Product Description

For the second time in her marriage, Mariah White catches her husband with another woman, and Faith, their seven-year-old daughter, witnesses every painful minute. In the aftermath of a sudden divorce, Mariah struggles with depression and Faith begins to confide in an imaginary friend.

At first, Mariah dismisses these exchanges as a child’s imagination. But when Faith starts reciting passages from the Bible, develops stigmata, and begins to perform miraculous healings, Mariah wonders if her daughter – a girl with no religious background – might indeed be seeing God. As word spreads and controversy heightens, Mariah and Faith are besieged by believers and disbelievers alike, caught in a media circus that threatens what little stability they have left.

Is Faith a prophet or a troubled little girl? Is Mariah a good mother facing an impossible crisis – or a charlatan using her daughter to get attention?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #43659 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-11
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 480 pages

Review
" 'Picoult offers a perfectly pitched take on the great mysteries of the heart' - Kirkus Reviews. 'Addictively readable, raising valid questions about religion without getting maudlin. For a novel, that in itself is a miracle' - Entertainment Weekly. 'Gripping - you'll be riveted by this multilayered tale of small-town intrigue.' Glamour on Salem Falls. 'This beautifully crafted novel will grab readers with its stunning topic' People Magazine on My Sister's Keeper. 'The novelist displays an almost uncanny ability to enter the skins of her trouble young protagonists.' New York Times on The Pact"

Review
'Picoult offers a perfectly pitched take on the great mysteries of the heart' (Kirkus Reviews )

'Addictively readable, raising valid questions about religion without getting maudlin. For a novel, that in itself is a miracle' (Entertainment Weekly )

'If you have not already discovered her gripping tales of family upheaval and modern moral dilemmas, make this the year you do. With its themes of marriage breakdown and religious belief, KEEPING FAITH, is as supenseful as any thriller, and full of raw emotion.'

'Jodi Picoult's novels often focus on lives turned upside down by some terrible event, and it's her way with the small emotional detail that makes them so rewarding.'

'Another fascinating and engrossing read by Picoult'

‘Picoult fans will not be disappointed. There is the usual compulsive writing, the insight into family and colourful characterisation . . . a pleasure to pick up, and impossible to put down’

'This is another cracker from Picoult'

'If you have not already discovered her gripping tales of family upheaval and modern moral dilemmas, make this the year you do. With its themes of marriage breakdown and religious belief, KEEPING FAITH, is as supenseful as any thriller, and full of raw emotion.'

Kirkus Reviews
'Picoult offers a perfectly pitched take on the great mysteries of the heart'

Customer Reviews

Another great Picoult!
Faith is a 7 year old little girl. "Keeping Faith" is the story of a custody battle between her mum Mariah, and her dad Colin - who gets to keep Faith?

7 years before the novel begins Mariah found out that her husband, Colin, was having an affair, and she fell to pieces. After a failed suicide attempt Colin has her committed to a mental hospital where she later finds out she is pregnant... with Faith. So when they let her out of the hospital she turns her life around and learns how to be a mum.

Then Colin does it again. This time she catches him in the act, and Faith also is witness to his infidelity. Separation is inevitable. Colin goes to live with his mistress and when the divorce is settled, he freely gives over custody of his daughter to Mariah.

However, neither of them account for what comes next. Faith starts to perform miracles and to show "stigmata", involuntary bleeding corresponding to Christ's wounds. Faith becomes the subject of media interest - TV, media, journalists, Rabbis, Fathers (as in the Catholic Church), priests, psychiatrists... they all want a piece of Faith. What in the world is happening to Faith? And why? Needless to say, all this attention results in Colin wanting his daughter back. Doubts creep in... is Mariah doing this to her? The heart-wrenching custody battle ensues.

Wonderfully researched, beautifully written. You can't fault Picoult here. She takes an explosive subject and skilfully weaves her way around the different arguments and religious and non-religious approaches. Very thought provoking, and a page-turning read!

Brilliant
I'm definitely a fan of Jodi Picoult and before reading `Keeping Faith' I'd read My Sisters Keeper, Vanishing Acts, The Pact, Plain Truth, Salem Falls & Perfect Match. I love Picoult's style of writing as she always manages to suck you in so you feel you know all the characters intimately. While I was disappointed with The Pact and Perfect Match I was not disappointed with Keeping Faith.

The story centers around Mariah, Colin and Faith White. Mariah and Faith arrive home unexpectedly and find Colin in bed with another woman. Colin has had many extra-marital affairs and the first time resulted in Mariah trying to take her life. Instead of getting her the help she needed Colin had her institutionalized for four months. While there Mariah found out she was pregnant with Faith. Faith is now 7yrs old and the one constant in Mariah's life. When Colin leaves after his latest dalliance Faith develops an imaginary friend. Mariah isn't too worried until Faith starts referring to her friend as God. Shortly afterwards Faith starts exhibiting stigmata and `healing' powers. When word of Faiths healing powers gets out every news crew and cult from here to kingdom-come flocks to the White's front lawn. When Colin sees the coverage of his daughter on the news he initiates legal proceedings to have full custody of Faith.

This is a fantastic book which I managed to read in about 3 days.....I probably would have finished it sooner only I had to go to pesky work! The characters are explained so well that you can almost picture them in you're mind as you're reading. Whatever your feelings about God and miracles this is one book that will have you wondering one way or the other. I definitely rank this book up on the best books list with My Sisters Keeper and Plain Truth.

Suspend your disbelief
If you're already a fan of Jodi Picoult, you'll be aware that her books tend to follow the format of serious decisions and dilemmas, legally, ethically, and maternally. She writes as if her books are pure crime stories - whodunnit, pageturner types - while simultaneously juggling the moral issue she's chosen to address. Somehow her style manages to perfectly balance the two, and she's come up with some difficult-to-define but incredibly gripping way of turning an ethical dilemma into a suspense novel that'll make you stay up reading till 2am.

Unlike some of her previous books, 'Keeping Faith' will require the average reader to suspend their disbelief a little in order to get totally involved. If you're put off by anything you think might verge on the religious or supernatural, this probably isn't the best JP novel to start with. If you're open to a little suggestion, jump in. When you're still awake at 2, don't say I didn't warn you.