Reviews

Une étincelle de vie by Jodi Picoult

dinky19818'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
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This is an emotional, thought-provoking read. It includes moral dilemmas that make you consider both sides of the characters' choices.  The story is set in reverse time, which I found confusing at first, but I soon understood.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Medical content, Abortion, and Injury/Injury detail

juliaxgulia's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative medium-paced

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

4.75

What a well-researched book on a timely topic. This book had me hooked from the start and I couldn’t put the book down. While much of the ending could be predicted, there was one twist I couldn’t see coming. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and War

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Vomit, Alcohol, and Classism

magspie's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? N/A

5.0

Wow. Such a politically charged topic, but Judy Picoult gracefully discusses the perspectives, and how they could be commonly developed.
Decreasing access to legal abortions decreases the rate of safe abortions.

kmulhollen55's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

thepageturners's review against another edition

4.0

Choice

Not an easy read. A reflection of now and a snapshot of then. Not a question of sides - a question of choice.

m_schnoor's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad tense medium-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

3.75

brihaji'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

chrissydh76's review against another edition

4.0

Jodi Picoult isn't afraid to take on controversial subjects, and this time she's taken on the biggest one of all: abortion. A good author makes you see multiple viewpoints, even ones that aren't your own, and makes them relatable. The author does a really remarkable job of that here. She hits all the key players: a young woman getting birth control for the first time, a person who just had an abortion, one who was trying to decide if she SHOULD have one, a minor charged with manslaughter for having one, an abortion doctor, and two pro-life people. She tells the story from all of their viewpoints (and more) and I found myself understanding every single one of them, even if I didn't agree with everyone's actions. So I'll say this: no matter your stance on abortion, I highly recommend this book. We might not all ever agree on the subject, but at least we can listen to each other.

pamnosorio's review against another edition

3.0

I didn’t love this book as much as I though I would. Jodi Piccoult always does a great job with telling stories with difficult topics/themes. She always writes beautifully and you can always find meaningful quotes. I absolutely loved Small Great Things! But this book wasn’t as good. I felt that what threw this book off for me was it’s structure. The story is told within several hours backward in time. I wasn’t a fan of this and I thought it was a bit confusing.

sarahloubooks's review against another edition

5.0

I really enjoyed this book and I thought it was so well written and researched. Whilst clearly pro-choice on the abortion debate it gave clear arguments for both sides. Particularly interesting for me as an English person where whilst still a taboo subject, abortion attitudes are very different. Well written and I even enjoyed the way the story was told in reverse.