Review of By Any Other Name: A Novel by Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult, a renowned author known for her thought-provoking narratives and complex characters, returns with By Any Other Name: A Novel. This novel is also typical for Picoult as she constructs a story which explores multiple aspects of human interactions, personality, and the internal worlds people live in. Foreign yet familiar, romantic yet bitter to the core of the Western culture, the novel with apparent themes of love and loss poses some tough question that the Western audiences are often reluctant to face.

Plot Overview

By Any Other Name mainly focuses on the life of the main character Olivia McAfee who seems to have an ideal life but is overpowered with certain incidents. Olivia is a talented botanist who loses her husband and has no other option but to go back to her family house in a rural village with her teenage son Asher. Finally, the focus on the events of the novel and the chapters show the readers Olivia’s present state and reveal the past events that formed her character.

Life brings certain obstacles to everyone, both outside and within: Such is life of a woman named Olivia who, after escaping from her past , returns to the place in an attempt to start anew. The surroundings – a small town people know one another and the secrets that are kept in the small town becomes the element that contributes to the development of Olivia. The story just gets thicker with the coming of Lily Campanello, a woman with a past and links herself with Olivia and Asher. From the beginning to the end of the story, the author masterfully builds the plot to where all secrets are disclosed only to illustrate that love and forgiveness are invaluable.

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Themes and Exploration

In its essence, By Any Other Name is a book about self-identity and discovery of who we are as people through social roles and personal decisions and the social tags people put on themselves. Self-identity is one of the significant themes that Picoult explores in the novel to show how the characters struggle with their identity as perceived by the society and as they navigate their internal feelings and perception of themselves. The film draws the story of Olivia implying the aspects of learning about herself cognitively and emotionally while becoming a mother, mourning her husband, and dealing with the pressure from friends and family members.

Another theme that is illustrated in the novel is forgiveness, forgiving other people and forgiving oneself. This is in relation to Olivia’s relationship with her son, Asher. The main character has to come to self-realization and become aware of all her flaws and mistakes she was bound to make and the same way she has to learn to accept the fact that she also needs to forgive herself and others for all the suffering they caused. The act of forgiving is shown by Picoult as a very painful process, and, therefore, acts as one of the major factors contributing to the novel’s focus on emotions that a reader may experience when reading it.

Another central matter in the novel is presentation of the role of truth and the ways in which truth can be masked, played with or hidden. In each section of the book, Picoult toys with the concept of truth as the readers are forced to struggle between the perception of the characters and their intention. This theme is more so evident when the past of the character Lily is addressed and certain incidents that she is involved in prompt the audience to question reality and what is real.

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Character Development

Another plus in By Any Other Name as well as in the majority of Picoult’s books is the degree of characterization where usual flat characters are developed into three-dimensional figures. This is a well-developed protagonist that is Olivia McAfee whose weaknesses and strength have been well reflected in the story. From a career-woman who is rightly assertive about her life, to a woman standing in front of a refrigerator wondering what she is going to do next, she is not only believable but real. I believe Olivia’s characterization is done superbly by Picoult as she paints a picture of Amanda and readers are able to feel for her.

Other lovely characters showcased in the novel include Asher, Olivia’s teenage son. His attitude towards his mother is realistic and free-fail from idealization however, as everybody knows, the relations between a child and his mother can be strained at times. For an author who prides herself in writing stories with a moral lesson, Picoult proved it here wherein Asher’s own transformation is as important as Olivia’s and the character’s depth is all the more appealing.

It is however important to note that among all the characters found in Olivia and Asher’s story, the character of Lily Campanello is one of the most enriched and mysterious. That she has a mysterious history and a number of things that she hides makes the readers excited to know what will eventually happen to her. I have really liked how Picoult handles the suspense concerning the main character, Lily, and the way this character’s past is gradually disclosed as far as it is interesting and unexpected.

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Writing Style and Narrative Structure

The choice of the material and the way it is presented in By Any Other Name is another typical for Jodi Picoult’s work. The language of the novel is simple, however the story is emotionally charged and manages to gives the emotions the main focus. Switching between the two protagonists Olivia and Lily’s gives the novel depth and helps the reader develop empathy towards the characters, in addition it gives insight into the character’s motives.

The way in which the novel is written is very strategic; Picoult manages to go back and forth between the present day and the past. This structure does not only give the necessary background of character’s chosen actions but also brings the crucial feeling of suspense while reading the story. There is also the element of suspense where major aspects of the characters’ lives are revealed in stages, thus capturing the attention of the readers.

Another impressive aspect of the work is symbolism which has been effectively applied by the author, Picoult. The chief title of the novel, By Any Other Name is borrowed from Shakespeare William’s play, Romeo and Juliet, specifically from the script where Juliet says, ‘That Which We Call A Rose, By Any Other Name Would Smell As Sweet. ’ The theme of names or identity is well developed in the novel where characters are seen to be struggling to come to terms with names that they have been given or they end up accepting and how those names define them. The uses of flowers especially roses are also depicted in the novel thus bringing in another dimension to the themes in the novel.

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Emotional Impact

Another factor that is characteristic of Jodi Picoult style of writing is the bringing out of the readers’ emotions to the forefront and By Any Other Name is not exempted from this phenomenon. It is an intensely; the concept of love, loss, forgiveness and identity are played close to the heart and the narrative is both touching and strong. Picoult’s characterization is outstanding In this book, the readers will be able to connect with the characters and may feel more than irritated when things does not go according Wilbur.

It is quite profound how the issue of bereavement is portrayed in the novel. The movie depicts Olivia as a woman unable to overcome the loss of her husband hence depicting the essence of grief and the many ways through which it manifests in an individual’s life. Picoult also does not turn a blind eye on the bitter experiences we associate with grieving and that is why the novel is a profound study of this aspect of our existence.

Likewise, the theme of forgiveness appearing in the novel is quite poignant too. From the facet of forgiveness, Picoult presents it in a forward as a grueling experience, yet vital process of healing and overcoming. Emotional aspect of this theme becomes apparent when characters suffer from their sins, they regret their actions or have to learn how to forgive others throughout the novel.

Social and Ethical Issues

Like in most of her other books, By Any Other Name explores social and ethical questions, which are burning in society. The gender identity and the issues related to the modern parent’s roles, and duties, are also discussed in the novel; the social expectations that influence people’s choices and behavior are also considered. Through these issues Picoult poses them in a delicate manner and makes the readers contemplate on the effects of these issues in the lives of the characters as well as in the real world.

Another ethical question one can identify in the novel raises one of the most important questions about truthfulness and falsehood in life. Picoult poses the society some profound issues such as; is telling a lie forbidden? What would be the repercussions of telling or withholding information? This novel makes a reader think over the fact that there is no unified truth and its definition could be rather subjective since what we experience is influenced by our feelings and perceptions.

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Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Complex, Well-Developed Characters: Picoult’s characters are real with their strengths and weaknesses and this makes it easier for anyone who reads her work to develop a bond with the characters.
2. Engaging Writing Style: The absolute clarity of the style, the controlled and harmonious narrative, the outstanding moments of deep pathos all contribute to make the work of Picoult is an outstanding example of an ideal contemporary America novel.
3. Thought-Provoking Themes: The novel brings out various themes of identification, forgiveness, the virtue of truth and the challenges of interpersonal relationships in a manner which challenges the reader into offering his or her opinion about these issues.
4. Carefully Crafted Narrative Structure: Having more than one character view point as well as the use of flashbacks enriches the story and the suspense that is developed is interesting.
5. Emotional Depth: The book is very emotional, and Picoult handles grief and forgiveness very well The book is very emotional, and it is because of its impossibility of forgiveness.
6. Symbolism and Literary References: Symbolisms, especially in relation to the novel’s title and the concept of ‘identity’ enrich the meaning of the story.

Cons:

Predictability in Certain Plot Points: However, some readers can ascertain the different twists of the story especially if they have read Picoult’s previous books though the novel is quite captivating.

Pacing Issues: Another issue that one may note with the pacing is that it can be slow in some parts and fast in others. This may have implications on the continuity of the entire narrative to some of the readers in their quest to identify the outcome of the chain of events.

Overemphasis on Themes: Being many themes addressed in the novel, some of them seem to be overemphasized, for instance, themes like identity and truth may seem somewhat forced at times.

Emotional Intensity: While the novel has an impact on the reader emotionally, it seems to be too much for some of the readers though they are brilliant ones but can sometimes be sensitive with certain themes of the story such as loss and struggle.

Resolution of Certain Subplots: As it may be the case with other subplots within the novel, some of them will be left open-ended and thus may appear unfinished or develop inadequately concerning the issues brought up.

Conclusion

By Any Other Name is an evocative and tear-jerking book that seems to perfectly embody what Jodi Picoult does best. Taking multiple interesting and profound ideas and their application into the plot supported with rather intricate characters, the novel is a thought-provoking work, which focuses on such values as identity, forgiveness, and personal relationships. It can be stated that Showalter’s novel has a few weaknesses, for example, predictability and pace but their pro is the intensity of the emotions shown by characters and the analysis of major social and ethical aspects.

From the victims’ rights advocate’s perspective and to the fans of Jodi Picoult and those who love the character-driven novels with strong plot and the sensitive view at the important issues, By Any Other Name is the book to read. Analyzing the role of human experience when mourning, forgiving, or searching for one’s identity, the book remains close to readers’ hearts after it has been closed.

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