Lately, there's this one book that caught my eye in the library. I'm a sucker for books with a great cover design.
Change of Heart - by Jodi Picoult
I've always heard Jodi Picoult's books were good, but after reading this one, I can't wait to start on another!
Synopsis:
Shay Bourne - New Hampshire’s first death row prisoner in 69 years – has only one last request: to donate his heart post-execution to the sister of his victim, who is looking for a transplant. Bourne says it’s the only way he can redeem himself…but with lethal injection as his form of execution, this is medically impossible.
This book had deep spiritual discussion and it was very thought-provoking....It has the suspense of any crime mystery and the intellectual aspect to learning about the laws of freedom of religion, as well as the death penalty.
It's heartbreaking to put yourself in the shoes of each character.
June - The wife and mother to the victims (a police officer and a little girl). Trying to keep herself alive to save her remaining child. But how would she feel about letting the man you hate save your only daughter's life.
Claire - June's daughter. How she would have felt to have the heart of the man that killed your father and sister.
(spoiler alert)
Father Michael - Having been on the juri who sentenced Shay to death, and now being given the duty of helping Shay find salvation.
Maggie - Shay's new lawyer, trying to fight for the death penalty to be abolished and also for Shay to be killed in another in order to save his heart.
It was certainly an eye opener to know about some history behind Christianity and to think about what i believe in. There have been times that people have told me things in religion that I've not agreed with. Don't get me wrong, I still believe in God and this book has not made me question that. I love Him and I know all that He's done to help me. But this book really hit a chord when it come to the religious turmoil happening in this world. Just because someone doesn't feel the way some religions say so, they are then rejected by that society.
Just like how I've been told some cults have misinterpreted the Bible to justify their actions, I sometimes feel that even speakers in church may misinterpret too. How sure are you that all that you're listening to is the truth? How do you know that what society tells you to do is right? How do we know that what we've been brought-up to believe is actually true?
There are also some excellent quotes in here that can certainly be used in our current society:
"Religion often gets in the way of God." - Bono, at the national prayer breakfast, Feb 2, 2006
"I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much." - Mother Teresa
"This is my simple religion.
There is no need for temples;
no need for complicated philosophy.
Our own brain, our own heart is our temple;
the philosophy is kindness." - The 14th Dalai Lama
As an end note, I'm not saying what i think is the right way, but I do believe that in everything that we do, we should do it with Love. Because ultimately, isn't that what all religions tell us to do?
