I immersed myself in this book. I let these beautiful written words saturate my soul and I absorbed them like a sponge does water. This is what a book by Jodi Picoult does to me and I have to admit this one touched me like a spark to a fire.

The subjects of death, life, and life choices permeate this story. The research is superb and the knowledge you will gain about Egyptology is astounding. This book to me was deeply emotional and as with all of Ms. Picoult's works, it makes me think and look at things from a different perspective.

I urge you to add this one to your upcoming to read list. The release date is for September, 2020 so please make note. Don't miss this one!

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC. I l always look forward to Jodi Picoult books because you never know where they will take you, but they always present a conundrum and I love that.

In the Book of Two Ways, Dawn faces a near-death experience which makes her reevaluate all her life's choices. On one hand, she can keep going with her job and family in Boston or she can reach back and take the path she abandoned when she was studying Egyptology in grad school.

I love the Egyptian history, very well researched and that is where the title from the book comes from, the two paths the dead could choose to travel to the afterlife.

An actual masterpiece from the queen, Jodi Picoult. The Book of Two Ways is structured with two possible paths - each one playing out what would happen if Dawn Edelstein chose one versus another. You might think this storytelling device has been popping up more often lately (and you'd be right) but trust me when I say Picoult spins this on its side in the best way.

It's no secret that Picoult is my favorite author of all time and I've been reading her since high school when my mom begrudgingly let me delve into her stash of books that were possibly "a little too mature" for a 13 year old but I'm grateful she did. In true JP style, this book is rich with research, mostly of Egyptian culture as well as in the world of a death doula and end of life practices and is as informative as it is entertaining.

My best advice for this book is to go in blind, devour every page and appreciate the ride. You'll be glad you did.

Jodi Picoult used to be one of my favorite writers. I even owned copies of most of her books, but I feel she has been going downhill in her last few books. While the lessons on everything about Ancient Egypt and physics were interesting, it takes some work to get to the actual story. I don't think my library patrons are going to like it. I did like the twists, but I hate when endings are left open. Arc provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

I love this author, but this book has to be the most challenging and densest work she has ever written! She covers a grab bag full of topics - Egyptology, death doula, physics, Irish superstitions, art, teenage body image angst, troubled marriage - and skillfully weaves them together into a fascinating story. Many parallels are drawn between the practices of ancient Egyptians and the duties of a death doula. These two subjects also garner the most explanations throughout the book, which are a result of the author's extensive research, and are helpful to those of us who know little about either, but at times got a little tedious, especially the Egyptology section at the beginning of the book.

Dawn, a death doula, lives in Boston with a physicist husband and teenage daughter. Fifteen years ago she was in Egypt working on her PhD with Wyatt, a man she at first hated and then loved. Unique circumstances and unusual plot developments bring the two worlds together in an explosive way. The plot follows Dawn, as it rotates chapters between Boston and Egypt, and between the past and the present.

The book ends in a surprising way that I'm sure will create much discussion after its publication. Initially I was unhappy with the ending, but after some thought, I have come to accept, and even approve, of it.

The book is indeed a challenging read, but it is so worth the effort! Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine/Random House for providing an ARC.

Once again, Jodi Picoult impresses with her research, attention to detail, complex characters, and unexpected twists. This is a story that examines how the course of one's life can drastically change with one decision; a near fatal plane crash causes the protagonist to reexamine the path that she had chosen in her early adulthood. Her current job as a death doula parallels in many ways to her earlier studies as an Egyptologist, and she uses lessons learned from both to decide how to continue her personal life after the crash. There is a lot of detailed ancient Egyptian history and quantum physics to get through, but the overall story is one that will ultimately resonate with many readers.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance e-copy of this novel

Where do I begin? Ms. Picoult never disappoints. The Book of Two Ways is an elegant, exquisitely written story about Dawn and the different paths our lives take. Dawn left her dig in Egypt to come home and take care of her dying mother, but when she left Egypt behind she also left behind Wyatt and her plans to finish her degree and become an Egyptologist. She eventually marries Brian and makes a family with him, taking on a new career as a death doula - someone who helps those who are terminally ill make the transition from life into death - and putting aside her dreams of Egypt. But when she has the opportunity to see what her life could have been if she had ended up with Wyatt, what will she choose?

That sounds almost like a romance novel, which this book clearly is not. It's more a tale of how our choices shape our lives, and the ripples our choices make in others' lives as well. And it's a story about living with no regrets.

I have always enjoyed how Ms. Picoult adds layers upon layers of detail to her novels. In this case we learn a great deal about ancient Egypt, archaeology, art, death, and most of all, life. The title refers to a particular piece of Egyptian burial practices that is supposed to lead the dead person into a new life. First, however, the deceased has to face many dangers and trials. That sounds similar to life, doesn't it?

If you've ever left behind a dream or a relationship and you wonder how things could have turned out differently, you should read this book. If you want to contemplate the transition from life into death, or you are thinking about the things you would be leaving undone if you died tomorrow, you should read this book.

Love and hate. Life and death. Fate and choice. Each of these concepts are examined and explored in Jodi Picoult’s upcoming novel (coming September 22, 2020) THE BOOK OF TWO WAYS. The novel follows Dawn - a woman entering middle age. She is a wife and a mother. She has lived two distinct lives one pursuing a doctorate and discovering ancient Egyptian artifacts and one as a death doula helping others come to grips with life ending decisions. When a life changing event occurs Dawn must face her two paths and decide what she wants. In the midst of it on both paths are the men who have been involved in her life: Wyatt her first love and a man she discovered with and Brian her husband and her comfort. With Wyatt there’s excitement with Brian logic. In the middle is Meret, Dawn’s daughter and her reason. This book made me cry (the first page!!) it made me think and it made me learn. Picoult is the queen of empathetic writing and she is amazing and making the reader open their minds and hearts. This book made me a little nervous at first, it is filled with science and Egyptian fact peppered among this are Irish superstition and wonderful characters. This novel breaks the formula of medical-law that readers know Picoult by, this story goes back to her earlier novels (songs of a humpback whale and Picture Perfect). It is refreshing to see that a writer of 24 novels (a 2 co written books) is still evolving. I loved this story and all the characters. This is definitely a must read for the fall! Thank you Jodi for this story and for once again opening my mind and heart

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. Dawn is in a plane crash. She then lives her life as if she returned home after the crash to her physicist husband and daughter versus her life as she returns to Cairo as an Egyptologist and her first love Wyatt. What life does she choose and who does she end up with? I loved reading about Egypt after our trip in 2018 but I got bogged down in the gods and pharaohs. She also lost me when talking about her husband’s physics but you can tell that Picoult did her research!!! Really, really good read!! #thebookoftwoways #jodipicoult #sept2020

This book is absolutely fantastic!!! I can only imagine the amount of time it took to research the different items that Jodi talks about in this book. It was fascinating, I have never heard of a death doula before, I had never much thought of the hieroglyphs in the tombs in Egypt and how one would interpret them. This was just a great, great book. I feel that it is Jodi's best book to date that she has written. I was wondering when she was going to release a new one, now I know why it took her so long. Fabulous story!!! I already have started recommending this to others!!! This will be a book that I can reread.

This didn’t wow me like most of Picoult’s books. I thought the parts about her being a death doula were more interesting than the Egyptology portions which felt like a history book at times.

A Death Doula (doula is Greek for Woman who serves) - a guide who helps you alone navigate the passage from life to death. Plane crashes preparations - a thought from life, blast from past is her thought, it comes to mind and no way past it. 1 in 36 surviving souls.

What's left unfinished
Many thoughts, many questions, what do need, what do want

Sometimes good to see proof that we have done something worthy - we are worthy.

A middle aged woman who wanders what her life might have been..
When a thought of a former love pops in the mind and memories flow.
Wish could rewind life and pick another path, have a better outcome.
We feel like an island with no bridges to reach it, no connections.

Another great read by Jodi!
I have read every one- this is a top shelf read!
I was thinking about it every time. I put it down and could not wait to pick back up and read more.
I will be looking forward to her next book now.

As Dawn Edelstein prepares fo die as her plane plunges from the sky, she,s thinking, not of her husband, but of a man she hasn’t seen in 15 years. She survives, and with this second chance at life, Dawn has the chance to choose – continue with the happy, safe life she has forged, or reexamine the love she left behind. Picoult shows Dawn’s life unfold under both possibilities and leaves the question with readers, what would you do and how would you choose?

Young academics compete against each other to win a share of historical glory and then "life" interrupts. Anything more is a book spoiler. I will say that at first I wasn't sure I liked reading all the ancient Egyptian history (I actually hated this part) but once I realized one HAD to to read, and carefully consider these very detailed parts, the story became much richer. Without it, the story has no frame on which to base the modern components. Result: I wound up loving this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. Jodi Picoult is one of my absolute favorite authors, and while I enjoyed this book, it wasn't one of my favorites. I was overwhelmed by the Egyptology and the Physics; though probably interesting to some, it was too much for me. Overall, a good solid novel by an amazing author.

I’m so thankful for the ARC of this book. Picoult is my favorite author - fiercely intelligent, pushing concepts and scenarios that always make me wonder 'what if'' or 'what would I do?' I got a little lost with the Egyptology since I was tearing through the book, I tried to grab what was relevant to the story from the references. The physics aspect is a good contrast to the archaeology. The relationships and dynamics, those were morsels I savored. Beautiful, though provoking sentences and paragraphs. Real life mentions of Curious George, magnadoodles , the time warp of hospice....these things I could relate to.. Due to the pandemic, isolation and vulnerability influence everything I’m reading. This novel was a great exercise for my mind and spirit. I recommend this book!