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The Light between Oceans: Part 1
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Irene
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Jan 26, 2015 07:59PM

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I think the author has been clever in selecting the title for the duality of its meaning the literal and metaphorical.
Obviously with the literal meaning, the book is set on Janus island which hosts a lighthouse and the lighthouse lights the way in the ocean for the confirmation of location, re-orientate the lost or act as a guiding light.
For me the metaphorical meaning is that there is a clear way (e.g truth, love and forgiveness) through ambiguity.



I wonder have you read the synopsis of the book to give you the bear outline of the story. I know that sometimes if I have not read the synopis, I cannot figure out what the story is about?

Warining: This link contains spoilers for each chapter.
http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-th...



Isabel tells him you always carry your family with you and Tom replies that's a great pity translated from "More's the pity"
Why did he say that?

I think the author has been clever in selecting the title for the duality of its meaning the l..."
I like your analysis, Sue. I agree, it's physically a light(house) between Oceans, a beacon of safety for ships. It's also metaphorically a beacon for Izzy and Tom--they are both dealing with their own PTSD and the incongruous nature of their own inner passion (and turmoil) and their outer worlds of duty and propriety.

Isabel tells him you always carry your family with you and Tom replies that's a great pity translated from "More's the pity"
Why did he ..."
Wow, that's an interesting line to isolate, Irene. I think it highlights the differences between Tom and Isabel. He uses the duty of daily life to move forward and ignore the past, and she carries her past with her. I think he is unable to deal with the ambiguity and uncertainty of his past--both with his biological family and his war brethren. He wishes that they could both just forge ahead and let the past stay where it is. It would be interesting to discuss the success of this idea later in the book.


Is there a particular passage that stood out for you in part 1?

The cover is beautiful. I love lighthouses. I actually made a lighthouse rug from a hook and latch kit.

Thank you, great website.

Wow! That's fabulous. I have friends that can read a book in one day, but I start to drift.

True

It's in ch1, paragraph 8.

I think the author has been clever in selecting the title for the duality of its m..."
Profounding.

I understand the reason he doesn't want to mingle with his past. I know people who live in the past and never moves on from it. It's like they are trapped. He has moved from it and doesn't want to be reminded of it.

Is there a particular passage that stood out for..."
I agree that passage is a memmorable and me with my limited imagination can get a feel for Janus.
The paragraph that stood out for me 'A bit of brass does not make anyone a hero'.....'Most of the blokes who really deserve the medals aren't around any more'.
I think they are quite raw and stark statements. Tom has obviously done something significant to warrant his 'bit of brass' but he his dismissive and down plays it, and just wants to put it behind him. It seems Tom feels less of a hero for survived the war and feels the ultimate heroes are the one who paid for with their lives.
I think Tom is quite traumatized by the war that he took part in as anyone would be.

It's in ch1, paragraph 8."
The part with the gun he has a child is part of a nightmare that mixed with scenes from the war.

Personally probably not, but that does not mean to say couples who live in these such places should not rear children there.
It would certainly be a unique experience as a child being reared on Janus Rock and would certainly be a conversation piece as an adult. My partner was brought up on a farm and that is always curious to me a city girl and now that he is a city boy.
My wariness about Janus Rock would be the isolation, the worry about whether the child would mix socially with other people/children, education, the dangers from the water, rocks, the wild life etc and the delay it would take if urgent medical help was required. Although these dangers could also occur inland but there is readily available help.
To be honest after Izabel had had 2 miscarriages I think should have had her 3rd confinement inland, it probably would not have ultimately made any difference but I am sure the grief over losing her child is further exacerbated by the starkness and rawness of Janus Rock.

I think anyone who fights in a war is a hero.

Oh, ok. Thank you for clarifying it. I reread it a few times.
To dream that you are a small child again suggests that you are feeling the burdens of adulthood. You are trying to escape from your daily responsibility and are looking for someone else to shield, protect and care for you.
To dream that you lose a child represents losing hope. It may also suggest that a project is not working out as you had wanted it to.
Which description above describes Tom?

I think of the island itself as the third character in this book The Light Between Oceans. Janus impacts most every action, emotion, and moment of the day for these two. Their lives would be different in every way if they lived and worked elsewhere.

I understand the reason he doesn't want to mingle with..."
I think you have to be able to accept your past and not dwell on past events.


As we know from the preface, she's going to get them both in trouble with something Tom would never do if he didn't love her and want so badly to make her happy. I always dread the parts where the characters get themselves in trouble. So I'm dreading Part 2. But I'm enjoying he book and the setting and the premise.
I've just finished part one. I think I am going to enjoy the story. I am interested to see where it goes. I am liking the language, the scenery, the story that is slowly building. I like Tom and Izzy's relationship. I find the life living on the island fascinating. I love how they each have their own approach to it. The loss of Izzy's baby was very sad, but now apparently, from the first chapter, they will find a baby washed ashore in a boat. I wonder where this will go, how they will each deal with this.


I understand what you are saying Jennifer. I think every genre goes through popularity trends. I think that the WW story is mixed enough with other thing going on in the story that it should prove to be interesting, or at least I hope so.
Maureen I think your posts are so concise yet spot on. I also felt the dread, but also the curiosity of reading part 2. Its so looming at the end of part 1.

