuppance, no maturity, no sign of remorse for taking everything for herself, no sign of gratitude that Louise works to pay for her music lessons.

The most disturbing feature of this book, however, is the story itself.

This is a novel of torture: blunt parental favoritism, child abuse, and depression, depression, depression with absolutely no relief. The slightest bit of humor or natural childhood play, mentioned briefly in the first few chapters, is only there to be immediately smashed and crushed. There is no light at the end of the tunnel for Louise. I suppose some might think this makes JHIL a "great" book, but really, if the main character had nothing but sunshine and rainbows throughout this tale, with no dark side whatsoever, wouldn't that be just as unbelievable? Paterson focuses on the bad side of Louise's life, and does a decent job of describing it, but there is never, ever a focus on any occurrence that helps Louise to grow or change. There are no challenges whatsoever -- a few shy glimpses at character development are mentioned briefly, but never resolved or seen again.

Louise disappears right after her childhood friend (and crush) Call marries her sister -- the same sister who hated him and made fun of him throughout most of the book. There is a hastily-tacked-on ending with a character that has Louise's name, but is NOT Louise. Suddenly she doesn't care about water or boats anymore, suddenly her budding writing career isn't an interest, suddenly she wants to be a doctor, which is never mentioned prior to the last chapter; she marries a man she doesn't love (her parents, by the way, would rather attend one of beloved Caroline's many performances than be at Louise's wedding) and raises his children. Where is the Louise that has been in the book all this time? She is never heard from again. Nothing is ever, EVER resolved, which begs the question, what is the point of the book?

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 27, 2010 01:25:06

Children's Books

Saturday, June 26, 2010