Review of Plain Truth by Jodi Piccoult
Piccoult Delves into ‘Living Plain’ With This Dramatic Novel
Aug 25, 2009
When asked why she decided to write Plain Truth, a brilliantly executed and well researched novel about a murder investigation in an Amish community, Jodi Piccoult explained that it was because her mother wanted to know more about the Amish. Like most people today, Piccoult was not that familiar with the Amish faith or community so decided to base her next book on just that.
Living Plain
Plain Truth follows Katie Fisher, a young Amish woman, through a trial of a lifetime as she is accused of murdering her newborn son. However, this book is more than just a murder trial; it is an exploration into the rituals, the lifestyle and the philosophy of the Amish. Readers are left baffled by some of the decisions made and by some of the behaviors of Katie and her family that further highlight the differences between “plain” society and the “real world.”
Defending Plain
Perhaps the most interesting character, apart from young Katie Fisher, is Katie’s big shot lawyer, Ellie Hathaway who is literally the antithesis of Katie in every way. While Katie denies ever having a child, Ellie is desperate for a baby; while Katie is devoted to the church and family, Ellie is devoted to her work. It is when Ellie is forced to live with the Fisher family during the trial that these two worlds really collide. Through Katie, Ellie is able to understand what her life lacks and also come to terms with the idiosyncrasies in the Amish community that many of us struggle to understand.
The Cons to Plain Truth
The only problem with Plain Truth is a minor issue with the baby’s health record in which it is suggested that the baby died due to the mother drinking unpasteurized milk (a common occurrence on Amish dairy farms). If this is the case, then the death of the newborn is not the fault of Katie; however, Piccoult fails to recognize the millions of healthy babies that are born to Amish women who drink unpasteurized milk on a daily basis. This one minor detail devalues the entire argument and is not something that is usually missed by Piccoult, as evident in her more recent titles including Handle with Care and Nineteen Minutes.
Regardless of this one minor issue, Plain Truth is one of the best novels Piccoult has written. She puts her heart and soul into the research and even lived with an Amish family while writing the book. Her characters are well developed and the plot line is driven by suspense, drama and romance interlinked beautifully.
For those who have ever wanted to learn more about the Amish community through a dramatic story, then this is a great book to pick up. There is nothing ‘plain’ about it.
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