"Inside each of us is a monster; inside each of us is a saint," says one of the characters in The Storyteller, a powerful, beautifully crafted novel by Jodi Picoult about a young woman's ardent search for meaning and justice. "The real question is which one we nurture the most, which one will smite the other."
Mainly set in Westerbrook, N.H., near the site of a bustling Catholic shrine to Our Lady of Mercy, The Storyteller centers on the town bakery, which is a community center and safe haven for Sage Singer, a 25-year-old baker who is floundering in life, scarred--literally and figuratively--by the death of her parents. At a grief support group, Sage meets Josef Weber, a nonagenarian, a respected member of the community and a "grandfatherly Good Samaritan" who takes a shine to her. Despite the differences in their ages and backgrounds, the two become fast friends and intimate confidants. But when Josef reveals a shocking, hidden secret from his past and asks Sage for a favor that would change both their lives, Sage faces a moral dilemma. She is forced to question and confront her identity and integrity, delving into the history of her own family--specifically, her much-beloved grandmother's experiences during World War II. In the process, this multi-layered drama intensifies, building to a chilling conclusion.
Picoult presents multiple points of view and rich historical subplots that enhance the idea that stories have power--whether they are told or not. --Kathleen Gerard, blogger at Reading Between the Lines