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"The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Small Great Things returns with a powerful and provocative new novel about ordinary lives that intersect during a heart-stopping crisis. The warm fall day starts like any other at the Center a women's reproductive health services clinic its staff offering care to anyone who passes through its doors. Then, in late morning, a desperate and distraught gunman bursts in and opens fire, taking all inside hostage. After rushing to the scene, Hugh McElroy, a police hostage negotiator, sets up a perimeter and begins making a plan to communicate with the gunman. As his phone vibrates with incoming text messages he glances at it and, to his horror, finds out that his fifteen-year-old daughter, Wren, is inside the clinic. But Wren is not alone. She will share the next and tensest few hours of her young life with a cast of unforgettable characters: A nurse who calms her own panic in order save the life of a wounded woman. A doctor who does his work not in spite of his faith but because of it, and who will find that faith tested as never before. Apro-life protester disguised as a patient, who now stands in the cross hairs of the same rage she herself has felt. A young woman who has come to terminate her pregnancy. And the disturbed individual himself, vowing to be heard. Told in a daring and enthralling narrative structure that counts backward through the hours of the standoff, this is a story that traces its way back to what brought each of these very different individuals to the same place on this fateful day. Jodi Picoult one of the most fearless writers of our time tackles a complicated issue in this gripping and nuanced novel. How do we balance the rights of pregnant women with the rights of the unborn they carry? What does it mean to be a good parent? A Spark of Light will inspire debate, conversation. and, hopefully, understanding"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member smileydq
I was prepared to love this book before I opened it -- I'm an avid reader of Jodi Picoult and am never disappointed. The fact that this particular novel tackles a highly relevant issue about which I am passionate and well-informed added to my excitement. I will admit that I didn't love her use of
That said, I highly recommend A Spark of Light. Picoult endeavors to capture both the pro-choice and anti-choice (I cannot call them pro-life) characters' points-of-view (though I think an anti-choice reader might find the portrayal of those characters to be underwhelming). Emotions run high throughout the story, accurately portraying the highly-charged nature of the abortion debate in both high-level public discourse and individual, daily interactions. The clinic's physician, modeled on Willie Parker, is the kind of doctor more women need in their corners, especially today. As always, I'm grateful for the amount of research and hands-on experience Picoult undertakes before writing and her efforts to be as truthful in her fiction as possible. Great read, 4.5 stars.
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backwards storytelling as a narrative device -- the book opens with the crucial denouement, then works backwards from the perspective of various characters to describe the events of the day. I wasn't confused, as some other readers have been, but I felt that this narrative device led to some unnecessary repetition that slowed down the movement of the story. That said, I highly recommend A Spark of Light. Picoult endeavors to capture both the pro-choice and anti-choice (I cannot call them pro-life) characters' points-of-view (though I think an anti-choice reader might find the portrayal of those characters to be underwhelming). Emotions run high throughout the story, accurately portraying the highly-charged nature of the abortion debate in both high-level public discourse and individual, daily interactions. The clinic's physician, modeled on Willie Parker, is the kind of doctor more women need in their corners, especially today. As always, I'm grateful for the amount of research and hands-on experience Picoult undertakes before writing and her efforts to be as truthful in her fiction as possible. Great read, 4.5 stars.
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LibraryThing member JoniMFisher
Jodi Picoult is a go-to author for my book club. We love her family conflicts told from multiple points of view. She covers topics that generate lively discussion. A Spark of Light generated much discussion because of the topic, but also because of the way Picoult ordered the events of the story.
One of the ladies in the club read the book twice. Once from front to back and once from back to front. She said the story made more sense reading it backwards.
While I enjoyed the story once I read it all, I felt like the structure of the story was gimmicky and distracting. I will continue to read Picoult's books, but this is my least favorite because of the backwards telling of the story.
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At first, it was disconcerting and confusing to read this book because it began in the present and flowed backwards. It dove deeper and deeper into the past to reveal what brought the characters to the abortion clinic. The situation more than any single character seemed to be the focus of the story. One of the ladies in the club read the book twice. Once from front to back and once from back to front. She said the story made more sense reading it backwards.
While I enjoyed the story once I read it all, I felt like the structure of the story was gimmicky and distracting. I will continue to read Picoult's books, but this is my least favorite because of the backwards telling of the story.
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LibraryThing member mzonderm
Once again, Jodi Picoult has written a thoroughly compelling story that tackles a hot-button controversial social topic. This time it's abortion, and told through multiple perspectives on both sides of the issue. In contrast to many of her other books, I wasn't able to develop any sympathy or much
Picoult also makes the very interesting choice to tell this story backward, beginning mere moments before the end of a hostage situation and rolling time back hour by hour to the morning of that day. This technique both works and doesn't work for her. The tension definitely rises as you find out more and more of what happened, but at the same time, because lives were left hanging in the balance at the end of the day, I reached a point where I just wanted to know who lived and who didn't, and stopped caring about all the backstories.
While not everything in this book worked for me, Jodi Picoult is a master of her craft, and has gifted readers again with a deftly told story.
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empathy for those on the "other side" of my personal beliefs, despite the very well-developed characters.Picoult also makes the very interesting choice to tell this story backward, beginning mere moments before the end of a hostage situation and rolling time back hour by hour to the morning of that day. This technique both works and doesn't work for her. The tension definitely rises as you find out more and more of what happened, but at the same time, because lives were left hanging in the balance at the end of the day, I reached a point where I just wanted to know who lived and who didn't, and stopped caring about all the backstories.
While not everything in this book worked for me, Jodi Picoult is a master of her craft, and has gifted readers again with a deftly told story.
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LibraryThing member susan.h.schofield
This was another excellent, timely book from Jodi Picoult that will be a hit among book clubs for the discussion it is sure to provoke. It is well written and clearly well researched. It is centered around a hostage situation at the only women's health clinic that provides abortions in Mississppi.
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It follows multiple characters, including the hostage negotiator, Hugh and his daughter, Wren and sister, Bex who are hostages, the clinic's doctor, Louie, several other women in the clinic and the gunman, George and his own daughter, Beth. The story is told in reverse, so you essentially somewhat know how it is going to end (there is an epilogue as well). Having the story told that way was a little confusing to me at times - I think I would have preferred if it was told chronologically. But it did allow for a few little twists at the end. A warning - their is a fairly graphic description of an abortion that is disturbing. I also would have liked a little more to the epilogue for more of a conclusion on all the characters. Thanks to the publisher for an ARC. Show Less
LibraryThing member DKnight0918
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC. I love Picoult’s books so much. She does her research so well and it shows on every page of all of her books including this one. I love how she shows both sides of a debate and inspires so much conversation. I really like that she is willing to tackle the tough
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subjects. She makes you think hard about the issues she writes about. I think women and men both should read this one. I am so grateful to have read an advanced copy of this one. I will still purchase a copy for my collection. Show Less
LibraryThing member Loried
I was happy to be given the opportunity to read an advance copy of Jodi Picoult's latest novel, A Spark of Light. I have found Picoult to be a talented writer who typically picks difficult subjects for her books. I think this one, with abortion as the main issue, was well-researched and could lead
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to interesting book discussions. Unfortunately, this was not my favorite book of hers. I did not like the book being written in reverse time; I think it did nothing to enhance the book, rather, I found it disorienting. The author tried to be even-handed with the people who are pro-life and pro-choice, but there seemed to be some bias for the pro-choice characters. I was disappointed that the book didn't wrap up the storyline for some of the major characters, particularly the one accused of murder. Show Less
LibraryThing member arlenadean
Title: A Spark of Light
Author: Jodi Picoult
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"A Spark of Light" by Jodi Picoult
My Thoughts....
This was definitely a read that dealt with both sides of the issue of abortion that did cause it to be a somewhat hard to read however,
The reader will have to keep up with what is going on because this read will have quite a few jumps from one character to the next one as this story will continue to the end.
One thing that is for sure this story will give the reader quite a bit to ponder over long after the read especially with that twist at the end. I will say this story touches on many current issues of what is going on in our world today.
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an impartial review.
Author: Jodi Picoult
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"A Spark of Light" by Jodi Picoult
My Thoughts....
This was definitely a read that dealt with both sides of the issue of abortion that did cause it to be a somewhat hard to read however,
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I did find the read 'riveting, powerful and surprising.' "A Spark of Light" was about a group of people who were caught up in a hostage crisis at a health clinic in Mississippi that performs abortions. The story was quite interesting in the way it was presented in that it was told in a reverse chronological order [backwards] where the story will explore the abortion issues from both sides while presented characters who were there in the hostage situation for various reasons. Some of the reasons were from: 'to terminate or prevent pregnancy, perform procedure or assist in other ways, or protest with each character having their own story which included the gunman ....his family and the negotiator and his family. As this story will continue flashing forward to a stunning epilogue.' I did like how this author was able to give the readers 'human faces' on both sides as each character told their story . The reader will have to keep up with what is going on because this read will have quite a few jumps from one character to the next one as this story will continue to the end.
One thing that is for sure this story will give the reader quite a bit to ponder over long after the read especially with that twist at the end. I will say this story touches on many current issues of what is going on in our world today.
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an impartial review.
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LibraryThing member Michellenebbia
Well written and fast paced, this is another excellent book by Jodi Picoult with an interesting topic. The only part of the book that I didn't particularly care for was the sequence of events which went backward in time.
LibraryThing member AngelaJMaher
Besides a gripping story, what sets this book apart is how it respectfully, authentically depicts both sides of a highly divisive topic. There is no preaching about which side is right, no push to make either side the baddie in this book. It adds a depth and interest that otherwise wouldn't be
This wasn't the easiest of books to read, so it's not something to exactly chill out with. The subject matter is heavy and serious. The structure also makes for a book you need a bit more brain power for. Each chapter depicts an hour, each subsequent chapter being for the hour earlier, meaning you go backwards in time chronologically until being thrown back to the present at the end. It's been handled well, but I do feel it added a degree of repetition that would have been eliminated in a simpler structure.
Overall this is an interesting, suspenseful and intriguing read.
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there. The characters all have their own experiences and beliefs, and feel entirely believable.This wasn't the easiest of books to read, so it's not something to exactly chill out with. The subject matter is heavy and serious. The structure also makes for a book you need a bit more brain power for. Each chapter depicts an hour, each subsequent chapter being for the hour earlier, meaning you go backwards in time chronologically until being thrown back to the present at the end. It's been handled well, but I do feel it added a degree of repetition that would have been eliminated in a simpler structure.
Overall this is an interesting, suspenseful and intriguing read.
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LibraryThing member Bonnie.Franks
I have never read Jodi Picoult before. I have always heard good things and just never read one of her books.
I'm glad it was this one I read. I loved/hated this story. I felt connected to nearly everyone involved, including the shooter. I love the way the story is told, going backwards. And yes, I
This book made me feel and that is what a book is meant to do. I felt pain and rage and fear and love. Sometimes all at once. I will not be able to leave these people behind simply because I finished the book. It kept me reading from page one. It kept me thinking. It kept me feeling. I intend to go back and more carefully read some parts because they are so lovely and written so well.
Read this book if you are human. You will enjoy it based on that alone.
This book was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.
I'm glad it was this one I read. I loved/hated this story. I felt connected to nearly everyone involved, including the shooter. I love the way the story is told, going backwards. And yes, I
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love that some of my suppositions were incorrect when all was said and done. This book made me feel and that is what a book is meant to do. I felt pain and rage and fear and love. Sometimes all at once. I will not be able to leave these people behind simply because I finished the book. It kept me reading from page one. It kept me thinking. It kept me feeling. I intend to go back and more carefully read some parts because they are so lovely and written so well.
Read this book if you are human. You will enjoy it based on that alone.
This book was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.
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LibraryThing member miss.mesmerized
An ordinary day at the so called Center in Jackson, Mississippi. Women come there to get information about how to prevent a pregnancy, others to end an unwelcome one. Protesters outside belong to the everyday work as well as security measures before getting inside. But on this sunny days, things go
When I started the novel, I was fairly astonished even before getting to the first chapter: the novel is told from the end and starts in the late afternoon of that day. This is quite an interesting idea and admittedly I had some doubts if this might actually work out. But it does and suspense is not diminished at all, since there is still a lot to be revealed even when going through the story the wrong way around.
I read other novels of Jodi Picoult before and again, the author did completely fulfil my expectations. She once more chose a highly controversial topic to which you cannot find an easy solution. The women as well as the doctors who are in the Center at the moment the shooter enters all have their individual stories that led them there: a pro-life activist in disguise, a nurse who doubts her boyfriend’s motivation of marrying her and who wants to offer him the possibility of going on in life without her, another young woman who herself had to grow up knowing how it feels if you are not loved and only a burden, a girl who just wants to get a pill – you don’t feel like they didn’t think about what they do before they decided to go to the Center on that day. But the situation between life and death – their life and death – puts the decision they had taken to another test. Especially poignant is the constellation of having the detective in charge’s daughter in the clinic. This adds another very personal aspect to the whole story.
It is not a story about pro-life vs. abortion advocates. Even though this is the initial starting point, Picoult focuses on the individual characters and their respective situation. Neither does she put their decision to the test nor excuse any decision taken. It could have been another connecting element that brings those characters together, what they experience is the moment in life where all could be over and when you inevitably have to question yourself about what is important for you and if it has been worth living. I really like her style of wiring and particularly the characters she creates, thus for me, another remarkable novel not to be missed.
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wrong when a man with a gun walks in to revenge the grand-child he never had. How can these women dare to decide on another person’s life? George Goddard will teach them a lesson. Outside, Hugh McElroy will try everything to keep the number of victims low, especially since his sister and daughter are in the Center.When I started the novel, I was fairly astonished even before getting to the first chapter: the novel is told from the end and starts in the late afternoon of that day. This is quite an interesting idea and admittedly I had some doubts if this might actually work out. But it does and suspense is not diminished at all, since there is still a lot to be revealed even when going through the story the wrong way around.
I read other novels of Jodi Picoult before and again, the author did completely fulfil my expectations. She once more chose a highly controversial topic to which you cannot find an easy solution. The women as well as the doctors who are in the Center at the moment the shooter enters all have their individual stories that led them there: a pro-life activist in disguise, a nurse who doubts her boyfriend’s motivation of marrying her and who wants to offer him the possibility of going on in life without her, another young woman who herself had to grow up knowing how it feels if you are not loved and only a burden, a girl who just wants to get a pill – you don’t feel like they didn’t think about what they do before they decided to go to the Center on that day. But the situation between life and death – their life and death – puts the decision they had taken to another test. Especially poignant is the constellation of having the detective in charge’s daughter in the clinic. This adds another very personal aspect to the whole story.
It is not a story about pro-life vs. abortion advocates. Even though this is the initial starting point, Picoult focuses on the individual characters and their respective situation. Neither does she put their decision to the test nor excuse any decision taken. It could have been another connecting element that brings those characters together, what they experience is the moment in life where all could be over and when you inevitably have to question yourself about what is important for you and if it has been worth living. I really like her style of wiring and particularly the characters she creates, thus for me, another remarkable novel not to be missed.
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LibraryThing member Susan.Macura
Hugh McElroy, a hostage negotiator, is called to an active shooter situation at an abortion clinic where a number of people have been taken hostage. Complicating McElroy's task is the fact that his daughter is one of those hostages. This book takes a look at this highly emotional and controversial
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issue from a variety of points of view where there are many unexpected twists. Making the book even more interesting is how it is laid out - going back in time to how it all began for so many people involved in this crisis. I absolutely loved it and am still thinking about the issues Picoult raised. Show Less
LibraryThing member celticlady53
As a fan of Jodi Picoult for years now, I of course was more than excited to get her latest novel A Spark of Light. While nothing she writes will compare to My Sister’s Keeper (in my humble opinion), one of the things I love most about Jodi is her ability to tackle tough subjects and turn them
Her latest novel is centered around the age-old argument of pro-life or pro-choice regarding abortion, as well as women’s rights.
The description of the book on Goodreads reads:
The warm fall day starts like any other at the Center—a women’s reproductive health services clinic—its staff offering care to anyone who passes through its doors. Then, in late morning, a desperate and distraught gunman bursts in and opens fire, taking all inside hostage.
After rushing to the scene, Hugh McElroy, a police hostage negotiator, sets up a perimeter and begins making a plan to communicate with the gunman. As his phone vibrates with incoming text messages he glances at it and, to his horror, finds out that his fifteen-year-old daughter, Wren, is inside the clinic.
But Wren is not alone. She will share the next and tensest few hours of her young life with a cast of unforgettable characters: A nurse who calms her own panic in order to save the life of a wounded woman. A doctor who does his work not in spite of his faith but because of it, and who will find that faith tested as never before. A pro-life protester, disguised as a patient, who now stands in the crosshairs of the same rage she herself has felt. A young woman who has come to terminate her pregnancy. And the disturbed individual himself, vowing to be heard.
Told in a daring and enthralling narrative structure that counts backward through the hours of the standoff, this is a story that traces its way back to what brought each of these very different individuals to the same place on this fateful day.
One of the most fearless writers of our time, Jodi Picoult tackles a complicated issue in this gripping and nuanced novel. How do we balance the rights of pregnant women with the rights of the unborn they carry? What does it mean to be a good parent? A Spark of Light will inspire debate, conversation . . . and, hopefully, understanding.
As a woman and parent myself, I don’t necessarily condone or support the abolishment of abortion; however, I am neither pro-life or pro-choice, but rather pro women’s rights. I believe every woman has a right to choose what happens to her body, even if that involves pregnancy. I also understand that we are talking about a potential human growing inside of her and what rights that future child should have, but I also have the opinion that a baby is not “alive” until it is born, so how can something that hasn’t been born yet be “murdered”? And how can it be murder if it’s just tissue when most abortions occur? Do we allow tissue to have rights? By the time a fetus has a functional brain and fully developed heart and other organs, it is far too late to abort, so allowing the baby to have rights when it is more a baby than tissue makes sense, but do we value those rights over the rights of the woman carrying the potential baby?
I can’t answer these questions, nor can anyone, which is why we have such extreme opinions on both sides. These are the types of issues Jodi Picoult tackles in this novel. Every character is different and comes from a different angle regarding abortion and women’s rights. It is amazing to me how she can take such a controversial topic, include all sides of the argument, and interweave them into a crazy Venn diagram where all the opinions overlap and we are all left wondering, what is the right answer? How can we come to some sort of understanding as a country, and why do we have to resort to violence to be heard and feel understood?
While I don’t think this was her best novel to date (again, I'm biased with My Sister's Keeper), I do love the fact that she wrote this book during such a difficult and pivotal time in our country. Women died for their rights, to be equal to men, and it’s unreal how in 2018 this is still such a hot topic. There are many moments in this novel where she makes some poignant points through various characters’ dialogue, but perhaps the best thing she wrote was included in her author’s note, which reads as follows:
“Honestly, I do not believe we, as a society, will ever agree on this issue. The stakes are too high, and both sides operate from places of unshakeable belief. But I do think that the first step is to talk to each other—and more important, to listen. We may not see eye to eye, but we can respect each other’s opinions and find the truth in them. Perhaps in these honest conversations, instead of demonizing each other, we might see each other as imperfect humans, doing our best”.
One of the only issues I had with the book is there is a character, a background character that had a purpose and was the catalyst of the events of the gunman, but her story was not wrapped up in an appropriate way. Jodi sometimes leaves things to our imagination but this particular character inadvertently started the entire chain of events, yet we don’t know what becomes of her. While that was disappointing, the novel itself is still definitely worth a read. Especially if you’re a woman and especially if you have opinions about abortion and women’s rights. Perhaps reading this book will open your eyes to other perspectives.
And thanks to Jodi Picoult for once again working her magic and tackling such difficult issues and making her readers do some critical thinking and possibly reevaluate where we stand, or how we treat each other.
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into a conversation via a fictional story with rich characters.Her latest novel is centered around the age-old argument of pro-life or pro-choice regarding abortion, as well as women’s rights.
The description of the book on Goodreads reads:
The warm fall day starts like any other at the Center—a women’s reproductive health services clinic—its staff offering care to anyone who passes through its doors. Then, in late morning, a desperate and distraught gunman bursts in and opens fire, taking all inside hostage.
After rushing to the scene, Hugh McElroy, a police hostage negotiator, sets up a perimeter and begins making a plan to communicate with the gunman. As his phone vibrates with incoming text messages he glances at it and, to his horror, finds out that his fifteen-year-old daughter, Wren, is inside the clinic.
But Wren is not alone. She will share the next and tensest few hours of her young life with a cast of unforgettable characters: A nurse who calms her own panic in order to save the life of a wounded woman. A doctor who does his work not in spite of his faith but because of it, and who will find that faith tested as never before. A pro-life protester, disguised as a patient, who now stands in the crosshairs of the same rage she herself has felt. A young woman who has come to terminate her pregnancy. And the disturbed individual himself, vowing to be heard.
Told in a daring and enthralling narrative structure that counts backward through the hours of the standoff, this is a story that traces its way back to what brought each of these very different individuals to the same place on this fateful day.
One of the most fearless writers of our time, Jodi Picoult tackles a complicated issue in this gripping and nuanced novel. How do we balance the rights of pregnant women with the rights of the unborn they carry? What does it mean to be a good parent? A Spark of Light will inspire debate, conversation . . . and, hopefully, understanding.
As a woman and parent myself, I don’t necessarily condone or support the abolishment of abortion; however, I am neither pro-life or pro-choice, but rather pro women’s rights. I believe every woman has a right to choose what happens to her body, even if that involves pregnancy. I also understand that we are talking about a potential human growing inside of her and what rights that future child should have, but I also have the opinion that a baby is not “alive” until it is born, so how can something that hasn’t been born yet be “murdered”? And how can it be murder if it’s just tissue when most abortions occur? Do we allow tissue to have rights? By the time a fetus has a functional brain and fully developed heart and other organs, it is far too late to abort, so allowing the baby to have rights when it is more a baby than tissue makes sense, but do we value those rights over the rights of the woman carrying the potential baby?
I can’t answer these questions, nor can anyone, which is why we have such extreme opinions on both sides. These are the types of issues Jodi Picoult tackles in this novel. Every character is different and comes from a different angle regarding abortion and women’s rights. It is amazing to me how she can take such a controversial topic, include all sides of the argument, and interweave them into a crazy Venn diagram where all the opinions overlap and we are all left wondering, what is the right answer? How can we come to some sort of understanding as a country, and why do we have to resort to violence to be heard and feel understood?
While I don’t think this was her best novel to date (again, I'm biased with My Sister's Keeper), I do love the fact that she wrote this book during such a difficult and pivotal time in our country. Women died for their rights, to be equal to men, and it’s unreal how in 2018 this is still such a hot topic. There are many moments in this novel where she makes some poignant points through various characters’ dialogue, but perhaps the best thing she wrote was included in her author’s note, which reads as follows:
“Honestly, I do not believe we, as a society, will ever agree on this issue. The stakes are too high, and both sides operate from places of unshakeable belief. But I do think that the first step is to talk to each other—and more important, to listen. We may not see eye to eye, but we can respect each other’s opinions and find the truth in them. Perhaps in these honest conversations, instead of demonizing each other, we might see each other as imperfect humans, doing our best”.
One of the only issues I had with the book is there is a character, a background character that had a purpose and was the catalyst of the events of the gunman, but her story was not wrapped up in an appropriate way. Jodi sometimes leaves things to our imagination but this particular character inadvertently started the entire chain of events, yet we don’t know what becomes of her. While that was disappointing, the novel itself is still definitely worth a read. Especially if you’re a woman and especially if you have opinions about abortion and women’s rights. Perhaps reading this book will open your eyes to other perspectives.
And thanks to Jodi Picoult for once again working her magic and tackling such difficult issues and making her readers do some critical thinking and possibly reevaluate where we stand, or how we treat each other.
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LibraryThing member EvaW
Excellent as always, thoughtful.
LibraryThing member VanessaCW
This is a very thought provoking story about a contentious issue. Its set in an abortion clinic where a protestor enters all guns blazing, endangering patients and staff and taking hostages on the way including the police negotiator’s daughter.
A Spark of Light is well researched, written in a
The story is written in the reverse which takes a little getting used to. However, once I got to grips with it, I found it a compelling and insightful read and found myself caring about the majority of the characters. The back stories of some of the women are interesting and I really did feel for them in their predicaments. Jodi Picoult is very clever at taking a controversial subject, developing and transforming it into a captivating and informed story which makes the reader turn the pages, Leaving them thinking about it long after it’s ended.
I read this book via the Pigeonhole app. Having access to other readers’ opinions certainly enhances my reading experience. A Spark of Light is really quite the page turner and if you enjoy a provocative and absorbing read, I can recommend it.
A Spark of Light is well researched, written in a
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sensitive way and it provides both sides of the argument. It brought to my attention the difference in attitudes and practices between the US and the UK and I found this quite astonishing. I always say never judge anyone until you’ve walked ten miles in their shoes.The story is written in the reverse which takes a little getting used to. However, once I got to grips with it, I found it a compelling and insightful read and found myself caring about the majority of the characters. The back stories of some of the women are interesting and I really did feel for them in their predicaments. Jodi Picoult is very clever at taking a controversial subject, developing and transforming it into a captivating and informed story which makes the reader turn the pages, Leaving them thinking about it long after it’s ended.
I read this book via the Pigeonhole app. Having access to other readers’ opinions certainly enhances my reading experience. A Spark of Light is really quite the page turner and if you enjoy a provocative and absorbing read, I can recommend it.
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LibraryThing member joannemonck
Jodi Picoult does it again. She picks a touch subject and adds the human touch. In this book, a man comes to an abortion clinic to seek vengeance for his daughter having an abortion. People are shot and some have died. Others have survived. Ms. Picoult takes you back and forth from the clinic a the
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present time and the past of all those involved. One of the hostages is daughter of the hostage negotiator who has come to the clinic with her aunt to get the pill. Well done and the end is great. Show Less
LibraryThing member Whisper1
This is an emotional, well-rounded book regarding the difficult topic of abortion. Hugh McElroy, a police hostage negotiator, is called to the scene of a women's health service clinic where an out of control man is holding women and the staff who assist them hostage.
Called to the scene, Hugh did
When Hugh learned his daughter was a hostage, he should have immediately stepped back and allowed another to take over. Instead, he remained in this emotion-laded scene. The man holding women and a male doctor hostage had already shot and killed someone inside by the time Hugh arrived.
Picoult told the tale of those inside, how they came to be in the center, and the story behind what led to their decisions.
As the out-of-control male, bent on harming those inside the facility, Hugh must remain even keeled while trying to save his daughter and those in the center, including his Aunt who came with his daughter that day.
It is obvious that a lot of research went into this book. It is heart-wrenching, and incredibly well written.
Once again, Picoult never fails to bring the reader into the story.
Called to the scene, Hugh did
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not know that his daughter is one of the hostages. In addition to providing reproductive counseling and means of birth control, this is first and foremost a clinic wherein women in Mississippi can obtain an abortion.When Hugh learned his daughter was a hostage, he should have immediately stepped back and allowed another to take over. Instead, he remained in this emotion-laded scene. The man holding women and a male doctor hostage had already shot and killed someone inside by the time Hugh arrived.
Picoult told the tale of those inside, how they came to be in the center, and the story behind what led to their decisions.
As the out-of-control male, bent on harming those inside the facility, Hugh must remain even keeled while trying to save his daughter and those in the center, including his Aunt who came with his daughter that day.
It is obvious that a lot of research went into this book. It is heart-wrenching, and incredibly well written.
Once again, Picoult never fails to bring the reader into the story.
Show Less
LibraryThing member seasidereader
Picoult opens her newest work with an active hostage situation at the only clinic in Mississippi that performs abortions. We learn why each participant in the crisis came to be there through a series of non-linear flashbacks, and this format may be frustrating to some readers. I did not have
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trouble with the audiobook version. As always, the author is skilled at presenting nuanced perspectives of complex situations, and discusses her preparation for this book in an afterward. Show Less
LibraryThing member Sharn
Ms Picoult always does her homework and tells the story in an unbiased tone but this story fell flat for me.
LibraryThing member thewanderingjew
A Spark of Light, Jodi Picoult, author: Bahni Turpin, narrator
The story, about an incident at an abortion clinic, immediately draws the reader in because the subject is both timely and heartbreaking. Because of the writing structure, however, it also becomes repetitious and pushes the reader away.
The author examines the abortion issue minutely, in great detail, and she raises many questions. She explores the issues of legal vs. illegal abortions. What is an illegal abortion? Is it different in each state? She tackles pro-choice vs. pro life, and the need for clinics to provide health care for women, clinics like Planned Parenthood. The idea of the need for parental knowledge when a minor elects to have an abortion is raised. In some cases, though, a child is afraid to tell the parent that she has been promiscuous. Should the cost of an abortion be so prohibitive that only the rich can afford it? What are the many possible reactions of parents when they discover their child has had an abortion or has engaged in pre-marital sex and has been keeping secrets? Can single men raise female children adequately or is there a need for a female guidance to provide certain information about bodily functions? Is killing a human justified in order to protest the killing of a fetus? Does it make sense to mourn the loss of a fetus but not the loss of a full grown human? The characters depicted in the novel allow all of the issues surrounding abortion to be examined.
Dr. Ward is a doctor who performs abortions at the only center that provides abortions in Mississippi. He is very religious, but he believes a woman has a right to choose whether or not she wishes to be pregnant.
Wren McElroy is 16 and in love. She wants to go to the center to obtain birth control so that she and her boyfriend can engage in sex.
Bex is Wren’s aunt. She accompanies Wren to the center because Wren does not feel she can share this with her father, a single parent.
Hugh McElroy, Wren’s father, is a hostage negotiator. He does not know that Wren has gone to obtain birth control with his sister.
Joy works and is a student. She had a relationship with a man who betrayed her and now she is pregnant. She is at the clinic for an abortion. If she has the child she will not be able to finish her studies.
Beth found herself pregnant after a one night stand. She is 17 and her time is running out to obtain a legal abortion. She did not realize the young college student, she thought she would see again, had a false identity. She tries to abort her baby illegally. The laws of Mississippi are not kind to her.
Janine is a pro life activist who is at the center acting as a spy to find out information that will be helpful to the pro life cause.
Izzy is a nurse at the center. She is pregnant and wants to have her child, but she will keep the child a secret from the father.
Olive is a social worker. She is a lesbian who works at the center.
George Goddard is a man who is disappointed with G-d. His daughter had an abortion and he feels he was robbed of a grandchild. He cannot forgive her, and he has planned his revenge.
The author explores each issue that is raised. While the idea of killing an embryo is anathema to some, some feel that killing full grown humans is justified. The story philosophizes and moralizes as the author attempts to explain both sides of the abortion story. Little judgment is passed about possible behavioral choices which might have prevented some of the problems raised. Some of the characters were lonely, some felt unloved. Some felt they were misfits. They all needed guidance.
The justice system, with regards to abortion, is flawed. It is exposed to show its inequality. The judges and prosecutors who determine the fate of those involved are portrayed as arrogant actors who seem to want vengeance and punishment, above all, or else they want the publicity to use as a stepping stone to further a career.
The novel illustrates several parallel points of view: One parent will forgive his child anything, the other will not. One woman is loved, another feels alone and unloved. One is homosexual and wants to end his life. One is happily in a lesbian relationship. One wants a child, another wants to terminate her pregnancy. One is pro-abortion and one is anti-abortion. In some places it is legal and in some it is not. Legality depends on the term of pregnancy and who administers the procedure. Some of the characters are faithful and some are not. There are secrets and lies that threaten the lives of others. The point that I felt was driven home was the different attitudes of the parents. One would save the life of his child, sacrificing his own. The other would sacrifice his child’s life to redeem his own. Religion was a character in the novel, but it was acted out and viewed differently by each character.
If you are expecting a truly balanced discussion of abortion, you will be disappointed, but if you just explore the emotions and thoughts of the characters, it will be a rewarding read. It tackles single parenting, especially in the absence of the mother, it tackles forgiveness for disobedience, it tackles the penalties of poverty, it supports freedom of choice, exposes racism, and attempts to show how far a parent will go to protect his child or protest what a child has done.
In some ways, the author attempted to do too much. Many questions were raised. The ideas of when life begins and how much any life is valued are front and center, but the questions surrounding them remain unresolved by the novel. The author’s personal view is obviously pro-choice and extremely liberal as evidenced by her personal note at the end.
The story, about an incident at an abortion clinic, immediately draws the reader in because the subject is both timely and heartbreaking. Because of the writing structure, however, it also becomes repetitious and pushes the reader away.
Show More
The author begins this story at the end and then works backward, telling the story of each person who was trapped in the abortion center at the time George Goddard entered and began terrorizing them. Therefore, the story is repeated over and over in slightly altered ways. The author examines the abortion issue minutely, in great detail, and she raises many questions. She explores the issues of legal vs. illegal abortions. What is an illegal abortion? Is it different in each state? She tackles pro-choice vs. pro life, and the need for clinics to provide health care for women, clinics like Planned Parenthood. The idea of the need for parental knowledge when a minor elects to have an abortion is raised. In some cases, though, a child is afraid to tell the parent that she has been promiscuous. Should the cost of an abortion be so prohibitive that only the rich can afford it? What are the many possible reactions of parents when they discover their child has had an abortion or has engaged in pre-marital sex and has been keeping secrets? Can single men raise female children adequately or is there a need for a female guidance to provide certain information about bodily functions? Is killing a human justified in order to protest the killing of a fetus? Does it make sense to mourn the loss of a fetus but not the loss of a full grown human? The characters depicted in the novel allow all of the issues surrounding abortion to be examined.
Dr. Ward is a doctor who performs abortions at the only center that provides abortions in Mississippi. He is very religious, but he believes a woman has a right to choose whether or not she wishes to be pregnant.
Wren McElroy is 16 and in love. She wants to go to the center to obtain birth control so that she and her boyfriend can engage in sex.
Bex is Wren’s aunt. She accompanies Wren to the center because Wren does not feel she can share this with her father, a single parent.
Hugh McElroy, Wren’s father, is a hostage negotiator. He does not know that Wren has gone to obtain birth control with his sister.
Joy works and is a student. She had a relationship with a man who betrayed her and now she is pregnant. She is at the clinic for an abortion. If she has the child she will not be able to finish her studies.
Beth found herself pregnant after a one night stand. She is 17 and her time is running out to obtain a legal abortion. She did not realize the young college student, she thought she would see again, had a false identity. She tries to abort her baby illegally. The laws of Mississippi are not kind to her.
Janine is a pro life activist who is at the center acting as a spy to find out information that will be helpful to the pro life cause.
Izzy is a nurse at the center. She is pregnant and wants to have her child, but she will keep the child a secret from the father.
Olive is a social worker. She is a lesbian who works at the center.
George Goddard is a man who is disappointed with G-d. His daughter had an abortion and he feels he was robbed of a grandchild. He cannot forgive her, and he has planned his revenge.
The author explores each issue that is raised. While the idea of killing an embryo is anathema to some, some feel that killing full grown humans is justified. The story philosophizes and moralizes as the author attempts to explain both sides of the abortion story. Little judgment is passed about possible behavioral choices which might have prevented some of the problems raised. Some of the characters were lonely, some felt unloved. Some felt they were misfits. They all needed guidance.
The justice system, with regards to abortion, is flawed. It is exposed to show its inequality. The judges and prosecutors who determine the fate of those involved are portrayed as arrogant actors who seem to want vengeance and punishment, above all, or else they want the publicity to use as a stepping stone to further a career.
The novel illustrates several parallel points of view: One parent will forgive his child anything, the other will not. One woman is loved, another feels alone and unloved. One is homosexual and wants to end his life. One is happily in a lesbian relationship. One wants a child, another wants to terminate her pregnancy. One is pro-abortion and one is anti-abortion. In some places it is legal and in some it is not. Legality depends on the term of pregnancy and who administers the procedure. Some of the characters are faithful and some are not. There are secrets and lies that threaten the lives of others. The point that I felt was driven home was the different attitudes of the parents. One would save the life of his child, sacrificing his own. The other would sacrifice his child’s life to redeem his own. Religion was a character in the novel, but it was acted out and viewed differently by each character.
If you are expecting a truly balanced discussion of abortion, you will be disappointed, but if you just explore the emotions and thoughts of the characters, it will be a rewarding read. It tackles single parenting, especially in the absence of the mother, it tackles forgiveness for disobedience, it tackles the penalties of poverty, it supports freedom of choice, exposes racism, and attempts to show how far a parent will go to protect his child or protest what a child has done.
In some ways, the author attempted to do too much. Many questions were raised. The ideas of when life begins and how much any life is valued are front and center, but the questions surrounding them remain unresolved by the novel. The author’s personal view is obviously pro-choice and extremely liberal as evidenced by her personal note at the end.
Show Less
LibraryThing member shazjhb
She writes excellent books about difficult topics. Did not love the timeline or style of the book. The people were interesting
LibraryThing member brangwinn
Not my favorite of Picoult’s books. I agree wholeheartedly with her premise of the need for abortion, but I was hoping she would give a little more emphasis to the pro-life to help me understand them more. I was also confused by her writing style. I had trouble deciding when she was providing
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background information to the story. I couldn’t move back and forth in time smoothly. I would have to stop and think “when did this part happen?” Show Less
LibraryThing member Jthierer
I remember the first Jodi Picoult book I read, back in high school. My best friend had just read "My Sister's Keeper" and told me I just had to read it. And you know what? She was right. I devoured that book and loved every second of it. Oh sure, now that my tastes have become more sophisticated I
A Spark of Light tries a somewhat novel storytelling device by telling the story backwards, starting from the climactic moment and working its way back throughout the day to let the reader piece together how we got there. The problem with that device, in this and many other books, is that if done poorly it saps all the suspense out of the plot. The thing is, this book is about a man shooting up an abortion clinic. If I know on page 5 that the main character is still alive...well I don't really feel her danger in the same way.
That said, my main complaint about this book is that everyone is 'complicated' in a very easy to swallow way. The anti-abortion activist had an abortion. So did the doctor's mother. The woman there to get an abortion was abandoned by a man who turned out to be married. Between that and the tie ins between characters (the married man is a judge who went on a getaway with his wife to save their marriage...and wasn't there to rule on a teenage girl's request to get an abortion without telling her father), it just felt too simple for such a complicated topic. I picked this one up because the premise sounded interesting...but the execution really lacked for me.
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see some of the emotional manipulation behind the scenes, but that book still has a spot on my shelf. The problem with A Spark of Light, Picoult's latest work, is that she's still hitting the same emotional notes as that first one I read several years ago.A Spark of Light tries a somewhat novel storytelling device by telling the story backwards, starting from the climactic moment and working its way back throughout the day to let the reader piece together how we got there. The problem with that device, in this and many other books, is that if done poorly it saps all the suspense out of the plot. The thing is, this book is about a man shooting up an abortion clinic. If I know on page 5 that the main character is still alive...well I don't really feel her danger in the same way.
That said, my main complaint about this book is that everyone is 'complicated' in a very easy to swallow way. The anti-abortion activist had an abortion. So did the doctor's mother. The woman there to get an abortion was abandoned by a man who turned out to be married. Between that and the tie ins between characters (the married man is a judge who went on a getaway with his wife to save their marriage...and wasn't there to rule on a teenage girl's request to get an abortion without telling her father), it just felt too simple for such a complicated topic. I picked this one up because the premise sounded interesting...but the execution really lacked for me.
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LibraryThing member Carlathelibrarian
I wanted to read this book as I do love Jodi Picoult. I waited patiently until my name got to the top of the list at the library and then hurried to pick it up. Now I am not sure. I knew this book was dealing with pro-choice vs pro-life, but I am not sure how I feel after reading the book. I
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believe I am pro-choice, but I am also pro-life. I do not believe in using abortion for birth control, but in some situations, I can understand somewhat. Having said all that, how did I feel about the book. I did not like the way it was written. I am not a big fan of a backwards timeline and that really bothered me as I read this one. I did like the characters and how they were written and developed, this is a huge strength in Picoult's writing. The plot was well developed if you read the book backwards, as the story was interesting and a good one. There was even a bit of a twist, although I had pretty much figured it out before it was revealed. All in all, this was a good book, but not a great one as I have come to expect from Jodi Picoult. Show Less
LibraryThing member HeatherLINC
I find Jodi Picoult books hit and miss and, for me, this book was a miss. It was extremely dry and preachy at times, and it lacked emotion. I didn't connect with any of the characters and thought a number of them were unnecessary, especially Olive. The fact that the book was in reverse
"A Spark of Light" started well - it was explosive and grabbed my attention, but then it went downhill quickly. There was too much focus on the issue of abortion and not enough on the hostage situation, which would have been far more exciting. The twist/reveal many reviewers are mentioning was easy to guess and left me unimpressed. Overall, a disappointing read and not one of the author's better books.
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chronological order didn't help as I didn't know the characters before the gunman started shooting. I felt that I should have read the last chapter first then worked my way backwards, then finished with the epilogue."A Spark of Light" started well - it was explosive and grabbed my attention, but then it went downhill quickly. There was too much focus on the issue of abortion and not enough on the hostage situation, which would have been far more exciting. The twist/reveal many reviewers are mentioning was easy to guess and left me unimpressed. Overall, a disappointing read and not one of the author's better books.
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Awards
BookTube Prize (Octofinalist — Fiction — 2019)