A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb
A Certain Slant of Light is a supernatural romance story. Helen is a ghost who’s haunted a series of hosts. She cannot interact with her hosts or the human world but her only other option is a cold and icy hell. She is in the classroom of Mr. Brown, her high school teacher host when she feels someone looking at her. It is James, a human boy. What follows is a search for both of their pasts and a way for them to be together.
Overall, I liked this book though I do think it definitely had its flaws. The characters seemed a little flat. Perhaps because a large part of the story is them finding out who they are but they simply didn’t jump off the page for me. They seemed contrived, simply doing what the author needed them to do rather than what would be logical.
The pacing was awkward. At times, I couldn’t put it down and at others I felt as if I were just plodding through, counting pages to see when I would be done which is never a good sign.
The writing could be lyrical and poetic but that was only when it wanted to be. At other times, it was simple and plain language. I began to feel almost as if I were reading two separate books.
And now you’re probably asking what I found to be likable about this book. I liked the first few pages and the descriptions of Helen’s previous hosts. I thought her feelings regarding Mr. Brown and his wife were really interesting and, strangely, realistic (with her being a ghost and everything).
While this had its good and I had a good time reading it, I really just felt like it was a little average and a little uneven.
Final: C+
