My Sister’s Keeper, The Movie

The critically acclaimed book by Jodi Picoult, My Sister’s Keeper will make its movie premiere on Aussie screens on 30 July 2009. Although the long awaited movie has fans excited and eager for its release, the movie release is not the main reason Picoult fans are reeling – Hollywood script writers changed the ending!

It will be interesting to see how filmmakers have changed this story. It’s not hard to guess that most of the heartbreak will ensue just by watching the movie trailer. Hopefully, filmmakers have taken the story to heart and its meaning will not be manipulated by Hollywood’s quest for the ever popular happy ending. Only time will tell… and a trip to the cinema.

My recommendation is to read My Sister’s Keeper before venturing to the silver screen and judge it all for yourself. While I haven’t seen the movie yet, I have read the book and know that this is a great story.

Picoult’s characters go through real struggles and heartbreak as Anna, the youngest daughter, (played by Abigail Breslin) struggles with deciding whether or not she can continue as a medical donor for her cancer- stricken sister Kate (Sofia Vassilieva). The story gives insight into every character thoughts as you go through this journey with them. It is not just Anna and Kate but their family, (mum played by Cameron Diaz) friends, and even lawyer (Alec Baldwin) that struggle with ethics, life, love and crisis.

My Sister’s Keeper is brilliantly written story that is portrayed with bare honesty. Picoult offers a look into the lives of these characters with no false pretence and takes no bias. Shes simply tells a compelling and heart wrenching story. The story has real love, laughter, heartbreak and pain. It will make you question: what you would do in this situation?; and how you would cope living just a day in their world? The ending delivers an unexpected yet perfect lesson to be learned.

“Picoult explores a complex subject with bravado and clarity, and comes up with a heart wrenching, unexpected plot twist at the book’s conclusion.” —Publisher’s Weekly

Read author Jodi Picoult’s thoughts on the book and the issues it discusses here.

The book and now the movie have become a popular topic of debate on social networking sites, particularly Facebook where readers are vying to save the book’s ending and discussing  their feelings on the ethical issues as well.

Tell us your thoughts about the ending change, the book and everything My Sister’s Keeper – just comment below.