Lindas Book Obsession Review of “A Spark of Light” by Jodi Picoult

Lindas Book Obsession Review of “A Spark of Light” by Jodi Picoult

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.