The Storyteller

by Jodi Picoult

At first, this book was easy to put down. I could forget about The Storyteller for long periods of time without wondering about it or caring what would happen next. However, this story started to slowly, slyly and unexpectedly seep into my heart. I was unable to put it down!

I feel as though it's better to go into this story completely blind. I will, however, give the basic plot even although I feel that it is mildly spoilery.The Storyteller is about Sage Singer, a baker, who befriends an elderly man named Josef Weber at her grief counseling group. Josef Weber is not the friendly old man that he appeared to be. He was an SS Soldier during Hitler's reign and wants Sage, who comes from a Jewish background, to kill him.

This book made the History student in me scream with delight. This book is all about the Holocaust. We learnt about the Holocaust in Grade 9 and we learnt about it in more detail two months ago. The story of Hitler, the Nazi's the Holocaust and the concentration camps are extremely accurate. It is also extremely brutal and sickening to read about.

This book made the person in me, who's interested in the human psyche', dance for joy. This book questions every single thing to do with humanity: What is the difference between good and evil? What makes a monster? Can a monster be good or bad? Is the world white, black or full of shades of grey? What makes us human? What is forgiveness? What is survival? Picoult's analysis of humanity, good vs evil, character, human survival and forgiveness vs revenge was spot on!

This book is told in multiple POV's and each POV is typed in a different font. There is Sage, the main character, Josef, Leo, Minka and a fictional story that is woven into the main story. Each characters POV shows their personality and their backstory. I felt as though each POV was done extremely well. My favourite POV was Minka's, which I will explain later in this review, and my least favourite was Josef's.

This book made me emotional. I don't cry when I'm sad, I cry when I'm angry and I definitely don't cry when I read a book. I didn't cry when reading The Storyteller, but this book! Minka's POV made my eyes burn and water slightly. Minka is a Holocaust survivor and the story that she told was realistic, terrifying, sad and hopeful. I understood everything that she felt. That's an understatement! I felt everything that she felt and so much more!

Jodi Picoult has an amazing writing style and every single word of hers drew me deeper into her story until I was so engrossed in it that I couldn't get out, no matter how much I tried. I abandoned my homework, my projects and checked out of life just so that I finish this amazing book.

GO READ THE STORYTELLER!