The characters in Whitcomb’s novel live in two separate planes of existence. There are ghosts, also called “the light” and the living, known as “the quick.” Members of the light inhabit the world of the quick, but the quick are, for the most part, totally unaware of their presence.
The Ghosts: Helen and James
Helen knows very little about where she came from or how she died. Over one-hundred years ago, shortly after her death, she became attached to her first host a female poet. Readers might recognize her as one of the most well-known American poets and the title of the novel is in fact taken from one of her works. After the death of her first host, Helen continues to haunt literary figures: playwrights, novelists and finally Mr. Brown, a high-school English teacher.
Helen meets James in Mr. Brown’s English class. He is a ghost who has been dead since the First World War. Since his death, James has found a way to inhabit the body of a member of the quick. When he meets Helen, he seeks her companionship and tells Helen that she can in habit the body of a member of the quick if she finds another whose soul has left their body, essentially leaving the shell of the person behind.
The Living: Billy and Jenny
Billy is James’ host and before James took over his body he was a drug addict and a troublemaker. Jenny, unlike Billy, has a seemingly perfect life and family. In reality Jenny is imprisoned by her father's ideals and restrictions. Because of the trouble in their lives, both Jenny and Billy’s souls vacated their bodies leaving them lifeless and vacant. The problems that made Jenny and Billy abandon their lives come back to haunt Helen and James, making it more and more difficult for them to be together. As the romance progresses, both Helen and James begin to question their influence and the morality of their decision to inhabit their hosts.
The Morality of Possession in Slant of Light
There are many layers to Whitcomb's novel. At the base there is the love story between Helen and James. It is driven by the loneliness both have felt as ghosts for so many years. Beyond that, there is the question of the morality of what they have done to satisfy their desire for companionship. Is it right for them to take the place of another soul, even if that soul has given up on life?
As James and Helen struggle with their love, the lives of their "families" change, drastically affected by their actions. Billy, who was always a rebel and a troublemaker, becomes more compliant and studious. Jenny begins to question the ironclad rules of her family and pushes against the faith they try to bind her with. Both James and Helen provide a means for introspection as each family is forced to examine their flaws and take a closer look at their lives. The many plotlines are successfully interwoven to create a very poignant, rich and effective novel. Recommended for older teens and adults.
A Certain Slant of Light
Graphia/Houghton Mifflin
ISBN: 0618532X
288 pages
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