Madeline
Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult explains that what you want one day may change. Decisions you make as a dreamer are not the same decisions you will make as a full grown adult. What you think you want, maybe, you don’t really want it.
Premise of Wish You Were Here
Wish You Were Here is divided into two parts. Without giving away the whole book, only the first part can be touched on. The second part is for me to know (and everyone else who has read this book) and for you to find out.
Diana has her life figured out. She knows what job she wants, she wants to marry her boyfriend, Finn, where they will live and when they will have kids. Traveling the world is part of that plan, so her and her fiancé have a trip planned to the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador. Just before they are set she finds a ring in Finn’s sock drawer.
But then, the news of COVID-19 begins. The first cases in New York City arrive with speculation of thousands more. Finn, a resident surgeon, can’t leave the city. Not with people needing him. With non refundable tickets and Finn’s permission, Diana decides to go alone.
Once there, due to the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world, the island shuts down and Diana is stuck there. She is then faces with choice after choice, which causes her to question her original plan.
My Relation To Diana’s Journey
Although my journey is not as cut clear as Diana’s is, I can relate to questioning what I wanted out of life. I thought I wanted to have a powerful job, make lots of money, and settle down with an amazing man. But I am now questioning what I thought I wanted ten years ago. The corporate job is not as plush and easy as it seemed back then. And I’m realizing I want to do something else with my life and money is not as important to reach that goal.
Reading Wish You Were Here has enforced my decision to explore other ideas and my guess is that I am not alone. I have been using a 5 minute journal to try to better understand what I want out of life. But like in Diana’s case, perhaps it just takes a dream vacation.
Final Thoughts
Although I wouldn’t say this was the best book I have ever read or even the best book by Jodi Picoult (I loved Small Great Things), I would say it was inspirational. Diana, the main character, questions everything she wanted in life. And although a big trip to a deserted island is not always necessary, it does seem like a common theme these days.
