A Spark of Light: A Novel

I really liked this book and read it at one sitting.

I have read several books by this author. It would be unfair of me to give a bad review. I liked the characters and the subject matter is certainly a big topic. The only thing I can say is this book wasn't for me

Wow, Jodi Picoult has done it again. She truly is the queen of family drama and controversy. Picoult is one of my favorite all-time authors (thanks to a recommendation from my friend Steph in college many years ago), and I have read most of her books. When I found out she had a new book coming out this October, I HAD to put it on the top of my TBR pile. As typical with Picoult, she has chosen a difficult topic, one that has people divided because of religion and politics. She weaves an intricate story without ever choosing a side. A lot of research went into writing this book, and it shows.Abortion and women's reproductive rights are two main topics tackled in A Spark of Light: A Novel. Fatherhood is another main theme, and Picoult writes beautifully about two single fathers raising daughters in today's world. As always, Picoult makes us question our own beliefs and convictions throughout the telling of this story. Each character has their own motivation and beliefs, and Picoult makes it so easy to understand everyone's point of view, even if you don't agree with it. It's an uncomfortable topic to think about, and no matter what experience you've had, you will relate to one of the characters in the book. I am not a mother, but have experienced my own reproductive health issues and concerns, as most women have. I found myself intrigued by different aspects of the story, and going to google and wikipedia to find out more information.Each chapter is not told from a different character's perspective, like Picoult often does in her books. She still chooses to alternate points of view, but within each chapter. The story is told in reverse chronological order, and each chapter is a different hour of the day, starting at 5 p.m. and ending with 8 a.m. The epilogue goes back to 6 p.m. in an attempt to tie up loose ends. However, this storytelling technique is a little disorienting and I was left wanting a bit more explanation of how everyone's story played out. Picoult is known for having some shocking twist/revelation in her books, but I saw it coming a mile away in this one, so was not surprised in the usual way I've come to expect from Picoult's stories.One of my favorite quotes is at the end of the book, in the author's note. Picoult says, "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 those honest conversations, instead of demonizing each other, we might see each other as imperfect humans, doing our best." Beautiful words of wisdom spoken from an author who writes fictional dramas rooted in real world issues.I gave this book a 5 out of 5. This is because I would like to re-read it with the knowledge of each character's full story in hindsight, to gain some more insight into each character. Picoult has taken a complex, difficult topic and opened the dialogue. I think this should be required reading for both men and women. It may give men insight into what women have to deal with at all stages of life, just being a woman. I recommend this book for anyone interested in social issues, family drama, and women's rights.

I love Jodi Picoult's writing and her ability to tackle difficult, highly sensitive topics with respect for both (or more) sides of issues.A Spark of Light met that criteria, but it failed to draw me in or make me care about the characters.This isn't the first time Picoult's used an unconventional method to add intrigue to her characters and their thought processes, but this is the first time I recall her method detracting from the story.Reversing the timeline made the novel choppy, and, while I hate to admit it, I was unable to relate to the characters because I found it difficult to feel empathy (though I felt some sympathy) for them.Knowing a character's backstory has always drawn me in and made me view the characters' perspectives in ways I may not have before.Picoult has a talent for making her characters relatable, but by making each chapter one hour earlier than the previous one felt gimmicky and left me with little to no interest in the story. Rather than reading at every opportunity, I never felt my usual longing to get back to the book because I already knew what happened.Like many people, I have strong opinions on when life begins, women having control of their own bodies, and the topic of abortion, but A Spark of Light didn't live up to Picoult's usual standard of character or storyline development. I can open any news site to find tragedy or controversy and then search the involved people's backstories when that's my objective; I'd hoped for something less commonplace from A Spark of Light.

Twists, turns and a different writing style for Jodi Picoult, keep your eyes on the chapter titles! Great book! Certainly makes you think!

Perfetto

Normalement j'aime bien ce que fait Jodi Picoult mais j'ai trouvé ce livre fastidieux et brouillon sans solution….

Another brilliant read from Jodi Picoult .

避妊クリニックでの立てこもり事件。冒頭から10人近い登場人物が入り乱れ現在と過去を行き来するので、読まされる方は結構辛いですがそれらを束ねる作者の腕前は流石です。けれど避妊という作者らしいあざといテーマはまだしも、章が進む毎に事件当日の時間が逆戻りしていく趣向は必要だったんでしょうか。デビュー作"Songs of the Humpback Wale"で登場人物の一人だけが結末から語り始めたのには驚きましたが、本作はそうした受け狙い、やり過ぎ、策を弄し過ぎな所が目に余ります。私以外の海外のレビューアーさん達も結構辛辣で驚きました。NYT紙ベストセラーリストでは初登場第1位でしたが僅か1週間で陥落。前作”Small Great Things"のレビューに「トランプを大統領に選んだ米国民の心に作者の得意なPolitical Correctnessは最早響かないのでは」と書きましたが、その証左なのか或いはあざとさ故でしょうか。