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mimster's review against another edition
4.0
Well written, enjoyed it - read library book for deerness book group
rosemwood's review against another edition
4.0
A heart-wrenching story of consequences and how they affect so many lives. A complex story that was a very very slow read. It was hard at times to keep reading. I did enjoy the discreption of the lighthouse and the island it is on. There are multiple POV's which added to the story.
lizzycatslibrary's review against another edition
2.0
If I hadn't had a drive from Atlanta to Chicago and then Chicago and back I doubt I would have finished this one. It was just too much. Too much whining. Too much emotional turmoil. Blah blah blah I get it. You are torn. Either do something about it or stop complaining. Also by the end of the book I pretty much hated Isabelle. Bah.
aneesa_siddique's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely heartbreaking.
I didn’t realise the emotional impact of the book until I got to the very last page.
I didn’t realise the emotional impact of the book until I got to the very last page.
abitterknitter's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
gailcooksandreads's review against another edition
Not sure how to rate this as it was beautifully written, but I can't say I enjoyed it due to all the misery. Such a sad book.
schofield24's review against another edition
4.0
A beautiful and raw story of the deepest kinds of love and loss. (Warning: It does have some language; otherwise it would be a 5-star book for me.)
bandgeek3997's review against another edition
5.0
It's been three hours since I finished The Light Between Oceans, and I'm still sitting in my bed thinking about it. This book, if you read with some clarity and intelligence, really makes you think about your morals and question how you would act in the characters' positions. To my surprise, the way I feel about the decisions that were made are completely different than I thought it would be at first.
M.L. Stedman's debut novel is quite captivating. Tom and Isabel take on the tough duty of being the keepers of a lighthouse on a small piece of rock half a day's trip off the Australian shore. The place, called Janus Rock, presented some difficult challenges, such as weather, isolation, and an unforgiving ocean. However, this was nothing compared to desolation Isabel feels after three failed pregnancies. In what seem a stroke of fate, though, a boat with a dead man and a healthy baby finds itself among the rocks of Janus. Despite Tom's steadfastness and adherence to rules and laws, he gives to Isabel's pleas to not report the body and keep the baby to grow as their child. That single decision drives the rest of the book as the couple, and eventually every other character, is affected by their choice.
The character's of this book pulled all my heartstrings. For example, Tom is such a wonderful guy. He has been through so many obstacles in his life, but he still keeps a loving spirit about him. It hurt me to see what he went through in this book. And Isabel. She was an interesting character, and it took all the way until the end for me to discover how I truly felt for her. Stedman creates many complex characters, and they all add to the story immensely.
I'm too young to have children, so I can't pretend to personally understand the agony that Tom and Isabel went through as they lost all their children. I did see how affected my mother was when my half-brother passed away at a young age, and I can comprehend how losing a child can bring parents to do things that they normally wouldn't. For me, I completely empathized with the couple, and given their circumstances, didn't think they were too much in the wrong.
I'm very impressed with this debut novel, and I can understand why it is so highly rated and recommended. Complex characters, interesting story line, captivating dilemmas, and excellent writing style all work together to create an amazing book. As you turn the last page, though. Questions like Is it right? How far is too far? What is betrayal? Can forgiveness be found? will be running in your head for many hours to come, and you may not like the answers you find within yourself to the questions.
M.L. Stedman's debut novel is quite captivating. Tom and Isabel take on the tough duty of being the keepers of a lighthouse on a small piece of rock half a day's trip off the Australian shore. The place, called Janus Rock, presented some difficult challenges, such as weather, isolation, and an unforgiving ocean. However, this was nothing compared to desolation Isabel feels after three failed pregnancies. In what seem a stroke of fate, though, a boat with a dead man and a healthy baby finds itself among the rocks of Janus. Despite Tom's steadfastness and adherence to rules and laws, he gives to Isabel's pleas to not report the body and keep the baby to grow as their child. That single decision drives the rest of the book as the couple, and eventually every other character, is affected by their choice.
The character's of this book pulled all my heartstrings. For example, Tom is such a wonderful guy. He has been through so many obstacles in his life, but he still keeps a loving spirit about him. It hurt me to see what he went through in this book. And Isabel. She was an interesting character, and it took all the way until the end for me to discover how I truly felt for her. Stedman creates many complex characters, and they all add to the story immensely.
I'm too young to have children, so I can't pretend to personally understand the agony that Tom and Isabel went through as they lost all their children. I did see how affected my mother was when my half-brother passed away at a young age, and I can comprehend how losing a child can bring parents to do things that they normally wouldn't. For me, I completely empathized with the couple, and given their circumstances, didn't think they were too much in the wrong.
I'm very impressed with this debut novel, and I can understand why it is so highly rated and recommended. Complex characters, interesting story line, captivating dilemmas, and excellent writing style all work together to create an amazing book. As you turn the last page, though. Questions like Is it right? How far is too far? What is betrayal? Can forgiveness be found? will be running in your head for many hours to come, and you may not like the answers you find within yourself to the questions.
novelette's review against another edition
4.0
Just had a baby myself, so this brought up some very big emotions
jrmarr's review against another edition
4.0
A heart-wrenching book about the decisions we make and how we can live with the consequences of them. I thought it was beautifully written, with a gentleness about it that caught me offguard at times. I feel that in another author's hands, my relationship to the characters would have been different, and I might have found it more difficult to understand what they did, or condemned them more than I did. Not a book with neat edges or clear villains, but a story about good people making questionable choices at great expense.