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rosy_posy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A twisty and eerie read, but a slightly unsatisfying ending for me. I loved Arthur, Helen, Vince, I wish they’d got better than they did, but Arthur’s end was comforting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Grief, Murder, and Sexual harassment
kcmg710's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I absolutely loved this book. And it’s only 4* because I’m a sucker for happy endings. AND EVEN THOUGH I went into this aware that it probably wasn’t going to be a ‘proper happy ending’ I still got my hopes up and thought there was a chance that the ‘Truth would come out’ or they’d all reunite or something and of course I’m absolutely gutted that it didn’t. It’s completely my fault of course but idc I apologise to the author but I just cannot wholeheartedly give it a 5* because of this fact 😂🤦🏽♀️
I’ll be honest I’ve not given lighthouses, as a whole, too much thought. Eg; the interior of them, the challenges for the keepers and their families, the workload, the relief, free time ect. I just kinda assumed there’s the lighthouse and in them are probably just a ladder to get up to the top and every so often somebody would go and check on it. Which now with technology and stuff might be the case but this book just opened my mind completely.
I felt like a fly on the wall watching the keepers go about their day and I LOVED IT. I am super nosy and especially the little details l, I just absolutely lapped up because I want to know every single process/action/thought ect that a character might have/do. The little details are what matter to me (personally) as a reader and I thought Stonex did a great job of that.
The characters as a whole I’m so attached to them(except bill, f*ck bill 😑) even the ones I didn’t really get on with, at points my heart broke for them and I was like I get it that’s why they’re f*cked, I understand. They are so well written and again I’m nosy so I loved the snippets of backstories for them all (even with how heartbreaking some of them could be).
Again the only thing I hated was the fact that Arthur died thinking Helen didn’t love him anymore and was in love with scumbag Bill and that she majorly betrayed him (she kinda did but not at the level Jenny and Arthur were convinced of) She didn’t get the chance to explain to him and work things out.
I hate how unresolved it was. Even though I knew there could be a chance it would end that way, I still hate it. And I hate the fact that bill never got found out for the scumbag he was AND FRAMED MY ARTHUR!! Unforgivable. I appreciate he got instant karma but still.
I was also super confused about how ‘they never found any evidence’ when Bill literally wiped Arthur’s fingerprints on everything?! Unless they did and trident just covered it up? Like I know they covered up some things and wasn’t open to the public or the families and it kinda alluded to Arthur having something to do with it so in that case they must’ve found the evidence but idk. Maybe I didn’t read it properly but that’s the vibes I kinda got, that part felt abit ‘up in the air’ to me.
Also the part with the ghosts/voices ect. Was never really cleared up and half of me feel like that was maybe part of their imaginations or their guilt getting to them / kinda hallucinating because of the isolation on the tower ect. But the other half was like wait are there ghosts or what? Again with the ‘Silverman’ and ‘Sid’! Who the f*ck was SID? Are Sid and the Silverman the same person or what?
There were parts that made me laugh, parts that made me sob like a baby @1.30 in the morning 🫠, parts that I was freakeddd out about(the ghost children things) . It just felt like there was so much going on and I had no clue about any of it pretty much the whole time 😂. I was confused but it a comfy way is the only way I know how to describe it.
My reviews are not great I’ll be honest, I mostly just ramble and occasionally make a good point. But I’d definitely give this a go and I appreciate it if you got this far 🤍
I’ll be honest I’ve not given lighthouses, as a whole, too much thought. Eg; the interior of them, the challenges for the keepers and their families, the workload, the relief, free time ect. I just kinda assumed there’s the lighthouse and in them are probably just a ladder to get up to the top and every so often somebody would go and check on it. Which now with technology and stuff might be the case but this book just opened my mind completely.
I felt like a fly on the wall watching the keepers go about their day and I LOVED IT. I am super nosy and especially the little details l, I just absolutely lapped up because I want to know every single process/action/thought ect that a character might have/do. The little details are what matter to me (personally) as a reader and I thought Stonex did a great job of that.
The characters as a whole I’m so attached to them
I hate how unresolved it was. Even though I knew there could be a chance it would end that way, I still hate it. And I hate the fact that bill never got found out for the scumbag he was AND FRAMED MY ARTHUR!! Unforgivable. I appreciate he got instant karma but still.
I was also super confused about how ‘they never found any evidence’ when Bill literally wiped Arthur’s fingerprints on everything?! Unless they did and trident just covered it up? Like I know they covered up some things and wasn’t open to the public or the families and it kinda alluded to Arthur having something to do with it so in that case they must’ve found the evidence but idk. Maybe I didn’t read it properly but that’s the vibes I kinda got, that part felt abit ‘up in the air’ to me.
Also the part with the ghosts/voices ect. Was never really cleared up and half of me feel like that was maybe part of their imaginations or their guilt getting to them / kinda hallucinating because of the isolation on the tower ect. But the other half was like wait are there ghosts or what? Again with the ‘Silverman’ and ‘Sid’! Who the f*ck was SID? Are Sid and the Silverman the same person or what?
There were parts that made me laugh, parts that made me sob like a baby @1.30 in the morning 🫠, parts that I was freakeddd out about
My reviews are not great I’ll be honest, I mostly just ramble and occasionally make a good point. But I’d definitely give this a go and I appreciate it if you got this far 🤍
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Vomit, Dementia, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and War
becca9849's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Rape, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pregnancy
Minor: Child abuse, Infidelity, Vomit, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Innixicat1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Violence, Vomit, and Grief
heini's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
"Jos hän olisi Maidenissa, voisin kertoa hänelle sellaista, mitä en milloinkaan voinut mantereella kertoa."
Mysteerinen, yliluonnollisella vihjaileva Majakanvartijat on kirja psyykestä, menetyksestä, puhumattomuudesta ja yksinäisyydestä.
Majakanvartijat, inspiroituneena tositapahtumista, kertoo kolmesta (Arthur, Bill, Vince) kasuunimajakalta kadonneesta miehestä ja heidän jälkeensä jättämistään. Kerronnassa hypitään enimmäkseen katoamisvuoden 1972 ja vuoden 1992 välillä, jolloin äänensä saa kuuluviin niin majakanvartijat kuin heidän kumppaninsa.
Katoamisesta 20 vuotta myöhemmin eräs kirjailija haluaa selvittää tapauksen ja haastattelee miesten kumppaneita - yksinäisiä, syyttäviä ja katkeroituneitakin Heleniä ja Jennyä sekä nuoremman miehen tyttöystävää Michelleä, joka elää tyhjähköä perhe-elämää ensirakkaus aina sydämessään. Jokaisella on vain puoli tarinaa, josta siitäkään he eivät osaa tai pysty kertomaan kaikkea.
Majakoiden ja niiden vartijoiden elämä oli kauniisti kuvattu - yksin oloa majakassa ja yksinäisyyttä mantereella. En ollut aiemmin ajatellut, mutta hyvin kuvattu oli myös miten naiset sitoutuivat (joutuivat sitoutumaan) siihen elämään, joka työkomentojen mukaan kului rauhassa ja rauhattomuudessa.
Meni kyllä vähän yli hilseen osa jutuista.Esim. Sid, Valkoinen varis, hopea salkkumies ja muutenkin lintusymboliikka. Tiedän merilintuja pidettävän kuolleiden merimiesten (merten miesten) sieluina, mutta merkitys mietitytti muissa tilanteissa, joihin tuo tulkinta ei sopinut. Osiltaan sen takia, että henkilöiden kerrontaäänet eivät olleet tarpeeksi erilaisia, joten piti pinnistää muistiaan että kuka mainitsi mitä ja milloin. Ja miksi - jolloin hämmennystä lisäsi se, että kirjan mysteerisyyttä ylläpitää puolikkaat viittaukset johonkin asiaan X, jota (ehkä) selvitetään vähän uudelleen 30 sivun päässä.
Ihan viihdyttävä lukukokemus, kun en tiennyt millainen kirja oikein oli tyyliltään tai genreltään, niin piti se jännityksessä. Hyvä kun en tiennyt kirjasta mitään muuta kuin että löysin sen kirjaston "majakat"-hausta luettavaksi (kirjan inspiraationa toiminut vuoden 1900 keissi oli toki etäisesti tuttu) - täten henkilöhahmoille ja tarinalle jäi vapaus olla mitä vain.
Pelkäsin, että loppu lässähtäisi mutta oli se sopiva loppu - ja heräsi kysymys (vielä enemmän) epäluotettavasta kertojasta.
"Helenin mielestä viihdyn paremmin tornissa kuin maissa, mikä saattaa pitää paikkaansa. Mantereella elämä ei maistu siltä kuin pitäisi. Kaiken epävarmuus saa minut tolaltani. Puhelimet soivat äkkiarvaamatta. Paikallisissa puodeissa myydään kahdenlaista maitoa, enkä osaa päättää kumpaa ostaisin. --
Maissa joudun teeskentelemään, olen olevinani joku vieras henkilö ja osa kokonaisuutta, johon en kuulu. On vaikea selittää sitä tavallisille ihmisille. He eivät innostuisi aamuvahtivuoron loputtomasta hiljaisuudesta eivätkä ymmärtäisi, miten joku voi pohtia päivätolkulla hammasahvenen valmistamista. Majakoiden maailma on niin pieni. Hidas. Siihen muut ihmiset eivät kykene: he eivät osaa tehdä asioita hitaasti ja keskittyneesti.
Täällä pääkoppani toimii toisella tavalla. Maissa se tavallaan nukahtaa, ei ole yhtä terävä kuin nyt. --"
"Jotkut tottuvat häkkielämään ja toiset eivät. Sitä katsotan pahalla, jos sietää sitä hyvin. Tiedätkö? Ikään kuin ainoa oikea elämä tapahtuisi kalterien ulkopuolella.
Kerron sinulle jotain, Bill: tunsin itseni vapaaksi koko sen ajan, jonka istuin kakkuani. Kertaakaan ei tuntunut ettenkö olisi vapaa. Kyse on siis muustakin, eikö? Sitä minä vaan meinaan. Jollei viihdy tornissa, se ei johdu siitä, että tornissa olisi jotakin vikaa."
Mysteerinen, yliluonnollisella vihjaileva Majakanvartijat on kirja psyykestä, menetyksestä, puhumattomuudesta ja yksinäisyydestä.
Majakanvartijat, inspiroituneena tositapahtumista, kertoo kolmesta (Arthur, Bill, Vince) kasuunimajakalta kadonneesta miehestä ja heidän jälkeensä jättämistään. Kerronnassa hypitään enimmäkseen katoamisvuoden 1972 ja vuoden 1992 välillä, jolloin äänensä saa kuuluviin niin majakanvartijat kuin heidän kumppaninsa.
Katoamisesta 20 vuotta myöhemmin eräs kirjailija haluaa selvittää tapauksen ja haastattelee miesten kumppaneita - yksinäisiä, syyttäviä ja katkeroituneitakin Heleniä ja Jennyä sekä nuoremman miehen tyttöystävää Michelleä, joka elää tyhjähköä perhe-elämää ensirakkaus aina sydämessään. Jokaisella on vain puoli tarinaa, josta siitäkään he eivät osaa tai pysty kertomaan kaikkea.
Majakoiden ja niiden vartijoiden elämä oli kauniisti kuvattu - yksin oloa majakassa ja yksinäisyyttä mantereella. En ollut aiemmin ajatellut, mutta hyvin kuvattu oli myös miten naiset sitoutuivat (joutuivat sitoutumaan) siihen elämään, joka työkomentojen mukaan kului rauhassa ja rauhattomuudessa.
Meni kyllä vähän yli hilseen osa jutuista.
Ihan viihdyttävä lukukokemus, kun en tiennyt millainen kirja oikein oli tyyliltään tai genreltään, niin piti se jännityksessä. Hyvä kun en tiennyt kirjasta mitään muuta kuin että löysin sen kirjaston "majakat"-hausta luettavaksi (kirjan inspiraationa toiminut vuoden 1900 keissi oli toki etäisesti tuttu) - täten henkilöhahmoille ja tarinalle jäi vapaus olla mitä vain.
Pelkäsin, että loppu lässähtäisi mutta oli se sopiva loppu - ja heräsi kysymys (vielä enemmän) epäluotettavasta kertojasta.
"Helenin mielestä viihdyn paremmin tornissa kuin maissa, mikä saattaa pitää paikkaansa. Mantereella elämä ei maistu siltä kuin pitäisi. Kaiken epävarmuus saa minut tolaltani. Puhelimet soivat äkkiarvaamatta. Paikallisissa puodeissa myydään kahdenlaista maitoa, enkä osaa päättää kumpaa ostaisin. --
Maissa joudun teeskentelemään, olen olevinani joku vieras henkilö ja osa kokonaisuutta, johon en kuulu. On vaikea selittää sitä tavallisille ihmisille. He eivät innostuisi aamuvahtivuoron loputtomasta hiljaisuudesta eivätkä ymmärtäisi, miten joku voi pohtia päivätolkulla hammasahvenen valmistamista. Majakoiden maailma on niin pieni. Hidas. Siihen muut ihmiset eivät kykene: he eivät osaa tehdä asioita hitaasti ja keskittyneesti.
Täällä pääkoppani toimii toisella tavalla. Maissa se tavallaan nukahtaa, ei ole yhtä terävä kuin nyt. --"
"Jotkut tottuvat häkkielämään ja toiset eivät. Sitä katsotan pahalla, jos sietää sitä hyvin. Tiedätkö? Ikään kuin ainoa oikea elämä tapahtuisi kalterien ulkopuolella.
Kerron sinulle jotain, Bill: tunsin itseni vapaaksi koko sen ajan, jonka istuin kakkuani. Kertaakaan ei tuntunut ettenkö olisi vapaa. Kyse on siis muustakin, eikö? Sitä minä vaan meinaan. Jollei viihdy tornissa, se ei johdu siitä, että tornissa olisi jotakin vikaa."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Death of parent
hwconductor's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Animal cruelty
Minor: Alcoholism
alyx_d's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness and Murder
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood
lucylou's review
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
An interesting story, but doesn't live up to the hype. The first chapter starts off very slow, but it ends with a bang: where did the 3 light keepers go? The first 2/3s of the book, I did my best detective impersonation, trying to put possible pieces together through linking bits of the alternating stories of the past (the light keepers, 3 men) and present (the women they left behind) together, which was fun to do.
As an American, some of the chapters were hards to read, as trying to decipher some of the thick English accents were harder than I anticipated, but those parts don't last long. The style does take some time getting used to, as most of the the "present" portions read like interviews, with little emotion. It made it harder to understand and care for the women. There were moments I felt sad for them, and the things they went through, but I never connected with them. Not that I connected to the men that much more, but at least I understood their motivations, their hates/morals/desires, more. The women seemed flatter in comparison; boiled down, they were just one-dimensional, grief and guilt stricken partners. We get a glimpse into what their worlds are like after 20 years without their partners, but the author barely scratches the surface of "oh, I wish my husband/boyfriend was still alive."
As an American, some of the chapters were hards to read, as trying to decipher some of the thick English accents were harder than I anticipated, but those parts don't last long. The style does take some time getting used to, as most of the the "present" portions read like interviews, with little emotion. It made it harder to understand and care for the women. There were moments I felt sad for them, and the things they went through, but I never connected with them. Not that I connected to the men that much more, but at least I understood their motivations, their hates/morals/desires, more. The women seemed flatter in comparison; boiled down, they were just one-dimensional, grief and guilt stricken partners. We get a glimpse into what their worlds are like after 20 years without their partners, but the author barely scratches the surface of "oh, I wish my husband/boyfriend was still alive."
Overall, it was a fine book to read over the course of 2 days. The reveal of what happened was a quick 3 page explanation, which was... fine. I think the author was trying to be subversive, by going with an explanation that no one in the book had guessed. I'm glad
I think the author ended the book in the best way she could, but it still left me unsatisfied.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Child death
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, and Rape
rach59r's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Animal cruelty
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, and Child abuse
foreverbookwandering's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
This book isn’t what I expected at all. The writing is very descriptive and atmospheric and that’s not really my thing but ultimately, this book is extremely slow paced. If you are looking for a page turning mystery, this ain’t it. I wanted something spooky for Halloween season and this didn’t really deliver.
The story is told from the lamplighters point of view and then their wives/girlfriend but then the last 15% or so is in third person, which is just confusing because I don’t understand why? Also speech marks are used but when it’s the women’s POV, they just talk a one sided conversation as if you are overhearing a phone call and there are no speech marks. This is clearly a narrative choice and again I didn’t understand why. The ‘clues’ in this book are few and far between so whether you are at the start of the book or halfway through, you’re not really any better off, plus at least one is an irrelevant red herring. The ending is really anticlimactic and I feel there was a huge build up for not much, like when you anticipate a massive firework and it gives a tiny spark and it’s done. If you are looking for an extremely in depth character exploration with tonnes of description, this may be for you but it fell flat for me and was a disappointing read.
Also, trigger warning for animal cruelty.
The story is told from the lamplighters point of view and then their wives/girlfriend but then the last 15% or so is in third person, which is just confusing because I don’t understand why? Also speech marks are used but when it’s the women’s POV, they just talk a one sided conversation as if you are overhearing a phone call and there are no speech marks. This is clearly a narrative choice and again I didn’t understand why. The ‘clues’ in this book are few and far between so whether you are at the start of the book or halfway through, you’re not really any better off, plus at least one is an irrelevant red herring. The ending is really anticlimactic and I feel there was a huge build up for not much, like when you anticipate a massive firework and it gives a tiny spark and it’s done. If you are looking for an extremely in depth character exploration with tonnes of description, this may be for you but it fell flat for me and was a disappointing read.
Also, trigger warning for animal cruelty.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Child death and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug use, Mental illness, and Rape