Meeting Jodi Picoult

Beth (friend), Nikki (sister) and me meeting Jodi Picoult

I had a chance to meet one of my favorite authors Friday - Jodi Picoult. After pouring through more than half of her books (and ever hunting down another one at the library), I was so excited to hear her read and speak. She's the author of about 20 fiction books that examine current hot topics. You're probably most familiar with "My Sister's Keeper," which was also made into a film.

Her presentation was engaging and fun, and she came across as very down-to-earth and warm. She spoke about her newest book "Lone Wolf," about a wolf researcher who nearly dies in a terrible car accident. While he's on life support with little to no chance of ever getting off, his children must decide when and if to end his life.

Never one to tell people what to think in her books (though she says she's plenty happy to do so in person,) Picoult uses richly developed characters to blur the lines of issues that we like to draw so clearly. A fast-moving, engaging story carries us along as we're forced to think about our own beliefs and ideas, and why we think that way.

I never set a book down and just walk away.

I'm always left thinking, weighing ideas, wondering what it would take to make me think differently.

And that's definitely one of my signs of a good book.

You can read more about Picoult and her books at http://jodipicoult.com/.