Always provocative subject matters, this novel provides good insight into the issue using her 'what if this was me, or my kid' method.

As usual Jodi Picoult takes a very difficult subject and twists and turns it so you can get several different perspectives. I appreciate all the research she puts into her books as well and the experts she consults. This story was told in a reverse timeline with the end of the day at the beginning and the book working backwards. I didn’t enjoy this aspect of the book. It was much harder to keep track of and I feel like it kept me from really “bonding” with any of the characters. And there were many characters. There wasn’t much suspense or wondering what was going to happen in this book. It just fell a little short to me which was so disappointing because I think this is a really important topic.

Jodi Picoult's unerring sense of timely topics is displayed once again in A Spark of Light, a story of the emotionally fraught topic of abortion rights.

Hostage negotiator Hugh McElroy is called to the scene of a shooting at a women's health center, which is the sole provider of abortions in the state. The shooter is inside with an unknown number of hostages, both staff and patients. Also inside, unbeknownst to Hugh, is his teenage daughter Wren, and his sister Bex. Protocol would say that Hugh should turn over the negotiation to someone else, but he can't, determine to save his daughter and find out why she is there.

Chapter by chapter we piece together the lives of the shooter and the hostages, and why they are intersecting now, and in this place. The hostages are an interesting group: the abortion doctor who feels called to providing the service to women in need; the pro-life protester who is trying to get dirt on the center to close them down, but has dirty secrets of her own; the nurse who literally saves lives; and a patient who has come for an abortion. And why is the shooter there? What has happened to him or someone he loves to feel that taking a lot of lives makes sense for a man who views abortion as anathema because it takes a life?

Picoult does her usual excellent job of researching all sides of the issue of abortion rights. Her characters are sensitively drawn, there is no preaching, and the data about the state of the right to choose in some states is stunning, and real. A Spark of Light is a wonderful read, right up there with My Sister's Keeper (my favorite of her books) and Small Great Things. Don't miss this latest book!

Jodi Picoult's new novel is a difficult read, but she does give both sides of the story. A gunman walks in to a woman's clinic and begins shooting people he thinks did wrong by his family. The novel works backward in time so you get everyone's FULL story about why they are there, what they will do in this situation and their backstories in life. I honestly wasn't sure I wanted to finish the book, but Jodi Picoult is such an amazing writer that I did feel vested in each of her characters and I wanted to help each and every one of them....

Jodi Piccoult has always been one of my favorite authors, so I was thrilled to have the chance to review an ARC of this book. As expected, she didn’t disappoint.

Piccoult often tackles difficult topics. In this case, it centers around a man who takes hostages at a medical clinic that also performs abortions, and some people are shot. The story is told in multiple viewpoints (the shooter, some of the hostages, and the hostage negotiator, whose daughter happens to be one of the hostages). Unlike most of her stories, Piccoult chose to tell this one with a reverse timeline (which was a bit confusing at times. It definitely wasn’t my preference, but by the end, the reader can trace things back and see how each character came to be where they were on that fateful day.). Her characters are realistic and crafted in a way to clearly demonstrate the complexities of abortion, a highly controversial topic. In doing so, she has created a thought-provoking novel.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

Opening lines: 5pm. The center squatted on the corner of Juniper and Montfort behind a wrought-iron gate, like an old bulldog used to guarding its territory. At one point, there had been many like it in Mississippi—nondescript, unassuming buildings where services were provided and needs were met. Then came the restrictions that were designed to make these places go away: the halls had to be wide enough to accommodate two passing gurneys; any clinic where that wasn't the case had to shut down or spend thousands on reconstruction. The doctors had to have admitting privileges at local hospitals—even though most were from out of state and couldn't secure them—or the clinics where they practiced risked closing, too. One by one the clinics shuttered their windows and boarded up their doors. Now, the Center was a unicorn - a small rectangle of structure painted a fluorescent, flagrant orange, like a flag to those who had traveled hundreds of miles to find it. It was the color of safety; the color of warning. It said: I'm here if you need me. It said, Do what you want to me; I'm not going.
Reason I picked up the book: I'm a huge Jodi Picoult fan so I was super excited to snag at NetGalley copy of this a few months before its release date.
And what's this book about?
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 will inspire debate, conversation . . . and, hopefully, understanding.
Recommended for: Anyone who enjoys books, pretty much. Fans of Picoult's previous books will enjoy it. It's also very timely considering our country's current position on birth control and abortions.
Favorite paragraph: The point of establishing a relationship with a hostage taker was to make sure that you were the only source of information, and to give you the time to find out critical information of your own. What kind of hostage taker were you facing? What had precipitated the standoff, the shoot-out, the point of no return? You might start trying to build a relationship with innocuous conversation about sports, weather, TV. You'd gradually find out his likes and dislikes, what mattered to him. Did he love his kids? His wife? His mom? Why?

If you could find the why, you could determine what could be done to disarm the situation.
Something to know: The chronology goes backwards, which is a little hard to comprehend at first. However, we still learn about the characters, but by going backwards in the story line, if that makes sense.
What I would have changed: I wasn't a huge fan of the backwards chronology. I still enjoyed the book but a little less than others I have read by her. However—SEMI-SPOILER—there's a big twist at the end which I did not see coming, which was interesting.
Overall rating: 3.5 stars out of 5.
Where can I find this book? Click here to purchase on Amazon - this book will be in stores and online on October 2, 2018.

Spark of Light
Jodi Picoult
Ballantine Books
9780345544988


A riveting story takes us through the events of a day, really just ten hours. Jodi Picoult begins the book close to the end of the story. The book continues in reverse order and the epilogue brings us back to the finish of the day’s drama. The sharing of the story from evening back through the start of the day really enhanced the story for me. I felt as though I was being pulled deeper and deeper into the lives of the characters. I wanted to keep learning about each of them and how they came to be in the Center. The primary setting is a women’s health center in a small Mississippi town.

Without giving away too much of the story, an angry gun wielding man takes hostages at a care center with unfortunate results. Hostages and shooting victims include the daughter of a police lieutenant who becomes a negotiator before learning who is at risk as hostages.There are many twists and turns in the narrative and most lingering questions are clarified by the last chapter. But, there are no easy answers

When I got to the end of the book, I did go back and reread the first chapter, just to clarify and be sure I understood what finally happened. Now I’m pondering the what next for each character….

This would be an ideal book group choice leading to great conversations about important and current life topics. I really appreciate the opportunity to read this book and can’t wait to encourage others to add it to their reading stash.

This book opens with a hostage situation at an abortion clinic. The book then goes back to examine the lives of the characters and explain how and why they were at the clinic. I felt like the author did a good job presenting both sides of the abortion issue without pushing for either point of view. The story was well done and thought provoking. I do wish we had learned about how the characters were doing after the hostage situation was over. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy of this book.

A difficult, controversial topic is explored in a way that will make you think. Told primarily in reverse chronological order this story explores what brought each person, from gunman to nurse to patient to protester, to the hostage situation at a woman's clinic that performs abortions. This is a story that will remain with you long after the last page is read.

Picoult puts a human face on the battle for reproductive rights. While clearly pro-choice, the book describes a late term abortion which adds weight to the arguments against. Reading this should trigger iconversations ...most likely the author's objective.

Jodi Picoult is a master at storytelling and in this novel and starts at the end and ends at the beginning, she does it again. Although the topic of a shooter in the clinic is a touchy one in this day of mass shootings in schools, public events, and on the streets. Picoult's books are worth the wait.

As usual, Jodi Picoult never fails to write interesting and thought provoking stories. This one in particular is a very sensitive drama of a pregnant woman's rights.

Excellent story base with tremendous insight into relationships.
Definitely stays with you long after the book is finished.

I'm a Jodi Picoult follower and again she doesn't disappoint in her latest release, " A Spark of Light". With all of Ms. Picoult's books i begin to understand and/or question the issue at hand. I've often gone on "searches" to learn more. Abortion, birth control, the laws governing such things has brought me back to a curiosity on this topic more so than before reading her book. It was insightful and well written.

A Spark of Light could be Jodi’s most controversial book to date, and you better make sure your seatbelts are fastened. It’s a fast paced, breathtaking read. There is a crisis at the only womens health center in the state of Mississippi, a gunman has walked in, and opened fire, taking hostages and leaving destruction in his wake. Starting at the end of the day, and going backwards, the reader is treated to quite a few twists and turns. Jodi puts the reader right smack dab in the middle of the action and doesn’t let go until the last page. While the format was hard for me to wrap my head around, she did a really good job with it. I didn't feel like there were any loose ends that needed to be tied up, and each chapter ended smoothly, fitting in with the next chapter seamlessly.

Both sides of the abortion debate are represented in the story. It doesn’t matter where your views fall on the topic, you can bond with these characters. Her characters were so real, I felt that each of their struggles were my own. As with all of Jodi's books my emotions ran the gamut multiple times. I laughed, I cried, I wanted to chuck it into the nearest lake, and to me, that is the mark of a fantastic book.

It’s absolutely clear how much research went into making this book. Her narrative is incredibly well spoken and thought provoking without favoring one side or the other.

This book should be required reading.

Warning: there are a few graphic rape scenes and what could be considered medical gore

In true Jodie fashion she lets the reader learn all about the topic through the characters. No matter how you feel about abortion you can find characters in this book to relate too. This book was a little difficult to follow because of the way it was written but as always it has a twist at the end.

Enjoyed how Picoult unraveled the story. This was not my favorite of hers, but a good read.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the book.

I'm an unabashed Jodi Picoult fan. I've read all of her books and have found them "un-put-downable". This one is no different. As with most of her books, this one takes its premise from the headlines -- the takeover of a women's health clinic that provides abortions. And, as expected, the story is filled with memorable characters that the reader quickly begins to care about. I find this Picoult's strong suit -- characters that are believable and worthy of our empathy. Drop them in a crisis situation and the reader is hooked. Yes, there's a fairly heavy-handed message about respect for differing opinions, but the story is so strong it compensates for the moments of "preaching".

I did have one issue with the structure of this book at first. The story is told in reverse time order -- beginning almost at the end and then each successive section is set one hour prior throughout the day. This was a bit disconcerting and confusing at first, but once the characters solidified in my mind I found the style intriguing. By the end, the complete stories are told and the structure makes sense. The story would not have had the impact had it been told sequentially.

Picoult is an amazing storyteller. This is not her best, in my opinion, but it's certainly a great read and a compelling story.

A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult is a wonderful stirring novel. It describes the difficult choices women face when dealing with an unwanted pregnancy. It shows the anger they are exposed to when confronted by those who feel abortion is immoral and compares it to killing an actual child. There are heros and villians in the story as well. This is a book everyone should read today.

It's a day like any other at the Center—the last abortion clinic to remain open in the state of Mississippi—until a man with a concealed weapon gains entry to the clinic and starts shooting. In the aftermath, the dead lay where they fell, and the remaining occupants of the clinic (some of whom are wounded) are held hostage. Hugh McElroy is the hostage negotiator on the scene, but this isn't like other hostage situations he's been involved in: this time, his own daughter is one of the hostages trapped inside.

Abortion has been a hot topic for decades, and the debates between the pro-choice and pro-life viewpoints never seem to end. A Spark of Light is a highly relevant piece of fiction, exploring both sides of this controversial topic with characters that represent their beliefs—and the actions they take as a result—with a firm conviction they are doing the right thing. The reason behind that conviction manifested more than once in ways that I found to be surprising and highly provocative (depending on the character in question), making the subtle, yet strong, point that things aren't always as they seem, especially when it comes to something so divisive as abortion.

The story starts at (almost) the end, working backwards in time the further you read along. Seems a bit strange, right? Trust me when I say that it works beautifully as a means of telling the story. I can't say why (spoilers and all that) but I found myself feeling greatly sympathetic to more than one unlikable character as I got closer to the beginning of the hostage situation. Not to mention, there is an explosive plot twist revealed near the end that floored me. I never saw it coming, and it made me reconsider everything I thought I knew about this particular character. It wasn't the only unexpected plot twist, but it was definitely the one that left me reeling in stunned disbelief after (something) was revealed.

Picoult's writing was absolutely fantastic throughout. I was impressed with the way she wrote about such a hotly-debated subject, without the novel ever seeming to side with one set of beliefs over the other. Instead, it was delicately balanced, representing both sides without judgement or bias. That's quite an accomplishment, given the subject.

I highly recommend this book. It's a fantastic novel that is both enjoyable and thought-provoking. In other words, literature at its finest.

I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Ballantine Books via Netgalley.

No matter what your opinions are on women's rights, pro-life, pro-choice, and Planned Parenthood, A Spark of Light is a must-read. Picoult has done what she does best; creating an intricate, well-researched storyline with a variety of voices throughout that will make readers consider their own opinions and how they came to be. When teenage Wren drags her aunt with her to get birth control pills from a clinic that does abortions, their lives change forever. The waiting room is a melting pot of people with stories and opinions; there's an undercover pro-lifer hoping to uncover some dirty information on the clinic and it's procedures, a religious doctor, a woman who just had a procedure done, a pregnant nurse, and several others. When a middle-aged man comes in, he enters alone and starts shooting; it became a hostage situation. To make matters worse, Wren's father is one of the local police who specializes in hostage negotiations. This novel is timed like an episode of Kiefer Sutherland's "24", with each chapter a different hour of the day. This bestseller should not be missed.