by alley hector

Bestselling author Jodi Picoult plots a lesbian relationship in her new novel

Most the current press surrounding bestselling author Jodi Picoult concerns her novel, My Sister’s Keeper, which was turned into a film starring, Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin and Alec Bladwin, and has now premiered nationwide. But for her next project, Picault has a much queerer agenda in mind, and it has become personal.

Talking with gay publication Edge Boston, Picault delves right into the plot of her next novel, which follows the difficulties a lesbian couple encounters as they attempt to start a family. Through this storyline the book deals with personal, political and religious issues.

A married couple, Max and Zoe, fail several attempts at invitro fertilization, including multiple miscarriages and a still-birth and decide to stop trying, and split up due to the stress. Max becomes an alcoholic saved by religious fanaticism while Zoe meets and falls in love with a female high school guidance counselor, Vanessa.

Though Zoe had a hysterectomy, assuming that she would never be able to bear children, Vanessa has fertile ground within her womb. When Zoe and Vanessa attempt to use Max and Zoe’s leftover embryos they meet with opposition from Max and his family, who believe they are entitled to them.

Her dedication to thorough research made it necessary for her to interact with the virulently anti-gay Focus on the Family. She says of talking with one woman, who identified herself as an "ex-gay." She told Edge:

It was a really strange interview. They are tangled up in rhetoric … In a way you almost can’t blame somebody for the strength of their convictions. But you can try to open their eyes.

[I asked her]”What about people who use [the Bible] as an excuse to commit acts of violence?"

And she said, "Oh well, that hasn’t happened."

So I read her, like, seven headlines from the past two years. And she started to cry and she said, "That just breaks my heart because that’s not what Jesus wants from us."

And to me that’s a really simple answer. Don’t take responsibility for it and pretend that you didn’t know it was happening. I find that very hard to believe.

Picoult is a huge supporter of gay rights. She has called the struggle “…the last civil right in America [that we have yet to achieve” but this project took on even more importance when her 17-year-old son, Kyle, told her that he was gay. Of the revelation she says:

Here I was working up this book about gay rights and figuring out how I’m going to do this whole lesbian couple invitro thing, then my son Kyle [a seventeen year old Yale-bound senior) came out to us. And I was like, "well now I really have to write this book! Now I have to crusade for myself!"

Indeed — though Picoult is already known for being a tearjerker — this level of intimacy with her subject matter is sure to lend even more intensity and authenticity. She also hopes she will reach the hearts and minds of middle America.

As for Kyle? He just hopes to meet some celebs. But I understand, because I also have fantasies of meeting the Gyllenhaal siblings. The sentiment may almost universal.

alley hector's blog

Submitted by

alley hector

on July 8, 2009 - 11:00am.

TAGS ::

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Submitted by

SoundandFury (460 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 10:59am.

I have been waiting for this. She's my favorite author and I've been hoping she would have some gay characters soon.

so once again:

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH

JODI'S BEEN READING OUR POSTS!!! :)

Submitted by

Brynn (65 posts)

on July 15, 2009 - 8:51am.

I emailed her a thanks and got this prompt reply back:

Hi Brynn! I had received a link to AfterEllen's post from a friend of mine, and when I read through the comments and saw your I laughed out loud -- you can officially say you met me through email now. I am so happy to be writing this book - the fact that people are excited about it is icing on the cake. (In unrelated news, one of the funniest posts I've ever read while doing research for a book was on AfterEllen and was about Melissa Fryrear from Love Won Out...she is a PIECE of work...the post said something about Angelina Jolie still being able to seduce her in about five minutes flat and was totally right!)

Very cool that you live just in WRJ - hope that one day we'll have a chance to meet!

Jodi

***yippee!***

Squee!!!!

Submitted by

Shannon Marie (24 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 12:10pm.

I am super excited for this. Her last book disappointed me, so with this I know she can redeem herself. :)

wait

Submitted by

SoundandFury (460 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 1:07pm.

Are you talking about Handle With Care? I haven't finished it yet. I hope it doesn't suck.

Yep.

Submitted by

Shannon Marie (24 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 1:35pm.

Yeah same book. It to me felt like a rip off of My Sister's Keeper. Other than that it was a pretty good book.

huh

Submitted by

Sharon (7 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 3:00pm.

Actually I thought the movie was more of a rip off 'cos of the ending...

yeah

Submitted by

SoundandFury (460 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 7:08pm.

as a movie, it was pretty good. as a movie based on the book it was disappointing.

agree

Submitted by

Kelli (27 posts)

on July 9, 2009 - 11:47am.

I agree, the ending to the movie jsut pissed me off, the book ending made it so much MORE, it made it more sad but also it gave you a hope the movie ending did not. Does that make sence. Anyway I loved the movie until that ending which kind of runned it for me, I Loved that book and there was no reason to change that ending.

book ending

Submitted by

SoundandFury (460 posts)

on July 9, 2009 - 11:35pm.

The ending of the book gave everything meaning.

one word=

Submitted by

sexhair (89 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 12:14pm.

AWESOME!

They think we're ugly, but I know we're beautiful.

gotta say...

Submitted by

Brynn (65 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 12:26pm.

she lives ten minutes away from me and is the most down to earth person that i've never met. as in -seen her at the co-op and around town, but never worked up the nerve to say hey.

maybe sometime soon. to give her a thanks for this book, perhaps?

SO excited!

Submitted by

Melanie Lowe (1 post)

on July 8, 2009 - 2:10pm.

I love all her books and I am so excited that she's tackling this issue! She has such a gift for empathy and I think this will really make a lot of people sit up and take notice. Well done Jodi! I can't wait to add it to my collection:)

Melanie Lowe
Managing Member
MELLOW MUSIC cc
www.melanielowe.com

I wondered how many books it would take...

Submitted by

Suzzie (159 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 2:10pm.

.....as she covers a lot of touchy subjects, such as school bullying and shoot outs (nineteen minutes) genetically changed/created babies (my sisters keeper) euthanasia and the prosecution of it (mercy), depression and suicide and young love (the pact) and how strong faith can be including miricles and how the death sentence can sometimes be completly wrong (change of heart)...and they're just the books I've read! I like how she writes, as ever side is valid and gets equal amounts of time, she writes passionatly and there is ALWAYS a twist or an unexpected turn, and the realism of some aspects such as the court sections in 'my sisters keeper' and the pact are brilliant!

So I am really pleased that she is both writing this, that she feels so passionatly about this and that I'm pretty sure that she will write competantly from both sides of the story, one of the mains things I love about her books! It would be nice if it wasn't lesbians trying to have/adopt children though, but I can see that it is a good topical issue...but maybe thats just me! :)

I love jodi picoult i cant

Submitted by

Lia (6 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 2:51pm.

I love jodi picoult i cant wait to add this new book to my collection!!!! i havent read all the ones she has out yet but i am getting there!!!

yay!! i am so excited for

Submitted by

Becky (27 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 3:32pm.

yay!! i am so excited for this book to come out. i can't wait!

can't wait to read this book

Submitted by

Jaime (52 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 4:18pm.

can't wait to read this book it sounds interesting! I've only read one book by her (My Sisters Keeper) I enjoyed it a lot.

fave author! :D been waiting foreverrrrr

Submitted by

Captain Jax Havok (147 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 7:24pm.

for her to finally make a book on that topic :D didn't know his son was gay :O that's so awesome! :D most deff will buy the book ^_^

I've considered reading her

Submitted by

pancreas (314 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 7:54pm.

I've considered reading her books before but never got around to it. This one I'll definitely read.

YEEEESSS!

Submitted by

Jeannette (147 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 8:11pm.

SO excited when I saw the title of this story! I LOVE her books and I've also been waiting forever for her to have a queer character! Awesome!

I've read quite a few of

Submitted by

breakaway627 (26 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 8:18pm.

I've read quite a few of Picoult's novels and whether I've liked them or not, I always love how she gets me to think about the different sides to the issues she presents, even if before reading them I thought I knew where I stood. None have quite topped My Sister's Keeper (the first and only time my jaw has ever literally dropped while reading a book) but I can't wait to see where she takes this novel.

Yay :)

Submitted by

Zee (304 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 9:09pm.

I'm so glad she's doing this! :DD My sister's keeper was awesomeeee.

The real question

Submitted by

Pixiedyke (12 posts)

on July 8, 2009 - 9:42pm.

is which is the mom that kills someone, since Picoult always has to have one somewhere.

Out son.

Submitted by

Sdqueen (62 posts)

on July 9, 2009 - 2:56am.

Jodi is such a passionate writer, I turned my parnter onto her work and bought 5 of her books for her to read in bout a week, which she did (super fast reader)! But I'm still not up there.

Its kinda cool her son came out...maybe the knowledge of her writing on a gay couple gave him the courage, so well done young Picault...:)

SdQ...still runnin things...be humble and wise

I love Jodi Picoult

Submitted by

Claire (152 posts)

on July 9, 2009 - 2:58am.

My sisters keeper is definatly one of her best, I also really liked Perfect Match I've read a few more of her books there all pretty good. Unfortunatly you dont ever really finish one of them feeling happy. I was so excited when my sisters keeper got the movie treatment but now i dont want to see it as they have changed the ending and alec baldwin is in it

Yes!

Submitted by

balaustine (89 posts)

on July 9, 2009 - 8:50am.

So excited! I love Jodi, she's a great writer.

Two Questions

Submitted by

pancreas (314 posts)

on July 9, 2009 - 9:28am.

Two questions come to mind:

-If she so firmly believes being gay is biological, why is she writing yet another story of the woman who never considered same-sex romance until later in life?

-Why would anyone who wants kids but doesn't think she can have them have a hysterectomy? The only thing I can think of is how some laws require a woman to be legally infertile before having IVF, but having a hysterectomy doesn't seem like the right solution. I may be missing something obvious here!

But as I said above, it looks exciting and I'll definitely give it a read.