The years-long New York Times bestseller soon to be a major motion picture from Spielberg’s Dreamworks that is “irresistible…seductive…with a high concept plot that keeps you riveted from the first page” (O, The Oprah Magazine).
After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s journey … nearly half a day’s journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby.
Tom, who keeps meticulous records and whose moral principles have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. But Isabel insists the baby is a “gift from God,” and against Tom’s judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them.
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A seamless read, completely immersive. Outstanding character creation, compelling narrative. Don’t mind admitting there were tears. Truly beautiful writing that doesn’t shy away from exposing the pain of the human experience. There were whole pages when I didn’t breathe. Read it.
I loved it for many reasons. The author created a place where the reader could watch as ordinary people made decisions based on their world, the one their experiences dictated. As a consequence we watch as what one person sees as a gift from heaven becomes a spiral of deceit with far reaching consequences. There is no happy ending in this but …
Interesting narrative about early life in Australia. A good moral lesson on honesty and how lives are affected by those ‘little white lies’.
Thomas Sherbourne survived the trenches of WW I, but he returned to Australia feeling dead inside. Feeling unable to survive in society, he became a lightkeeper in a lighthouse where he saw a supply ship only once every three months and left Janus Island only once every six months. In one of his trips ashore, he meets Isabel in Partaguese. Within …
Completely believable. PTSD treated by isolation & love. A man broken asunder by pangs of conscience.
Enjoyable reading.
Loved to learn about the history and inner workings of lighthouses tenders and the desolate settings of Australia.
This was a moving story.
During this time of Covid and my world being a little topsy-turvy like most everyone, I found this novel to be just the ticket to escape the craziness.
I found the story to ebb and flow like the ocean waves and the rhythm of the light atop the lighthouse, a calm, easy read I enjoyed from the beginning.
Also the urgency that usually compels me …
interesting read and tried to understand both sides of the story as to why the couple did what they did. the ending was sad but with some hope.
Beautifully written, but depressing, sad story
This book had so much going for it in the way of relationships and the tragic way things turn out even when we do our best to be our best self. The characters really tugged at my heart and you want to say nobody was really at fault but of course there is always a fault. A great story
This is real life. I am an adoptive mother–the feelings were captured by the author, the personal dilemmas, heartache.
Well, well done. Not a whimsical read.
Beautifully written. And while you may want a different ending, you can’t help but feel that justice was done.
Beautiful story of love and loss. I loved the movie and the book was even better than the movie.
I loved this book with it’s complex characters and twisted plot. I came to love and care for each of the characters but it was obvious that they all couldn’t get what they wanted and living a lie was taking it’s toll on Tom. It was also heart wrenching to see how this happy and loved child was suffering with the consequences of decisions made by …
The author skillfully shifts between characters (There are 3 main.), and time (present and WWII). It’s a novel plot treating historical events as well as current ones realistically. Very engaging.
Gut wrenching. Great read but have a hankie ready at the end.
It was one of the best I ever read. The characters are so real and I just could not put it down. It draws you into their lives and your heart aches for them. I did not want it to end. Highly recommended this
Wonderful book! Loved the characters & the story.