Name: A Spark of Light
ISBN: 9781760110512

Jodi Picoult

The lives of ordinary people become intertwined when a gunman takes hostages at a women's clinic in the #1 New York Times bestselling author's latest.

A Novel

A Spark of Light

Muhamad Omarji

Michele Papa

THE #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'A writer the world needs to be reading right now' The Independent 'An apposite and nuanced novel... Picoult writes about an emotive, controversial issue with unflinching precision.' Red 'Incredibly compelling and page turning' Dolly Alderton 'A very special novel about a very difficult subject.' Grazia 'Her intelligent, meticulously researched novels explore ethical dilemmas through heartrending, headline-grabbing scenarios' The Sunday Times A lone gunman takes the women and doctors at a controversial abortion clinic hostage. Nobody has ended up there by choice. As the tense negotiation for their release unfolds, hour by crucial hour, back in time through the day that brought the hostages and their captor to this moment, every certainty is questioned, every judgement thrown into sharp relief. Because matters of life and death look very different when you, or the ones you love, are staring down the barrel of a gun . . . Powerful, thought-provoking and deeply involving, Jodi Picoult's new novel is told in reverse, propelling the reader through intertwining characters and uncovering motives in this unflinching exploration of what makes a life. THE BOOK OF TWO WAYS, Jodi's stunning new novel about life, death and missed opportunities is available to pre-order now.

THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Jody Pacult does a great job, providing many different perspectives and well thought out characters in all of her stories.

Amanda 

#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 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

Vicky  Nuñez 

A Spark of Light touches on very common themes on today's society among them abortion, gun control, religion, etc. Controversial themes that could easily be misinterpreted. 
I really liked the way Picoult handled this subjects, it was thoughtful and thought-provoking. And yet, it never really hits you as hard as you expect the subjects to be. 
The book is told in a reverse timeline, so you are aware of how things end up before they develop.
 I really wanted to love this book and yet it seems it never does enough. I think the reverse timeline, although an interesting technique does not help in the storytelling. it lessens the impact of the circumstances because you are already aware of them when they are been executed. That plus a lackluster ending did this book no justice like it deserved. 
Interesting read, but expected more.

"The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Small Great Things returns with a powerful and provocative new novel about ordinary lives that intersect during a heart-stopping crisis.  The warm fall day starts like any other at the 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 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. Apro-lifeprotester disguised as a patient, who now stands in the cross hairs 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.  Jodi Picoult one of the most fearless writers of our time 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 Lightwill inspire debate, conversation. and, hopefully, understanding"--

"The warm fall day starts like any other at the 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 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 cross hairs 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. Jodi Picoult--one of the most fearless writers of our time--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 is a story that will inspire debate, conversation . . . and, hopefully, understanding"--

a novel

A spark of light

Melissa Palmer

Book #73 Read in 2018
A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

Picoult is one of my favorite authors and this book keeps her safely in that category. A shooter opens fire in an abortion clinic. This book goes backwards in time, hour by hour, leading up to the events. Readers will learn the background of the multiple characters and what brought them to that fateful shooting. There are twists and turns that will surprise readers. As usual, Picoult has done her research and is able to show multiple sides to a heavy issue. A must read. I received this book from Amazon Vine in exchange for a honest review.

Lauren Grey

It only took me eight months, but I finally finished. I am a huge fan of Jodi Picoult, but I did not enjoy this book... at all. I obviously knew what the book was about and I thought that enough time had passed between starting this book and my own miscarriage, but I was wrong. Normally Picoult’s books are very equal, showcasing each side of the issue unbiased, but I felt this book was overwhelmingly democratic and pro-choice. I couldn’t relate to any of the characters - even characters I thought represented pro-life ended up being twisted - and the characters that did represent pro-life were crazed and religion was very skewed. That aspect made me very disappointed. The book is graphic in describing the abortion process and made me sick to my stomach. It even described the process of my induced miscarriage and it was extremely triggering. The backwards format of the story was confusing and hard to follow. I didn’t feel like there was much resolution to the story at all - not that it mattered since I didn’t care about any of the characters. I would have preferred a whole book on Beth’s story - what happened and then the legal ramifications she faces. And the two twists - one was so obvious, I guessed it after a few chapters and the other was shocking (wish I had some more back story there). But overall, I was less than impressed with this book.

Bessie Small

The structure was interesting (the story being told in reverse) but was anticlimactic. It was also extremely predictable.

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Small Great Things returns with a provocative, masterfully written new novel.

Stop making trauma porn about mass shootings

Jk Jensen

** spoiler alert **
           The reverse-order format is executed practically flawlessly and Picoult’s characters, as always, draw you in. The reveal toward the end was less shocking than her other work, but it was a fun, thoughtfully researched story.

Caitlin Snyder

3.5
(+) I really enjoyed the perspectives of the different people in the story. 

(-) The plot was not as well done as other of Picoult's novels and I didn't love the format of this one.

Karen Shimek

3.5 stars rounded up. I struggled with the backwards chronology.

Tiffany Robinson

First off I didnt like that the story went backwards, I thought it didnt give it any drama since I felt like I knew everything that was going to happen. Also I thought there were way to many narrators and a lot of them sounded the same. I thought it would have been a great story if it was done better.

Kate Gravelle

Good book but not her best. It was more one sided then usual and I didn’t care for the flow of the book which was going back in time hour by hour but the actual chapter moved forward.

Lori Keenom

Didn’t like the way the book started from the end and was told backwards. Made it hard to connect with its characters.

Daniela Pereira

Enjoyed reading it but the timeline wasn’t really enjoyable. I didn’t skip to the end because I’m stubborn and wouldn’t allow myself to not read a whole book, but it didn’t quite do it for me. 
I think it’s an important book and full of great points regarding pro-choice/pro-life but I felt I couldn’t really connect to anyone, and since it left so many questions unaswered/open endings… I feel betrayed. Why did I finish reading it if I got nothing out of this book?
The author’s notes are good, so stick around for the end just to read those.

Kelsey Laird

3.5⭐️
I really think Jodi brought across as amazing message about abortion, sexism and religion in this book.
However I just don’t like books that are read reverse chronologically😅 Apparently there were originally 16 main characters - I’m glad she brought it down to about 10 but it was still a lot and that many different storylines along with a backwards timeline was a lot🙃

I really think Jodi brought across as amazing message about abortion, sexism and religion in this book.
However I just don’t like books that are read reverse chronologically😅 Apparently there were originally 16 main characters - I’m glad she brought it down to about 10 but it was still a lot and that many different storylines along with a backwards timeline was a lot🙃

A Spark of Light A Novel