A Review of The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult
Some books whisper. Others pull you into their arms, cup your face, and ask plainly, What if you had taken another path?
Jodi Picoult’s The Book of Two Ways is a novel for anyone who's ever wondered what might have been—for anyone who's woken at 3 a.m. thinking about the life unlived.
The Premise
Dawn Edelstein is a death doula—someone who helps others transition through the final phase of life with care and dignity. She’s married, has a teenage daughter, and lives a comfortable, if emotionally muted, life in Boston.
Then a plane crash—more wake-up call than disaster—forces Dawn to reckon with a version of herself she left behind: once an Egyptologist on the cusp of academic greatness, in love with a man named Wyatt and immersed in the mysteries of the afterlife.
What follows is a dual-timeline exploration: one set in present-day Boston, the other pulling us back into the sands of Egypt and the shadow of a past that never fully let go. At the heart of it is a question: Should Dawn return to her old life, or honor the one she chose?
Why It Resonates
A balance of intellect and emotion
Picoult delves deep into Egyptian mythology, burial practices, and the Book of Two Ways—an ancient guide to the afterlife. It’s rich with detail and philosophical inquiry, but always rooted in Dawn’s personal journey. The head and heart are both fully engaged here.
A meditation on death, purpose, and desire
Through her work as a death doula, Dawn is intimately familiar with what it means to die well. But does she know what it means to live well? The book wrestles with purpose, desire, and the quiet grief of choices unmade.
A deeply human story
This isn’t just about ancient tombs or alternate timelines. It’s about a woman torn between the version of herself that chased ambition and the one that chose stability. Anyone who has loved deeply, doubted quietly, or mourned a path not taken will find something familiar here.
What to Know Before You Read
It’s intellectually demanding. There are passages that read like a crash course in Egyptology. Fascinating if you’re inclined toward history, potentially overwhelming if you’re not.
The pacing is reflective. This isn’t a thriller or a rom-com. The narrative takes its time, much like Dawn herself, circling truths before confronting them.
The ending is open. Some will find it elegant. Others might find themselves yearning for a clearer resolution. It’s a choice that mirrors the book’s themes—sometimes we don’t get answers, only possibilities.
Final Thoughts
Read The Book of Two Ways if you’re drawn to stories about second chances, the elasticity of time, and the kind of love that lingers in the marrow. It’s a novel that respects your intellect and your heart in equal measure.
Thank you for taking the time to read my review of The Book of Two Ways. If you're in the UAE or Gulf region, consider buying it through BookBoss.ae to support regional booksellers. Independent books deserve independent shelves.