Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

21 reviews

waybeyondblue's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, Blood, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Incest and Rape

jessicakarem's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Abortion

Moderate: Sexual assault

hgallagher's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Abortion

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Cancer

juliaathomsonnn's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Timeline moves in a very confusing way at first (backwards)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Abortion, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual assault, Medical content, and Pregnancy

libt11's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Blood, Grief, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Cancer, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, and Religious bigotry

eandrews80's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

I was about halfway through this book when Politico leaked the draft of the SCOTUS decision striking down Roe v. Wade.  Knowing that women's bodily autonomy is in further jeopardy made this an even more harrowing and emotional read.  

I mostly have good things to say about this novel.  It's clear that Picoult is staunchly pro-choice, but she includes pro-life characters and opinions in a nuanced and respectful way.  She also examines the topic of abortion from multiple angles: emotional, religious, societal, financial, medical.  I really loved many of the characters in this book, and there are a couple of really good twists at the end that I did NOT see coming.

My one critique is that the action unfolds backwards.  The beginning of the book is the end of the hostage situation, and while there are a few surprises left until the end, you move backwards in time and learn about how the characters came to be in the situation.  While the character development is excellent, there's something hugely anti-climactic about knowing the outcome of everyone's story right away, then having to live through all the details for 300 pages.  I wish it had been written chronologically.  That said, a small complaint about an otherwise thoughtful and gripping story.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion

Moderate: Sexual assault

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Even with the weird plot structure that kept confusing me (the book is written backward), I can’t discredit the way Jodi tells a story. The social commentary, the unexpected plot twist, the dissection of the human experience, and the understanding that everything is complex. This is a story about women. Their choices, their secrets, their battles, their love. Another stellar Picoult novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

gabbyreynolds's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, and Abortion

Moderate: Sexual assault

haz19's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Abortion, and Murder

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child death, Incest, Miscarriage, Self harm, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

blueskies157's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Incest, Vomit, and Death of parent