The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
I wish I had read this book sooner! It wasn’t really what I expected…it was so much more.
The story begins as a mystery. We do not know the significance of the crosses on the hill and we discover a dead man in a boat with a crying baby. The immediate response is to take action, which is what Tom and Isabel do. What starts to take flight in the beginning is the two different reactions by the two main characters of the book. Tom is the rule follower and is quick to make decisions and to take action in the “right” direction. However, Isabel is in a state of depression and desperation which makes her decision making more skewed and in the “wrong” direction.
But if you view it from Isabel’s perspective, is it an “answer from God” in response to the miscarriages? Or is it a coincidence? Do you view it as an act of faith or as a lucky coincidence? Isabel is clearly in a state of despair and will do anything and justify anything in order to satisfy he need to be a mother. She clearly manipulates her husbands need to please her and his guilt for having taken her to Janus, as well as his guilt of not being able to save her from the miscarriages. His guilt is his weakness. Her despair is hers.
But at the root of these two people is their undying love. They reiterate their vows throughout the story “from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.” This book was so heartbreaking because you felt so badly for Isabel and Tom’s loss but on the other side, you feel for Hannah and the losses she has. However, one person could be happy again through the same vehicle that would deny Isabel and Tom their happiness.
This story hit on all aspects of love and its durability and undying hope for happiness. It was heartbreaking as a reader to feel the angst of loss with all of these characters. I felt happy for Isabel and Tom for finding the answer to their lost babies and I felt terrible that Hannah was taking away their daughter. It was a strange emotion to have. It was an unexpected side to take.
This was a beautifully told story with a landscape to match. All that Janus embodies with its beauty, isolation, tragedy and pleasantries, is the perfect background for the ebbs and flows of this emotional story.
How far would you go for your true love? Would you lie, cheat and steal?
Whose side did you take in this story?
Were you angry with Tom for letting Isabel convince him to keep the baby? Or were you angry at Isabel for being manipulative and knowing Tom would do anything for her?
Did you feel that Tome betrayed Isabel with the letters to Hannah? Should he have done more or less?
Did you think that Isabel would choose Lucy or Tom in the end? Were you surprised by her choice?
What did you think of the ending?
What role do you think Janus played in the story? Would the same situation have been able to happen if they had been on land the entire time?
So I really loved this book! It was so much more than I thought. When I first started it, I thought they had kind of told so much already, but then there was so much more to come and it wasn’t even halfway through!
I’m not sure I would lie for the person I loved, but I would definitely protect them. I think if you love a person and truly know them, you know that you could tell the truth and they would understand why you had to. I think you can definitely shield people, but you can’t lie for them when you know it’s wrong.
I was on Tom’s side for most of the book. I did feel sorry for Isabel at the beginning, but then she used Tom in so many ways and solely for her benefit. She didn’t even think about what he was feeling or what kind of position she was putting him in with his job. I found her to be very selfish. I was definitely angry with Isabel for making Tom lie for her. I think she knew it was wrong and he knew it was wrong.
I kind of think he betrayed her, but I think he was staying true to himself by at least letting her know Lucy was okay. I think he felt bad that Hannah was in such despair and that they were the cause of it. I think he knew he had to tell Hannah and that it was the right and only choice. At some point Lucy was probably going to start looking like Hannah and then they wouldn’t be able to hide it much longer.
I was very surprised by her choice, but I think deep down, she know that Lucy belonged with Hannah, no matter what. I was so happy when she chose Tom!
The ending was a heart breaker. If Lucy had just shown up a little earlier I think Isabel would have been so happy to see her again and give her all of the items she had saved for her. It definitely made me cry that Tom was so happy to see her again.
They were so isolated on Janus that no one knew what they were up to. When she miscarried and then the baby showed up, no one would have doubted that she gave birth to her since visits were so sparse. I think Janus was a haven for them, to be together and then together with Lucy. It was just them and it created a perfect storm. Also if they had been in town, everyone would have known that it was Hannah’s baby. They couldn’t have hidden it.
Great book! Reading Chelsea Handler now!
I was very much on Tom’s side throughout the book. Although I sympathized with Isabel, I felt like she was in a trance after her last miscarriage and that she seemed to live in a bubble on Janus where she could get away with anything. Just like you and Jessica, I was surprised that Isabel chose Tom over Lucy. I really thought she would choose her daughter after the betrayal she felt from Tom. It would have been nice to have Isabel and Lucy reunited in the end but maybe it was for the best and Tom got his rightful moment with her that he needed. Janus and the lighthouse were so much a part of this story that I can’t imagine any other backdrop for this book. The isolation it brought made the mystery of what happened so much deeper. I also wondered at the beginning “Where will it go from here?” I was pleasantly surprised by the emotion of this story.
Glad you read it with me!
Oh, this book! It tore at my heart. But what a beautiful, fabulous book it was.
Your first questions is such a good one. “How far would you go for your true love?” I would do almost anything (not murder though! Lol). But it is a reflection of how far Tom and Isabel are willing to go for love.
At first I was on Tom’s side and agreed that he and Isabel should tell the authorities about finding Lucy. As I came to see how close Isabel and Lucy were, And what a wonderful mother Isabel was, I felt more and more that Lucy’s arrival at Janus was meant to be.
Tom loved Isabel so much and saw how much she had gone through with the miscarriages. I understand how Isabel was able to convince him to keep the baby. I did feel angry at Isabel, however, for being manipulative towards Tom in order to allow her to keep Lucy.
When Tom sent the letters to Hannah I was FURIOUS with him. In fact I cursed out loud and said “You idiot!” I could not believe that now that he and Isabel were so happy and had such a perfect life together he would do something to jeopardize it and throw it all away. And to do something that could cause so much hurt and harm to Isabel and Lucy.
I will say that I was pretty surprised that in the end Isabel chose Tom over Lucy. It was the truest sacrifice for love. I thought the end was very fitting. It allowed all of the characters to suffer for the consequences of their actions. Isabel arguably suffered the most, but you could also argue that it was her decisions that caused the most suffering towards others. The consequences were that Isabel’s family was ripped away from her and she died not knowing if Lucy loved her into adulthood and/or ever forgave her. For a few short years of bliss and happiness, Lucy led a tainted rest of her life. I wonder if asked if it was all worth it, what would she say?
Tom also paid a large price by losing his family and going to jail, however I feel like he was somewhat redeemed for coming clean and being honest about Lucy. For his redemption he was able to see Lucy when she was older and provided with some closure.
I felt like Janus was its own character. It’s own little world. I think a similar situation could have occurred in another location, on dry land, but Janice helped highlight the loneliness Tom felt before marrying Isabel. Janus also helped highlight the despair and loneliness that Isabel felt not having a child. And finally, Janus helped to frame how happy Tom and Isabel were once Lucy was in their lives.
On a side note, I thought it was so interesting to learn about light houses, how they are kept, and role of a light housekeeper. It is something I have never paid any thought to, but found immensely interesting. I will never look at the lighthouse the same way again.
Another great book club selection!
I have to say that your comment about being upset with Tom for his writing the clues to Hannah is surprising! I was actually relieved reading that he had written the notes because I felt his guilt for taking Lucy and not returning her. I understood why he remained anonymous but also why he felt she should at least know what happened to her family. Just like you, I was surprised that Isabel chose Tom over Lucy. I really thought she would choose her daughter after the betrayal she felt from Tom. But, I am so glad that she was able to snap out of her hatred and get on with their life together, with or without children. It would have been nice to have Isabel and Lucy reunited one last time in the end but, just like real life, sometimes our life doesn’t synchronize itself with others lives.
Thanks for the great review! And thanks for reading with me…
I also was enthralled with the detailed account of the lighthouse keepers job…it was an amazing thread that led us through the tale. This book really used its background to tell the story. Janus and the lighthouse were major characters in this book!