The Light Between Oceans
M.L. Stedman
356 pages
Hard copy edition
From the Publisher:
The years-long New York Times bestseller and major motion picture from Spielberg’s Dreamworks is “irresistible…seductive…with a high concept plot that keeps you riveted from the first page” After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby. Tom, who keeps meticulous records and whose moral principles have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. But Isabel insists the baby is a “gift from God,” and against Tom’s judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them.
Review:
I don’t even know where to even start with this book….
I have seen a lot of people talk about it, but it wasn’t until a friend recommend it (that I trust their judgement) that I decided to go for it. She was SO right. The entire time you read this book you wonder, how is this going to end? How can this all work out?
This story is so unique and different. Right away you know that Tom and Isabel find a baby washed up with dead man on the beach on the island where they live. That isn’t a spoiler. It’s such a complicated situation that I have no idea what I would do. Isabel grieves from other miscarriages and stillbirths – but she has the desire to mother this baby. What would I do? Would I report the baby? That is the right thing to do. That is what I would hope I would do. But I’ve never experienced infertility miscarriages or stillbirth. I’ve never lost a child. My heart breaks for those friends I have that have. I cannot say what I would do at all.
The book was almost poetic at times, and had such amazing lessons hidden in it. I’ll admit right now that I skim/speed read a lot of books. But not this one. Because every single sentence was good!
It was a powerful novel and I was crying by the end. It was so moving. I cannot wait to see the movie.
I would love to know if you have read this book and what you thought. Anyone want to see the movie with me?
If you are part of a book club this would be a good selection. (I still can’t believe that I’ve never really been good at book clubs?!) It is the perfect book to discuss with someone!
Final Score:
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