Jodi Picoult's Change of Heart

Picoult's Latest Novel Raises Religious and Moral Questions

Apr 22, 2008 Kristy Acevedo

A Book Review of "Change of Heart" by Jodi Picoult. The author takes on Christianity, Catholicism, Judaism, Gnosticism, and redemption through a character on death row.

In Jodi Picoult's Change of Heart, the author questions early Christian and Jewish beliefs through a character sentenced to death, Shay Bourne.

Miracles on Death Row

Bourne is a convicted double murderer of a cop and his stepdaughter, but while waiting on death row, he begins performing miracles reminiscient of King's Green Mile. Father Michael, a Catholic priest, attempts to help save Bourne's soul before his death and debunk the media's claims that Bourne might be the next messiah. The more time Father Michael spends with Bourne, however, the more he questions his own faith.

Heart Transplantation and Redemption

Meanwhile, June Nealon, the wife and mother of Bourne's two victims, must face the possible loss of her other daughter, Claire, who desperately needs a heart transplant.

But the perfect heart is suddenly offered: Shay Bourne's.

The Dilemmas Picoult's Characters Must Face

Bourne has offered to donate his heart to Claire once his sentence is carried out. He believes this will give him the restitution and redemption he seeks. The problem June Nealon and readers must face is this: Would you allow your child to host "the heart of the person you hate most in the world" if it would "save" them both? "Would you want your dreams to come true, if it meant granting your enemy's dying wish?"

Additionally, Maggie Bloom, Bourne's lawyer and atheist, must fight for Bourne to die on his own terms. If Bourne is given a lethal injection, it will destroy any possibility of organ donation. In defending Bourne, Maggie is forced to search her own past and seek advice from her father, a rabbi.

Questions of Faith Through the Gnostic Gospels

Picoult raises several religious and moral questions within the novel through the death sentence of Shay Bourne and his references to the Gnostic gospels, noncanonical gospels edited from the Bible. At one point, Ian Fletcher, a former atheist and scholar, tells Father Michael that in history "somewhere along the line, organized religion stopped being about faith, and started being about who had the power to keep that faith." While Picoult attempts to travel readers down a DaVinci Code path, her religious quest doesn't lead far enough.

Throughout the novel, however, Bourne provides hope that even in the darkest of places, even in the darkest of moments, God can intervene, without prejudice, if you let Him in. Picoult reminds us that God is not about religion; God is about the soul. Bourne remains a remarkably complex character down to the last page. While Picoult's originality is lacking in this latest novel, her insight into the Gnostic gospels will certainly provide readers with much to think about.

Three out of five stars

Picoult, Jodi. Change of Heart. New York: Atria, 2008. ISBN: 978-0-7434-9674-2

Buy it now at Amazon.com!

The copyright of the article Jodi Picoult's Change of Heart in American Fiction is owned by Kristy Acevedo. Permission to republish Jodi Picoult's Change of Heart in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Comments

Jun 4, 2008 8:05 PM
Guest :
What is the implication of Bourne stealing Fr. Michael's picture?...and wrapping it in the Gospel of Thomas?
Jul 25, 2008 5:19 AM
Kristy Acevedo :
I'm guessing here, but I think perhaps Picoult is allowing different interpretations. Excellent question for book club debates. I think the whole point is to leave Bourne's true identity up to the reader.

For one, perhaps after all Shay Bourne is a scam artist, and he set up Fr. Michael from the beginning.

Or, perhaps he is a true martyr in the end. A true martyr would want to help Fr. Michael regain his faith in his religion. Fr. Michael is currently a lost soul. Bourne, as a true savior, may understand that Fr. Michael can do more good for others if he returns to his faith. If he continues live with doubt, it will destroy him. Ironically, in this case Bourne is saving Fr. Michael's soul by destroying himself, thus playing the martyr role, thus reinforcing that he may just be a savior.

But one more thing...Wrapping it in the Gospel of Thomas is symbolic. Isn't Thomas the disciple who questioned his faith in Jesus? Isn't his nickname 'doubting Thomas'? Perhaps this is a message for Fr. Michael, to see himself and how easily he doubts his faith.
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