August & September 2013 Fiction Group Read - The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

[Alannah]

Heather wrote: "It seems like the group have generally enjoyed it and got through it quite fast. I'm really looking forward to starting."

I wasn't planning on reading it but once I saw the raving reviews for it, I decided to try it and I am so glad I did.

[LauraT]

I'm going on. I'm quit liking it, still I want to see where it gets to. I'm really looking forward to eee what you all think

[Amber]

I just started today and am up to chapter 6 (pg. 90 of 550). I got the large print edition at the library and its pretty interesting so far. I started to read it at the church labor day picnic. I'm farther now. :-)

[Leslie]

Just checked & my copy is in transit, so I should get sometime this week :)

[Alannah]

Leslie wrote: "Just checked & my copy is in transit, so I should get sometime this week :)"

That's great, I can't wait for you to see how great it is. :D

[Ava Catherine]

I read this book when it was first released and really enjoyed it. I look forward to re- reading it.

[Amber]

I'm halfway through the large print edition of this book and its still pretty good so far. I'll read more tonight as I read at night before I go to bed. i'm on page 174 of 550 right now.

[Amber]

I'm almost done with the light between oceans. It is a pretty good read and I'll post my review when I finish. Got up to 349 of page 550 today. :-)

[Anastasia]

I started this the last night: I read only the first 50 pages, but it seems nice: the setting is beautiful. :)

[Alannah]

Anastasia wrote: "I started this the last night: I read only the first 50 pages, but it seems nice: the setting is beautiful. :)"

I think that's what really kept me wanting to read on.

[Shirley]

I particularly enjoyed all the symbolism in the book - I think the contrasts between light and dark, truth and lies were very cleverly weaved into the story. Can't wait for more to finish this, as there are lots of issues to discuss, but don't want to give away anything!!

[Amber]

Just finished the light between oceans today. It was a pretty good read. You can view my review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... .

[Anastasia]

I'm in the middle: the setting remains the better part of the entire book, the story is not bad, although I don't like Isabel. I will wait to ask what you think about her character and her choices. :)

[Anastasia]

I finished it yesterday: now I'll wait till we can discuss it. :-D

[Leslie]

Anastasia wrote: "I finished it yesterday: now I'll wait till we can discuss it. :-D"

We seem to have read the group reads in opposite order :) I am starting this today!

[LauraT]

Yes Leslie!!! We'll wait for you and then we'll say what each of us has thought about it!

[Shirley]

Did anyone find that the constant changes between past and present tense was irritating? I did enjoy the book but I did not like this as a writing style at all!

[Anastasia]

Leslie wrote: "Anastasia wrote: "I finished it yesterday: now I'll wait till we can discuss it. :-D"

We seem to have read the group reads in opposite order :) I am starting this today!"

:) are you liking it?

Shirley wrote: "Did anyone find that the constant changes between past and present tense was irritating? I did enjoy the book but I did not like this as a writing style at all!"

Yes, a little, I think that a linear approach to the story wouldn't have ruined anything.

[Leslie]

Shirley wrote: "Did anyone find that the constant changes between past and present tense was irritating? ..."

Not until you mentioned it, but now I am!

I just finished Part 2 and must say that I found this section fairly predicable. I am not liking Isabel much either...

[Alannah]

Shirley wrote: "Did anyone find that the constant changes between past and present tense was irritating? I did enjoy the book but I did not like this as a writing style at all!"

It took me a while to really understand what was going on, that's why I didn't give it five stars.

[Leslie]

I finished this today. I was a bit disappointed in this, partly because I had heard such great things about it - I think that I had too high expectations. But partly because, although the characters were well-drawn, the plot was just not my kind of thing... I was annoyed with Isabel almost the entire book - even before Lucy arrived, when she refused to let Tom send for a doctor. She only thinks about herself, while saying that she is doing things for the sake of Lucy or Tom or God... Grrr!!!

[Anastasia]

Leslie wrote: "I finished this today. I was a bit disappointed in this, partly because I had heard such great things about it - I think that I had too high expectations. But partly because, although the charact..."

You're right, you're right! Her selfishness annoyed me, but fortunately she admits then that she did what she did for her happiness rather than for others. Her character is very immature, and I don't approve neither the ending given to her with all the story of cancer, it's so..Sparks-like. :-D Fatalist and melodramatic. I liked more Hannah.

[Tweedledum]

Just finished ch 2. Think I'm going to really enjoy it!

[Shirley]

One thing I did enjoy about the book was the moral issues of right and wrong that the characters had to face as the plot developed. (view spoiler)[In the end there was no solution that suited everyone, and the ending was very sad, but I do think that if they had done the right thing in the first place, they would have saved themselves so much anguish. I thought it was interesting that it was Tom's wartime experience which led him to put things right and send Lucy back to her real mother. Here was something that he could actually put right, and make atonement for.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[LauraT]

I was also a bit disappointed: a bit too "sugary", even if as Shirley said it ended badly for almost anyone.
Isabel was selfish, for sure, but she also devoted her life to a husband not able of understanding the loneliness he imposed on her. All right, she knew beforehand where and how she was going to live, still it wasn't a "normal" life. I don't think that it was only because of mercury that the precedents workers had gone mad!!!
It didn't bother me too much the jumping up and doown the time, and I particularly appreciated the mention of the first world war with the chock and guilty feeling of the survivors ...

[Tweedledum]

Well I don't know about the rest of the story yet but the writing in ch 3 is beautiful. "All night, far above him the light stood guard, slicing the darkness like a sword"

[LauraT]

Tweedledum wrote: "Well I don't know about the rest of the story yet but the writing in ch 3 is beautiful. "All night, far above him the light stood guard, slicing the darkness like a sword""

Yes, I do agree. I've always liked Dickens style, but I'm finding his last works - as Hard Times for instance - more "beautifully" written; more compact...

[Tweedledum]

I have just finished this book and would like to say "thank you" to everyone who suggested it. In the end I just could not stop reading and have posted a review. I was powerfully moved by the story and although along with others I initially wanted to condemn Izzy who could say what they might have done under the same circumstances.

[Amber]

Glad you liked it tweedledum. ^_^ I enjoyed it too.

[LauraT]

Glad you all liked our firs choice for a group read!

[[deleted user]]

I'm still yet to start! Are we keeping the threads open after the end of the month so I can post my thoughts when I get back from holiday?

[LauraT]

Of course Heather. take all the time you need.

[[deleted user]]

Just started this and already I'm hooked. Read part 1 on the 1st leg of my train journey. It's beautifully written and although I can see where things could head I don't have a definite idea. I would love to visit Janus but maybe just for a week! It's made to sound like a wild paradise!

[Tracey]

Heather wrote: "Just started this and already I'm hooked. Read part 1 on the 1st leg of my train journey. It's beautifully written and although I can see where things could head I don't have a definite idea. I wou..."

Hi Heather, I m really glad it hooked you at the start it did me too. The story is really good and powerful (hope you have your tissues ready?) the writing as you say is beautiful. Enjoy your holiday :)

[Amber]

Hey Heather I hope you enjoy reading it. I got the hardback large print edition when I read it and it was a pretty good read when I finished that I gave it a good review on here. I loved the lighthouse photo they took for the cover of that one. Have a great vacation! ^_^

[[deleted user]]

Finished Part 2. Absolutely devouring it! I find some of the baby talk when Lucy speaks a bit unnatural and irritating but I can understand why it's needed. I so far haven't felt irritating by Isabel. I don't know why but I completely understand why she did what she has done up until this point. I can't help thinking others might have done the same. (view spoiler)[ particularly has her hormones would have been crazy just 2 weeks after a still birth and by the time things settled she would have already loved Lucy and been in too deep. I'm more annoyed by Tom sending the notes and I feel sorry for Bluey as it must have been tough to give his friend to the police. I don't really understand how Hannah and Lucy will be able to bond after all this time (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Finished! That is what a 5hour journey can do! I enjoyed the book.
I think the ending let it down although I can't really think how I would change it. (view spoiler)[ I know it's really horrible and dark but something like Isabel committing suicide would have been a more realistic ending as she was tormented into stealing a child by a miscarriage so to be a peace with losing Lucy seems out of character. But then clearly I'm a dark and morbid person for thinking that. I am pleased with the fact they both had a short time in prison and that Lucy-Grace was able to get through her traumatic childhood relatively unscathed. I think Hannah was probably the most accurate character and I'm glad she asked for clemency which is the thing that enabled her to move on with her life (hide spoiler)]
I also enjoyed the moral dilemmas throughout the book and I think you could always empathise with a characters choice. I actually didn't mind Isabel. I think she was very lonely and a child was her way of creating a more 'normal' life for herself on Janus
Overall 4*, losing one for a cop-out ending bit a beautifully written and cleverly conceived book. I didn't cry but only because I was just at the last chapter when my tube arrived at my stop so finished the book in the queue for Heathrow security!

[Amber]

Yeah the ending could've been better, but I gave it a 5 because I enjoyed the story and it was a pretty good read.

[LauraT]

Heather wrote: "I'm more annoyed by Tom sending the notes "
Exactly my thought! If you do something, have the guts to go on with it till the end! But coming from a catholic country, even if I'm not catholic myself!, I can sort of understand sense of guilt!

Amber wrote: "Yeah the ending could've been better..."
Indeed it could! I think that nowadays you wouldn't keep a child from the "foster mother" even if she did a big mistake! But maybe at that time it could have happend.

[Shirley]

Heather wrote: "Finished! That is what a 5hour journey can do! I enjoyed the book.
I think the ending let it down although I can't really think how I would change it. [spoilers removed]
I also enjoyed the moral d..."

Glad you liked it, Heather. I really liked the moral issues that the book made you think about, because situations like this are rarely black and white, and people do things for the best intentions but then regret them later. I think also people lie to themselves and believe their own lies in order to justify what they do, and I think this was clearly shown in this story. I love books that make you think and examine yourself, and how you would react in that situation. I wasn't too happy with the ending, either, and think perhaps the ending you suggest would have fitted better with Isabel's character.

[Leslie]

re Heather's alternate ending - (view spoiler)[I seem to recall that Isabel was in a clinic or sanitorium for a while after the trial - I assumed it was either to prevent her from committing suicide or because she had attempted it. Did I imagine this? It was just a line or two in the conversation between Tom and Hannah after his release... (hide spoiler)]

[Kai]

I rated it 3 stars. I agree with others who said the writing was too sugary.

(view spoiler)[ It reminded me heavily of the Biblical story of the two women who both claimed to be the mother of the same child. The fake mother, Isabel, cares little who is hurt by her actions - Tom, Hannah, and even Lucy. I thought it was incredibly cruel of her to not prepare Lucy for the hand-off. Yes, I think she was in denial, but it was just another example of Isabel putting herself first. Hannah, the true mother, tries to put Lucy's feelings before her own, even if it ultimately leads to giving up her child. (hide spoiler)]

[Shirley]

Leslie wrote: "re Heather's alternate ending - [spoilers removed]"

Yes, you're right, Leslie, (view spoiler)[ she did spend some time in a nursing home, and was still there six months after Lucy went back to her real mother. <\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[LauraT]

Kai wrote: "I rated it 3 stars. I agree with others who said the writing was too sugary.

[spoilers removed]"

It was me! I'm glad I was not the only one to feel this way!!!

[Tweedledum]

If the light between oceans has whetted your appetite for more on lighthouses and you are in the UK check out this website.

http://www.alk.org.uk/

[Leslie]

Tweedledum wrote: "If the light between oceans has whetted your appetite for more on lighthouses and you are in the UK check out this website.

http://www.alk.org.uk/"

:) Sadly, here in the US most lighthouses are now automated. No more lighthouse keepers...

[LauraT]

Leslie wrote: :) Sadly, here in the US most lighthouses are now automated. No more lighthouse keepers...

I think that's everywhere the same!
I was in Ancona last saturday - a nice costal town in the Marche Region - and there's a beautiful park there with an outstanding jew cemitery, close to a XIX Cent. lighthouse. Next to it there's the new one, all autometed :(

[MaryannC Victorian Dreamer]

I thought this was pretty good.

[Alannah]

A great choice for a first book.

[Amber]

I enjoyed this book and it was a great pick for the book club. :-)