#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The author of Small Great Things returns with a powerful and provocative new novel about ordinary lives that intersect during a heart-stopping crisis.“Picoult at her fearless best . . . Timely, balanced and certain to inspire debate.”—The Washington Post The warm fall day starts like any other at the Center—a women’s reproductive health services clinic—its staff … 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.
Praise for A Spark of Light
“This is Jodi Picoult at her best: tackling an emotional hot-button issue and putting a human face on it.”—People
“Told backward and hour by hour, Jodi Picoult’s compelling narrative deftly explores controversial social issues.”—Us Weekly
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It was written backwards. Near ending came first then it went backward hour by hour and person by person. I did not like the technique but I did like the information imparted. If I were the type of reader who can stop reading a book I didn’t like, I would have stopped reading. I’m not that reader so I continued to the end. Jody Picolt always has interesting topics, I just wish she would write in a more traditional manner.
I did not enjoy the ending. Many loose threads as to characters other than the main two. What happened to Beth, Izzy, etc.
It isnt like any other book I have read by Jodi. It was disturbing to me. Just like everything else in this world right now, it was showing that all the hatred and killing is so uncalled for. Everyone has a story!
I always know that any Jodi Picoult book I read will be a wonderfully told heartbreaking story. “A Spark of Light” is exactly that – wonderfully told and absolutely heartbreaking. I love that the author always shows all sides of whatever issue she presents in her books.
It was very difficult to keep track of what was happening as it jumped back and forth on the characters and what was happening to them.
Excellent
Not one of her best.
I love to read Jodi Picoult! This was written in an unusual reverse style. She always presents all sides of a subject without trying to change your own view. This was an awesome read!
Usually, Jodi Picoult books are wonderfully entertaining and keep my attention from beginning to end. I cannot say the same for this book. If I wouldn’t have been reading it for a book club, I never would have finished it. Therefore, I cannot recommend this book.
This story of a shooting in an abortion clinic was told in reverse, which in itself was a great idea. However, the execution of the story was a big fail for me. The story did not flow well from one chapter to the next, and it was difficult to keep track of the characters. With each character’s development occurring in different chapters throughout the book instead of in the beginning, I found myself flipping back to previous chapters to remember who was who. This book had the potential to tell many sides of the abortion issue, but again I think those stories became lost as I struggled to keep up with what really happened and in what order.
Normally I like reading a book from many different people’s perspectives but this just got too repetitive. Even my curiosity couldn’t keep me going. I put it down half way through.
This one did not do it for me. I felt beaten over the head with facts that were not always correct. The story lines were good, if mellow dramatic, but the dry insertion of so many facts made the plot drag for me. I have deeply enjoyed most of her other books, but this one was not for me.
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. 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.
This book was not as riveting as her others. I didn’t find it quite as suspenseful. That could be due to the backward telling of the story.
Another from one of my favorite authors, but this one was difficult to read at times. The book is about abortion, but so much more. As always, the author really makes you stop and think about events as they unfold, points of view, different circumstances, etc. Jodi P. always does her research and is a master at tackling tough, and often times controversial, topics.
A Spark of Light was totally absorbing. Jodi Picoult has tackled the huge and controversial topic of abortion with intelligence and grace—one more triumph for her. The story grabs you and never lets go.
This book raised important ethical issues and the question of making ones own decisions.
I believe everyone should read this book. It is very accurate and informative about abortions.
A gripping book. Thoughtful, informative, and important.
Wow! When I first started this book I had no idea what it was about. As I read further I realized what a controversial subject it really is. The opinions of people may have changed somewhat over time but it is a subject that I have heard discussions about, or been involved in some way with, for almost 50 years, since I was a teenager. I’m not sure that my opinions have changed since then, sometimes you just believe what you believe forever. I could relate to several of the characters. However, this book taught me things that I didn’t know! I’m continually surprised by this author. Every book I have read by her has had an ending that was not at all what I expected. I will definitely recommend this book to everyone! It was an amazing book on the subject! Well researched!
I always enjoy the ethical dilemma of her books. Enjoyed this one very much!