My Sisters Keeper by Jodi Picoult - Book Report/Review Example

?Client’s My Sister’s Keeper, by Jodi Picault 2 February 2005: Journal Entries First Response Jodi Picault, in her novel My Sister’s Keeper, explores an emotionally charged topic about love and the use of the body through a story that discusses a teen’s choice to sue to have the right to not undergo anymore procedures to save her sister. Having been conceived in order to be a donor for her sister, at the age of thirteen she files suit in order to end the countless surgeries and procedures that have gone into saving the life of her illness ridden sister. The twist at the end provides meaning to the idea of love within a family, her sacrifice more than merely the use of her body. The child risked her parent’s love in order to serve the needs of her sister in a way that is both riveting and heartbreaking. In discussing the natures of family, death, and love, Picault explores the focus of a family that is in the wake of a devastating illness that is ravaging the life of the older child. Picault writes in the prologue a quote from Carl von Clausewitz which states that “No one starts a war – or rather, no one in his sense ought to – without first being clear in his mind what he intends to achieve by that war and how he intends to conduct it” (Picault 1). In the protagonist’s life, death was a presence that had hovered over her from the time she was born. She conceived to be the hero and to hold her sister’s life in her hands. She had been burdened with a responsibility that an adult has difficulty with, let alone a child. Her body was a material through which the life of her sister was re-crafted, over and over. When Anna chooses to take her parents to court to sue for the right to have a say over what is done to her body, the reader understands that what Anna has been through is more than any child should have to endure. The story of love that lies under this act, however, is deeper than most adults are able to conceive. Initial Response The response to this book is as it should be expected, with tears and emotional feelings about one’s own family and how it relates to the events in the story even though they can be very different to this family. Emotions erupt in a flurry of almost incomprehensible flashes. A story this powerful and which reaches into the core of human relationships is sometimes difficult to sort out when it is first ended and the impact of it begins to reach its peak. If the reader has ever lost anyone to illness, it is likely that the emotions of that period in their life will resurface. In addition, if family relationships in one’s life do not have the same level of love and appreciation, those feelings too can mix into all of the other feelings that come about from reading the novel. Picault has a way of reaching into the core of the reader and pulling the most tender and raw emotions about real life relationships to the surface. This story is complex, but reveals the relationships in appropriate increments as the tale is told through the perspectives of the different members of the family. At a moment of impending crisis, one that this family is used to occurring, Anna tells the readers that “Lately, I have been having nightmares, where I’m cut to so many pieces that there isn’t enough of me to put back together” (Picault 6). This can be read in many different ways, one of which is that she is tired of being used as a surgical resource, but the other that the anticipation of her sister’s fate is going to dissect her emotionally until she is not the same. One of the themes in the novel is that of transformation. The complex emotions in the bulk of the book eventually lead to a transformation of all the members involved. What I learned from this book was that love means quietness and sacrifice. It isn’t about showing the world how much you love someone, but showing them you love them by doing what they ask or doing what is best, despite the potentially bad outcome for yourself. Love is not a loud thing, but something that is inside more than out. You can scream to the heavens about how much you love someone, but what you do will show them that you love them. What you sacrifice, without telling anyone else, even that person, is what proves love. Doing is the act of love, not declaring. Something else that I discovered about myself through reading this book is that some of the things I have done and told no one about may have been the most important things I ever did or will do in my life. Plot and Other Mechanics Anna is set up to be seen as selfish from the beginning of the book. She tells the story of putting a pillow over her sister’s face when she was only three, suggesting that she wanted her sister to die. This is foreshadowing to the events that she will put into action that will eventually lead to the end when death comes within the story. The plot is not so complex as to hold the secrets too tightly, but is still complex enough to hold all of the emotions that the characters need to process what is occurring within the story. The setting of the story is in the United States in Upper Darby, Rhode Island which is a fictional town. The vernacular with which the language and the social context are used places it in the approximate present. Calculating from 1990 when Kate is two, the year of the story is 2004. When Anna says to the lawyer, Campbell Alexander “My sister is dying and my mother wants me to donate one of my kidneys to her” then follows with “Somehow I don’t think a handful of free condoms is going to take care of that”, the point of view has switched and the perspective of the lawyer is telling the story (Picault 27). Switching the perspective is one of the mechanics of the story. I find that I am drawn to the moments when Anna speaks, her life really the most interesting one in the book. Her perspective is complicated. She is a child, but not a child. She sees the world as complex, but still relates most of it to black and white ideals. Her world is complicated by adult emotions that she filters through the 13 years she has lived as if she can contain them. She cannot and the choices she has to make and the sacrifices she was born to make are terrifying as they are necessary. It is important to understand that the environment of the family seems to be set in the middle class as the father is a fireman. The hardship of the family from a financial perspective does not seem to have the impact that might be expected. The costs of living with a very ill child do not seem to impact the family near to the extent that the meaning of living with a child who is ill has on the family. Pleas to God do not seem to be an important factor either as the family works towards using scientific means to save their child. The mother, Sara, fights for her child with a conviction that is not always possible. Her life is dedicated to Kate. Jesse, her son, and Anna, the sacrificial child, are almost immaterial to her. Anna is actually named Andromeda which places her squarely in the sacrificial context. Major Character Profiles The story is a set of character profiles as each of the characters tell their part of the story. The development of differing points of view contributes to telling the story through a very emotional perspective, each set of perceptions being evaluated in context with the events that are taking place. In order to understand how this story has meaning, the method used to construct the story gives a higher level of emotion than would a third person narrative or merely one person’s perspective on the events. While the family is centered on Kate, the book is centered on Anna. Her life has been unusual, more so than anyone else in the family. She was designed to be used for parts, and therefore she had a purpose that was higher than most. This also places a great burden upon her, but she has born that burden well. Even as Kate believes her life is coming to a close, it is still Anna who has to bear the weight of that end. She becomes the bad guy in order to allow Kate to die without having that last surgery that Kate thinks will kill her. Key words: strong, burdened, proactive Kate is the focus of life within this family. Her illness has caused them to act in ways that are not for the good of the many, but focused on the good of Kate. Kate has pain and lives in a state of illness, but in truth she is the least affected by the events of the story. Her life is focused on herself, but the lives of those around her are also focused on her. They have very little other than her needs in their focus, even as the Anna and Jesse try to cope with growing up and dealing with the effects of having a very ill sister. While she understands her place in the family, she also knows what life has been like for her family where her illness is concerned. She sees an end to their pain. Key Words: Kind, realistic, compassionate Jesse acts out in order to get the attention of his parents, but believing that this attention will never come. Jesse sets fires and his father is a fireman. He has also isolated himself in the attic room above the garage, providing an escape for his parents so they do not really have to deal with him. His participation in Anna’s lawsuit is curious, but it appears that he has a deeper understanding of how this will affect his family. Key Words: plagued, delinquent, secondary Sara, the mother in the family, is a former lawyer who chose to leave her profession to take care of her family. Being a mother was the fulfillment that her life needed. It is possible, as horrible as it is, Kate’s illness gave her the cause that the drive to be a lawyer had once given to her. She declares after finding out that her daughter is ill that Kate would survive. The prognosis was that with treatment Kate would live to be about five, but as the novel begins Kate has lived to be sixteen. A meaningful quote from one of her narrations states “I learn from my own daughter that you don’t have to be awake to cry” (Picault 40). Key words: focused, tunnel-vision, driven Brian is the father in the family. His input died the day that Sara took up the cause of their daughter. One thing that seems strange is that the author seems more detached with Brian, as if she can’t quite grasp his character as well as the others. Brian accepts that his daughter’s life has a shelf life. He knows they have beaten the odds, and now that the leukemia has been put under control, her body is worn out and her kidneys are failing her. It is through his wisdom that perspective is placed on the condition, rather than the burden of Anna or the drive of Sara. Still, the writing seems to pull away from the context of his emotions in a way that is not the case with the female characters. Brian notices, however, when Anna changes and he suspects something has changed in the overall trajectory of the story. Key Words: Aware, distant, practical Campbell Alexander understands being trapped in a body that you have little control over. His own condition, epilepsy, robs him of control in ways that are difficult to deal with socially. One of his ways of dealing with it has been to hold others at a distance so his condition cannot influence their opinion of him. He relates to Anna because of this problem and as he is given the right to speak for her, he takes something of his own lack of control back. Key Words: Compassionate, involved, driven. Point of View As shown, the story is told from the first person, but through the perspectives of the main characters. This gives full understanding of what the characters are going through in their experiences with the events. The most important perspective, however, is that of Anna who provides a balance in the middle of the storm. She tells the story matter of fact so that the reader can begin to see all sides of the conflict. Her life has been unfair, but she also sees her sacrifices as a part of her identity. Of all the characters, despite her internal conflicts over the nature of her creation, she seems to have a clear idea of who she is and what she was created to do. Plot Summary: Anna sues in order to gain the right over her own body, stopping the kidney transplant her sister needs. In an ironic twist, Anna is killed and Kate receives her kidney, living at least six more years as the story extends the narration to that point. Plot Line 1990 Kate is two years old and it is discovered that she has acute promyelocytic leukemia Anna is conceived in order to save Kate’s life – which is successful Kate comes out of remission and Anna serves as ‘parts’ for Kate repeatedly Kate’s kidneys begin to fail and Anna is set to be a donor so Kate has a new kidney Anna contacts Campbell Alexander to sue to have the medical rights over her own body Anna’s mother, who was a lawyer before she was a mother, represents herself and her husband. Because of the tension between herself and her mother, Anna moves in with her father at the fire station. It is discovered that Jesse has been setting fires. The first climax occurs as it is revealed in the courtroom that Anna only filed the lawsuit because Kate wanted her to do it. Kate believes she will die. The judge rules for Anna and the lawyer, Alexander, is given medical power of attorney. When they are driving home, the care with Alexander and Anna is struck, leaving her brain dead Campbell Alexander is ok, but when he hears that Anna is brain dead, he gives permission for the transfer of her kidney to Kate. Kate lives and continues to live for at least six years, becoming a dance instructor. Kate believes that Anna died because only one of them could live. Climax There are two climaxes to the story. The first is when it is revealed that Anna filed the lawsuit on behalf of the wishes that Kate had in not going through with the surgery. At this point in the story it is clear that Anna never wanted to deny Kate a kidney, but to respect her wishes to be left alone so she could die in relative peace. This resolves the conflict between doing what is right for Anna and doing what she must. Sara does not understand, but Brian seems to see his daughters more clearly. The second climax comes as Anna is injured in the car wreck. This allows for Anna to complete her purpose in life and save Kate’s life, even though it cost her life. I did not care for the ending of the book. It seemed to tidy to wrap it up with Anna dying and Kate living a long life after. It was unexpected, but it did not seem realistic. The emotional context of the novel was based upon a life that had lasted far longer than expected, discussing the rights of the individual over their body. In the end, however, Kate lost her right to reject the surgery and Anna lost her right to help Kate die with dignity. Opening Chapter The book begins by characterizing Anna as selfish. The book ends with her having sacrificed everything for her sister, even into death. One of the first thing she tells is that when she was three years old she tried to kill her sister, her father aware of what she was doing telling her that they should forget that it happened. The reader sees Anna as someone who might be without redemption. Then the family is revealed and the some of the compassion that Anna deserves begins to become a part of the reader’s experience. The first few pages are emotionally simple, creating deeper and deeper complexity as they move forward. The reader sees Sara for her need to be somewhat frivolous, living an imaginary life for a few moments by buying extravagant gowns and then returning, only for the event of trying them on. Kate is watching television and crying because she is grieving over the storyline on her soap opera. Despite Sara’s concern for her health, and then her subsequent involvement in the soap opera, it is Anna that knows that Kate is in pain and that her kidneys are causing her difficulty. This is the scene that sets into motion the acts that Anna performs in order to support her sister. That bond is stronger than anyone realizes for quite some time during the book. Commentary The significance of the title is monumental on a number of different levels. The book is defined by the way in which Anna keeps the will of her sister and guards it through her own sacrifices. She has contributed to the life that Kate has had through physical contributions, and through the plot of the book she is helping Kate to find dignity in death. In her own death, Anna has fulfilled fate and allowed Kate to continue living despite Kate’s belief it was her time to die. Kate keeps Anna alive by her own life, living and holding onto her memory so at least in that she is keeping her close. Anna is responsible for Kate until her ultimate sacrifice means that Kate can go on by herself. The beginning of the book sets the tone. The book begins by describing the resentment and anguish that comes from dealing with the illness of someone in the family. The beginning allows the reader to start from the place where most people live in this situation – in a state of anger at fate, the world, or maybe even God. The author gives the reader an authentic experience in this world, even in the revelations of Anna’s sacrifices that give deeper context to the love within a family. The setting allowed for the contemporary medical and legal world to mesh well together. It also allowed for the themes of transformation, sacrifice, and death to be felt through understanding contemporary life. Three cause and effect relationships are found between Sara and Brian, Anna and Kate, and Anna and Campbell. Sara and Brian are two very different people and where Sara has drive, Brian has awareness. When Sara tries to keep moving forward, Brian can stand back and see how the events are affecting his family. Anna makes great sacrifices for Kate, even risking the love of her parents in order to satisfy her sister’s needs. Campbell gives Anna respect, thus providing her with the tools to see her through the ordeal. The rain in the book provides a reason for the accident, but through the rain coming down and seeing the perspectives of the various characters, there is foreshadowing that a transformative event is about to occur. Style The style of the book is developed through the concept of perspective. As each of the characters develops their narratives, the story is revealed through how the speaking character views the events. I would have ended it more like the film of the same name in which the right of Kate to choose her death was given respect. I feel this is likely because of the experiences of the author that she relates at the beginning of the book where her own child had ten surgeries in three years. Interpretation Questions: Questions for Jodi Picault 1. Did you put some form of wish fulfillment into the use of Anna to save Kate at the end? 2. Did the loss of Anna represent some loss you personally had in your life? 3. What would you change about the book? 4. How did you feel about the message difference in the film compared to your ending? 5. Why did Anna die? Personal Relevance I have had loss in my life, so I understand the types of sacrifices that come from caring for someone who was sick for a very long time. The impact that someone has on your life when they are dying makes you sometimes resentful and sometimes hateful. The pain and the inability to change what is happening bring up selfish feelings that are hard to manage. At the same time, little sacrifices that you tell no one about become the true nature of the experience. All of the private selfish feelings that you have are balanced by the sacrifices that you make that no one knows you did. This book helped to clarify how both the selfish feelings and the sacrifices are normal and a part of the process. Some bits of all of the characters in the family were familiar because of the complexity of feelings that prolonged illness can create. Read More