Sterling is a small, ordinary New Hampshire town where nothing ever happens - until a student enters the local high school with an arsenal of guns and starts shooting, changing the lives of everyone inside and out. The daughter of the judge sitting on the case is the state's best witness - but she can't remember what happened in front of her own eyes. Or can she?
Nineteen Minutes
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Special Offer until June 30, 2013: Receive an additional £5 promotional Gift Certificate, when you trade-in at least £10 worth of books. Learn more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
Jodi Picoult is not one to shy away from fictional controversy; in fact, the more tangled and messy a moral dilemma appears, the better she likes it. (Daily Mail)
'The author's insights into her characters' deep-seated emotions brings this ripped-from-the-headlines read chillingly alive' (Publishers Weekly)
Picoult has been incredibly successful in dissecting the pain that family members go through when faced with sensitive and emotive issues (Daily Express)
'Expertly crafted, thought-provoking, and compelling' (Entertainment Weekly)
'Picoult, once again, grabs a razor-sharp issue and uses her brilliantly intricate pen to expose all the shades of grey with PERFECTION.' (Cosmopolitan)
'[Jodi] writes articulately and clearly, making her all too much of a rarity among authors.' (Scotland on Sunday)
This is powerful writing . . . Set against a fascinating legal backdrop, providing twists and turns at every stage, Nineteen Minutes is an utterly compelling novel: Picoult at her very best (Waterstone's Magazine)
impossible to put down and stayed in my mind long after I had finished (Observer)
Slick, emotive and as readable as ever. (Daily Mail)
Her unique ability to take a life-changing incident and explore it from all angles with empathy is fast becoming her trademark. It makes this an intriguing and moving read. (TheLondonPaper)
This gripping, sensitive book looks at the aftermath; the effect on Peter himself, his mother, his victims, the girl he was in love with, and the shock for the small-town community. INTENSELY POWERFUL. (Easy Living)
Superb, many-stranded and grimly topical . . . Picoult binds together precarious alliances with sensitivity, giving depth to characters without losing pace. Inhabited by contradictory, flawed individuals, this intelligent novel draws suspense, moral complexity and a stunning final twist out of what initially seemed a monochrome situation (The Times)
'Bestselling author Jodi Picoult has done it again, with the griipping novel about a shooting incident . . . THIS SUMMER'S BEST PAGE-TURNER.' (She)
'A grim subject, but Picoult is a best-seller for good reason - tight plots and a style that reads easily, but is never glib.' (Marie Claire)
'Her addictive prose hooks you ... she also has an uncanny talent for capturing the complex details of human interaction. ... her mission: to keep readers on the treacherous edge of making their own minds up.' (Good Housekeeping)
'A horrifying, close to real-life read, this novel is incredibly thought-provoking ...' (Sun)
'Under the subtle, practised pen of Jodi Picoult, the emotionally and politically charged subject of a high-school shooting is deftly handled.' (Good Book Guide)
'Jodi Picoult's clear ear for dialogue quickly establishes a diverse cast in this superb love story...It's hard to exaggerate how well Picoult writes. Like Louise Erdrich, she suffuses complex, exciting, big plots with the subtle pace of Native American affairs, producing unsentimental, passionate sagas' (Financial Times)
'The author's insights into her characters' deep-seated emotions brings this ripped-from-the-headlines read chillingly alive' (Publishers Weekly)
Picoult has been incredibly successful in dissecting the pain that family members go through when faced with sensitive and emotive issues (Daily Express)
'Expertly crafted, thought-provoking, and compelling' (Entertainment Weekly)
'Picoult, once again, grabs a razor-sharp issue and uses her brilliantly intricate pen to expose all the shades of grey with PERFECTION.' (Cosmopolitan)
'[Jodi] writes articulately and clearly, making her all too much of a rarity among authors.' (Scotland on Sunday)
This is powerful writing . . . Set against a fascinating legal backdrop, providing twists and turns at every stage, Nineteen Minutes is an utterly compelling novel: Picoult at her very best (Waterstone's Magazine)
impossible to put down and stayed in my mind long after I had finished (Observer)
Slick, emotive and as readable as ever. (Daily Mail)
Her unique ability to take a life-changing incident and explore it from all angles with empathy is fast becoming her trademark. It makes this an intriguing and moving read. (TheLondonPaper)
This gripping, sensitive book looks at the aftermath; the effect on Peter himself, his mother, his victims, the girl he was in love with, and the shock for the small-town community. INTENSELY POWERFUL. (Easy Living)
Superb, many-stranded and grimly topical . . . Picoult binds together precarious alliances with sensitivity, giving depth to characters without losing pace. Inhabited by contradictory, flawed individuals, this intelligent novel draws suspense, moral complexity and a stunning final twist out of what initially seemed a monochrome situation (The Times)
'Bestselling author Jodi Picoult has done it again, with the griipping novel about a shooting incident . . . THIS SUMMER'S BEST PAGE-TURNER.' (She)
'A grim subject, but Picoult is a best-seller for good reason - tight plots and a style that reads easily, but is never glib.' (Marie Claire)
'Her addictive prose hooks you ... she also has an uncanny talent for capturing the complex details of human interaction. ... her mission: to keep readers on the treacherous edge of making their own minds up.' (Good Housekeeping)
'A horrifying, close to real-life read, this novel is incredibly thought-provoking ...' (Sun)
'Under the subtle, practised pen of Jodi Picoult, the emotionally and politically charged subject of a high-school shooting is deftly handled.' (Good Book Guide)
'Jodi Picoult's clear ear for dialogue quickly establishes a diverse cast in this superb love story...It's hard to exaggerate how well Picoult writes. Like Louise Erdrich, she suffuses complex, exciting, big plots with the subtle pace of Native American affairs, producing unsentimental, passionate sagas' (Financial Times)
About the Author
Jodi Picoult grew up in Nesconset, New York. She received an A.B. in creative writing from Princeton and a master's degree in education from Harvard. Her previous novels include Keeping Faith, The Pact, and Mercy. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and three children.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
45 of 45 people found the following review helpful
By Zannie
Format:Hardcover
Nineteen Minutes sees the return of defense attorney Jordan McAfee (The Pact and Salem Falls) and Patrick DuCharme (detective from Perfect Match) and is another example of Picoult's skillful psychological and social insight.
The protagonist this time is Peter Houghten, a 17-year-old high school student who has endured years of verbal and physical abuse at the hands of his classmates. Even his best friend, Josie Cormier has succumbed to peer pressure and is now part of the gang that instigates the abuse. One final act of bullying sends him over the edge and he commits an act of violence that will forever change the lives of the town's residents.
As per the Picoult formula, the town is small where many lives intertwine and the superior court judge assigned to hear the Houghten case is the mother of Josie Cormier, who witnessed the act. Josie is emotionally fragile and the strain of the court case poses a realistic threat to her relationship with her mother, Alex. She claims she can't remember what happened in the last few minutes of Peter's rampage and Peter's parents compound the tension and pressure in the narrative by ceaselessly examining the past to see what they might have done as parents to compel their son to such extremes.
The overriding theme of the novel is the question that do we ever really know the people closest to us? However, it poses more questions than that - what does it mean to be different? Is it ever OK for a victim to strike back? And who really has the right to judge someone else? This is Picoult's most honest, straightforward and meaningful novel yet - if only she could stretch beyond her currently rather contrived plots, she would be a truly great commentator on modern times.
The protagonist this time is Peter Houghten, a 17-year-old high school student who has endured years of verbal and physical abuse at the hands of his classmates. Even his best friend, Josie Cormier has succumbed to peer pressure and is now part of the gang that instigates the abuse. One final act of bullying sends him over the edge and he commits an act of violence that will forever change the lives of the town's residents.
As per the Picoult formula, the town is small where many lives intertwine and the superior court judge assigned to hear the Houghten case is the mother of Josie Cormier, who witnessed the act. Josie is emotionally fragile and the strain of the court case poses a realistic threat to her relationship with her mother, Alex. She claims she can't remember what happened in the last few minutes of Peter's rampage and Peter's parents compound the tension and pressure in the narrative by ceaselessly examining the past to see what they might have done as parents to compel their son to such extremes.
The overriding theme of the novel is the question that do we ever really know the people closest to us? However, it poses more questions than that - what does it mean to be different? Is it ever OK for a victim to strike back? And who really has the right to judge someone else? This is Picoult's most honest, straightforward and meaningful novel yet - if only she could stretch beyond her currently rather contrived plots, she would be a truly great commentator on modern times.
69 of 72 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
We've read about too many school shootings. These are intensely sad events as young lives are ended and harmed while sickening fear is permanently released to further separate communities. We all blame the parents for being so clueless.
I wasn't sure I wanted to read a long novel about such an event. But I'm glad I did. Nineteen Minutes takes the bare facts of such an awful day and helps us see the whole experience from every perspective. And the book does so with a kind and gentle heart.
This shifting of the balance of our perceptions is accomplished by several well-performed techniques including many narrators (different students, three parents, the police, the defense attorney, and his wife), connections among the characters, and multiple back stories that reach literally into the womb. The book's theme is far more universal than school shootings: How we grow away from our real selves and the damage that does to us and others.
I was very impressed by the way that Ms. Picoult viewed every character with mostly sympathy, even when you might think of them as being unsympathetic from the facts. Each character is also mildly funny. She doesn't let the tragedy pull us too far away from the realities of everyday life. It's an extraordinary storytelling gift.
If you are like me, you'll probably feel that your faith in people is increased by reading this story rather than the reverse. That reaction also surprised me.
No matter what your age is I think you'll find this book will draw you back into those turbulent teen years when being popular meant way too much. It'll be an intense and self-revealing visit.
Bravo, Ms. Picoult! This is a remarkable book.
Highly recommended.
I wasn't sure I wanted to read a long novel about such an event. But I'm glad I did. Nineteen Minutes takes the bare facts of such an awful day and helps us see the whole experience from every perspective. And the book does so with a kind and gentle heart.
This shifting of the balance of our perceptions is accomplished by several well-performed techniques including many narrators (different students, three parents, the police, the defense attorney, and his wife), connections among the characters, and multiple back stories that reach literally into the womb. The book's theme is far more universal than school shootings: How we grow away from our real selves and the damage that does to us and others.
I was very impressed by the way that Ms. Picoult viewed every character with mostly sympathy, even when you might think of them as being unsympathetic from the facts. Each character is also mildly funny. She doesn't let the tragedy pull us too far away from the realities of everyday life. It's an extraordinary storytelling gift.
If you are like me, you'll probably feel that your faith in people is increased by reading this story rather than the reverse. That reaction also surprised me.
No matter what your age is I think you'll find this book will draw you back into those turbulent teen years when being popular meant way too much. It'll be an intense and self-revealing visit.
Bravo, Ms. Picoult! This is a remarkable book.
Highly recommended.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Jodi Picoult gives the insight into so many different lives/minds and situations. This book showed how people are pushed into scenario's everyday and with the event of school shootings ever more present in American culture i got an insiders view. This felt like a reconstruction of what actually happened and happens in real school shootings. All seemingly fuelled by heirarchy and popularity at school. Even though we are meant to pity the victims in the story i couldnt help be compelled by the shooter and feel his pain more than any parent of the killed, and understood his situation and the attractiveness of guns to easily end a problem.
Another clever story i really enjoyed
Another clever story i really enjoyed
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Scots Lass
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
At the time that this book was launched there had been another tragic school shooting in America. It makes this book all the more moving and shocking that most readers will be able to recall hearing of at least one such incident on the news in recent years, yet Jodi Picoult has taken a difficult subject and produced a thought provoking read which is gripping and tense througout.
Peter kills 10 students in his High School. He has been the victim of bullying in every form from his first day at school and as the book moves from the present day to the past we can shudder with him as we read the descriptions of the intentional cruelty of the so-called "cool" kids to a boy who never done them any harm.
Judge Alex is fortunate that her daughter, Josie, survived - but having lost her boyfriend and claiming she has no memory of the events of that tragic day, why do the defence want her as a witness? Could their attempt to use "battered wife syndrome" really apply in this case - that a person subjected to daily abuse may suddenly and violently re-act the only way they can see?
Meanwhile, police chief Patrick is looking into the biggest case of his life and as the small town reels from the horror of the events with every family touched at some level, he begins to piece together the events that drove the almost "invisible" student to act as he did.
This book is not an easy read as the subject is one which appears likely to re-occur at some point in a school somewhere, however it is a thought provoking study of a difficult subject and although nothing can justify what Peter did - perhaps the reader can begin to understand why?
Peter kills 10 students in his High School. He has been the victim of bullying in every form from his first day at school and as the book moves from the present day to the past we can shudder with him as we read the descriptions of the intentional cruelty of the so-called "cool" kids to a boy who never done them any harm.
Judge Alex is fortunate that her daughter, Josie, survived - but having lost her boyfriend and claiming she has no memory of the events of that tragic day, why do the defence want her as a witness? Could their attempt to use "battered wife syndrome" really apply in this case - that a person subjected to daily abuse may suddenly and violently re-act the only way they can see?
Meanwhile, police chief Patrick is looking into the biggest case of his life and as the small town reels from the horror of the events with every family touched at some level, he begins to piece together the events that drove the almost "invisible" student to act as he did.
This book is not an easy read as the subject is one which appears likely to re-occur at some point in a school somewhere, however it is a thought provoking study of a difficult subject and although nothing can justify what Peter did - perhaps the reader can begin to understand why?
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 841 reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
Fabulous book, I really enjoyed reading this book, would definately recommend thAt you buy this, excellent read and rang a few warning bells about bullying in school!
Published 16 days ago by michelle b
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gets Under The Skin Of The Perpetrator
I gave this book a 5 star rating because I honestly couldn't put it down. It's quite a disturbing read for so many reasons; the subject matter obviously & then being cleverly... Read more
Published 18 days ago by J. A. Midgley
4.0 out of 5 stars
Couldn't put down
This book was really good and i couldn't put it down the whole time. Only thing is your dont really find out his motive for doing it on that day and why he killed the people he... Read more
Published 20 days ago by Bex19
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nineteen Minutes
Couldn't put it down. It dealt with a difficult scenario in a very sensitive way anbd provided much food for thought.
Published 28 days ago by Valerie BS
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
Jodi always writes amazing books that keep me enthralled for hours. This story is chilling and yet heart warming at the same time
Published 1 month ago by Erin Cornick
5.0 out of 5 stars
A thought provoking read, with a twist
For all Picoult fans an absolute must, topical and intreging. Any mother would fine this thought provoking. One of the best I've read. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Cc
4.0 out of 5 stars
Really good book!
A great read with twists through out-really recommend this , your able to really get attached to the characters :)
Published 1 month ago by sianagh mcdonald
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review of Nineteen Minutes
This is a most thought provoking book. Maybe a book to read it your child is not fitting in. It demonstrates that bullying should never be tolerated. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mrs VA Banyard Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
Stunning just couldn't switch off and have had to have it ripped out of my hands such was the compulsion to read it.
Published 1 month ago by Monsieur Grimmer
4.0 out of 5 stars
Gripping
A fascinating insight into families and relationships, looking at the fallout from terrible happenings. Gripping and terrible in equal measures.
Published 2 months ago by Cl Warburton
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
