A Spark of Light. Jodi Picoult. 2018. Ballatine Books. 384 pages. [Source: Public Library.]
It’s hard to temper your expectations when you know a book starts off with what many consider a worst-case scenario – a hostage situation at a women’s reproductive health care center. I came into this book bracing myself for the worst, but still clinging to hope that there could be a happily ever after … of sorts … for the characters. The book presents a great deal of tension, obviously. There is, of course, the suspense of wondering how the hostage situation will resolve and how many casualties will lie in its wake? But more than that, there’s the tension of a divisive topic – abortion rights — what perspectives will be presented, and how, if at all, that impacts the overall narrative.
This was my first foray into Picoult’s writing, and I have to say I was impressed. What became immediately apparent to me was how balanced her writing felt in the face of such a polarizing topic. I expected to read this book and just know I’d be able to pick out any pro-life or pro-choice leanings. I’m glad to say I couldn’t because it likely would have made this book feel disingenuous. And I think that’s important in a book like this. Picoult’s storytelling didn’t compel me to “pick a side” with regard to reproductive rights. Instead, I felt compelled to understand each character — what led them to be at The Center that day, what was at stake for them, and how that could change depending on the success of hostage negotiations. I read to understand, suspending my own beliefs about the topic, and I really credit that to the way Picoult wrote about each character, peeling away layers as you read backward in their day.
Certainly, some characters were easier to connect with than others. No character is without flaw, and Picoult managed to present them with care. I found myself empathizing with characters despite my thoughts on their choices. I felt that all of the stories were told, regardless of their apparent prominence in the book. There is also a subtle overlap in peripheral characters and how they influence people in The Center. It felt like reading something similar to “Crash” or “Babel,” with subtle connections made almost in passing. There are also
I will say that this book isn’t for the faint of heart, and it should have come with a disclaimer at how triggering it might be. There is a good deal of violence, which was something I expected given the setting. However, I didn’t expect the graphic depictions of the abortion medical procedure. Without having that warning, I felt a bit blind-sided by how detailed the author was. To her credit, Picoult’s presentation of this felt like it was presented not for shock value, but for readers to understand the facts about the abortion as a medical procedure. There is a level of care in how she told it from a doctor’s perspective that softened the intensity of the scene.
I believe this is a critical read for someone anyone who genuinely wants to understand the opposing views around reproductive health. A Spark of Light brings humanity to both sides of the argument and makes it less about rhetoric and more about the people involved – from patients to providers to bystanders.
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