The Light Between Oceans in Read by Theme

Aug 30, 2013 Kat rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: udate, historical-fiction

Although The Light Between Oceans was the Goodreads Choice Awards Historical Fiction winner in 2012, I hadn't actually heard of this book until it came up as a Group Read in one of my Goodreads groups. This may show just how little attention I've paid to adult historical fiction over the past couple of years, as usually this kind of book would have immediately been on my radar.

Tom meets Isabel whilst on a temporary posting to Janus, in Western Australia and they have a whirlwind 1920's romance, Although The Light Between Oceans was the Goodreads Choice Awards Historical Fiction winner in 2012, I hadn't actually heard of this book until it came up as a Group Read in one of my Goodreads groups. This may show just how little attention I've paid to adult historical fiction over the past couple of years, as usually this kind of book would have immediately been on my radar.

Tom meets Isabel whilst on a temporary posting to Janus, in Western Australia and they have a whirlwind 1920's romance, quickly ending up living permanently on Janus, where they only return to the mainland very rarely. Living in isolation is something that obviously appeals greatly to Tom, who is trying to escape the horrors of World War I, and Isabel seemingly embraces the isolated beauty of Janus. I didn't quite understand why Isabel was so attracted to Tom, not that he isn't an intriguing character, but it didn't seem to really fit with her outgoing personality, especially living so far from everyone.

The arrival of the unknown baby suddenly pitches their morality into the ocean and they find themselves immediately in conflict - Isabel believes the baby was meant to find them, and Tom is eaten up by the guilt that the child is missing from another family. There are interesting moral debates here, and my opinion swung regularly back and forth between Tom and Isabel as they both presented compelling arguments as to why their decision was the right one.

There is a great deal of atmosphere in The Light Between Oceans - the isolation of Janus is obvious, but it's also the beauty that Stedman brings out through descriptions of the lighthouse and the island itself, coupled with how haunted Tom feels by his experiences in the war.

The Light Between Oceans is undoubtedly emotional - it's hard not to side with a particular character, but I actually found myself torn for both Isabel and Tom as they are forced to make decisions about how to move forward with their lives. The ending itself is a strange mixture of being too fast-paced and yet all the open plot lines are tied up satisfyingly.

The Light Between Oceans definitely poses a lot of moral questions, but although I enjoyed it, I didn't find it to be as heart-wrenching as I thought it may be - in parts it was quite emotional but there was something about Isabel that stopped me from feeling completely sympathetic towards her.

It's good historical fiction that does more than just tell a story - I'm glad I read and enjoyed it, but I did find the ending a little disappointing. ...more

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Dec 04, 2012 Marty Selnick rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

The Light Between Oceans is a well written novel. I will add that you should be prepared to have your emotions wrenched about, not that that is a bad thing.

Set in the 1920s, a man who fought on the western front is suffering from post-traumatic stress and returns to Australia. He takes a job as lighthouse keeper on a small island off the coast between the Indian and Southern oceans, where he hopes to find peace.

The novel poses questions about morality, honor and good and evil. It is about what ...more

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Dec 19, 2013 Carly Svamvour rated it it was amazing

I finished the audio version this evening. It is read by Noah Taylor. He has a voice that so puts you in mind of a seaside location.

Don't know exactly why I ordered the CD's from the library - could be for two reasons:

1) ... there is some group who has it on for the monthly read - that's how I usually choose my books;

2) i just luuuuuvvvvvv that title!

Maybe it was for both reasons - dunno'. If you happen to know, gimmee a 'hey'.

Either way, I'm glad I did. This is one of those stories that grabs ...more

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