Small Great Things - Jodi Picoult - ★★★★.½

AUTHOR: Jodi Picoult

GENRE: Contemporary Fiction

PUBLICATION DATE: October 11, 2016

RATING: 4.5 stars.

Writing a book dealing with racism is never easy. But to write about the ones being discriminated against while you yourself belong to the privileged class of society takes an extra effort and talent. And one of the few writers whom I trust to do justice to this difficult task is Jodi Picoult.

"Small Great Things" deals with a complicated enough premise. A newborn dies under the charge of the substitute nurse. The nurse is blamed for negligence of duty. Is she really to be blamed? Simple and straightforward question.

Now add to this scenario the murky complications:

- The baby was born with a minor heart problem, but was that a coincidence or a contributing factor to his death?

- The father of the baby is a white supremacist, but he is a loving father too willing to do anything for his child. Should he be blamed for his racist stance that indirectly caused many unexpected outcomes, or should his loss hold prominence in the legal case?

- The accused nurse belongs to the African-American community, but has strived hard her whole life to be able to live like a privileged citizen. Should the case look at her as a black nurse being caught in a racial trial, or as a professional having a negligent day at work?

Questions, questions, questions. Who said life is easy? Every single decision we make is dependent on a multitude of factors, and yes, our background and upbringing and mentality play a role in this too. The characters of Small Great Things prove this point effectively. The whole event becomes a series of what-ifs and why-nots, upturning a lot of assumptions and shaking up the belief system.

As is typical of Jodi Picoult's writing, none of the main characters are completely black or white, but, as one line from the book says, "carry a million different colours". That is one of the many reasons I enjoy her books. No dramatic writer can make you think like she can. In almost every single book of hers I've read, there has always popped up a question in my mind: what would I have done, were I in XYZ character's position? And I hardly ever receive a clear answer.

If I have one complaint to make, it is that the ending is a typical Sidney-Sheldon-type (more or less) happy ending. The jolt that I usually get at the conclusion of her books was absent this time. How I wish she had chosen a braver ending! But then, this is a minor quibble from a major fan.

Small Great Things will make you introspect into your behaviour too. After all, racism isn't just restricted to America, and racial drama isn't limited only to blacks vs. whites. This book is guaranteed to make you cross-check your own mentality towards race/caste/class/religion and evaluate the benefits of your personal privilege, no matter how major or minor it is. There was a video that had become popular a few years ago. It showed how your familial background can offer you a better chance at winning life's race, without you having actively done anything to achieve that background.You are what you are not just because of your efforts but also because of influences that weren't ever in your control. Effectively speaking, no one in the world is "self-made". Many scenes in this book caused me to recollect that same idea.

If you like books that make you think, then "Small Great Things" is a must for you.

PS: Don't miss the author's note at the end of the book.