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A Certain Slant of Light | 
| Author: Laura Whitcomb
Publisher: Graphia
Category: Book
List Price: $8.99
Buy Used: $2.69
You Save: $6.30 (70%)
New (39) Used (48) from $2.69
Avg. Customer Rating:  99 reviews
Sales Rank: 7215
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.9
ISBN: 061858532X
EAN: 9780618585328
ASIN: 061858532X
Publication Date: September 21, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: GOOD USED copy. NO MARKS INSIDE. BINDING TIGHT.
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
In the class of the high school English teacher she has been haunting, Helen feels them: for the first time in 130 years, human eyes are looking at her. They belong to a boy, a boy who has not seemed remarkable until now. And Helen?terrified, but intrigued?is drawn to him. The fact that he is in a body and she is not presents this unlikely couple with their first challenge. But as the lovers struggle to find a way to be together, they begin to discover the secrets of their former lives and of the young people they come to possess.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 94 more reviews...
 A wonderfully different and captivating story January 6, 2009
I've been looking for books that are not only different from most things currently on the market, but that are also captivating and impossible to put down. A Certain Slant of Light fits the bill perfectly. I don't want to give the book away to people that haven't read it, so, in a nut shell, the book is well thought through, current in it's desriptions of teens and the wide variety of lives they lead, and perfectly suspenseful- because you never know what's really going to happen next... and as soon as you think you've got it figured out, it smacks you with something totally different. In truth, the book didn't end anywhere NEAR the way I thought it would, and I'm glad for that... in a way... = ) The ending was still wonderful. I would highly recommend this book.
 Ghostly Love January 4, 2009
I love a good ghost story, and for my money, 'A Certain Slant of Light' is a very good ghost story indeed. The difference in this story is that it's not told from the perspective of the haunted and frightened, nor even by the one sent to hunt the ghost and get rid of it. This story is told by the ghost herself.br /br /When we first meet the main character, her spirit has been haunting a high school English teacher for some time, feeling slightly jealous when his wife gets affectionate, and frustrated at her apparent inability to inspire him to complete the novel he's been writing. Frustrated, in fact, at how little influence she has over the world around her. She can barely affect anything except with strong emotions, and even then it is little more than a flicker. She hasn't actually talkied to another soul, living or dead, since her own death over 100 years ago.br /br /Until the day that someone -- a human boy apparently -- sees her. From this day on, her world changes irrevocably.br /br /What follows is a love story. As with all good love stories, the pair of lovers must overcome difficulties to be together. There is the usual: restrictive families, age differences, different perspectives on things. And the unusual: the fact that the lovers must overcome the restrictions of her ghostly status.br /br /My 13-year-old daughter read 'A Certain Slant of Light' and said it was good, but depressing. Having now finished it myself, I would agree with that, but add that it's a sad story only because there is an edge of realism to it. The idea is fantastic and not quite of the real world, but the characters are well-drawn and the situations among the living are quite believable, which grounds the story and gives it a sense of reality. It is a story well-told...but not always a happy one.br /br /I think the unique perspective of 'A Certain Slant of Light' is what makes it such a good story. The characters have something to say, and maybe if you pay attention, you'll hear the sound of a ghost, whispering in your ear her wisdom.br /br /Just try to listen...and to see.
Hauntingly Pretty January 4, 2009
This was a pleasant surprise as it was a recommended reading from amazon.com. It was written well... stronger and more concise than Stephenie Meyer's work (the reason this book was recommended). The characters were interesting and believable, the story line was suspenseful in a subtle way. The only criticism is mild an only really a criticism if your uptight and don't understand the story, but due to the brief sexual content it is not really suitable for kids under the age of 15 or 16. But to each, your own. br /Overall, its a great book and I read the ending twice!
Why does 'Twilight' get all the glory? December 30, 2008
In reading this book, I was both utterly compelled by the story, the style, the character development and the carefully paced mystery, and repulsed by the sad fact that this little work will languish on library shelves while 'Twilight' and all its clones march over the world like armies of mediocrity. This author should feel pride that she has created such an excellent work. At first I was wary of the old-fashioned tone her spectral heroine had - I was afraid I wouldn't be drawn in, but held at arm's length - but soon enough I found that wasn't the case at all. She has wonderfully balanced her three worlds: the now, the previous century that Helen inhabited, and the war James fought in, so that all the different times are woven together seamlessly. I sincerely commend this book and want to add that just because it doesn't have a bunch of sequels trailing after it, or a movie deal, doesn't mean it isn't worth your time.
 Mixed Feelings December 30, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Before reading this book I had never read a book with ghosts as the main characters. I was intrigued by the authors view of life, for some people, after death. Her style of writing was very poetic and it is obvious she has a love for literature and poetry. The story progressed well and was cause for curiosity. I thought it out of place for a young adult book to have such vividly described sex scenes. Usually I base a books worth on whether I feel right about placing it on my shelf someday for my children to read. I would never want them to read this for the pure and simple fact that I don't think it age appropriate, nor content anyone should be filling their minds with. Also it has to be said, I didn't like the portrayal of Christians in the book. It is not because I am a Christian that I say this, but because I don't like it in books or movies when people deem it right to make their audience feel that all Christians are that way. We all are hypocrites at one time or another, myself not excluded. I can understand writing about a Christian who is fake, but portraying us all as perfect little robots who never do anything wrong, don't tolerate sin ever, and pretend to lead a life of righteousness is wrong in my opinion. Sin is wrong, we are to hate the sin, but love the sinner, not to ostracize and create an outcast of ourselves.br / I was happy with the ending, in that it gave you hope for the future. I will be interested to see what the author's future stories have in store.
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