‘THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS’: Historical Novel Set in the Remote Wilds of Australia
STORY: Tom Sherbourne is a loner. He may have come through the war physically intact, but emotionally, it’s a part of his life he closes off. As the new light keeper on Janus Island, Tom welcomes the solitude. But while on shore leave, he meets Isabel. A beautiful girl full of life and love, she makes an impression on Tom, and he on her. So much is their first meeting impressed on her that during one of his rare shore leaves, she proposes they marry. When time doesn’t waver her affection, the pair marries and move to the island, where they happily begin their life. But the future suffers one too many losses until a baby, adrift in a boat, arrives on Janus, and brings with her healing, hope and heartbreak.
The Light Between Oceans, by M.L. Stedman | Book Review
Reading this book is sure to evoke a cacophony of emotions, bundled with confusion. This book is like a contradiction of the depth of sorrow, unbridled joy, and the choices we make while influenced by these emotions. Speaking only for myself, I don’t think this book is my cup of tea. That said, I understand why this novel received so many prestigious endorsements. The reasons it’s not my kind of read would organize a list, but the primary of which is the writing style. While the prose is nothing to diminish, it was the style the book is constructed from that put me off.
Scars are just another kind of memory.” – The Light Between Oceans
The book backpedals from its present timeline a few too many times, a ploy which never ceased to jerk me out of the story (usually just when I’ve adjusted to the present pace). This is made all the harder since I didn’t feel like I learned a great deal in these treks into the past. Once it does return to the present, there continues to be several instances of past history revisited. While the bittersweet notions and consequences that stem from them are the result of character’s choices, the sting is still that.
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‘THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS’: Historical Novel Set in the Remote Wilds of Australia #bookarchives #HistoricalFiction Share on XDespite this, I do admire (as I mention above) Stedman’s prose. It’s anything but unpleasant. The easy way in in which she uses words to string the story together makes for easy reading, and I admire how she give context to things. (The way she explains a feeling or likens something to a “thing” is admirable.) The setting is also a pro. I don’t read many books set outside the U.S (not because I don’t want to, my genres just don’t go this route), so reading about the wilds of Australia is enchanting.
Sympathy will be a common feeling as you read this book. The characters make choices that assist in forever changing lives, both for the better and worse. Despite this, no one is “bad,” and while I feel like the story arrives full circle in the end, it’s a bittersweet one. It may be done in an unsuspecting, quiet way, but The Light Between Oceans tugs at our heartstrings, and leaves everyone in a state of discord. Some of the emotions are stifled because there isn’t real forgiveness by the time the book ends, and if nothing else were, that alone may leave many a reader feeling a sense of profound loss.
A B O U T THE B O O K
Author: M.L. Stedman
Publisher: Scribner
Source: Purchase
Publication Date: 2012
Find the Review elsewhere: Goodreads
Add the Book: Goodreads
Genre: Fiction; Historical Fiction
Rating: ★★★ ½
Content: there are instances of profanity (including an f-word), and comments about a married couple “making love.”
I started reading this book, but I didn't finish it. I thought the island and the lighthouse were wonderful. I love lighthouses. I think the lighthouse keeper's job is interesting, but I think I was more than halfway finished with the story when I stopped reading it. I won't say why because of spoilers, but the story did have so many fine qualities. Sometime I might, pick it up again and finish it.
I liked the overall idea of this story (and my goodness!, the setting), but I just couldn't get past my feelings about the style of the book. Plus, despite the admiration I walked away with, it's a bit too heartbreaking for me. :/
Let me know what you think, Katie, if/when you do decide to finish it!
I really want to read this as well as see the movie and thank you for reviewing Rissi! I hadn't read a review yet by someone who'd read the book so I didn't know anything about how well it was written or anything.
Great review!
Hope you enjoy the book, Kara. (And me too – I try to read the book before seeing the film.) It has its great moments. Let me know what you think – and as always, thank you for reading. :)
"This book is like a contradiction of the depth of sorrow, unbridled joy, and the choices we make while influenced by these emotions." Bravo! That is how I would sum up the film adaptation!!!
I really enjoyed your review — especially since I've not read the book! I think I would agree with you about the book's time shifts. (I don't think I will want to read it.) The film handled things in mostly a straight timeline, with a couple flashback/memory moments, if I remember correctly.
The film really is gorgeous! I *think* you might like it better. I'm anxious to know! It's definitely an emotional rollercoaster.
YAY! I'm glad the book and film mirror one another in their emotions. There are A LOT of those.
I'm super excited about seeing the film despite my feelings about the book. I was going to watch it Super Bowl night, but didn't end up watching anything because I had told myself to write… only I ended up where we all do: Twitter. ;) Anyway, I'm anxious to see the film too – and expect if nothing else I'll appreciate it as a costume drama.
Thanks, as always, for visiting, friend. :)
This book is a super emotional one. I read it a long while ago, so I can't remember all the details, but I do think I rated it similarly. I liked it, but it didn't wow me. It's definitely sad, and sometimes it was hard not to get frustrated with some of the choices our protagonists made. Like sorry guys, you made your own lives more difficult than they had to be :-|
Definitely – a really good way to put it. I liked this one, but yeah, it didn't wow me either. The sorrow is what is so off-putting. I mean, I appreciate the journey of the characters, and respect where Isabel is (emotionally) coming from, but she sort of created more emotional upheaval than she had to endure.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, Ali! :)
I'm not a fan of time shifts, unless done extremely well or just at the beginning and end of the book. I have been really wanting to see the movie though! I'm glad I read your review for the book…I have way too many books on my TBR to read it right now. But I also hate to be the person who says I'll watch the movie and not read the book, lol. Did anything in this comment make sense?! Haha. Anyways, great job on this review. It was super helpful!
I really want to see the film too, Bekah! And I suspect, overall, I'll feel it superior. (Between the cast, and the prettiness of it being a period drama, it's my kind of movie! Or so I like to think.)
Of course it does! We book bloggers (and nerds!) understand the language. :)
Thank you, as always, for being a reader and supporter. :)