The Light Between Oceans

[Mary Pat]

This thread is to discuss M. L. Stedman‘s book, The Light Between Oceans.


***Please remember to mark spoilers.***

Participants: Cassandra, Lisa, Janine, Eileen, Allison

[Mary Pat]

Suggested break down of reading so that you can check in and let us know how you're doing. The following breakdown is purely a suggestion and is therefore not set in stone.

Rather than putting dates for each section I've done it so that it takes into account that not everybody will necessarily have the book at the same time.

Week 1: 85.75
Week 2: 85.75
Week 3: 85.75
Week 4: 85.75

[Lisa]

I've got the book ready to go on my kindle! I'm so excited to get started with this one!! My first buddy read - yaaay!

PS. There's a slight ginormous chance that I've had too much coffee today, hence the overuse of exclamation marks, but the enthusiasm is there nonetheless :)

[Janine]

I picked my copy up from the library last week so I'm ready to go soon too!

Thinking about the split, there are 37 chapters, so roughly 9 chapters each week (page numbers for my copy are very different). I'll have to renew my copy half way through the month so may have to speed up reading it if someone else requests it. :)

[Mary Pat]

Lisa wrote: "I've got the book ready to go on my kindle! I'm so excited to get started with this one!! My first buddy read - yaaay!

PS. There's a slight ginormous chance that I've had too much coffee today, he..."

Enthusiasm is always appreciated no matter what the cause! :) Enjoy your first buddy read!

[Mary Pat]

The breakdown of pages is only a suggestion for folks to follow if they choose. You can read at whatever pace you would like - faster or slower. Just remember to mark spoilers so the story line is not revealed to those who are not as far ahead.

[Eileen]

I'll read the book with you :) starting next week

[Mary Pat]

Eileen wrote: "I'll read the book with you :) starting next week"

I have added you to the list of participants! Enjoy!

[Lisa]

Yay! Welcome Eileen :)

[Lisa]

Are you all commencing this week?
My Kindle version is apparently a bit longer so my break down of pages looks a little different :)

I started reading last night and got to chapter 3. It's definitely not a genre I generally reach for but off to a good start :)

[Janine]

I'll be starting this weekend :)

[Cassandra]

I've got a book to get through with my TBR twin before diving into this one, but then I can get started.

[Allison]

The Book Snails Book Group (I'm co-mod over there) is just starting this book for our Feb. 2017 BOTM. I don't know if we will have any discussion threads though. I don't have a copy right now (the 2 library copies are currently checked out) but I put a hold request. May I join in if I get a copy and have time?

[Mary Pat]

Allison wrote: "The Book Snails Book Group (I'm co-mod over there) is just starting this book for our Feb. 2017 BOTM. I don't know if we will have any discussion threads though. I don't have a copy right now (the ..."

Of course you may! I will add you to the list of participants!

[Janine]

So I started last night, and got quite a bit of the way through actually. I made it to Chapter 8. I've found it to be such a pleasant, easy read so far, though perhaps things might get a bit more dramatic and emotional later on. I haven't actually read much fiction that takes place post-WWI, most of the early 20th century historical fiction I've read takes place during the wars.

Spoilers for Chapters 1 + 2:
(view spoiler)[I like the choice to have the first chapter setting the scene of the arrival of the baby, then going back 8 years to see how we got there. I'm wondering when we're going to catch up to that point as I was expecting the arrival of the baby to start the bulk of the plot off!

Anyone else found themselves questioning during Ch2 if every girl he met along the way was Izzy - girl on the boat, girl with the seagulls, girl at dinner etc.? They were purposefully unnamed to make us question that I think! (hide spoiler)]

[Lisa]

Janine wrote: "So I started last night, and got quite a bit of the way through actually. I made it to Chapter 8. I've found it to be such a pleasant, easy read so far, though perhaps things might get a bit more d..."

Janine, in regards to your question in your spoiler section... (view spoiler)[Izzy is the girl at the dinner or at least that's how I understood it, since she is introduced by name. (hide spoiler)]

I got halfway through chapter 3 last night and simply dozed off. The pace (so far) is a bit too mellow so I might have to stop reading this book right before bed :D

[Janine]

Lisa wrote: "Janine wrote: "So I started last night, and got quite a bit of the way through actually. I made it to Chapter 8. I've found it to be such a pleasant, easy read so far, though perhaps things might g..."

Spoiler section: (view spoiler)[Oh yes I know she is, she's both the seagull girl and the dinner girl, but we didn't know she was the seagull girl until after, and they first introduce Izzy as 'their daughter' keeping the mystery for another couple of paragraphs. So we had three introductions to and 'unnamed girl' before we got a name which just amused me. (hide spoiler)]

I agree it is rather mellow, but I'm quite liking that. I just finished an action-heavy Sci Fi book so it's quite nice to have a change of pace!

[Mary Pat]

It is the end of the first week in February and I thought I would check in. Is every one enjoying the book so far?

[Lisa]

So I tried posting an answer from the app on my phone but I noticed it cut me off after posting, so trying this again:

Even though it's a genre outside my comfort zone and I'm still getting used to the pace, i really enjoy the story so far :)

One thing I've noticed, that I'm not really certain how I am feeling about yet, is the shift in tense, predominantly between chapter 3 & 4. I just can't figure out why M.L. Stedman thought it was necessary since it's still in the same timeline.

There is something that I'm really regretting and that is watching the trailer for the movie, as I feel that now I have certain ideas and expectations to the progression of the plot.

[Jennifer]

I am a little late to the party and would still like to join if I may. I have the book, and just finished up another and am ready to go.

[Lisa]

Jennifer wrote: "I am a little late to the party and would still like to join if I may. I have the book, and just finished up another and am ready to go."

Welcome to the discussion Jennifer :)

[Cassandra]

I'm about a quarter of the way through now. It's taking me a little bit to get into it because it's so quiet and mellow, but it's nice too.

My comments re: spoilers above: (view spoiler)[I really like the multiple introductions to Izzy since it sets up a very cute series of coincidences. It's like they were meant to be together, which is cheesy but I think it works in this kind of book. (hide spoiler)]

Spoilers until after chapter 9: (view spoiler)[I can't imagine how difficult it must be to have a miscarriage on an island like that. It already must be so terrifying and isolating, but to already be isolated and so far away from family and doctors... I have a lot of respect for these folks who tended lighthouses. The piano tuning was adorable though - I'm glad Tom is trying to help however he can. (hide spoiler)]

[Lisa]

I'm truly finding Tom's little insights to life thought provoking, and I think it's interesting how it's the banal actions that help him get through the everyday. How he "takes comfort from the orderliness of it" and "finds a freedom in the silence".

I really love how you have these two people worlds apart, this broken man and this seriously naive young woman, that come together.

(view spoiler)[The "would she understand his world?" line at the end of chapter 6, along with "And something in him was saddened at the dissection of the island, the splitting off into the good and the bad, the safe and the dangerous. He preferred to think of it as a whole" ... (hide spoiler)] like OMG that just... even though heartbreaking, is just my favorite part of the book so far.

[Janine]

Re: Cassandra's Ch9 spoiler section:

(view spoiler)[Completely agree with you. It's unimaginable, especially in today's state of constant instant connection! My heart broke at the line about the storm meaning Tom didn't hear Izzy's screams. Not only is she isolated from everyone on this island, in that moment of need she was also isolated from Tom who spent the night tending to the light instead of her. (hide spoiler)]

[Lisa]

I like that part I and part II are set in the same time and space and everything between is really everything in between.

I don't know if it's just me getting used to the genre and writing style and getting into the story more and more, but I do feel like it's easy-reading once you some of those chapters in the beginning. Might just be me :)

[Cassandra]

I finished Part II last night. Two non-spoilerish things that come to mind:

1. Does anyone get the feeling that all of these people are wrong but their motivations are totally understandable?

2. This is the most single-minded plot that I've ever read, I think. There aren't any subplots - it really just focuses on Tom, Isabel, Lucy, and the people they know on the island.

[Lisa]

I agree on both accounts Cassandra.

Back when Izzy is making her case to Tom all her reasoning are kind of logical.
It's like... what's better this or this? Why have a lose-lose situation, when you could have a win-win.
I kinda understand the benevolent intentions but still... they are just so.. infuriating at the same time...

I've only read up to chapter 13, so here are some spoiler thoughts that go more in depth in relation to what I wrote above :)
(view spoiler)[I mean really... I get that no one wants to see children end up in the system jumping from foster home to foster home, but seriously? So maybe the mother's dead, so what? Is it not at all plausible that this little baby could have other living relatives? I mean... come on! Argh!
And poor Tom that is just trying to do whatever it takes to make Isabel happy again, eventhough it clearly goes against his morals. The dream he had at the end of chapter 12... if that isn't symbolism, I don't know what is (hide spoiler)]

Eventhough it gets a bit monotonous, I actually like that there are no distractions from the central theme - no side-plots that take away from Izzy and Tom's narrative.

[Janine]

Cassandra wrote: "1. Does anyone get the feeling that all of these people are wrong but their motivations are totally understandable?"

Very much so. I think that's a key element to the book. You can understand why they've done something, but at the same time are just thinking, 'this is a terrible idea'.

Cassandra wrote: ""2. This is the most single-minded plot that I've ever read, I think. There aren't any subplots - it really just focuses on Tom, Isabel, Lucy, and the people they know on the island.

I think it fits really well with the setting of the book. They're so isolated from everyone else on Janus island, and so we as readers are isolated with them.

[Cassandra]

I totally agree! I love the connection to the isolation of Janus Rock and the focus on our few characters.

[Nik]

Hallo, I'm just starting the book, thought I'd join in. =)

[Lisa]

Welcome Nik

[Janine]

As the story goes on, I'm finding myself more and more uncomfortable. You just know it can't all end well! I'm still very much enjoying it, but I think I might speed through the rest of the book as I just need to know how it all ends.

Ch17 spoilers:
(view spoiler)[Finding out Lucy's birth mother was alive was heartbreaking enough, but then learning the story of why Frank and the baby were in the boat. My goodness! It's so very difficult, because Lucy has brought so much joy to not only Izzy and Tom, but also Izzy's parents. But there's been so much heartache for Hannah and her family. Whatever happens, someone gets hurt. It feels like a quandary with no right answer! (hide spoiler)]

[Lisa]

Question:
Anyone care to venture a guess at to how old Isabel is when she goes to the doctor and he tells her that thing he tells her?

[Nik]

Reading chapter 3. A little bored, so far. Not loving the dual timelines, but I think that's one of my reading challenges so yay.

[Cassandra]

Lisa... I'm picturing Isabel at about 30 years old, but I'm not sure if that's right. There isn't a lot to anchor the characters in time.

Janine: (view spoiler)[I totally agree! I was squirming a bit as I was reading more about Hannah and the reason for Lucy being on the boat and how much her life had been destroyed by losing her child and husband at once. Giving Lucy back isn't going to be good for anyone, since Lucy is old enough to have formed a strong attachment to her "parents" and has memories of her time at the lighthouse, but keeping her isn't good for Hannah and it's tearing Tom apart. Every way you turn, there's heartache. (hide spoiler)]

Nik, I was a little bored throughout the early part of the book. It doesn't exactly get more "exciting" since it still focuses entirely on Tom and Isabel - but I did start getting more invested in the characters, which helped.

[Nik]

Cassandra wrote: "…but I did start getting more invested in the characters, which helped."

Yep, that started happening during the picnic and I agree it helps. Thanks!

[Nik]

Lisa: (view spoiler)[Not even 30, if I'm remembering things correctly. (hide spoiler)]

Finished the book a bit ago. There's something I find unbelievable in the actual storytelling. You know how, sometimes, you read something about a character, or a bit of dialogue, and you think, Gaw, only a cis man would say that! And it doesn't ring true, because the character is a woman? I experienced the inverse of that, in that some of the thoughts attributed to Tom simply didn't ring true to me.

Anyway. There was a fair amount of sniffling and weeping towards the end, which earned it an extra star, but in general I thought things were laid on a bit thickly.

I did enjoy the very Aussie turns of phrase and colloquialisms, as well as some new-to-me animal names. =) (I mean, what visit to Australia would be complete without (view spoiler)[the mention of venomous creatures (hide spoiler)], right?)

[Eileen]

Hey, just to let you know that I'll be starting this book tonight since I've just finished reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy with the group read. I'll try to catch you up :)

[Lisa]

I am currently stuck... I kept trying to read chapter 17 (it's the one with Septimus Pott) and I just couldn't.... I had to re-read the same page at least 3 times because my attention just wasn't there.. and then ultimately fell asleep while reading :D

[Janine]

Lisa wrote: "I am currently stuck... I kept trying to read chapter 17 (it's the one with Septimus Pott) and I just couldn't.... I had to re-read the same page at least 3 times because my attention just wasn't t..."

Oh dear, not a good sign! Hope you find you can pick it up and get back into it again.

Personally, my attention was kept through a desperation to find out the course of action different characters were going to choose. Just so many bad decisions being made!

[Lisa]

I think it's because I have sense of how things will evolve. Plus the fact that I've felt a moral detachment due to all the bad decisions being made so far :D But I guess I might be mistaken, I guess we'll see :) I definitely want to push through and finish it.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

I read this book just a few months ago. I think most of you are having the same experience I did. While the book is well-written, it's kind of dull at times during the first half and maybe a bit beyond that point. I found that the last 100 pages were so emotionally gripping that I had to set everything aside and read them in one sitting which bumped the book from a 3-star to a 4-star rating for me. (Review here if you're interested: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) I'm really happy I read it, although it's not my usual kind of book.

[Lisa]

Oh boy! Oh Tom, Tommy, Thomas, Tom, Tom... ! Oh those Sherbournes (view spoiler)[Damn you Tommy-boy with your conscience and your anonymous notes. (hide spoiler)]

[Lisa]

Finished the book last night! (view spoiler)[It had me in an emotional ping -pong all the way through part III. I just felt it all; the "betrayal", the agony, the rage, the fear, the confusion, the abandonment, the despair, the concession.... (hide spoiler)]
It ended the way I had foreseen and am actually glad it did - In my opinion it's what needed to happen :)

I'll be watching the movie today and I'm anticipating a lot of blubbering and sniffling.

[Eileen]

Hey :) I'm at the middle of the book so here's what I thought about the first half:
(view spoiler)[ I like her writing style for now. It's amazing how the two main characters are totally different, even opposite. I'm not really fond of Isabel, her behavior is too childish and selfish for me to like her. She seems to enjoy being out "of the law" and pushing her husband out of his comfort zone. I don't really like how she "manipulate" him into doing what she wants (even if he doesn't want it at first, he just wants to please her). She is really impulsive (cf the part with the supposed-to-be doctor on the island) and I could sense from the beginning that her actions and her behavior will have not so pleasant consequences.
It was so sad to read about the story of Hannah and Grace/Lucy. I wonder how Tom and Isobel will live with their guilt now they know about the mother.
Those are strong words from me but this story moves me :p (hide spoiler)]

[Janine]

I also finished the book. I read the second half quite quickly as I felt like I needed the resolution!

With regards to the ending; Lisa I agree. I found the ending satisfying and it's what I wanted. (view spoiler)[Not to say it wasn't hard and emotional of course, but as soon as we learned that Hannah was alive I felt that's the way it had to go. (hide spoiler)] I'd love to know how you get on with the film, I've not seen it.

Eileen - it's interesting you saw that. I think I was seeing Isobel through Tom's eyes for at least the beginning of the book so looked upon her quite favourably, it was only some of the actions and behaviours you mentioned that made me start to dislike her a little. Then again, I think Isobel was changed by everything that happened, it'd be hard not to be!

[Lisa]

Eileen - I agree that Isabel seems very impulsive. She definitely acts first, then thinks (if at all). However, I don't think it's with a malicious streak... I honestly don't believe she intends on being manipulative (at least not at first).

My thoughts on Isabel: (view spoiler)[She just becomes so delusional with grief that she believes she is entitled a child from all the heartbreak of her miscarriages She's overtaken by tunnel vision of the desperate want of a child.
Honestly, her arguments are so well crafted that it makes sense - I was in a constant moral dilemma during the whole "should they, shouldn't they" episode. (hide spoiler)]

As for Tom, while his resolve is weakened in moments of emotional chaos, he could've stopped it all from the get-go. I get why he gives in, though. He would've lost it all, including Isabel.

[Lisa]

Btw, with regards to the ending: (view spoiler)[Did anyone else feel that it ended a bit to... "tidily"? Particularly with Tom & Isabel continuing their lives together. I mean, she's his lobster, (I could not help myself, I had to get the reference to Friends in there) I get that but still... (hide spoiler)]

[Mary Pat]

Great to see such interesting conversations as we enter the third week of February! Might have to add this book to my TBR!

[Lisa]

I just finished watching the movie.... and uhm... it was... not what I was expecting.
Some discrepancies kinda threw me off. I had imagined certain passages from the book that would've worked well as scenes. All in all, I just wanted something more from the movie.

Not to say that I didn't like the movie, I most certainly did, I just enjoyed the book more :) Which is surprising to me.

Has anyone else seen the movie? Would love to compare and discuss the movie and book if anyone is planning on seeing the film at some point :)