"The Tenth Circle" - Jodi Picoult

I just finished reading "The Tenth Circle" by Jodi Picoult. This is now the third novel I've read by Picoult (My Sister's Keeper and Vanishing Acts being the others).

I had no idea what this book was about when I bought it, but Border's had a 40% off coupon for the hard back, so I bought it. This is the first Picoult novel I've read that doesn't have a a chaper from each main characters point of view, this one is from all characters point of view but in a normal naraction sort of way.

So the story is about a family and while there are some major story lines / problems that the family is going through I feel the main story line is about relationships with family and with yourself. It's a family of 3 (a mom, dad and teenage daughter). Daniel, the father, is a comic book illustrator who has been mainly a stay at home dad for his daughter. Trixie is your typical teenage girl, she's a freshman who falls for a senior and then has to deal w/ the breakup (the main "troubles" focus on this relationship). Laura, the mom, is a college professor who teaches some amazingly interesting classes on Dante's The Inferno. She is also dealing with issues of infedelity.

What's extremely interesting about this novel is Daniel's "profession" as a comic book illustrator. Since Trixie is a teenager he's been spending more time illustrating, and now writing his own adult graphic novel (as it a comic book w/ a real story line). He's basing the story off his learnings from Laura about the levels of hell along w/ his relationship with Trixie. But inbetween the chapters of the novel are sections of the comic book.

Though between the cover of this book and the first chapter I was a bit skeptical, it's one of those that the first chapter is actually the part of the end, so it all slowly comes together -- and then the cover eventually makes sense, too.

I'd suggest this book to anyone. It's definetly not "chic-lit." It's a great look at relationships, plus its kind of a "who-done-it" novel. Mix all that with the comic book illustrations and the things you learn about The Inferno it makes for a fantastic read.

Now I can't wait to read another Picoult novel, she's quickly becoming my favorite author.

I'm not sure what is on my list to read next though, I think I'm getting close to being out of new books. It's about time to make another trip to Border's. :)