Jodi Picoult's - Change of Heart

I'm telling u..... Its one of the best-most-awesomest books I've come across. A real page turner. Lolx. Got this when I went book hunting in Times Square a month ago I guess. Grabbed my attention right away. (Would have finished it sooner if it wasn't for those stupid games. I mean RO?? pft... T.T dam i'm a sore loser)

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. Enter Father Michael Wright, a young local priest. Called in as Shay’s spiritual advisor, he knows redemption has nothing to do with organ donation – and plans to convince Bourne. But then Bourne begins to perform miracles at the prison that are witnessed by officers, fellow inmates, and even Father Michael – and the media begins to call him a messiah. Could an unkempt, bipolar, convicted murderer be a savior? It seems highly unlikely, to the priest. Until he realizes that the things Shay says may not come from the Bible…but are, verbatim, from a gospel that the early Christian church rejected two thousand years ago…and that is still considered heresy.

Ok I got that from the website. But the fact is, how many books actually lets you ask questions about what u believe in and waht you don't. It makes us wonder what seems right might not have been that way, that what we seek is sometimes within ourselves, waiting to be unleashed, if you giv it a chance. In the book, the author describes Shay Bourne as the ultimate evil, a convict who murders 2 innocent individuals - a 7 year old girl and her stepfather, a New Hampshire law enforcer. And as his time comes to a close (he's gonna dieeeee wakakakakaka), he seeks help for one last request - to donate his heart to the sibling of the 7 year old he murdered, who suffers from a sever heart disorder.

Now it made me think. Hu in the right mind would actually take the heart of a convicted murderer? Especially the same one who take away the live of her daddy and sister. Its just sickening and plain wrong. But to Shay, its the only way he could redeem himself f for what he has done. And the dillemma is on the shoulders of June, the mother and now widow of the terrible inccident. And its painful. How do you choose between the life of your child, and to realise the only way to save it is to take the very heart that generated taht evil intent that took your loved ones away from you?

It was unfair that she had to endure such pain and utter bitterness because of the actions of that one man. How I loathed him. He was a selfish, ignorant bastard that deserved to die. Rot in hell. As the story develops, I was introduced to the miraculous side of Shay Bourne (I din really care, I hated him . Blehh). For some reason, he was able to turna piece of bubble gum into many pieves and share it with his cell-mates. He change the piping water into alcohol. He cured a man who was sick with AIDS and was about to die. That was the moment religion kicked into the screen. People began to believe he was the messiah, the savour. Because of the resemblances of these events to what was said in the Bible. Others called him a reincarnation of pure evil itself, driving people away from thier faith.

And the two people running the show were a priest, Michael Wright and an attorney, Miss Maggie Bloom. Somehow, they could'nt see the logic in it. Shay was a convicted murderer. But to his death he had wanted his heart to be donated. By hook or by crook. And persuaded, the two agreed to help make his voice heard. Father Michael had a job to do. He was apointed Shay's spiritual advisor, and made him bring himself to be forgiven and such. But as time passed, Shay began to quote phrases unheard in the Bible, and began to question what Father Michael believed in. So did Michael himself. And Maggie, well... she's a character that lightens up the mood. She kinda brings life to the story about a deathman waiting to die and a priest with a Bible. Her efforts to convine the state to overule the death sentence upon Shay Bourne with lethal injection but with hanging instead, was met with loads of hardship and obstacles. But she persevered, and that made the story worth reading. And it was reather amusing too.

As it goes on, things get worst. Michael's faith trully gets tested. So much so to a point where he begins to ponder if he is serving in the right direction. So much so that he begins to believe, that, well, Shay was indeed the messiah. That he was the same reincarnation that would end all the ignorance. That, until he uncovered the Gospel of Thomas. The ancient scripture that bequestioned his faith. Something Shay could not have seen and heard, but it is the very words that had been quoted over and over again.

But the truth kinda made me jump, you know.. za tou..... Shay Bourne was innocnet. He never really murdered the kid and her stepfather. He was saving her. From molest. From enduring shame. 'She was better off dead...' But even till the end, he never wanted the truth to be told. He was willing to die, for the sake that June will never have to know what her husband was like. To know that he had died with dignity, as a protector and as a valiant man. He was ready to trade his life, for her comfort to never have to take the shame, the blame and pay the price for her husband's sins. And he did it because he never wanted to see Claire suffer. Kinda by accident, really...

So in the end, an innocent man was hung in the gallows, an officer who molested his stepdaughter died as a hero and a savour, the girl got the heart she needed, and no, Shay was not the messiah. But he was something more than that. He was a message. That even in a world full of lies and pain, it is what you wish to uphold, that will make you what you are in the end. It doesn't have to mean you have to live up to everyone's expectations, but do what you feel is right. Because in the very end. You are what you want to be. And waht you are willing to hold up and defend till your last breath.

Touchy-feely, huh? But seriously. I dun do acceptable reviews at all. So go get 1 of these off the shelves or borrow it from your peers if you're tat cheap. GG. Its a real good read.

At least I learned to trust in yourself. Because not everything you see is waht you should believe. There are two sides of a coin. Its up to you if you still consider what you believe in as the true side, or you are willing to take a look at both before you make up your mind.