A Flickering Light
Jane Kirkpatrick
Reviewed by Teresa Konopka
“A Flickering Light” by Jane Kirkpatrick is an intriguing stack of
pages. It follows the story of Jessie, a growing teen in the early
nineteen-hundreds. Living with two sisters, she must work to earn money
for the family, especially considering the fact that her father is
terminally ill.
Jessie has a passion for photography. For her, it is a means of
expressing herself and escaping reality. She yearns to be like those
other famous photographers that can go anywhere with a camera and never
once be questioned. She also daydreams of taking risks with her camera.
The first hundred pages or so document Jessie’s actions towards
becoming a photographer. She arrives befuddled at her first interview
with no corset and a blood stained shirt. Upon arriving, she is told
that she will earn twice what she previously raked in doing clerical
work; however, she must train for six months before she is paid. There
is much conversation between Jessie and her family as they think it
over.
When Jessie finally decides to take the photography offer, the plot
takes many different turns. She finds herself competing with the other
trainees. Also, when her boss is sick one day, she takes the
opportunity to run the studio without his permission--she does a good
job, though. Eventually, Jessie becomes enamored with her photography
boss. She has an affair with him even though he is married with
children. The boss’ wife has had her children die in the past and is
thus already a bit sour. When her suspicions rise, she has many a
dispute with her husband.
Later, Jessie comes to her senses and leaves her boss. She confesses
the travesty to her family and bears the necessary shame in order to
move on. She later does some secretarial work for an evangelical before
starting up her own photography gig. In this novel, a girl turns into a
woman as she learns the ups and downs of society, love, and her very
own soul.