The Book of Two Ways

A Novel

By: Jodi Picoult

Narrated by: Patti Murin

Number one New York Times best seller

From the author of Small Great Things and A Spark of Light comes a “powerful” (The Washington Post) novel about the choices that alter the course of our lives.

Everything changes in a single moment for Dawn Edelstein. She’s on a plane when the flight attendant makes an announcement: Prepare for a crash landing. She braces herself as thoughts flash through her mind. The shocking thing is, the thoughts are not of her husband but of a man she last saw 15 years ago: Wyatt Armstrong.

Dawn, miraculously, survives the crash, but so do all the doubts that have suddenly been raised. She has led a good life. Back in Boston, there is her husband, Brian, their beloved daughter, and her work as a death doula, in which she helps ease the transition between life and death for her clients. But somewhere in Egypt is Wyatt Armstrong, who works as an archaeologist unearthing ancient burial sites, a career Dawn once studied for but was forced to abandon when life suddenly intervened. And now, when it seems that fate is offering her second chances, she is not as sure of the choice she once made.

After the crash landing, the airline ensures that the survivors are seen by a doctor, then offers transportation to wherever they want to go. The obvious destination is to fly home, but she could take another path: Return to the archaeological site she left years before, reconnect with Wyatt and their unresolved history, and maybe even complete her research on The Book of Two Ways — the first known map of the afterlife.

As the story unfolds, Dawn’s two possible futures unspool side by side, as do the secrets and doubts long buried with them. Dawn must confront the questions she’s never truly asked: What does a life well lived look like? When we leave this Earth, what do we leave behind? Do we make choices...or do our choices make us? And who would you be if you hadn’t turned out to be the person you are right now?

©2020 Jodi Picoult (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“A thrilling adventure ... With Picoult’s stories, there is always something new to learn, and The Book of Two Ways is no exception.... A fun and interesting read, one that will lead readers to both learn a lot and also ask themselves key questions about how to create happy lives for themselves during the short time we have on earth.” (Associated Press)

“Picoult’s fans will appreciate this multifaceted, high-concept work.” (Publishers Weekly)

"Picoult’s fans will be more than ready for this puzzle of a novel.... [They] will find heady themes to consider.” (Booklist)

More great things I never knew

it's always fascinating to me how Jodi Picoult can take a topic I may not want to read about or agree with and weave it into a story that I truly love and appreciate the insight it gives me.
This book book was not only that, but a beautiful artistically woven full circle story that had me moved, confused, amazed and perplexed with every stroke of her pen.

Intrinsic juxtaposition of times

This book was different than others I’ve read by the same author, more thought provoking and less moralistic. And I agree this was the proper ending.

Beautiful & Insightful

I never in my wildest thoughts a Jodi P book would submerge me in all things Egypt and death but I loved every second of it. I could say so much but I'm choosing not too because you have to read/listen to this book to understand the magnitude of it.
just amazing.

Caught me off guard

First of all, I still enjoy Jodi’s writing and storytelling. I think she’s fantastic.
This book caught me off guard. I enjoy the books that make me check my bias, learn and grow internally. Although this novel was informative and brought vivid description of the pains and fortunes of the archeology aspect within Egyptology.
I was so frustrated by Dawn/Olive the main character, I had to stop the recording and just breathe.
At a few points, I was shouting out loud about how selfish I felt she was! The contradictions of her actions from the things she aligned herself with in her life exasperating. Mother, wife, death doula, guardian of her brother, and lover (of two men). One whom she vanished from then just reappeared and smoothly starts back up the relationship! Like that happens all the time! The naivety of Olive’s actions drove me insane.
Knowing Jodi’s books help me do an internal bias check, I thought, am I showcasing any of these attributes of this main character that might be triggering my discomfort with her?
So I kept reading, listening, looking for something. The only place I could align myself with Olive was as a teenager when I was growing into my adult years and indeed ‘played small games within my young relationships!
And I grew out of that. Learning from those mistakes to be accountable for my actions and their ripple effect on others. Ta-Da!
The ending was a fitting closure for Olive in the steady noncommittal nature sense. I didn’t like it. After the plot peaked, I would have liked seeing internal growth of this character.
It would have reinforced all of the concepts that were brought up within the story. From pain and fortune in the study of Egyptology to life and death to love and loss to screwing up and forgiveness to parenting and child growth to pros/cons of marriage and adulthood.
In the end I found myself wondering if an editor shaved the book down and what her manuscript looked like. I’d love to have coffee with Jodi and get her thoughts on this book,
I’m still a big fan—and this book is ‘finished’.

Disappointed

Having read a previous book by this author I was looking forward to reading this book. However it never really engaged me and it was a struggle to get to the end. The storyline jumped all over the place, the narrators English accent was distracting and the ending inconclusive. Overall disappointing.

the best of the best

As usual, Jodi exceeds her own high standards as well as my great expectations. The reader for this audio book was stellar. I feel like these are members of my family who i can't stand to have grow up and move out. And the spiritualism and rituals were extremely helpful as I peer down the short way to my mothers final bow. I cannot thank you enough.

Where is the epilogue?

It’s an excellent book. So well written. Amazing characters and you can get completely lost in the book. I’m certain it was a Herculean effort to get us there and so much to learn about Egyptology and quantum physics in order to write this. Very well done. I was however disappointed that there was no epilogue and felt we needed a look at the future. As a reader I was personally disappointed not to have one

Great story

Loved the content and story line. Really moves well. Characters were well developed as always. Interesting with the Egyptian elements. The Book of Two Ways is fascinating. It would be nice for the author to have ended this book letting the reader know or her daughter which she chose. The path lead to Wyatt. Although, in psychics and in the Book of Two Ways, it might be an alternative universe idea. Disliked the ending.

Not her best

This was interesting and I learned things, typical of a Picoult book, but the constant back and forth in time took away from the story. It was quite a build up for a meh ending.

A must feel, see, think and read!

This book will take your breathe away...on a few occasions, as you follow through to the end it builds incredibly like the waves in the ocean. You will find yourself rethinking your construct, critical thinking and asking some questions.