Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

15 reviews

bellaroseh's review against another edition

informative reflective tense slow-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? No

3.5

Picoult finds a way to turn real world issues into fictional stories that you want to read and yet find yourself learning so much from. The unconventional writing style takes a bit of getting used to but is overall really well done.

It's sad that since this book was published, women's rights have further been challenged in America. Comments in the book like "as long as Roe v Wade stands..." are a reminder of how times have changed in the short time since 2018. 

I think Picoult effectively considers multiple arguments and points of view from the controversial pro-life / pro-choice movements. She also addresses intertwined issues such as race, poverty and gun violence. Picoult writes based on research, making you consider the issues facing society in America and globally. 

The book is quite slow paced which I at times found difficult to engage with. That being said, the differing perspectives of individually explored characters helped guide the story. I enjoyed how the final two paragraphs brought together some of the characters, giving them a wider context; as well as providing a conclusion to the overriding plot  - which was beginning to feel neglected in latter chapters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Mass/school shootings, and Rape

Moderate: Blood and Vomit

Minor: Cancer and Miscarriage

booksinreallife's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

This was a rough read for me. It took me awhile to finish and I almost DNFed it a few times. It’s told backward in time which I wasn’t a huge fan of. It also had my two book triggers which made it difficult for me to read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer and Animal death

ozias's review

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

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

2.75

One of the most disappointing Picoult books I've read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma and Abortion

Moderate: Cancer, Religious bigotry, and Gun violence

brynhayes's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Kidnapping, Murder, Racism, Violence, Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Cancer, Infidelity, Blood, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Rape, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Confinement, Death, and Gore

hollybearhouck's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective tense fast-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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion

Moderate: Pregnancy, Abortion, and Gun violence

Minor: Cancer, Adult/minor relationship, Racial slurs, Child abuse, and Suicide

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: Abortion and Gun violence

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Cancer

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, Pregnancy, Abortion, Blood, Grief, and Hate crime

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

brookey8888's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.5

I really enjoyed this! It did start off slow, but I got into it when I started to learn and care about the characters. I really liked the topics did and how they were discussed. I learned a lot. I do wish that this was told a different way. I wish it was from start to Finish not kind of the finish to the start and then the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Gore, Terminal illness, Blood, Cancer, Cursing, Sexism, Self harm, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Abortion, Death, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Miscarriage, Religious bigotry, Violence, Physical abuse, and Vomit

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

rosalind's review against another edition

emotional informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Confinement, Death, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Domestic abuse, Lesbophobia, Classism, and Cancer