Jodi Picoult earned rave notices for her debut novel, Songs of the
Humpback Whale. Now this gifted young writer turns her considerable
literary talents to the story of a young woman overcome by the demands
of having a family. Written with astonishing clarity and evocative
detail, convincing in its depiction of emotional pain, love, and
vulnerability, Harvesting the Heart recalls the writing of Alice Hoffman
and Sue Miller. Paige has only a few vivid memories of her mother, who
left when she was five. Now, having left her father behind in Chicago
for dreams of art school and marriage to an ambitious young doctor, she
finds herself with a child of her own. But her mother's absence, and
shameful memories of her past, make her doubt both her maternal ability
and her sense of self worth. Out of Paige's struggle to find wholeness,
Jodi Picoult crafts an absorbing novel peopled by richly drawn
characters and explores issues and emotions readers can relate to.