A Spark of Light by Jodi Piccoult - four stars

[Amy]

I am a big fan of her work. Undoubtedly, her talent gets me every time. The way she will take a very difficult issue and explore it from many sides in depth, and from multiple points of view is her trademark. Speaking from multiple narratives is how she writes, incorporated in a very complex highly charged situation. This one, is about abortion, and the scene is set at a clinic being held hostage. At the center of the drama, is a young 15 year old girl Wren, and her single Dad is the hostage negotiator.

I liked this one (charged topic aside) and got very wrapped up in the characters and the story. I think its important that authors grow themselves and try new things. Or different things. In this one, as she has done in just a few other books I believe, possibly not, she writes in the third person. Instead of having the narrations take points of view that the characters speak from, she seamlessly speaks for them. I thought that worked well in this book. She also writes the story backwards in time, which I appreciated, but don’t generally love as a rule. Lots of people don’t mind the construction of this kind of writing, or jumping around in time. I liked it for this story, but that’s never my preference. I don’t love jumping around in time, and always prefer a more linear feel. But I applaud her. Authors need to try new things and tell their stories in a way that engages them and keeps it fresh. I did think the story was very good – and very her.

[~*Kim*~]

I've been wanting to read this one. Picoult is my favorite author. I haven't read anything by her in a while, though.