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A review by katykelly
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
4.0
4.5 stars
Heart-tugging story of family, love and loss
Possibly not the book to read with a newborn baby! But I wanted to read it before considering the film, and I am glad I have read it, though it really does resonate when you have a small child.
The first 100 pages show the relationship of Tom and Izzy, the man broken by war and reignited by a love for the young woman, who live together manning a lighthouse on an island off Australia. Then a small boat is found one day, with a body and a baby on board. What they choose to do next will echo in their lives and the lives of others...
This really makes you consider what you might do, given their circumstances, who is in the right, who is MORALLY right, what should be done for the best, and just what the consequences would be.
There are several questions contained within, not least about parenting, but also discrimination, love, revenge, family.
It's hard to guess just how the story will end, the characters feel quite real and as such you can't predict just how they are going to act. I felt for Tom and Izzy, but also the baby's birth mother and her extended plight, horrifyingly sad. And of course, the baby...
Very well-written and considered from every perspective. Quite a hard read, if you're likely to get emotionally involved, but uplifting and bittersweet in the end.
I think I will see the film, but I might wait a while, let my hormones settle down before I subject myself to the emotions a second time.
Excellent choice for book group discussions, for those who like historical or family stories.
Heart-tugging story of family, love and loss
Possibly not the book to read with a newborn baby! But I wanted to read it before considering the film, and I am glad I have read it, though it really does resonate when you have a small child.
The first 100 pages show the relationship of Tom and Izzy, the man broken by war and reignited by a love for the young woman, who live together manning a lighthouse on an island off Australia. Then a small boat is found one day, with a body and a baby on board. What they choose to do next will echo in their lives and the lives of others...
This really makes you consider what you might do, given their circumstances, who is in the right, who is MORALLY right, what should be done for the best, and just what the consequences would be.
There are several questions contained within, not least about parenting, but also discrimination, love, revenge, family.
It's hard to guess just how the story will end, the characters feel quite real and as such you can't predict just how they are going to act. I felt for Tom and Izzy, but also the baby's birth mother and her extended plight, horrifyingly sad. And of course, the baby...
Very well-written and considered from every perspective. Quite a hard read, if you're likely to get emotionally involved, but uplifting and bittersweet in the end.
I think I will see the film, but I might wait a while, let my hormones settle down before I subject myself to the emotions a second time.
Excellent choice for book group discussions, for those who like historical or family stories.