Spark

by Patricia Leavy

Professor Peyton Wilde has an enviable life teaching sociology at an idyllic liberal arts college--yet she is troubled by a sense of fading inspiration. One day an invitation arrives. Peyton has been selected to attend a luxurious all-expense-paid seminar in Iceland, where participants, billed as some of the greatest thinkers in the world, will be charged with answering one perplexing question. Meeting her diverse teammates--two neuroscientists, a philosopher, a dance teacher, a collage artist, and a farmer--Peyton wonders what she could ever have to contribute. The ensuing journey of discovery will transform the characters' work, their biases, and themselves. This suspenseful novel shows that the answers you seek can be found in the most unlikely places. It can be read for pleasure, is a great choice for book clubs, and can be used as unique and inspiring reading in qualitative research and other courses in education, sociology, social work, psychology, and communication.

Genres: Fiction

154 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2019

About the author

Patricia Leavy, Ph.D., is a bestselling author. She has published over fifty books, earning commercial and critical success in both fiction and nonfiction, and her work has been translated into many languages. Patricia has received over 100 book honors as well as career awards from the New England Sociological Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, and the National Art Education Association. In 2024 the London Arts-Based Research Centre established "The Patricia Leavy Award for Arts-Based Research." She lives in Maine with her family. Patricia loves writing, reading, watching films, and traveling. These days, she's focused on writing feel-good love stories.

Reviews

[Monika Sadowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Someday is always in the distance. Someday is dangerous. Be careful of someday.”

I am so glad that I read this novel. It is short but very inspiring. Doesn’t matter what field you are in; the book will affect you. Beside learning a lot of life lessons, I was on the edge till the end like in a good crime book :)

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update: This is still such a smart book. It can be a bit didactic at times, but the insight are worth it. This book came up in a conference workshop last year—I wonder if there are other ways to use a novel format for scholarly/academic purposes?

This was a smart and entertaining book that I will definitely return to. I’m kind of even considering assigning it to my research methods class.

[Ness · Rating 3 out of 5]

This text could have value for those who haven’t experienced interdisciplinary research. I could see it working out nicely in an undergraduate social science research class. As a social scientist from a family of artists, I can’t say that I experienced any grand awakenings as a result of this read. I found the characters stereotyped and shallow. The handling of race, class and gender dynamics was superficial enough to feel patronizing. The thing that bothered me most, however, was the text’s obsessive elevation of exclusive luxury, privilege, and lavish consumption of alcohol - none of which are the answer to any of modern humanity’s most difficult questions.

On the bright side, it’s short.

[Rees Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book and overall it was very cute, I enjoyed my time with it and the characters. I do feel it lacked a certain depth to it, feeling more movie-like than book-like in its framing. It’s perspective on interdisciplinary work and collaboration’s necessity to truly create I found very touching, utilizing disciplines/knowledges one may not find as useful to gain new perspective.

[Dési · Rating 3 out of 5]

so if in this in-universe harry potter existed, how come that not one character said, that the answer is 42 ?

[Shalen Lowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning, thought-provoking, and a true tour de force for creative and interdisciplinary research everywhere. Regardless of your field--neuroscience, literature, sociology, history, ecology, music--you will be inspired by this novel, and the ways in which we can unite our creative forces to make a difference in not only others' lives, but to change our own and challenge ourselves.

[Angel Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable, thoughtful book that enforces some life lessons we all can be reminded of. I sort of found this book by accident and am really glad I did. I definitely recommend it to anyone (plus the cover is really pretty, but that’s just an added bonus).

[Peaches · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited for this book that I got our university to purchase it. While I don’t regret the decision, I’m not sure my level of excitement was warranted. The premise is great: An academic who seems to have it all, but lacks inspiration, gets invited to some elite seminar in Iceland where people of different disciplines will come together. If you can get past the “boohoo I have a tenure-track job and can’t enjoy it” aspect (as a current lecturer, it was hard to get past), there are universal elements of finding fulfillment that readers will likely connect to.
Common elements included imposter syndrome, collaborative learning, research methods, qualitative vs. quantitative research, and so on. As a critical text, it would be great for discussions in graduate programs, which Leavy likely knew seeing as how she included discussion questions.
I did like the emphasis on finding your personal spark in your career/educational interests. So many educators rest on their laurels and cease to keep up with current trends when they should challenge themselves with something new. I also liked the unifying question as “what is the answer?”, which is vague enough to spark many interpretations. Leavy also accurately characterized tensions between people in different fields of research and between academics attempting to function in groups. I’ve “met” so many of these characters.

Though short, parts of the book were boring and the ending was a level of The Breakfast Club cheesiness that I did not prepare for. I would not recommend it for purely fiction. Leavy does not write with enough details and emotion for this book to be pure entertainment. Brilliant in ideas, shaky in execution, this book is worth it, but not all that I'd hoped.

[Melissa]

I loved this novel so much. It read like an Agatha Christie mystery that had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see how it would all turn out. As with every novel she's ever written, I only meant to read the first chapter but was hooked by the opening line and didn't look up until to my horror I was done. Each character begins as a narrow archetype but is given space to grow and challenge our expectations about how we see each other and ourselves. But as someone who loves to use literature in my History courses, this is the first novel I've ever read where I immediately thought it would work amazingly well in a research methods class. Leavy cleverly gives us a glimpse into the ways different academic disciplines approach the 'truth' illustrating the surprisingly different ways to see and accumulate knowledge. In this way, Leavy has perhaps written the perfect novel for use in any discipline including the sciences, humanities, and cultural studies. A book that both accessible to college students and professors alike, offering a range of helpful tips about the ways to ask big questions and unpack research. It's also so rare to read a novel about academics that moves beyond narrow stereotype of the arrogant know-it-all narcissist. Finally, if you need more, it truly reads like a cinematic look at one of the most picturesque regions of the world. Well worth a read.

[Kaylee Craft Mitchell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I didn’t like this book at all. It really had potential, but everything was so rushed together, it lacked detail, and it lacked characterization. The premise itself wasn’t believable either.

[Randie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous!
Read it in one day!

Really made me think about how I look at life.
Thank you.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I’ve ever read, Patricia Leavy’s Spark is, you guessed it, a story that you can’t put down, so plan on staying up until you finish.

The novel shares an incredible story of difference, purpose, friendship, and collaboration during a life-changing seminar in Iceland. One of Leavy’s many talents is transporting her readers to a place–in Spark, it’s Iceland. She is adept at creating a book that captures both the essence of place, and of the humanity of the lived experience. I won’t give away the ending, but I will say this: READ THIS BOOK.

You’ll think about it for the rest of your life…it’s that good.

Read our author interview here: https://www.wanderingeducators.com/be...

[Cathy Fox · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oof...this one had potential with the plot but the writing was just so...cheesy. It felt like I was reading an elementary-age book, but one that was intended for adults. Even more, the "climax", the big answer to the entire plot just fell flat - oversimplified and anticlimactic. It was a short, quick read, but the writing style and patronizing, childish tone just made it uncomfortable to get through.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pleasant read about the collaborative research process. I truly enjoyed the characters and the beautiful setting but found the entire premise creepy and the outcomes a tiny bit trite.

At least the novel did not conclude with the song lyric that was ringing through my head almost from the beginning: " "Light of the world, shine on me
Love is the answer..."(England Dan & John Ford Coley)!

[begemot · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve only read a few pages of this book, and am not planning to finish it. I liked the title, the cover design, and the premise, which is why I wanted to check it out.

Unfortunately the writing felt very clunky and the setup with “the greatest minds” in a remote location on a mysterious mission felt extremely cliche. I suspect the author felt that way too, because she was rushing headlong to get over this bit and into the main story, which made it worse.

[bananajo · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a regular book, this wasn't really my favorite. But going into this story, knowing it was meant as a work of social fiction and also a way to describe qualitative research, I can see the merit. That being said, the story had a point and a purpose, but I have happily reached the end, and that is good enough for me. I suppose it would be interesting to read this in a group of differently-minded people.

(August 2025)

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting!

Maybe as a sociology major, this book resonated more. I enjoyed trying to figure out how the group would answer the question and seeing if I was right in the end. The book also ends with class resources that would make the book an excellent addition to any introduction to sociology class.

[Talbot Hook · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly written platitudes disguised as fiction. The writing is abysmal, and the knowledge gained consists of things that most people know (e.g., injunctions to value different perspectives, watch yourself for bias, remember that human existence is messy). These are all messages you can find better written in many places.

[C.L. Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought provoking read. It is a book that asks a philosophical question and then steps back to allow us to explore perceptions. A thought exercise, it would be very useful in secondary classrooms (ages 16+)... it was an easy read that flowed from one idea to the next.

[Jennifer DuBose · Rating 2 out of 5]

Assigned reading from a mandatory Intro to Graduate Studies course I’m taking. The prof said this it’s supposed to help quell the inevitable imposter syndrome that happens to most people in academia. I found it to be cheesy.

[Christina Marie Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read! The ending just blew my mind... There's only one answer to THE question that makes sense - and it's revealed at the end of this book!

[Brenda Pollock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this insightful novel by Dr. Patricia Leavy. A great reminder of how people can work best as a team. It's truly a breath of fresh air and had a hard time putting it down! Bravo!

[Niky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super quick and fun read that gets your mind turning about what qualifies as "qualitative research". I had to read this for class but found it to be a fun read that I am sure to revisit soon.

[Janet Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book! One line I really loved: “Today is always better than someday.”

[Brook]

Dnf bc I dropped the class I was reading this for lol ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Cassidy McCartan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story. Enlightening and thought-provoking.
Empowering.

[Ioana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely

[Jen Tidman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spark is almost more of an academic thought exercise than a novel. ⁠
⁠
Professor Peyton Wilde receives an out of the blue invitation to attend a workshop in Reykjavik, where the participants, the greatest thinkers in the world, will be charged with answering one perplexing question. Peyton and her teammates embark on a journey of discovery, having to examine both their biases and themselves. ⁠
⁠
Whilst this is an interesting book, I think it shows that Leavy is more of an academician than a novelist

[Fred Cheyunski · Rating 4 out of 5]

When looking at books on Quantitative and Qualitative Research, I ran across those by this author that also included Arts based research and fiction such as this title. Since this offering was short and seemed to embody the kinds of interdisciplinary approaches Leavy advocates it seemed like a good choice.

The book consists of 15 un-named chapters. It proceeds to recount the story of sociology professor Peyton Wilde who is invited, all expenses paid, to participate in a gathering of prominent scholars. The conference is held in Iceland sponsored by the Goodright Foundation to address a world relevant question. We journey with Peyton through the conference to its and her conclusions.

Parts of the book that stood for me were the way the author illustrated an interdisciplinary approach to research (such as in her non-fiction book “Research Design” and the co-edited “Handbook of Emergent Methods”) using her fictional story narrative. For instance, (pg. 106) Leavy has her protagonist suggest (pg. 106) “’Let’s designate the morning segment to researching each of our fields . . . Then, after the break we can share the information we collected,’ Peyton said. ‘. . .[the] common ways of answering questions or solving problems in our field . . . ‘” The remarks continue (pg. 107) “For the next hour and a half they dispersed . . . [then] they returned to share what they learned . . . summarized in a sentence . . . somebody put it together on one sheet . . . [writing and circling] How do you approach a question or problem? . . . [drawing] seven lines out from the circle . . . at the end of each line . . . [including] each participants summary statement . . . “ This exercise finishes (pg. 108) with the group “. . . noting connections . . . [and] differences as well . . . putting red arrows [for the former] and blue dotted lines between [the latter].” Such commentary had me recalling Huber and Morreale’s “Disciplinary Styles” (see my review).

Then there were the more lyrical and more reflective segments. As an example, later in the book (pg. 137) characters exclaim ‘. . . I’ve never seen so many stars before,’ said Peyton . . . ‘They look like little sparks lighting up the sky, don’t you think?’ Diego asked . . . ‘Some of sparks contain entire worlds. Like some of the teeniest sparks of creativity this week, contain some of the greatest insights. And like the spark inside of you, inside us all. Entire worlds of possibility and wonder . . . ‘” These kinds of passages had me thinking of Eco’s “Six Walks in the Fictional Woods” (see my review).

Drawbacks were the necessary detail required to describe the conference center, Icelandic surroundings and the group dynamics taking place. Much as Johansen and Sibbet lay out in their “Leading Business Teams” (see my review), we see Peyton and her colleagues go through the stages as they “form, storm, norm, perform, and adjourn.” There is also a feeling of personal growth centers as described in Kripal’s “Esalen” (see my review) which seems a bit contrived at times. However, Leavy manages to keep the text moving and progressing toward its finale.

Even in its brevity and with its little flaws, Leavy’s novel is a good introduction to such desirable interaction and discovery.

[Cole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good books are an emotional experience for me, or they at least leave me with a sense of greater connection. This book did not do that. Its premise felt contrived, the characters were 2-D stereotypes, and the romance subplot was forced and uninteresting. Still, I will say that it was an easy read and the suspense component worked as it should.

Without revealing many details, "the answer" was written from a interdisciplinary research perspective but the novel itself does not clearly acknowledge this. Because of this, the novel comes off as high and mighty, touting an objective research-based approach as the superior means to answer any given question. The subtext devalues subjectivity and rejects the idea that two contradictory answers to a question can both be valid without need for comparison.