A review by thebooktrail88
The Lost Lights of St Kilda by Elisabeth Gifford

4.0

Visit the locations in the novel The Lost Lights of St Kilda

A story to transport you to the Outer Hebrides

Oh to be transported to the Outer Hebrides, and the outer, outer Hebrides at that! This is a novel about the very, very small island and community of St Kilda. A remote, isolated and very unique island stuck in time and forgotten by it too. From the start there is a sense that this island is so cut off, even those who live there, forget there is a boat to the mainland at times. Weather of course, permitting.

The island really is the star of the show. You really get to know and feel it with its harsh winters and cold air, but its that sense of impending doom and the claustrophobia which increases as the novel goes along, which should really worry you.

The island is pretty much what you read about in the book in that the story and history is accurate. The author writes in her note at the end of the research and planning that went into this novel and it shows. A fascinating period of Scottish history which is easy to understand in novel form. This is a history of the people of St Kilda and the people are who you get to know close up.

Chrissie was a great character as we learn much about the island and life there from her. How the island and the mainland have formed and shaped her life. The other character I liked was Fred whose story with Archie who he met one summer is another focal point of the whole novel. He sees the island and the war through very different eyes and the two stories merge well to form a colouful and fascinating picture.