Shonna’s Comments (group member since Jun 06, 2016)

Shonna’s comments from the The Light Between Oceans Read-A-Long group.

1. I think it was wrong for Gwen to bring Lucy to see Isabel even though I know she meant well. Hannah is Lucy's mother and parents don't always make the right decisions but they make them out of love and her decisions need to be respected. I would be very angry with my sister. She had no right to intervene.

2. I was very surprised with Isabel's decision. I really didn't think she was going to come forward, especially after Hannah's offer. I actually thought Tom and Hannah might end up together.

What a twisted story! I can't even imagine a way to help Lucy adjust. Especially considering that she hasn't had a traditional upbringing on Janus. She's not used to so many people and things after living on an island. The only advice I would have is just give her time. I know Hannah wants to smother her with love but I think she needs to be slow. It must be so hard for Hannah.

I think Tom will continue to accept the full blame but I think some character witnesses from the village will begin to come forward and defend Tom. Hannah might be one of them. I think the doctor will come forward and testify that Isabelle is unable to have children of her own.

1. For me the most shocking was Hannah being the woman on the boat. I had to go back and reread that chapter. That part of the story seemed so insignificant. More just setting the character of Tom. Definitely the most shocking. But I think the meeting on the boat was fairly insignificant. They didn't exchange names and no relationship was formed - that we can tell. Isabel seems to be blowing it out of proportion. Tom never realized the two women were the same and it was before he met Isabel.

2. There will definitely be a lot of heartbreak as this unravels. Anger too. I hope Isabel takes her share of the responsibility so that all the shame doesn't fall on poor Tom.

3. For sure, there is sympathy for Isabel. All she has wanted is to be a mother. She has deeply cared and loved Lucy. Isabel has also suffered great losses. But her happiness now is at the expense of Hannah and her family's happiness. Also, Isabel didn't set out to do wrong and take someone's baby. The baby came to her.

4. I think that Isabel is so angry with Tom for upsetting her world that she will let Tom take all the blame.

Wouldn't it be a crazy twist if Hannah and Tom end up together?

1. Unfotunately this was not a surprise for me as I had accidentally read ahead in the discussion group. My fault!

2. When Isabel says “Tom is a good man. Tom will do the right thing, always: she can rely on that.”, it made me wonder if she was trying to convince herself. The fact that she mailed the letter tells me that her conscious is bothering her at least a wee bit. Perhaps by saying this and believing this she is also convincing herself that if it was horribly wrong then Tom wouldn't go along with it.

3. I'm definitely on Team Hannah. She deserves to have Lucy returned to her. Especially after hearing the circumstances that caused Lucy to be in the boat. So devastating!

I feel like the fact that Tom buried the father on the island is going to come back to haunt him. Also the rattle and I think Lucy was wrapped in a shawl. Tom seems ready to crack! I wonder what Ralph would have said if Tom would have confessed his true worries. Which team would Ralph be on?

1. I have sympathy for all of them. Each of them has suffered loss. The grandparents, Izzy, Tom, Lucy and her birth mother. I suppose I feel most sympathetic to Tom as he seems to suffer the most with his moral dilema.

2. I don't think I'm shifting yet. I think Tom should have done the right thing and notified the authorities about the body and baby.

3. The quote is a reminder that Izzy is still fairly young and yes, naive. I think she is blinded by her desire to be a mother and doesn't consider the consequences for Tom or Lucy's birth mother.

Tom is very respectful and buries Lucy's father rather than sending him back out to sea. I can't help but wonder if the body will be unearthed and discovered shortly. Also, the rattle seemed to be an interesting part of the story. It seems unique and expensive. Will it provide a clue to someone?

I think that if somehow Izzy's parents do discover the truth that they might actually be willing to maintain the secret as well.

I think Tom is most torn between seeing things two ways. The best example is when Izzy is lying on the floor bleeding from the miscarriage and the sight of all the blood brings him back to the past of his war days.

I think Tom especially struggles with the opposites he faces. Right and wrong. Life and Death. Past and Future.

Tom certainly has some issues with having been abandoned by his mother. I'm sure his heart strings are pulled to see this newfound baby that seems to be abandoned.

Izzy is definitely laying claim on baby Lucy. No doubt about it. Ongoing I think Tom will struggle to think of Lucy as his own. They have made love for the first time since the miscarriage. I wonder if this love making will produce their first child.

Very intriguing characters! Tom is estranged from his father. Why? Why does Tom think it's a good idea to isolate himself on an island after suffering the trauma of war? Perhaps not a bad idea really. He seemed to handle the first three months well.

Isabel is quite the girl. Spunky and outspoken. Flirty. She seems happy with her current life. Why take such a risk and head to a deserted island with basically a stranger? I wonder what her parents are going to say?

I think Isabel will hold the sway. Tom seems quiet and easy going.

This has been on my To-Read list for a while but I don't have a copy of it yet. I didn't realise it is coming out as a movie. Definitely must read before the movie. I love the idea of a Read-Along. I'm in!