It's been a number of years since I have read a Jodi Picoult novel. Her novels are usually very thought-provoking, providing glimpses into opposite viewpoints, which I have always found intriguing. I had no idea what this book was about before reading it. It's the story of the teenage love (Seniors in High School) between Asher and Lily. Asher lives with his mother, Olivia, in New Hampshire. Olivia fled her husband in Boston after years of abuse, taking Asher with her when Asher was about 6 years old. Lily is new to town. She also lives with her mother, Ava. Ava also rescued Lily from her father's abuse. So these two were bound to have a connection!
The story alternates between present day and chapters continuously moving backwards in time, which is an interesting concept. Asher and Lily are about three months into their relationship when Asher is found cradling Lily's body on the main level of Lily's home. She presumably fell down the stairs after being in her bedroom off the top of the stairs. Asher states that he found her at the bottom of the stairs when he arrived at her house after school because Lily had stayed home sick and wasn't responding to Asher's texts after a disagreement between the two. Lily's bedroom is in disarray, like someone had a physical fight. Asher tells the police that he hadn't been in Lily's bedroom, but his fingerprints were discovered all over her room. Asher is arrested for Lily's murder.
After the first 200 pages I started to wonder where the "conflict" was that is typical of Jodi Picoult stories. Then BAM! I was hit with a twist I was not expecting! Although the twist is a major part of the story, the real conflict was within Olivia. Olivia had been brutally abused, mentally, emotionally and physically by her husband, Asher's father. She saw signs of her husband's temper in Asher at times, and she was deeply worried that Asher could be capable of harming someone. Asher kept denying that he harmed Lily, but no one really believed him, including at times Olivia.
The title of the book, Mad Honey, refers to the honey produced by bees that pollinate rhododendron flowers. Mad Honey has hallucinogenic affects and can be lethal in concentrated doses. Olivia is a beekeeper, which was an interesting part of this story in my opinion. A lot is explained about bees, but now I want to know even more! I wish I could find the passage where Olivia talks about Mad Honey, but to paraphrase, she talks about all of the wonderful things about honey and then comments that even good, pure, things can be toxic given the right conditions. So, she was comparing the bees who pollinate rhododendron flowers to her son, Asher. Again, I am simplifying her thoughts.
I really liked this book, despite the over whelming sense of sadness, since Lily dies and her death affects a lot of different people.
Wendy's Rating: *****
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