Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult
Plain Truth tells the story of an 18-year-old Amish girl, Katie Fisher, who secretly gives birth to a child out of wedlock. Mysteriously the baby disappears and a few hours later is found dead in the barn located on the Fisher farm. After an initial investigation, Katie is charged with murder and a Philadelphia attorney, Ellie Hathaway, is set to defend her case. Adding to the fascination of this particular murder trial is the fact that Katie Fisher is Amish, and the Amish convictions are very different from others in the English world. The fact that an Amish man, who by nature does not believe in confrontation and violence, would kill another is entirely unheard of.
The thing about the Amish culture is that they have an unspoken standard of procedures to follow. Everything they do, everything they say has to follow a certain set of rules and regulations. The Amish people are known for their faithfulness and piousness in Christ. They are also known to be demure, honest and pure. Like…saints. Maybe even Angels.
So when Katie finds herself pregnant, she tries to convince herself that everything that is happening is a total lie. She tried to hide the truth hoping that by doing so the truth will not be a reality. However, after the police found a death baby at the back of the farm, investigations started and all hell broke loose. After rounds of investigations and court trials, she was only admitted to a year in prison. This is mainly because of the fact that her lawyer, Ellie, managed to convince the judge that she being an Amish, who doesn’t even have the courage and heart to even kill an insect. What more a new-born?
So what’s the cause of the baby’s death? You guys should read this novel to find out!
It’s a really interesting novel. It definitely kept me up all night trying to solve the mystery as to how the baby died. If it’s not Katie, who would it be and why? The answer to that question is something I never expected. It’s really amazing to know how people around the world can lead a totally different life, a totally different culture and belief. The things people would do just to please everyone around them except themselves…
Jodi Picoult has a brilliant way of writing and it never fails to amaze me. Her novels always end with a brilliant twist that will leave you hanging. This is no exception!
PS: & yes a movie about this was released in the year 2004. Time for me to watch it now! (:
Plain Truth is a very intricate and richly detailed tapestry of Amish life and a court case that shocked the small town of East Paradise Township. Each page turned revealed a little more of the mystery and added to the bewilderment and beauty of the story. There is much to be said about this novel because it is so much more than just what is written on the back of the book. It is truly a three dimensional piece of work that kept me in awe and rapt attention until the surprising (and completely unalluded to) ending. A novel of true page-turner status that will reveal bits and pieces, layer by layer, until the very end.
-Dianna Johnston
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