My sisters keeper

[radiantquest]

When I started the book I had a defined opinion about the situation. I felt that it was cruel to concieve this baby just for parts for the other daughter. Now I wonder if it is all that bad. It is not like they neglect her or treat her differently than the other daughter. Of course one sister wants to help the other sister. Granted it is a hard life for her, but now I am on the fence. I am not sure how I feel about it. I wanted to get your opinions.

 

[somethingshiny]

First off, I think the book was terribly written. I haven''t seen the movie, but I think it''d HAVE to be better than the book.


And let me preface this by saying (for those who are unaware) this is a novel, not a biography.


I still think it''s wrong. I love my son dearly and would do anything to save his life and reduce his pain whenever possible. But, the thought of putting another innocent soul on this planet specifically to save the first? No way. (God did it once and once is enough) It seems like they treat her equally (except for the organ harvesting) but she still knew why she was born and it wasn''t the standard "because we wanted a baby" or "we had so much love we wanted to share". So, have they done the best the could with the situation AFTER they chose to have this child? Probably. But that doesn''t make up for the reason the child was brought into the world. And even the girl figured that out by the time she was 13. It is disgusting that this girl has to fight for her own health against her parents of all people.




Stop here if you have not finished the book!!!!









As far as the ending of the book, I thought it was weird. It was like saying that Anna was wrong to have fought in the first place and look what she got for her trouble. And, it solidified that she really was brought into the world to save her sister.

 

[packrat]

I remember years ago a story in Reader''s Digest about a couple that did this. They had a daughter who had whatever problems-it''s been sooo long ago, I don''t recall exactly what. But they did have a child to save the 1st child. Marissa and Alyssa were the names..something like that anyway. I remember wondering what goes through the youngest childs mind..does she think mom and dad only love her b/c she has the potential to save the oldest child? And there was no guarantee that if they had another child, she would have the right compatabilities to save the eldest, regardless. So then what? What if they have the 2nd specifically to save the 1st-and then it doesn''t work? How would the parents feel about the 2nd child, and how would the 2nd child feel about themselves, knowing full well that''s why they were born?

I wondered all the same things when I read the book. I doubt I''ll see the movie. I remember crying when I read the book, but not much else about the ending or the rest of it.

 

[ChinaCat]

So just to play devil's advocate:

If you were already planning on having another child, and you knew having another one could possibly save your first, you wouldn't do ANYTHING possible to save your child? You wouldn't have another just in case it appeared like you didn't want the second?

Just curious. Not sure how I feel about the morality of it all, just can't imagine not doing everything possible to save a child. And you get another wonderful child out of it?

 

[somethingshiny]

In response to chinacat, I think the issue boils down to what you believe religiously. Obviously this is not the place to discuss it, but I think different religious "ethics" and "destinies" would be involved.

However, I feel completely differently if their is already a sibling. I don''t think creating a child for the sake of another is right, but I do think that seeing if a sibling (who is already on the planet) is a logical step in finding treatment for another.

 

[radiantquest]

Another thing that I thought about when reading this was if they made Anna be a genetic match for Kate how did they know that she wouldn''t have Lukemia too?

I think that maybe if I were in the situation and had a sick child and had planned on having another that I might try to help the chances of the new baby being a match. I think the real issue for me lies in telling her that is why we conceived her. If she has been told that they had her out of love she might not feel so pressured to donate to her sister and more want to do it. If someone told me that they had me for parts for another sibling I would get upset and refuse too. If I were to be born and not know that was why, I would feel lucky that I was able to help.

 

[Nomsdeplume]

I don''t think anyone can judge unless they have been in this situation themselves. I honestly don''t know what I would do if I was put in that situation.
With all due respect to other opinions, I don''t think a decision on the matter would neccessarily be related to religion. Therefore, if you chose to have two children so that both may live, that doesn''t make you an evil person. Just a parent who loves their child.
My 2c.
Over and out!

 

[makemepretty]

I loved the book, it''s such an emotional roller coaster. Saw the movie, it is different than the book, that is all I will say as to not give away the end.

 

[somethingshiny]

Date: 8/16/2009 7:38:10 AM
Author: kribbie
I don''t think anyone can judge unless they have been in this situation themselves. I honestly don''t know what I would do if I was put in that situation.

With all due respect to other opinions, I don''t think a decision on the matter would neccessarily be related to religion. Therefore, if you chose to have two children so that both may live, that doesn''t make you an evil person. Just a parent who loves their child.

My 2c.

Over and out!

I certainly didn''t mean to imply that only an "evil" person would consider it. I meant that in some circumstances, a person would DEFINITELY consider it (by means of saving a child no matter what) and others would allow limited options. And still others would consider the diagnosis a destiny and would not consider any intervention.



radiant~ I hadn''t thought of the possibility of the other child having leukemia too.
Interesting....

 

[radiantquest]

If you have not read and want to or have not finished the book DO NOT READ THIS POST

I finished the book. I would not say that it made me cry. Don''t get me wrong, the part that made me upset was when Kate was talking with Anna and was pretty much asking to die. That made a few tears roll down my cheek. At the end of the book there was a part of another one of her books called Handle with Care. That sounds like a great read too. Did you guys read that? About that baby that has a bone disease and was born with like 7 broken bones. Can''t wait to get my hands on that one. In fact I think I would read anything by this author.

 

[zoebartlett]

Date: 8/16/2009 7:19:12 PM
Author: radiantquest
If you have not read and want to or have not finished the book DO NOT READ THIS POST


I finished the book. I would not say that it made me cry. Don''t get me wrong, the part that made me upset was when Kate was talking with Anna and was pretty much asking to die. That made a few tears roll down my cheek. At the end of the book there was a part of another one of her books called Handle with Care. That sounds like a great read too. Did you guys read that? About that baby that has a bone disease and was born with like 7 broken bones. Can''t wait to get my hands on that one. In fact I think I would read anything by this author.

Just saw this. I LOVE Jodi Picoult, and I''ve read many of her books. I think they''re very well-written. My only gripe is that after a while, they all sort of seem the same. The tragic events differ, but each of her books has them. All of her books (or at least the ones I''ve read) are told from different characters'' points of view. I think that''s a great way to tell a story. The first book I read by Jodi Picoult was The Pact. I highly recommend it. I did read Handle with Care. Honestly, I found it to be a tad creepy, but it was good. Overall, I think she''s an excellent story teller, and I always look forward to her latest books.

 

[Bia]

Date: 9/11/2009 7:17:00 PM
Author: ZoeBartlett

Date: 8/16/2009 7:19:12 PM
Author: radiantquest
If you have not read and want to or have not finished the book DO NOT READ THIS POST


I finished the book. I would not say that it made me cry. Don''t get me wrong, the part that made me upset was when Kate was talking with Anna and was pretty much asking to die. That made a few tears roll down my cheek. At the end of the book there was a part of another one of her books called Handle with Care. That sounds like a great read too. Did you guys read that? About that baby that has a bone disease and was born with like 7 broken bones. Can''t wait to get my hands on that one. In fact I think I would read anything by this author.

Just saw this. I LOVE Jodi Picoult, and I''ve read many of her books. I think they''re very well-written. My only gripe is that after a while, they all sort of seem the same. The tragic events differ, but each of her books has them. All of her books (or at least the ones I''ve read) are told from different characters'' points of view. I think that''s a great way to tell a story. The first book I read by Jodi Picoult was The Pact. I highly recommend it. I did read Handle with Care. Honestly, I found it to be a tad creepy, but it was good. Overall, I think she''s an excellent story teller, and I always look forward to her latest books.

Yep. same ideas once you''ve read all of them. She''s an easy and enjoyable read IMO. My Sister''s Keeper wasn''t my favorite, but I did like it.