“Wish You Were Here”, a book by Jodi Picoult, has taken the literary world by storm by capturing the essence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the novel.
The novel offers readers a sense of familiarity and comfort in the midst of the pandemic’s chaos.
The story revolves around Diana O’Toole, an associate specialist, who, like many of us, finds her life plan of career advancement, marriage by 30, and children by 35 suddenly derailed and unappealing.
As we delve into the book, we are transported back to the early days of the pandemic when N95 masks were scarce, and people were frantically hoarding toilet paper.
To be honest, I was intrigued to see how this unique period in our recent history would be depicted, and I was pleasantly surprised by the intriguing twists and turns that Picoult masterfully wove into the narrative.
The story kicks off just as COVID-19 begins to affect New York, where face masks and social distancing haven’t become the norm yet, but the subways are eerily empty.
Diana, much like the rest of us during those early days, dismisses these worries, believing that the situation will quickly resolve itself. Her perspective mirrors our collective naivety, and it’s a sobering realisation in hindsight.
Diana and her boyfriend, Finn, a surgical resident, have big plans for a vacation in the Galapagos Islands. Everything is going according to plan for Diana.
However, Diana’s self-imposed expectations of what she should be doing end up hindering her progress more than helping.
Then March 13, 2020 happens. The pandemic. Finn is told by his boss, to not leave the hospitals. As the vacation is paid for, Finn asked Diana to go without him.
Diana then embarks on the vacation, blissfully unaware of the impending travel ban, choosing to ignore the signs that this trip was ill-fated.
The limited ferry trips and fleeing tourists should have been red flags. If, and only if, Diana had halted the vacation, she would not have found herself stranded in the Galapagos with nothing open.
She is told the island will shut down for two weeks. Her accommodations are voided, and she has to find a way to get by on an island that does not have stable Wi-Fi or good cell service.
The first half of the book immerses us in Diana’s experiences on the island, her relationships, and her desperation to reconnect with Finn, who remains in New York on the pandemic’s front lines.
After being stuck on the island for over a month with no way to return home, we discover the shocking truth that Diana has been battling COVID-19 the entire time as she fell ill the night after her encounter with her friend and had to be hospitalised.
It raises questions about the reality of her Galapagos adventures, leaving readers to ponder her half-formed theory of alternative lives without a clear conclusion.
As I entered the second half of the book, I felt conflicted as Picoult’s vivid portrayal of Diana’s life on the Galapagos left me feeling so deeply invested that the return to Diana’s life in New York was jarring.
I felt a sense of disappointment and betrayal, but perhaps that’s the intended effect. Picoult evokes these emotions to enable readers to empathise with Diana’s need to validate her Galapagos journey — it was real to her, and thus, it needed to be real to us.
Though “Wish You Were Here” initially appears to be an escape from the pandemic’s harsh reality, it evolves into much more than that. Diana’s life is profoundly disrupted by the pandemic, a scenario many of us can relate to.
Her imagined experience in the Galapagos, while questionable in its authenticity, plays a crucial role in her journey to understanding what it takes to find happiness in our new post-pandemic reality, a realisation many of us have likely shared in the past year.
Picoult’s storytelling prowess shines through in her depiction of Diana’s emotional journey. The author leads readers through a rollercoaster of emotions, from hope and despair to determination and reflection.
While the return to New York may feel abrupt, it mirrors the abrupt shift in our lives caused by the pandemic.
“Wish You Were Here” is not merely a novel that capitalises on the COVID-19 pandemic for its setting; it is a compelling exploration of the human condition during unprecedented times.
Picoult’s ability to draw readers into Diana’s world and make us feel her experiences is a testament to her storytelling skills.
The novel reminds us that even in the face of chaos and uncertainty, there is room for self-discovery, resilience, and the pursuit of happiness. Diana’s journey is a reflection of our own, and in this shared experience, we find solace and hope.
