  This study is focused on the break-up and electromagnetic response of light
weakly-bound dicluster nuclei. The cluster picture in the case of $ ^7$Li is
shown to be a very good approximation and in this framework we calculate
nuclear structure observables. We solve the Schr\"odinger equation for the
relative motion both for discrete and continuum states and this automatically
takes into a proper account the role of resonances. A concentration of strength
in the low energy continuum, solely due to the weakly-bound nature of the bound
states is seen and explained as a favourable matching between the wavelengths
of the initial and final states. Finally preliminary results on form factors
are briefly outlined and their microscopic derivation as well as utilization in
reaction studies is discussed.
