Product Description

Delia Hopkins has led a charmed life. Raised in rural New Hampshire by her widowed father Andrew, she now has a young daughter, a handsome fiance, and her own Search and Rescue bloodhound - which she uses to find missing persons. But as she plans her wedding, she is plagued by flashbacks of a life she can't recall. Then a policeman shows up at her door, arresting her father for the kidnap of a little girl. And Delia's past and present fracture into little pieces. "Vanishing Acts" is a book about the very nature and power of memory. It explores what happens when the past we have been running from catches up to us, and questions who we trust to tell us the story of our lives before we are capable of remembering it ourselves.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #273420 in Books
• Published on: 2005-06-20
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 432 pages

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. Approaching each carefully chosen subject with relish, and backed up with meticulous research, she creates the kind of satisfying emotional conundrums that have her fans wondering about what they would have done in the exact same circumstances, long after they've turned the final page of her latest novel. At the heart of this enjoyable novel are two gripping questions: how can you manage to be a good parent in difficult circumstances, and what happens when you take action that's morally right but legally wrong. Picoult provides no pat answers; instead this book encourages debate and discussion.' -- Eithne Farry, Daily Mail 'A gripping tale of trust, love and forgotten memories... Picoult creates a story so compelling that, as the narrative skips between the past and present, you'll be so desperate to find out what happens next, you'll end up feverishly reading when you should be doing things like getting off the train or taking dinner out of the oven. If you're after a book that will have you utterly enthralled and stay with you long after you've finished it, look no further' 5 stars (out of 5) -- Heat 'Gripping read ... never slips into straightforwardly familiar territory, and successfully avoids being overly sentimental' -- Guardian 'Picoult takes a red hot topic and turns it into a gripping and thought-provoking novel.' -- Woman & Home 'This is typical Jodi Picoult - taking on emotive issues and delivering twists, with never any guarantee of a happy ending.' -- Huddersfield Daily Examiner 'A gripping and absorbing story about the power of memory.' -- Royston Crew 'Picoult demonstrates her skill in tackling emotive issues and challenging preconceptions. She excels at exploring profound emotional states and providing twist upon twist - storytelling at its best ... This is a captivating and thought-provoking novel, which forces us to think hard about the true concept of right and wrong.' -- Books Quarterly 'Captivating and thought-provoking novel' -- Books Quarterly 'Compelling ... I defy you not to be hooked.' -- Peterborough Evening Telegraph 'An emotional and powerful book about the power of memory and how trust can often be misplaced.' -- Women's Weekly 'The novel is slick and pacey and the author has done her research ... if you like a brisk read with a soft centre, this is the novel for you.' -- The Sunday Times 'Elegant, spare prose with the punch of a populist thriller' -- Elle 'Brilliant, thought-provoking page turner' -- Leisure Options, South Africa "Picoult makes us ponder the ambiguous relationships between love and lying, legality and morality; the strange ways repressed memories leak into the present." -- LA Times '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. Approaching each carefully chosen subject with relish, and backed up with meticulous research, she creates the kind of satisfying emotional conundrums that have her fans wondering about what they would have done in the exact same circumstances, long after they've turned the final page of her latest novel.' -- Daily Mail 'Highly enjoyable ... Picoult has an eye for detail and is a dab hand at plot twists' -- Suzie Doore, Waterstone's 'Jodi Picoult is guaranteed to become a bestseller' -- Lisa Milton, BCA 'It's a very long time indeed since I discovered a new author whose books I have enjoyed so much' -- Helen Ward, WH Smith 'Gripping, moving and thought-provoking ... Jodi Picoult is an author to watch' -- Ann Walker, Ottakar's 'If you're after a book that will have you utterly enthralled and stay with you long after you've finished it, look no further.' -- Olivia Cooke, Heat 'The narrative never slips into straightforwardly familiar territory, and successfully avoids being overly sentimental.' -- Guardian 20050618 'An emotional and powerful book about the power of memory and how trust can often be misplaced.' -- Women's Weekly 20050618 'The novel is slick and pacey and the author has done her research ... if you like a brisk read with a soft centre, this is the novel for you.' -- The Sunday Times 20050618 'Elegant, spare prose with the punch of a populist thriller' -- Elle 20050618

Guardian
'The narrative never slips into straightforwardly familiar territory, and successfully avoids being overly sentimental.'