Sing You Home

A Novel

By: Jodi Picoult

Narrated by: Thérèse Plummer, Brian Hutchison, Mia Barrow, Michele O’Medlin

From the award-winning, number one New York Times best-selling author whom USA Today calls a “master of the page-turner” comes the spectacular story of a woman’s complex quest to form a family.

Every life has a soundtrack. All you have to do is listen.

Music has set the tone for most of Zoe Baxter’s life. There’s the melody that reminds her of the summer she spent rubbing baby oil on her stomach in pursuit of the perfect tan. A dance beat that makes her think of using a fake ID to slip into a nightclub. A dirge that marked the years she spent trying to get pregnant.

For better or for worse, music is the language of memory. It is also the language of love.

In the aftermath of a series of personal tragedies, Zoe throws herself into her career as a music therapist. When an unexpected friendship slowly blossoms into love, she makes plans for a new life, but to her shock and inevitable rage, some people - even those she loves and trusts most - don’t want that to happen.

Sing You Home is about identity, love, marriage, and parenthood. It’s about people wanting to do the right thing for the greater good, even as they work to fulfill their own personal desires and dreams. And it’s about what happens when the outside world brutally calls into question the very thing closest to our hearts: family.

©2011 Jodi Picoult (P)2019 Simon & Schuster

good book, terrible singing

Jodi is one of my favorite authors and I lived the story line but getting through the songs was just painful. she's definitely not a songwriter. but, I still would recommend this book. just fast forward the songs.

Song

I enjoyed this book as I got more into it. I didn’t like the singing. I believe the songs told a bit more about the story, but I would have preferred a narrative instead. I skipped pass the songs.

Not my type of book

If I had read the description a little closer I wouldn’t have chose this book to listen. The values this book is trying to normalize goes against my beliefs, and to hear it being discussed in a way that dishonors God, I didn’t agree nor did I want to listen.

Great story

Lovely narrators and songs. This is the first book i listened which includes songs in it. A great experience.

Different for Picoult

I enjoyed the music that was added to this book. The religious talk against homosexuality almost drove me to stop listening. But I guess that was part of the point of the book. Religious fanatics!!

good story

This was a good story, but I thought minimized the strength and power of women. A slant to a male saving the day took away from the story.

I hated the singer’s voice

I read SING YOU HOME in one sitting. I loved the story, but was disappointed at the portrayal of Zoe's work with Lucy. Talk about an unprofessional therapist. The scene in the cafeteria is would never, ever happen. A therapist would never tell a bunch of cafeteria workers that her client is suicidal--that's against HIPPA and any code of ethics or conduct known to man. Then later in the trial-- there's a question about medical records as it applies to HIPPA so that's a huge inconsistency. Zoe jumps to conclusions that Lucy is lesbian because she says, "not a boy" but never considers the possibility that it could be TONS of other things, like the girl was being molested for starters. She talks about countertransference earlier, which leads us to believe that Zoe is self aware, yet she doesn't realize the other possibilities.
Also, we are led to believe that Clive spends his time crusading against gays, yet he doesn't realize that his own step-daughter is seeing Zoe for music therapy or that her guidance counselor, who is out of the closet to some, is gay. What about after the trial starts? Additionally, Vanessa talks about Lucy's (step)father, but neither Vanessa nor Clive realize who each other is, even at the start of the trial. Zoe has read Lucy's file--her stepfather's name would have been in that file. Lucy's mother would have her current husband's last name, not Dubois Lucy's last name.
While I am against everything the character Clive stands for, I think his character was not well developed. He seemed like a cookie-cutter Fred Phelps wannabe. How does this show "both sides" of the story when the bad guys have no redeeming qualities. Even the murderer on death row had redeeming qualities in one of Picoult's other books.

I liked the story, even though it was a bit predictable. I figured our Lucy was Clive's daughter (or rather step daughter) very early on. I loved the character's of Zoe and Vanessa and their relationship, even though it seemed a little too perfect. It wasn't Jodi's best work.

The music left a lot to be desired. After finally listening to the CD I want those 35 minutes back. I kept hoping the songs would be better. I didn't like the vocalist's voice. I picture's Zoe having a grainier, more soulful voice. I'd have rather paid less for the book w/o the CD.

Loved it

Great story, I was in all the emotions. the songs didn't bother me like other, I focused on the lyrics. great listen

Not my favorite

I didn’t Mind the content, but questioned the research…too simplistic. My least favorite book of a beloved author.

Distracted by one narrator

Please please please re-record this book with a different narrator for Vanessa.
I was startled by the fast ending. It felt like the author was pressed for time to write the conclusion.