Reviews tagging 'Mass/school shootings'

A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

18 reviews

kzwally's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Abortion, Violence, Murder, and Mass/school shootings

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

avaa_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

the ending saved my review by .5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Gun violence, Murder, Pregnancy, Violence, Mass/school shootings, and Medical content

Moderate: Classism

Minor: Chronic illness and Death of parent

sophiegs's review

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion

Moderate: Mass/school shootings, Sexual assault, Rape, Pregnancy, and Murder

karyleighjoy's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, and Mass/school shootings

cmareads's review against another edition

emotional informative tense medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

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

ames424's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion, Mass/school shootings, and Gun violence

bookswithgeorgia's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, Hate crime, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Death, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

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

Moderate: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Medical content

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