A Certain Slant of Light

'That I am your heart's secret fills me with song. I wish I could sing of you here in my cage. You are my heart's hidden poem. I reread you, memorize you every moment we're apart.'

This was a real shocker for me that I enjoyed it as much as I did. For one, this has been on and off my TBR shelf several times as I would occasionally decide that this is simply not for me and I have no plans to read it. But go figure a few months later it pops up on my Goodreads timeline, I take another glance and decide it may be worth a shot. Thanks, Wendy, for giving me that final push. :)

I was actually quite touched by Helen and James' relationship/connection (at least I was once I overlooked their questionable acts). Helen had been Light (a spirit) for well over a century and not once spoke to anyone that entire time and had never quite realized how desperately she craved the company of another. Their feelings for each other were instantaneous yet it thankfully managed to not feel akin to every other insta-love situation these days in YA literature. Helen and James have their own special situation and instead of calling it insta-love I would consider it more of an extreme fascination with one another as they are the only ones of their 'species' as they called it.

I know that I should have been repelled by the whole concept of human's walking around 'empty' just ripe for the taking for deceased spirits. That their soul can be absent, drifted off to a new place, while their body remains living its life. It really was a creepy concept/possibility but what honestly scared me the most were Jenny's religious extremist parents. Before Helen came along, she watched Jenny for some time as she simply went through the motions of life without exuding any sort of emotion. Being so constricted by your family, being forced to obey and follow such rigid rules, and forcing their religion into every facet of your very being? Now that's scary.

This is one of those books where the writing truly took my breath away. It flowed so beautifully and was a real delight. I loved how she kept Helen's speech true to form considering she wasn't from this day and age. That type of extra little touch really helped make this a very special book.

This is a novel about love but it's mostly about learning to forgive yourself for the very reason Helen and James were still on Earth to find each other was because they hadn't relived their final moments in order to forgive themselves for the actions they made. This was a wonderful, mature, YA novel with hints of romance, paranormal, and learning to find peace.

'Your mind will never lose anything forever that's worth keeping.' ( )

A highly sensual, supernatural story of two spirits caught in purgatory. . . . Mesmerizing. I really loved this book! The details made it all believable. The character development was in depth and made the characters come to life on the paper. It was so compelling that I read in it one sitting.

The very first book I read from Laura Whitcomb and I was absolutely mesmerized. From the very first page, I was hooked and couldn't put it down. I am so glad I chose to read this because it's so darn good. Come on now, I can't lie about a good book. If a book's good, it's good. But this book is more than good: it's great, awesome, and magnificent. Pick up the book! What are you waiting for?

Laura Whitcomb is a great author. This book is perfect for teens and adults alike. The end is very touching. Great job Laura Whitcomb! ( )

I listened to the audio version, and it was lovely. I loved the narrators (I think her name is Lauren Melling) voice, the way her voice sounded like she was smiling sometimes. It really fit the wonder and joy in certain scenes. I loved the writing, it was so beautiful and lyrical. I loved the way Helen spoke so formally, still with the conventions of the age she lived.

I listened to the audio version, and it was lovely. I loved the narrators (I think her name is Lauren Melling) voice, the way her voice sounded like she was smiling sometimes. It really fit the wonder and joy in certain scenes. I loved the writing, it was so beautiful and lyrical. I loved the way Helen spoke so formally, still with the conventions of the age she lived.

To sum up my feelings right now:



Seriously. It's unlike any I've ever read, but that's not necessarily a good thing.

It started out just fine. Helen is a 130 year old ghost, cursed to haunt this earth for a reason she hides from herself. She clings to hosts, and it has taken her to different places, until the day she met another being like herself. You'd think that ghosts can see other ghosts, but, no, Helen has passed her time alone and unable to feel or talk to anyone.

This was an incredible and intriguing concept to me, and the reason I wanted to devour this book as soon as I can. Helen then meets James, a Light being like Helen herself, who had been haunting for years, alone, until he sees a boy, dying from a drug overdose, and took over his body.

Now, the first part was pretty alright. I loved how these two people, er, ghosts, met after long years of being alone and lonely, and fell in love. How can they not? If you really like stories where the two protagonists were "destined to meet", then I think you'll like this one.

Things spiraled out of control when we find out that the bodies that James and Helen eventually take over have troubled lives. It just seems that they can't be together as humans. There are all these conflicts. And then, there were the mysteries of Helen and James' past lives, and the reason they can't enter heaven. A lot was going on, and I felt like they didn't coalesce.


I really like endings where everything is tied up neatly, if not happily, and this one just felt...rushed. And it was definitely not tied up neatly. What about Mr Brown? His reputation was ruined. He'll eventually have to resign from teaching and move to another town, but his name will always be tainted by a crime that he didn't commit. Dammit. Give Mr Brown a little justice! urgh

Also, how is Jenny going to reconcile with the fact that she had sex without her knowing and remembering it?


In the end, I think this book didn't end up like what I expected it to be. The romance was not my cup of tea. I was shocked with how irresponsibly James and Helen used Billy and Jenny's bodies, and probably ruined the lives of those around them. But other concepts, like the idea of God and his reasons, and the idiocy of people who cling to religion, were points that I liked.

The romantic in me would give this 4 stars, but the rational part in me, which dominates, deduces one star because of how everything was handled quite callously.
( )