The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Touching novels are a specialty that
author Jodi Picoult has been perfecting for quite a while. She delves deeper
into controversial issues than most, presenting them in a simple fashion. This
time around, Picoult has effortlessly outdone herself.

Her latest novel Sing You Home
tells the story of Zoe, a music therapist, and her husband, Max, who have gone
the whole nine yards for a baby, until they finally turn to in-vitro
fertilisation; creating three embryos and freezing them. Despite their best efforts,
Zoe’s latest pregnancy ends in a stillbirth, leaving the couple grief-stricken
and devastated. But since Max can no longer put up with the heartache, he
decides that he doesn’t want children anymore, and the couple’s marriage comes
to an end.   

As the novel develops, Zoe meets
lesbian Vanessa Shaw. They quickly become friends and eventually fall in love. Meanwhile,
Max has moved to his pious brother’s house and becomes an alcoholic. In a bid
to piece his life back together, Max turns to his church for guidance with his
brother’s assistance.

After Zoe and Vanessa get married,
Zoe’s desire to have a baby returns. But in order for them to use the frozen
embryos, Max, being the biological father, has to agree. Based on his
newly-found belief that children should be raised in a proper Christian home,
Max is torn between giving the embryos to Zoe or his infertile brother; he is
then persuaded by his church’s pastor to sue for his pre-born children.

Sing You Home is told from the perspectives of
Max, Zoe and Vanessa. This provides insight into how every character thinks and
feels. The author spins the tale brilliantly; Picoult doesn’t force any
opinions upon readers nor does she preach. She presents her story objectively,
regardless of her personal credos. All the characters are equally likable,
creating an internal conflict for readers. It really is impossible to root for
either Zoe or Max, and it makes you wonder how a single person can write in so
many voices.

The characters don’t feel like a
work of fiction, but real people whose pain can be deeply felt. Sing You Home
handles gay rights in an utterly different light. It shows that although
same-sex marriages are legalised in many places, gays are still only tolerated rather
than accepted.