A Certain Slant of Light - Books (Laura Whitcomb, Paperback)

For full product details, view this product on Amazon.

Customer Reviews of A Certain Slant of Light

scaughie
Scotland
30th November 2008

Good, with a few gaping holes.
I admit, I'm bemused by this book. On one hand, I wanted to slap down five stars because it was so very compelling - I read it in two days, which is no mean feat when you're the working mother of two small children! But at the same time, while reading I kept having moments of, 'Hold on, that's just too implausible, even for a book about body-hopping ghosts.'

I think - at the risk of sounding flippant - that this book suffers for being the author's first novel. If it hadn't been, I suspect many of the things in it that struck me as rushed, superfluous or confused wouldn't have been there. I also think that the chosen (or assigned?) genre ended up being a detriment: yes, it's set in a high school, but the themes are very much adult ones. And no, I don't mean the sex, but rather the motivating factors of the main characters: a mother's love, a soldier's guilt, a loveless marriage, the regret of those approaching middle-age. I have to wonder what this novel might have been if those themes had been allowed the more generous time and space, the greater depth of an 'adult' novel?

Likewise I was annoyed by the ending, which tried to cram far too much into too tight a space, much of it frankly ridiculous. (Spoilers following!) I could just about buy Jenny's pregnancy, though it seemed a bit gratuitous, but the idea of Helen being able to feel the movement of a three-day-old fetus was absurd. Likewise the sleeping pills: seeing as Helen was already dead, what was ODing going to accomplish other than further devastating Jenny's ruptured family? And Billy came over as far too mature and together in the final scenes, given his past and how little information he had to go on.

I guess the fact that I've written this much about it must say something to the book's credit. It's certainly compulsive reading, and very well written. In the end, though, I just wanted it to ring a bit more true.

Lauren Davidson
UK
25th August 2008

breathe taking and spine tingling
I found this book thanks to Amazon and once i opened that first page i was hooked, i couldnt stop reading this book til the end it is a profound book (to me) it blew me away the whole idea of two ghosts 'light' falling in love and finding bodies was perfect but the way their relationship was the love they had the bond they had because they were the only two alike was brilliant. The whole god idea too, them not being let into heaven because they had done something bad was good too and getting to the end and finding out what they had done was chair gripping. Also at the end i was in tears how they had lost each other only to find themselves in heaven together again and even though it doesnt actually say Jenny and Billy get together im thinking they do and they also live happily ever after (cos im a sucker for a fairytale ending)and as so as i had shut the book i emidiately wanted to flip back to the begginging and start all over again.

If you are looking for a book that will have you chewing your own lip then buy this it is a life realising book (at least it was for me) and i will never forget this book and i doubt you will either. Buy it, buy it now you wont regret it

XXxxXX

N. Peterson
Isle of Man, UK
18th August 2008

beautifully written, wonderfully thoughtful with an inspired ending
Captivating and engaging, the story grabs readers from the very first page. It goes as follows; Helen, a ghost, "attaches" herself to human hosts to avoid the grave and the painful and frightening torments that go with it. The author leads readers to think she has been subjected to some sort of divine punishment for some misdeed in her life. Although her hosts are unaware of her presence, she has love for them and try's to help each one throughout their human lives. When she realises a human hears and sees her she is shocked - and at first, understandably, frightened. From that point readers are captivated by a story filled with passion, hope, understanding and finally enlightenment. It is a special book with an ending that not only gives peace to the characters; it subtly explains that we humans are our own judges and condemners'. Atonement and forgiveness is ours to grant to ourselves and once done, happilly ever after follows. Buy this book.

socksandsandals
UK
4th August 2008

Mixed view
I bought this book because of the reviews that I read about it on Amazon. I have to say the cover is fantastic and were I to see this book in a book shop I am sure that I would have been drawn to it. Having read this book I have mixed views about it, don't get me wrong I liked it, in fact I couldn't put it down once I had picked it up and read it through in one sitting, but I didn't like the way that the characters jumped from one place to another without even a start of a new chapter, or even a new paragraph at times. It's not the best written book I have ever read but then again I don't often feel the urge to read a book in one sitting.

N. Shaw
UK
11th July 2008

A Certain Slant of Light - Laura Whitcomb
This book is, in short, beautiful. I loved every part of it, and the worst thing about it is that it simply isn't long enough. It's a quick read, but wonderfully written.
I loved the main characters, James and Helen and how they interact with a world that is not their own. Whitcomb is incredibly exploring in our contemporary families and modern viewpoints, and as she allows James and Helen to explore, I found myself more attached to them.
It's a really beautiful book; a romance/fantasy and I urge you to read it.