Confession first; this is my first Jodi Picoult book, I have hear about a lot of her books, but I think I was just too intimidated by her books. Usually when books or authors get too much hype I stay away, don't ask why, I'm just too afraid that I will not like the book or the author and them I will be that odd person that doesn't like the book and everyone will hate me. At the end? I will usually fall in love with the author/book and feel stupid and ask why the heck it took me to long to read it. This is the case with Jodi Picoult and I finally decided it to give it a try and why? Because Netgalley had her latest book there and I would maybe have the chance to read before it would be too hyped about it. And OH MAN, am I glad that I jumped at the chance. I got approved for the arc and I read it before it came out and I freaking love it. The topic was not one that you read everyday which made me love the author even more. Let's get to it.

The whole book takes place in one single day, yes you heard it right. It starts at one time and then the time will rewind to the beginning of the day and you get to find out what is going on inside the women's center. One thing you need to know is that the book has not one, not two but lots of POVs. You even get the POV of the shooter and of his daughter that is not even present at the women's center. Yes, it can be confusing at times, because one thing you have to continue to remember is when one POV is over the next one will start from one hour prior to that one which there were a few times that I was like wait, what time is it again?

You will start this book and will not be able to put it down because you will want to find out what let this person to do what he is doing and what will happen to these hostages, will they survive? And then you to hear about each of these people's lives and choices they are making or made and about women's rights and what some people, even doctor's go through in order to protect them.

A really powerful and intense story and one that should be read all over no matter your point of view.

5 out of 5 stars!

I appreciated the fact that Jodi Picoult showed all perspectives on such a difficult issue. As a librarian, I would need to be careful about who I recommended it to. This was my first experience reading something from Picoult and I'm not sure if that was good or bad one to start with. It was good because I was able to see how she presents a very tough issue but I'm not sure I should have started with such a hot topic. She built the story in such a way that I found myself wanting to see how it ended.

I have been reading books by Jodi Picoult for many years and especially enjoyed Salem Falls and Plain Truth. When I read Leaving Time, I felt that the usual twist at the end was more of a trick. I also did not enjoy small great things, probably because it was so difficult to read about the Aryan supremacists. So...I wasn't sure what I would find when NetGalley and the publisher so kindly gave me an ARC of this book.

Ok, the drought is over! I found a spark of light to be a well-crafted, character based story. As was true in Nineteen Minutes, Ms. Picoult helps the reader to empathize with those who represent all sides of a complex moral and societal issue. There are many in the story: an abortion clinic owner, a nurse, an artist, an elderly woman, a young girl seeking birth control, a person in need of an abortion, a doctor, protesters, infiltrators, a hostage negotiator and more. Each of their stories is told in a narrative going backward in time. Interconnections between characters become clearer as the reader turns the pages.

The primary setting is an abortion clinic that is under siege. It remains unclear who will live and who will not. There are some surprises at the end.

The book is heavily researched. The reader will learn a lot about restrictions, types of terminations, pregnancy counseling, etc. Some times these felt a bit heavy handed but then I imagined what it might be like if I were a young girl and this was the one place that I could find a lot of facts.

I highly recommend a spark of light. It will make you care and it will make you think.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

The story itself is valuable and worthwhile. Jodi Picoult is a master at sharing different perspectives and her work is thoroughly researched. Hearing the diversity stories of each person who is at the abortion clinic from the doctor, to the protester, to the girl needing contraception . . . Picoult tackles each person's experience by making us see the human messiness that leads to each person's choices.

So why only 3 stars? She tells the story backwards hour by hour throughout the day which was very confusing. Because of the number of characters, it was hard enough to follow and this timeline added to the confusion. I can see why she used this mechanism to build to the "twists" but I think it compromised the flow of reading.

A gunman takes hostages in a women’s health center to make a statement about abortion. The hostage negotiator learns that his daughter is inside the center and fights to keep his composure. The gunman, the negotiator, his daughter, and the other people in the center live through the most tense day of their lives as the hours unfold. Author Jodi Picoult brings her strengths as researcher and compassionate listener to a sensitive and timely issue in A Spark of Light, a book that, unfortunately, doesn’t live up to her previous novels.

In Jackson, Mississippi, there’s only one place where women can get legal abortions. The Center offers other female health services, of course, but none brings on the protestors like the termination of pregnancies does. When Hugh McElroy gets the call to a gunman who has barricaded himself and others at the Center, he’s prepared to talk the shooter off his mental ledge.

Hugh knows that a hostage situation means almost anything can happen; he’s negotiated with enough angry people to expect it. Even he’s not prepared, however, for discovering that his only child and older sister are inside the Center. His 15-year-old daughter, Wren, is the greatest joy of his life, and his sister, Bex, taught him everything he needed to know. If he were to go by the book, Hugh should walk away from the situation and let another officer engage in negotiations but he doesn’t.

Single father George Goddard has definite ideas about right and wrong, and when his daughter, Lil, shares news that lands her in the “wrong” camp, George goes on a rampage. He travels to the Center because he knows that’s where she got the crazy idea for the abortion in the first place. They twisted his daughter’s mind; he’s going to make sure they don’t do it to anyone else.

Except he didn’t think through his plan; he just grabbed a gun and showed up at the Center. Now people have died, and he’s dealing with a know-it-all cop on the outside. No one, inside the Center or out, has any clue of the pain he carries in his heart.

Throughout the day, Hugh and George talk while trying not to give up on any ground. Inside the Center, the hostages share bits and pieces of their lives. The pro-life protestor who came in undercover to find damning evidence against the Center, the nurse who showed up for an abortion, the pro-life doctor who performs the procedures, and Wren and Bex all face the prospect that they might die on this day. With every person who gets shot, their chances of survival start to shrink.

Author Jodi Picoult shares in her note at the end of the book that she interviewed more than 150 women and shadowed three abortion doctors for this story. Her research shines through every character’s voice and experience. She does complete justice to both points of view, dissolving into each character with an authenticity that can’t be denied.

Other choices for the book, however, make it falter. Picoult chose to tell the story in reverse order, starting with the end of the day and progressing to the beginning. The device makes the plot feel contrived; there is no real advantage to the story or the development of the characters in going backward. In fact, at times parts of the novel feel a little redundant because readers are asked to treat information they’ve already learned as back story when it’s often anything but.

Picoult does reveal a couple of surprises late in the story, but the reverse storytelling technique doesn’t enhance the discoveries. They could have just as easily been shared at other points in a more conventional method. Their impact would have meant just as much.

The method Picoult uses distracts enough from the story that it reduces her thoughtful writing to another book about a polarizing issue, when in fact she maintains an even balance. Diehard Picoult fans will probably appreciate her storytelling style, but readers new to her work may want to check out her other books first. I recommend readers Borrow A Spark of Light.

A totally controversial story, but well told and leaves the readers to make up their own minds and their own views and opinions.
It takes place at a women's health facility that also, amongst other services, offers abortions. A raging man comes in and starts shooting. The police negotiator tries to get the man on the phone and calm him down while trying to ascertain the number of casualties. Then to the negotiator's horror, he discovers that his 15-year old daughter is among the people in the waiting room.
A well written book and Jodi Picoult handles this delicate subject with neutrality.

Jodi Picoult is a long time favorite author of mine, but I simply could not get into this book and gave up about half way through. If you're interested in the pros and cons of abortion, this book could work for you. I myself have always wavered on this issue as I find that I appreciate both sides of the argument. In any event, the characters held no interest for me. I'm sorry I can't give a more insightful review, but this was a "did not finish" for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance reader's copy.

No matter where you stand on the abortion issue - this book will tug at your heart but more importantly - open your eyes to the other side's reasons. Will it change your mind? I don't think so, but I have never read a more informed, detailed and accurate account of a clinic before.

I was confused by the backwards timeline at first but it did make sense as the story unfolded. I would have loved the epilogue to have been later - maybe 6 months, a year later. I wanted to know what happened to everyone - not just Wren. I wanted to know what happens to Beth and Mandy - did they win? Does Izzy finally get what she wants or needs out of life? Did those people die in vain?

I admit, I had to skim some of the medically accurate passages. Not because they were upsetting, or graphic in a vile way - I just have a squeamish tummy.

Jodi Picoult is a literary icon and the thing I most appreciate about her books is how she deals with controversial topics and makes you see sides of an issue that maybe you had not considered before or enlightens you to an alternative viewpoint. A Spark of Light is no different. It considers all the lives that are touched when a shooter enters an abortion clinic in Mississippi. It features a diverse cast of characters: Wren, the young high schooler who entered the clinic to obtain birth control; Bex, Wren's aunt, that took Wren to the clinic so that she wouldn't have to get her father's consent; Joy, who is at the clinic for an abortion; Janine, who is a pro-life advocate that entered the clinic posing as a pregnant woman wanting an abortion so that she could uncover information to be used against the clinic; Izzy, the clinic nurse who is also pregnant herself; George Goddard, the shooter who came to avenge his daughter; Dr. Louie Ward, the doctor who performs the abortions; and Hugh, the hostage negotiator and Wren's father.

A Spark of Light is so well researched and really delves into such a weighty issue with a finesse that only Jodi Picoult can. It is the epitome of a conversation starter and it touches on things that could only benefit people on both sides of the issue to consider.

I would recommend this novel, but I will say that the format of the storytelling takes a little getting used to. The story opens with the ending of the day at the clinic and then flashes back an hour at a time, so for me, that did interrupt the flow of the storyline some. After finishing the novel, I did go back and re-read the first chapter so that I could remind myself how the storylines ended for a few of the characters.

This is a novel that will stay with me for some time and as always, I have a deeper appreciation for Jodi Picoult's prowess as an author after reading her work.

I received this book courtesy of Random House Publishing Group Ballantine Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I typically really enjoy Jodi Picoult books, but I found this one hard to follow, as it was told in reverse time order. It was difficult for me to keep track of all the characters, and what was happening, and I kept having to go back and read what had happened.
I did enjoy discovering a few of the surprises, and how lives were entwined, without anyone realizing the consequences of their actions.
The last chapter brought everything into focus. I also enjoyed the author’s commentary on this very difficult subject of abortion.
#ASparkOfLight #JodiPicoult #NetGalley

Once again, Jodi Picoult did not disappoint. She is the master of writing about controversial topics in a way that is related to all readers despite differing points of view. What is incredibly interesting about the style of this book is that it is written backwards, with the story being told by the passage of time with the end of the day to the morning. The day describes a hostage situation at a women's health clinic in Mississippi.

Jodi Picoult can take even the toughest of topics, like abortion and murder, and make you see the humanity in all aspects of it. She writes such beautiful sentences that build into such amazing stories. Characters that even when you don't want to relate to them you do.

More reviews at tbretc.com. This is my favorite Picoult book to date. That’s saying a lot, because my previous favorite, Nineteen Minutes, has held the top stop for over 10 years. If you’ve ever read anything by Picoult before, you know she doesn’t shy away from discussing hot button issues. She’s covered stem cells, school shootings, racism, religion… but the events in A Spark of Light takes things to a whole new level.

It’s a hostage situation at a woman’s health clinical in the south. The clinic provides many services, but they are the last abortion provider in the state of Mississippi, making them a target. To enter, the employees and the patients have to endure harassment from pro-life picketers. Both sides are passionate- but the Center’s main objective is to provide health services to the women who are in need. The book opens in an active shooter situation. Picoult’s ability to create tension was second to none- the story is told in reverse, so we know who’s been shot, who’s been killed, and are left with a cliffhanger as to how everything is going to end. But ultimately this isn’t a plot driven story- it’s about the people. There is a wide range of characters- Wren, a young girl who is there with her aunt. The doctor who has his personal reasons for being passionate about his cause, despite it being in opposition to his religious beliefs. A pro-lifer in disguise, trying to get dirt on the clinical to support her narrative. The shooter’s daughter, who wants nothing more than to be the girl her father thinks she is. And a number of others who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Picoult uses a lot of irony to drive the story, but this isn’t her first rodeo and it’s well done. For example- the hostage negotiator’s daughter is inside. A key character who is staunchly opposed to the clinic has had an abortion of her own. A seemingly well off nurse takes care of babies, but isn’t sure if she wants to have her own. Still, this book made me think. Since it’s told in reverse, you know the events that took place but I was constantly picking up on new information and feeing a sense of dread for what was coming. This isn’t a black and white issue. I know what side of the narrative I fall down upon, but I do there there are a lot of grey areas and these points are well presented throughout the story.

No matter which side of the debate you fall on, I recommend this. Yes, it’s political. It probably leans more pro choice than pro life. But at the very least, this will make you examine your viewpoint and can serve as a conversation starter. If you like for your current fiction to have staying power and be of the moment, then this might work for you.

Our previous Monday Mystery looked from the present backwards, and this book continues that theme. By having the horrific event first, Jodi then takes the reader back in time to see why each character in the shooting is there, and seeks to explain their actions (or inaction). By showing both sides of the equation, so to speak, Jodi allows readers, to maybe see a different point of view than their own, and maybe change how they feel.This is a hard subject, but once again Jodi gives her subtle touch with characters and dialogue a way to shine, and to get the reader involved with the characters. This one will be talked about for some time!

Here is what I like about Jodi Picoult's writing. She takes a topic - in this case abortion - and then creates a story with characters that represent all sides of the debate on that topic. I frequently end her novels with at least a better understanding of opinions that differ from mine. She writes with intelligence and compassion.

I actually ended up liking all the characters in this story - even the "bad guy". This has happened to me before with her writing. The people in this book all have legitimate points of view. There is a saying that came to mind when I read this story - just because I don't agree, that doesn't make me right.

A thought provoking page turner.

I received this book from Random House - Ballantine via Netgally. My thanks to both.

Jodi's Piccoult's latest novel tackles yet another controversial issue...abortion. She weaves a riveting tale of drama and suspense, allowing her reader a glimpse into both sides of an issue that most people feel strongly about. She does an excellent job of giving her readers a glimpse into the mindset of those women who seek abortions, doctors who provide them, and anti-abortion activists.

The story begins when an active shooter breaks into an abortion clinic, holding several hostage. As the hostage negotiator seeks to break through to the shooter, in the hopes of getting the hostages released, we learn a bit about each hostage in the facility. Why are they in an abortion clinic? What issues are they struggling with? How does abortion personally impact them?

As we become enmeshed in the drama, the plot thickens when the realization comes to pass that the hostage negotiator, Hugh, has a vested interest in this case. His teen daughter, Wren, and sister, Bex, are trapped inside the facility. Hugh does not have time to wonder why his daughter and sister are inside the clinic. He needs to get them out. Now.

This story is told in reverse, which was interesting to me. It made for a slower start, but by the end of the novel, I felt very connected to each of the characters in the story. Whether or not I agreed with their rationale for seeking out an abortion, it was intriguing to read about each individual's tale. However, I could have done without reading the specifics about what a later-term abortion entailed. Seriously, you may want to skip that segment. Whether you are pro-life or pro-choice, I found it extremely disturbing and rather disgusting.

As usual with Piccoult, we also have her political/social agenda presented. Pro-lifers and pro-choicers were bonding while they were trapped inside the clinic. Obviously, I felt that was a little unrealistic. Overall though, I enjoyed the book, and there were a couple of twists late in the novel which really did surprise me.

I think the subject matter of this book is important and it's a super powerful story. But the execution of it didn't work for me...I think it would have been more powerful told linearly.

The switching of povs...
Taking the argument of abortion from both sides...
Giving me rl facts that I had no clue about...
The author's notes...
This book just....just...yes.
I highlighted damn near the entire book. The science and research the author put into this novel is remarkable. I absolutely loved this and will definitely read it again although this time I feel like I'll the read the chapters backwards or in order I loved how the author considered different women doing different things depending on the circumstances.

I usually like Jodi Picoult's books so I was looking forward to this one. She tends to get a bit preachy in her writing so I was bracing myself for that with this touchy subject of abortion. Though I could easily sense her bias, she did a good job overall of presenting a balanced viewpoint on the issue.

The characters were basically well done and sympathetic. The story, however, was confusing and frustrating - - not because of the story itself but because of the way it was written. Beginning with the end and jumping around from different times and different characters made me want to scream! I would have much preferred the story to be written in a normal fashion with the ending saved for the end! And it would have been much better for the story in my opinion if it was more clear which character was speaking instead of everything muddled together. It totally interrupted the flow of the book for me to have to stop and think - ok, is this the one who's dead now?, who is this?, is she the nurse or the patient - - etc.

The ending (the actual ending, not the ending that began the book - - and if that sounds confusing, yeah, that's how the reader feels!) had a couple unexpected twists. Though I had halfway thought of one of them, the other came as a complete surprise.

So no, this book isn't perfect; but it's a thought-provoking book that doesn't come to any concrete conclusions but provides the reader with information and provokes questions. For that, I give this book 4 stars.

I have read many of Jodi's books and some are better than others... On a scale of 1-10, I would give this one a 5... The story itself was just not that gripping and found myself reading only because of the author and hoped it would improve.. Sad to say, it did not.