The Light Between Oceans by M.L.Stedman
I read this book on the advice of someone who had read it and loved it. I was not disappointed. While the main character, Tom Sherbourne, joins together, not only the other characters but also events stretching from WWI through to the 1950s, it is the lighthouse that has the central position. The description of the lighthouse, off the south-west coast of Australia, and the area around it, is beautiful, and it permeates the entire book. There is a delicate balance between poetic descriptions of natural features, both on the island and on the mainland, and the suspenseful telling of the story.
Without going into too much detail, the discovery, by Tom, the lighthouse keeper, and his young wife, Isabel, of a dead man and a baby washed up in a small boat initiate an overwhelming sequence of events. Right and wrong become blurred at the edges and decisions made, for whatever reason, draw heavy lines across the lives of all those involved. In fact, like the horror of Tom’s experiences in WWI, these choices and experiences embed themselves in each and everyone of the people affected, stretching across decades. A book well worth reading.(The photo of M.L.Stedman is from www.elle.it)
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2 Replies to “The Light Between Oceans by M.L.Stedman”
Your book reviews tantalize… I write everyday… Only wish I could read more than I do…my cataracts get worse with each passing day. My wife, however, is a voracious reader. Good review, Diane. All the best to you during the holidays and the new year…
Thank you so much, Billy Ray. I am so sorry to hear about your cataracts – it must be awfully frustrating when writing and reading are the two things you seem to love most (after your family of course). Thank you for your holiday wishes and the same to you and your family.