Book Review of “The Book of Two Ways”

Resident Mimi O’Donnell’s review of The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult [New York: Random House, 2020] is scheduled to be shown on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 on TV 972 at 7 PM and directly after Charlestown Today which runs at 10 AM, Noon, 4 PM, 8 PM, and 10 PM.

Let me ask a question. Can you imagine a novel with explanations of Quantum Mechanics, Egyptology, superstitions, and the role of a death doula intertwined with riveting love stories? Neither could I. But Jodi Picoult has managed to incorporate these seemingly disparate topics into her novel The Book of Two Ways.

The story begins when Dawn Edelstein, a passenger on a long flight to Boston, hears the flight attendant say, “The pilot has announced a planned emergency.” She considers this to be an oxymoron and braces for the crash. Dawn is one of the lucky survivors. The airline offers a ticket to anywhere in the world. Does she choose to fly into her present or into her past? The main theme of the book is set by the end of the Prologue.

As a college student, Dawn had been fascinated by Egypt and spent her time in the scorching sun of the desert researching the iconography of the Book of Two Ways. She met Wyatt, another scholar working to translate the same book. Their work relationship progressed as did their intimate relationship. Suddenly, she got a call which interrupted her archeological pursuits; her life changed dramatically.

She met Brian, a physicist with a specialty in Quantum Mechanics, who became her husband and father to their daughter. Soon, she settled into a routine, and eventually became a death doula. This job entailed helping the dying live their last days fully in the best way possible in collaboration with hospice and medical professionals.

There are multiple dichotomies in this novel: life and death; choices we make or choices that are made for us; research versus routine; secrets and doubts; how we live our lives and how we want to be remembered.

As a quasi-art historian, I found the descriptions of Egyptian art, life, and culture of great interest, although some might find these parts of the book tedious. As a quasi-scientist, I marveled at Picoult’s ability to simplify Quantum Mechanics. Again, some might find this material extraneous. Picoult’s deft hand at merging these concepts kept me turning page after page.

I have read most of Picoult’s 20-plus novels … usually while vacationing … and have enjoyed her well- written stories of complicated familial ties, love relationships, and current issues. This novel was vastly different in that her significant research into difficult topics and her eloquent words held my attention. The powerful universal themes resonate with me and will also affect other readers facing mortality. I am glad that I own this book because I earmarked many passages I want to remember.

Janet Neer and Ellyn Loy, Book Review Coordinators