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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
Cornwall, 1972. Three keepers vanish from a remote lighthouse, miles from the shore. The entrance door is locked from the inside and the clocks have stopped. The weather log describes a mighty storm, but the skies have been clear all week. Twenty years later, the women they left behind are still struggling to move on. When a bestselling writer interviews them to learn more about the mysterious disappearances, long-hidden secrets bubble to the surface.
Emma Stonex was inspired by the mysterious, unsolved disappearance of Thomas Marshall, James Ducat, and Donald MacArthur in December 1900 from the island of Eilean Mor in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. She vividly describes the chill and rage of the North Atlantic, the job of a lighthouse keeper, and the loneliness and dynamics of people living in close quarters for weeks at a time away from loved ones.
Although I loved the premise of this book and was excited to read it, it fell flat. The storyline of the three lost keepers was captivating. The author created an atmospheric setting on the isolated island and the raw beauty of the formidable sea. Unfortunately, the other half of the book was tedious, and the characters were unlikable. The Lamplighters was eerie and haunting and would have been amazing if it had taken place at the turn of the century. In fact, had the author fictionalized the true events, her book would have been brilliant. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/The-Eilean-Mor-Lighthouse-Mystery/. As it stands, Lamplighters is completely different from the historical record. I’m sure others will love this book, but for me it was disappointing.
Although I loved the premise of this book and was excited to read it, it fell flat. The storyline of the three lost keepers was captivating. The author created an atmospheric setting on the isolated island and the raw beauty of the formidable sea. Unfortunately, the other half of the book was tedious, and the characters were unlikable. The Lamplighters was eerie and haunting and would have been amazing if it had taken place at the turn of the century. In fact, had the author fictionalized the true events, her book would have been brilliant. As it stands, Lamplighters is completely different from the historical record. I’m sure others will love this book, but for me it was disappointing.
Emma Stonex was inspired by the mysterious, unsolved disappearance of Thomas Marshall, James Ducat, and Donald MacArthur in December 1900 from the island of Eilean Mor in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. She vividly describes the chill and rage of the North Atlantic, the job of a lighthouse keeper, and the loneliness and dynamics of people living in close quarters for weeks at a time away from loved ones.
Although I loved the premise of this book and was excited to read it, it fell flat. The storyline of the three lost keepers was captivating. The author created an atmospheric setting on the isolated island and the raw beauty of the formidable sea. Unfortunately, the other half of the book was tedious, and the characters were unlikable. The Lamplighters was eerie and haunting and would have been amazing if it had taken place at the turn of the century. In fact, had the author fictionalized the true events, her book would have been brilliant. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/The-Eilean-Mor-Lighthouse-Mystery/. As it stands, Lamplighters is completely different from the historical record. I’m sure others will love this book, but for me it was disappointing.
Although I loved the premise of this book and was excited to read it, it fell flat. The storyline of the three lost keepers was captivating. The author created an atmospheric setting on the isolated island and the raw beauty of the formidable sea. Unfortunately, the other half of the book was tedious, and the characters were unlikable. The Lamplighters was eerie and haunting and would have been amazing if it had taken place at the turn of the century. In fact, had the author fictionalized the true events, her book would have been brilliant. As it stands, Lamplighters is completely different from the historical record. I’m sure others will love this book, but for me it was disappointing.
Mysterious and romantic in the human sense.
Three lighthouse keepers go missing a day before their shift is over. The door is locked, the clocks have stopped at 8:45, and it looks as of they were in the middle of a meal.
20 years later, an author is interviewing the wives and family of the missing men in hopes of solving it once and for all.
The narrative bounces around, back and forth through time. Sometimes there will be internal monologues, sometimes interviews, sometimes poems, sometimes official paperwork. We encounter a lot of perspectives shining on the same single event. Fittingly, simple ideas gain a mystique, a supernatural aura. Everyone is haunted in this book, and everyone is a ghost.
I loved how intimate this book was with the life of the lighthouse and the lonely women left behind. It has beautiful prose, careful perspective, and is somewhat historical and very well researched, so even the nightmares feel real.
Probably a book I'd normally give a 3, but I'm feeling generous and more than a little touched.
Three lighthouse keepers go missing a day before their shift is over. The door is locked, the clocks have stopped at 8:45, and it looks as of they were in the middle of a meal.
20 years later, an author is interviewing the wives and family of the missing men in hopes of solving it once and for all.
The narrative bounces around, back and forth through time. Sometimes there will be internal monologues, sometimes interviews, sometimes poems, sometimes official paperwork. We encounter a lot of perspectives shining on the same single event. Fittingly, simple ideas gain a mystique, a supernatural aura. Everyone is haunted in this book, and everyone is a ghost.
I loved how intimate this book was with the life of the lighthouse and the lonely women left behind. It has beautiful prose, careful perspective, and is somewhat historical and very well researched, so even the nightmares feel real.
Probably a book I'd normally give a 3, but I'm feeling generous and more than a little touched.
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is as much a story about the fascinating world in a remote lighthouse, as it is about three men vanishing from their tower in the middles of a stormy sea. In fact, the lighthouse in this book is a character in itself. So it the sea. With moods and personalities. A gripping story told from the perspectives of the keepers in the 70s and their wives 20 years later, digging into the question: what really did happen?
I liked the story, the sense of mystery that wound itself around the characters - all of which I liked and thought authentic.
I loved the atmosphere ..... bleak and quite mystical. The only thing I didn’t like so much was this it was written in quite a passive style. I made it quite boring at time, like it was droning on.
Didn’t know until the end, when I read reviews on Goodreads, that it’s based on a true story.
I loved the atmosphere ..... bleak and quite mystical. The only thing I didn’t like so much was this it was written in quite a passive style. I made it quite boring at time, like it was droning on.
Didn’t know until the end, when I read reviews on Goodreads, that it’s based on a true story.
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes