Rating: 
Summary: A romantic drama that stays with you
Review: Jodi Picoult has created characters so multi-dimensional that, days after finishing the book, I still find myself thinking about the characters and the story. Enough background is given on each character that even Alex, the abusive husband, seems sympathetic and it was easier to understand how Cassie could choose to stay in an abusive marriage. I found myself hoping the relationship would work out and I couldn't wait to see how the book would end.
Rating: 
Summary: What Goes on Behind Closed Doors...
Review: Jodi Picoult has given me even more cause to pass the word about her writing talent. Picture Perfect is yet another pageturner complete with emotional roller coaster. She has absolute power over me with her sympathetic, realistic, and sometimes enraging characters.In Picture Perfect, anthropologist Cassie Barnett falls in love with princely movie star, Alex Rivers. They quickly marry, and Cassies believes she has found eternal happiness. Until the first time he lays his hands on her in anger. And then the second time and the third time.... And yet she stays!! I was half wanting to throttle Cassie myself! But don't worry. Jodi delivers a shocking ending that left me smiling for days. Also recommended are Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen and The Perfect Husband by Lisa Gardner.
Rating: 
Summary: Far From Perfect!
Review: Jodi Picoult is a great story teller. Writing about relationships is her strength. I have read all of her novels and have been captivated, time after time, by her characters and engrossing storylines. "Picture Perfect" is not one of Ms. Picoult's best efforts, however. This novel of the relationship between a Hollywood super star and a brilliant and acclaimed anthropologist is too contrived for my taste. She writes about an important and difficult societal issue here, but the complexity and real drama of her story are diminished by the unnecessary glitter of her characters and the addition of a subplot, so tangential, it is superfluous. Cassie Barrett is a physical anthropologist and lecturer at UCLA. She has been assigned to work at one of the university's sites in Tanzania for the semester when she is disturbed by the crew of a film production company in the process of making a movie. Since the film just happens to feature an anthropologist, she is recruited as a consultant and meets super star actor and heartthrob Alex Rivers. In a Cinderella romance with overtones of the "Lifestyles Of The Rich and Famous," the two fall in love and marry. But gold does not lie beneath the glitter. Alex carries tons of baggage from an abusive childhood. Cassie has baggage of her own. Picoult describes the psychological dynamics of the couple with a sharp and knowing eye. Her characters are finely drawn, realistic and compelling. Characters and a parallel story are introduced that would make an interesting novel in itself, but are so removed from the main plot that their presence is distracting. I was left with a feeling that the author had added apples to oranges and hoped to come up with a logical rational for her character's actions. This is not typical of Ms. Picoult's usual taut plots and tight writing style. Apples and oranges do not mix well in this novel and I was left hungry.
JANA
Rating:
Summary: Perfect...
Review: Jodi Picoult never fails me. This is the 5th book of her that I've read, and despite the fact that it isn't one of her page-turning courtroom drama types, Picture Perfect ranks right up there with my favorite, Plain Truth. Anthropologist Cassie Barrett wakes up in a cemetary with a cut on her head and wondering how it got there. Will Flying Horse, a Native American police officer for the LAPD, finds Cassie wandering the streets and rescues her. Cassie doesn't know who she is or what she is doing -- a classic case of amnesia. Will aides in finding Cassie's family only to discover that she is none other than famous Hollywood actor Alex Rivers's wife! Slowly Cassie integrates back into Alex's life of fame, fortune, and house help. Until one day, triggered by something she sees, Cassie's memories and the reason for the cut on her head come flooding back to her. Now the only thing left for Cassie to do is escape.... I don't know what it is exactly that made me love Picture Perfect so much. The writing, as always, was exceptional, and the style of the writing was very easy flowing. And the story itself was very interesting, honest and believeable. I am an avid fan of Jodi Picoult's and reading Picture Perfect was a solid reminder of why. Kudos to you, Jodi, for another wonderfully rendered portrait of a novel.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect...
Review: Jodi Picoult never fails me. This is the 5th book of her that I've read, and despite the fact that it isn't one of her page-turning courtroom drama types, Picture Perfect ranks right up there with my favorite, Plain Truth. Anthropologist Cassie Barrett wakes up in a cemetary with a cut on her head and wondering how it got there. Will Flying Horse, a Native American police officer for the LAPD, finds Cassie wandering the streets and rescues her. Cassie doesn't know who she is or what she is doing -- a classic case of amnesia. Will aides in finding Cassie's family only to discover that she is none other than famous Hollywood actor Alex Rivers's wife! Slowly Cassie integrates back into Alex's life of fame, fortune, and house help. Until one day, triggered by something she sees, Cassie's memories and the reason for the cut on her head come flooding back to her. Now the only thing left for Cassie to do is escape.... I don't know what it is exactly that made me love Picture Perfect so much. The writing, as always, was exceptional, and the style of the writing was very easy flowing. And the story itself was very interesting, honest and believeable. I am an avid fan of Jodi Picoult's and reading Picture Perfect was a solid reminder of why. Kudos to you, Jodi, for another wonderfully rendered portrait of a novel.
Rating:
Summary: Melodramatic story of a troubled marriage.
Review: Jodi Picoult's novel, "Picture Perfect," is the story of Cassie Barrett, who holds a doctorate in anthropology and is world famous in her field. On a movie set in Tanzania, where Cassie is serving as a consultant, she meets a gorgeous and desirable film actor named Alex Rivers. Alex sweeps Cassie off her feet with his charm and charisma, and Cassie falls in love with him. They seem to have a "picture perfect" relationship. Unfortunately, Cassie finds out later that Alex is the product of a horribly abusive childhood, similar in many ways to her own very difficult childhood, and he bears indelible scars from his youth. When Alex lashes out at Cassie, she forgives him time and again, since she truly loves him and empathizes with his pain. Alex is the consummate actor. He allows the world to see what he wants them to see. The real Alex is far different from the persona that he projects to his fans. Cassie learns, too late, that she has married a man with deep-rooted psychological problems. Unfortunately, most of "Picture Perfect" is predictable and melodramatic. We have seen the scenario of the "perfect" marriage, which is really far from perfect, so many times before. What saves this book from being just an average melodrama is the clever inclusion of a subplot about the Lakota Sioux of South Dakota. When Cassie suffers from temporary amnesia, she is fortunate enough to meet a man named William Flying Horse, who is a rookie in the Los Angeles Police Department. He helps Cassie in many ways, and through him and his family, we get a wonderful and poignant glimpse of the Lakota Sioux culture. Jodi Picoult's writing style is fairly pedestrian and her characters are too one-dimensional. Still, Cassie's story has some compelling moments, and the subplot about the Sioux is moving and informative. Therefore, I give "Picture Perfect" a marginal recommendation.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but not as good as Picoult's others...
Review: Keeping Faith, The Pact, and Harvesting the Heart are prime examples of Picoult's remarkable talent. I was enthralled by all three of those books. While Picture Perfect was a good read, it lacked the depth and beauty of the others. Still, it was enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty as a Picture or so it seems.
Review: Now let's take a look at the real world. Wonderfully written as all of Picoult's books are; this one has a lot of heart, and a whole lot of selfless love or so Cassie thinks. Is her behavior selfless or foolish? Alex Rivers is a mega star in Hollywood and Cassie is the most unlikely of people to grace his arm at a premiere among the Hollywood golden set. She is an anthropologist with her head in the books and her mind on the next dig, happy to be in a bush jacket and jeans as she unearths her latest treasure. Two worlds collide in more ways than one when Alex and Cassie meet and marry. A study in abuse that will touch your heart, and leave you cheering for both sides because of the love the author so eloquently makes you feel for both characters. Ahhhh but just how much can one person take, and is there a way out, is the question that has to be answered. This book had me guessing till the last 25 pages. Picoult has a new book coming out in May titled PERFECT MATCH. I'll be first in line for that one too. This author has never disappointed me. Kelsana 4/29/02
Rating: 
Summary: Don't Bother
Review: This book is the literary equivelent of a video game. Although fans of soap operas may enjoy it, this novel is so far fetched it lacks any sort of credibility. All it needs is a swash-buckling, over-muscled pirate clutching a flame-haired, raven eyed damsel (or is it raven haired, flame eyed? I forget...)on the deck of a ship during a violent thunderstorm. Oh, well, maybe on her next novel....
Rating: 
Summary: THIS BOOK IS LESS THAN PICTURE PERFECT...
Review: This book recounts the almost fairytale like romance and marriage of anthropologist, Cassie Barrett, and silver screen star, Alex Rivers. All that glitters, however, is not gold, as Cassie will soon discover. It seems that her handsome husband has a dark side to his personality. When Cassie undergoes some form of temporary amnesia, she makes the acquaintance of William Flying Horse, a rookie police officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. He is immediately attracted to this lovely, though mysterious, woman. He treats her tenderly and, ultimately, falls in love with her. He does not reveal his feelings, however, as she is eventually claimed by her husband, who has been looking for her. As her memory returns, Cassie recalls what was it that drove her away from Alex. Unfortunately, Alex is the product of an abusive childhood, and the psychological trauma that he sustained growing up rears its ugly head in a way that is not conducive to a happy marriage. Cassie, however, is the great enabler, as she has allowed Alex to continue with this pattern of behavior, rationalizing it to herself. This is a formulaic story that the author tries to augment with some Native American Indian lore that is somewhat interesting but, ultimately, fails to carry the day, as it spirals into the ridiculous. All of the characters, including the Native American ones, are one dimensional and, consequently, the reader ends up caring very little about what happens to any one of them. Neither of the readers of this unabridged audio book are talented enough narrators to make this book into something other than what it is: a mediocre work of fiction not worth reading.
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