A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

We are used to novels by Jodi Picoult pulling their subject matter from headline news and making the issues of her characters pull us in with empathy and a need to understand. In A Spark of Light, she grabs hold of the issues of abortion, right to life, the rights of different parties to a birth and the rights of parents, grandparents, community members and even health professionals when the only health center that provides abortions in the State of Louisiana is attacked not only by right to life protestors, but a gunman who enters and opens fire.

By using different characters, each with different and compelling purposes, Ms. Picoult is able to open up the issue so that no matter what your position going in, you will consider other sides. Her skillful writing and wonderful characters will keep the pages turning until all you want is for everyone to be okay. If you are looking for a book club selection that will raise tempers and emotions to the very highest, this one should be your selection.

Be warned, though. The situations are intense and may trigger women who’ve been on any side of this debate, as well as health care professionals. Be gentle with yourself when you read it.

I received this book from Net Galley.

A distraught father turned gunman, seeks deadly retribution inside the women’s health clinic that he holds responsible for the termination of his unborn grandchild. Starting at the end and replaying the events in reverse order, author Jody Picoult doesn’t play it safe with her latest book, “A Spark of Light.” Tackling the controversial issue of abortion, the author gives an honest, balanced, and thought-provoking take on the choices women face when presented with an unplanned pregnancy and the resulting ramifications. She accomplishes this daunting task, by giving the reader a glimpse into the lives of all those trapped inside the clinic and the reasons they came to be there in the first place.

Regardless of which side you fall on—pro-choice or pro-life—Jodi Picoult will have you digging dip within yourself and examining your own beliefs. Perhaps even questioning them, as well. Intense and expertly executed, “A Spark of Light” is a story that is both timely and relevant. Boasting relatable, multi-dimensional characters, this story drew me in right from the very start and held me captive right up until the very end. While this is the very first book that I’ve read by Jodi Picoult, it certainly won’t be my last.

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 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.

A Spark of Light is Jodi Picoult's newest book and it's definitely a riveting and polarizing read. This book centers around the lives of a group of women in a women's health clinic. A gunman takes the women hostage. I loved how this story was told by going back in time over the course of the day. I am predicting that this novel will create some great thought-provoking discussions about the rights of both women and the unborn. It's a book that I'm truly glad I read. Read and enjoy!

I thought this book gave a very balanced look at a hot topic issue that will likely remain so forever.

I was a little concerned and expected some preaching towards one side or the other, but really never felt like that. The characters were well done and I found myself caring a great deal for some of them.

There were a few things that would likely not have happened in real life, but authors need some leeway so their story can be more poignant, I think. It bothered me, but not enough to stop me reading this book.

I requested an ARC and was happy to receive one. My opinions are my own and freely given.

Such a profound and thought provoking book by Jodi Picoult. Tackling such a tough topic, and opening up a dialogue is so important. Jodi never ceases to amaze me.

I think this is my favorite read of the year. Jodi Picoult is a master story teller and this book blows the others away. It’s gripping and timely. The book is mostly told in reverse following a shooting in a clinic that offers abortions. The hostage negotiator brought in finds that his sister and daughter are among the hostages. Given today’s focus on women’s reproductive rights, this book is a must read! Thank you to the wonderful publishers and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

I have no idea where to start this was a 5 star book all the way until 83% when Louie the Doctor started his story.... I am all about descriptive writing but this was just a little to much for me to handle I do not want to hear about the makings of an abortion and how it is done let alone what is happening to the fetus!!! Yuck!!
That being said this will not deter me from reading her books.

My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

The book is good, however it was difficult to get into with the sequence of events beginning at the end of the story. It was something that needed to be concentrated on, at least for me. It was a good and timely subject and I am sure her fans will enjoy it.

This novel begins with a hostage situation at an women's health center in Mississippi that also provides abortions. Regardless of your views on the topic, Jodi Picoult captures the opposing sides, perspectives, and individuals who hold them elegantly. There is much to consider here. I have read many of Picoult's novels, and I love how she takes a tragic scenario and makes you feel that there is no right or wrong, just an unfortunate choice that must be made. For me, this did not quite carry through in this novel...perhaps because the topic is so charged...but she did provide insight that I had not considered before. This is well worth the read, regardless of your views. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing a digital copy for review.

Jodi Picoult, Author of “A Spark of Light” has written a unique controversial and contemporary novel which is an emotionally packed, captivating, intriguing, intense, heart-breaking and riveting novel. Kudos to Jodi Picoult for stirring up the pot with her descriptions, and her vivid accounting of the events and characters. The Genres for this Novel are Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, with Mystery and Suspense thrown in. The timeline of the story is in the present and goes to the past when in pertains to the characters or events in the story.

The author describes her colorful and dysfunctional cast of characters as complex and complicated possibly due to the circumstances. Throughout the story, Jodi Picoult manages to describe each character, and how the problems at hand effect and concern them. Not everyone is sure of exactly how they feel, and what to believe. The author discusses an important and relevant topic, what makes a mother or father a good parent? What are the choices that we have to make?

The story takes place in an orange Center that services Women’s needs such as abortion, contraception, women’s illnesses and women’s reproductive health services. Every day there are lines of anti-abortion protesters handing out their “educational bags” trying to stop the women going in. There are usually pro- choice people helping the women going in to safety. On this particular day, there is a shortage of pro-choice people accompanying the patients going in. This takes place in the south, and usually the women have to wait 2 days and be informed before making a choice. The women are informed at the different stages of pregnancy what there options are, and are told it is their choice.

No on realizes that there is a traitor in their midst. A woman who is a pro-lifer , and anti-abortion is disguised looking for any information that could close this clinic down. She has no idea what danger is ahead of her.

A man armed with a pistol, walks into the building and starts shooting people. The gun-man is desperate and angry. It seems somehow his daughter had an abortion, and he is out for revenge. This man also has PTSD, and thinks himself back to the war doing his job.

A hostage negotiator is called in ,not aware that both his daughter Wren and his sister are in the Center. Wren’s Aunt has taken her to get contraception, but her father is not aware.

Now there are two fathers involved, one a hostage negotiator, and one hurting and holding the other hostages. Somehow all the hostages, no matter what their believes are, have to work together to survive.

The author discusses the importance of communication, love, emotional support, and hope. I would highly recommend this controversial and emotional novel to those readers who enjoy a challenging story. I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
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I am a retired teacher and an avid reader of books of all genres. I have several Kindles and Nooks, hardcover copies, paperback editions, and collect signed first editions. I love to read and write reviews. I have reviewed on NetGalley, First to Read, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, BookBrowse(First Impressions) LibraryThing, and Amazon. I am obsessed with books!! View all posts by lindasbookobsession
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I have really enjoyed most of Jodi Picoult's other books but this one is not one of my favorites. I thought the story looked really interesting, but being told in the reverse order of events made it difficult to follow and really took away from what was happening and the flow of the story. Also, there were almost many characters to keep track of throughout the book which made it more confusing and I did not feel as though I got to know them that well, the characters not being well-developed. It is well written and I definitely like how both sides of the abortion issue come into play; I felt Picoult did a great job exploring all sides of abortion. The ending as not a surprise to me at all. I think it is a great book about the issue of abortion but the story just did not grab like other JP books. Thanks so much to NetGalley for the ARC!!

An amalgam of characters and back story and forward thinking, an exceptionally strong whirlwind of every emotion set within a group of cells, tissue, an ever-reaching tenet of right, wrong, life, death, and the undercurrent of connection we all share with every aspect of right, wrong, life, and death..

While I have long been a fan of this amazingly gifted author, it pains me to rate any of her novels as middle-of-the-road. In this case I feel compelled to rate this at 3.5 stars... Here’s why:

The opening scene was chaotic and didn’t draw me in at the onset as her books usually do, probably because so many characters names were thrown at us that we didn’t know anything about yet.

Reading this in the reverse timeframe didn’t work at all for me. In the earlier timeframes much of what we already knew from what happened in the later hour segments were reiterated but in more detail in the earlier hours. Jumping from timeframe to timeframe and from character to character also made it difficult to connect, care and ultimately be vested in the outcomes of each of the characters and their personal situations. Dr. Louie, a black physician was my favorite character. He was raised Catholic and was the surgeon performing the abortions at this and other centers. What a compassionate and admirable soul he was, putting his life on the line every day to do what he felt was right.

Although the emotional topic of abortion is a hot button, it has already been talked to death, in every format possible, pros and cons. We really don’t witness anything here that hasn’t been said before. Both sides of the abortion issue were explored fairly, however, whether pro-choice or pro-life. We’ve heard all the compelling arguments, and of those that straddle the fence between them as well.

Abortion was not the only topic here either, guns was another.

“Louie’s thoughts before he passed out was what a crazy world we live in... where the waiting period to get an abortion is longer than it is to buy a gun.”

Like the saying goes, “sometimes less is more” and this could’ve been more with less. The author brought a lot to the table here, topics including blacks/racial and gay relationships, which nowadays it seems one can’t read a novel without one or the other of those topics thrown in. There has to be a “message” somewhere. What’s happened to reading just for pleasure without a politically correct agenda? I know that Picoult’s work is usually controversial so it didn’t surprise me. What did surprise me is that I was not enjoying this writing as much as I expected to. I found myself skimming through some chapters which is not a good sign, and rare for me especially with one of JP’s novels. I realize I’m in the minority here and you may not agree, but I encourage you to read it and make up your own mind. It’s a tough fence to straddle.

My thanks to the publisher, author and NetGalley for my digital pre-release copy, in exchange for an unbiased review. My Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/39072220r

To summarize: this was a very moving and emotional story, but it dragged and jumped around to too many characters.

This book is written from the climax of the story and works backwards. There were a lot of characters with points-of-view, and I still don't remember some of the names and who they were.

However, I was very moved by the book. It encouraged me to think deeply but also allowed me to connect with the different characters. It's very different from my normal read, so I appreciated that.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC, for which I have given an honest and unbiased review*

I normally love Jodi's books. And this one was good, but there were times when I felt she was trying to push too many agendas at once. She tackled abortion, religion, homophobia, racism, and mass shootings all in one book. It was very heavy and took me longer to read than normal. I needed a break often to read something lighter.

All that being said, it was worth reading. I enjoyed the concept of going back an hour in the day for each chapter. It made it interesting to see the story unfold backwards.

It seems I either devour Jodi Picoult books or I trudge through them; no middle ground. A Spark of Light was a trudge for me. The reverse order of the book didn't work for me. It didn't flow and I got bored with it quickly.

Too many characters to keep track of, too many stories AND reverse order was just too much for me.

Reading the synopsis of the book I suspect I expected something different, something compelling and I was disappointed with what I got. Perhaps I was still hyped from SMALL GREAT THINGS and wanted the same reading experience. I devoured SMALL GREAT THINGS and thought about the book even when I was not reading it.

This book just did not work for me.



.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Jodi Picoult for the opportunity to read and review her latest novel.

This book takes place over one day at an abortion clinic in Mississippi as a desperate father bursts through the doors and starts shooting, taking all of the people inside hostage. The hostage negotiator soon learns his 15-year-old daughter is inside, along with his older sister.

This is a wonderful book of characters. The book goes back in time and gives the reader background into each of the people inside as well as Hugh. I also loved the story behind the title.

As always, Jodi Picoult takes a controversial issue and makes you see all sides of it. While it may not change anyone's opinions on the subject, it may open our hearts to understand others' stories and opinions too.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

A gunman bursts into the Center, a women's health clinic that performs abortions in Mississippi, one fall afternoon, killing some people and taking others hostage. Hugh McElroy is called to the scene to be the police negotiator, as he has done countless times before. Shortly after arriving, however, he receives a text from her daughter; she is one of the hostages in the Center.

This story is told backwards – starting at 5 PM, then 4 PM, 3 PM, and so on. That format worked well for the novel, though I want to reread the novel and see how things change once I know what I later learned from earlier in the day. I was very disappointed that the entire novel took place in one day, though. I wanted to see how things turned out for some of the characters, especially Beth! Jodi Picoult never ceases to amaze me with how she is able to portray accurately and in detail so many differing opinions around controversial topics like abortion. She has hit it out of the park again with this book!

This book is written in an unusual style ( backwards in time )
Although this makes the storyline somewhat difficult to follow, my main objection is the theme.
The conflict between pro and anti abortion. Past books by this author also dealt with difficult topics,
but this one did not resonate with me. The personal stories of the main characters outlined the background
of why they ended up in the clinic, but there was something lacking in the book.
Normally a FAN of Jodi Picoult, I recommend My Sisters Keeper as a better read.