Small Great Things discussion

I was wondering what others thought of the ending of this book.

Loved the book but found the ending contrived, much too tidy, my only negative sbout the book. I know the Turk character was based on a real person but having Brit die snd him marrying up felt like it should have been fiurther developed to feel real. Or did you mean the ring Ruth is wearing?

I wish the last few pages had not existed. I liked Turk in part, even if I completely disagreed with him and would hate the character at many points. I really enjoyed reading and understanding a character that was not all good. The end seemed unrealistic and was disappointing. I would have rather not had a six year preview at all. Turk was having some doubts in the book and I feel that was a much more realistic portrayal than having him completely change his opinions.

I loved the ending. Losing the ones he loved(his son and later wife) helped change his opinion in life. Tragedy often causes people to see things differently. I'm glad Ruth was able to advance in her career despite being wrongly fired.

Remember what his friend Raine said? The Movement was something like 80% hate. That takes a lot of effort and must be exhausting! Its a learned behavior. It can be "unlearned."

I really wanted Ruth to recognize him though. And I would have liked a few more pages in the "6 years later" chapter. It was too brief. I do believe people can change and I'm glad Turk did because he really knew how to love. He just needed to let go of all the hate.

I agree. I wish Ruth would have recognized Turk. Also, I don't think it was realistic that Ruth gave up Labor and Delivery and opened a clinic. Ending was weak. However, I gave the book 5 stars because I think it's the best book I have read in 2017.

Could someone explain what happen to Brit? Seemed unclear. I know she tried to commit suicide and her mother was black. Then Turk is married to Deborah and has a 3 year old child. What am I missing?

I wouod have liked a more detailed ending, what happened to edidon, why turk indented on divorcing brit prior to her ending her life. I was happy to see turk turn around and I was happy he wasno longer eacist, but I dont kniw why not geing racist meant he couldnt work and support his family and tge same with rain. I felt tge author was trying to say something by Turk having a complete role reversal, chanhing his last name, his wife being the provider. I feel a person can change but should not lose who they are. I guess tge reason ruth didnt recognize him, the author was saying he was a whole new person.

I can't remember what happened in the end but I don't like books that 'do what they say on the tin' I was very predictable I can remember. Ruth ended up loosing the trial and the good character dies?

Please help

Lorna

Here's my full review. I didn't really enjoy the ending. I thought it was sort of unbelievable.

Not sure how I feel about Ruth not recognizing Turk. I think not having her do so was a surer way out for Picoult. I mean, no short dialogue would have been enough to sum things up between the two of them so maybe it was better off this way.

https://bookbugsbite.wordpress.com/20...

Just because you are literally asking a question, does not mean you need to check off "this is a discussion question." As you can see, this format yields a hot mess where responses are not threaded as in a normal discussion, but instead ordered according to upvoting. Would love to actually discuss this topic, but this format is untenable. OP, you have the option of fixing this by editing your original post and deselecting that box.

I unchecked the box. I thought that asking a question would result in a discussion, that is why I called it a discussion -
I was not aware that this would be problematic.

Jennifer wrote: "I unchecked the box. I thought that asking a question would result in a discussion, that is why I called it a discussion -I was not aware that this would be problematic."

I think that happens to a lot of people, because the way the choice is presented is misleading.... I've participated in some threads over at the "Goodreads Feedback" group, where many users have requested that either GR eliminate the "question" format or at least create a tag and allow users to filter them out. Also would be great if GR were more clear about what the format does. Unfortunately, the mods have been unsupportive.

In any event, I liked the ending. One might argue it was overly optimistic, but there were hints in Turk's narrative that such a change might be possible under certain circumstances. And there are people in real life who have made a transformation like that. After the emotional rollercoaster of the narrative, I was pleased with the hopeful ending.

Dianne wrote: "I agree. I wish Ruth would have recognized Turk. Also, I don't think it was realistic that Ruth gave up Labor and Delivery and opened a clinic. Ending was weak. However, I gave the book 5 stars bec..."

The book says Bri overdosed on pills and alcohol.

I really enjoyed the ending but I do agree that the ending was very unrealistic. Lovely all the same and I thoroughly enjoyed.

I don’t understand why Ruth’s last name changed?

Nicole.kabalen wrote: "I don’t understand why Ruth’s last name changed?"

Remarriage. In the final scene, Davis notices that Ruth is wearing a wedding band and engagement ring.

I initially was frustrated by the ending of how Turk did a complete 180 and I thought it was too perfect and unrealistic. However, when we look at the complete tragedy he had to endure of losing his baby son and then his wife, whilst also realising he loved both of them even though they were partially of colour; it actually makes sense that he would change his beliefs. It takes horrible events for drastic things to happen and I actually believe it would be unrealistic to see that Turk didn't change at all.

The book is like a Harlequin Romance view of a serious subject. The ending is partucularly juvenile. It is appropriate that he married a stockbroker at the end. He needs her to manage all his money from the death of his son and contributing to the death of his wife. He should be worth about $10-$15 million. Certainly an unjust reward of a former racist.

Barry wrote: "The book is like a Harlequin Romance view of a serious subject. The ending is partucularly juvenile. It is appropriate that he married a stockbroker at the end. He needs her to manage all his money..."

Did we read the same book? What money does Turk have? The author never follows that path in the narrative.

Nicole.kabalen wrote: "I don’t understand why Ruth’s last name changed?"

I'm also a little disappointed that none of Ruth's "happy ending" is detailed. Who is her husband? Was there even a _________ Walker character?

in response to Darla
Due to the death of his son and his wife from suicide caused by the death of their son, Turk has an immense civil action against the hospital. The real source of money is the hospital which would be found negligent as a result of the evidence uncovered in the action against Ruth.
Turk would receive millions from the action and it is appropriate that his new wife manage it. His new wife also has to deal with her other clients that would not appreciate that she is married to a former notorious racist.
The author provides too happy an ending for Turk.

Shawneshoo wrote: "Remember what his friend Raine said? The Movement was something like 80% hate. That takes a lot of effort and must be exhausting! Its a learned behavior. It can be "unlearned.""

Are you insinuating that people cannot change? That there is no possibility of transformation? I would beg to differ with your bleak view of a human's capacity to change and grow, As one learns he or she can also choose to relearn and change and for those who feel trapped by their past "learning" I would encourage you to seek change and transformation.

Dianne wrote: "I agree. I wish Ruth would have recognized Turk. Also, I don't think it was realistic that Ruth gave up Labor and Delivery and opened a clinic. Ending was weak. However, I gave the book 5 stars bec..."

I believe she did not only try to commit suicide; she succeeded in committing suicide.

I liked the ending because Turk was able to grow as a human being. I think it's better that Ruth didn't recognize him because that shows how very much he had changed. However, I would have liked to know more about Ruth's ending story as well. The wrap-up was quick. Turk's change was better described than Ruth's, which is why some of us may be disappointed that she gave up L & D for running the clinic. I'd like to have learned more about how and why she opted for the clinic instead of moving somewhere else and working in L & D.

I thought the revelation about Brit was more contrived than Turk renouncing white supremacy - as you'll see from the afterword, where Jodi says part of her research was talking to former white supremacists, this IS a thing. There are programs around the country to reach out and deprogram supremacists, and some of them do the talk circuit as Turk does, spreading the message that hate is wrong. But saying that about Brit, I enjoyed the delicious irony of her situation.

Let's turn the question around. Without the epilogue, would the story have been complete? Would each character's arc have been drawn to a satisfactory conclusion? I'm not so sure. The message is that people CAN change for the better if they get their heads out of their asses and wake up to the reality of how they view each other and treat each other.

Never mind the ending. I found the whole book full of cliches and contrived.