It resides far below the earth's surface: a fiery domain of eternal torment where the sinful suffer and a pitchfork-wielding demon is sovereign. This is the popular notion of Hell: a place of punishment far removed from our world, somewhere the wicked end up after death. It's not supposed to reside within us, and it's not meant to be something we bring upon ourselves.
In her newest book, "The Tenth Circle: A Novel," New York Times' bestselling author Jodi Picoult creates an intimate portrait of a family in anguish - a family whose members are truly seeing each other for the first time and struggling as the truth burns through their trust. The reader lives through the family's pain, descending with each character into his or her personal Hell as secret after revealed secret fuels the fire.
"The Tenth Circle" details the aftermath of 14-year-old Trixie Stone's date rape and the effects it has on her and her parents, comic book artist Daniel and college professor Laura, who specializes in the texts of Dante. At first, Trixie has only to cope with the fact that Jason Underhill, whom she loves, has just dumped her. The plot quickly heats up as Trixie's hidden layers unfold: Behind the pretty face dwells an inferno of inner-torment, self-destructive habits and a willingness to deceive. And Picoult doesn't stop there. In addition to her portrayal of the early shock of Trixie's rape, Picoult confronts the reader with Laura's affair and Daniel's mysterious past. Trixie's experiences catalyze both her own metamorphosis and that of her parents who become people she thought they could never be.
At times, Picoult's portrayal of Trixie's reckless adolescent habits seems a little over the top, a little too melodramatic. Though Picoult's descriptions of sex and drinking at parties are in part based on interviews she conducted with teenagers, they do not feel completely natural. In these passages, Picoult sometimes comes across as shocked, as though she were trying to convince both her reader and herself of the reality of the situation.
Conversely, Picoult wisely avoids the sappy, unrealistic ending with which she could have concluded the story. She refrains from an overly maudlin finale, choosing instead a rather surprising and satisfying finish that blurs the line between demon and angel, and begs the reader to reconsider each character in turn.
What makes "The Tenth Circle" so unique is Picoult's blending of fiction in words with fiction in ink. Interspersed between the pages of text are segments of the graphic novel "The Immortal Wildclaw in the Tenth Circle," ostensibly created by Trixie's father. The true illustrator is Dustin Weaver, an intern for the famous Jim Lee, with whom Picoult collaborated. Weaver's imaginative pictures are just as dramatic and engaging as Picoult's writing, at once blending Dante's "Inferno" with comic book stylings and mirroring Daniel Stone's battle to contain the rage and violence he tried to bury with the past. Interestingly, in a manner reminiscent of "The Da Vinci Code," Weaver's art includes hidden letters that spell out a quotation summing up "The Tenth Circle"'s theme.
Since publishing her first novel, "Songs of the Humpback Whale" (1992), the prolific Picoult has produced a total of 12 other works including "The Tenth Circle." This comes to an impressive total of 13 books in 14 years. Picoult has gathered a significant fanbase and is a favorite author among book clubs because her novels spark such interesting moral debate. Two of her novels, "The Pact" (1998) and "Plain Truth" (1999), have even been made into Lifetime Network movies.
Anyone seeking to learn more about Picoult will find her official Web site to be full of interviews, synopses, and even multimedia presentations. Picoult's presence is notable elsewhere on the Internet, as well. On Amazon.com, potential buyers are encouraged by personal, if somewhat aggressive notes from Picoult. These and other advertising campaigns surrounding Picoult's success have helped to bring a talented writer to the public's attention, much to the joy of her publisher and fans. For those readers interested in an enjoyable and thought-provoking read that explores the nuances of human relationships, "The Tenth Circle" is surely a fine choice.
