hmonkeyreads's review against another edition
2.0
This is another tough one. It came highly recommended by lots of different people, so perhaps my expectations were too high. Mostly, I found it aggravating.
There are parts of the book that I enjoyed. I liked Tom quite a lot. I loved reading about the quiet life of a Lighthouse keeper. In fact - I wanted to read a whole book about that! I found Isobel annoying. She pops into the story suddenly, she seems fun but the courtship is fast (out on necessity) and from that point things are rushed. I wish we felt more of the journey of their marriage and more about her despair over the lost babies. The decision making is crazy and I guess it's explained, but I didn't feel like it was earned.
Once they get Lucy, everything Izzy did annoyed me more than the last. Hannah too grated. I'm sure part of it is the fact that I am not a mother (have never wanted to be a mother) so their behavior seems insane to me, although maybe it's legit primal instinct.
The resolution seems unsatisfying too. The benevolence of dead Frank just arrived out of left field.
Aside from all of that, I didn't really enjoy the writing either. It seemed very remote and standoffish at times. Perhaps because that is Tom's personality? I don't know. It just didn't quite sit properly with me.
It sounds like I really disliked the book. That's not true, but for me it was just OK.
There are parts of the book that I enjoyed. I liked Tom quite a lot. I loved reading about the quiet life of a Lighthouse keeper. In fact - I wanted to read a whole book about that! I found Isobel annoying. She pops into the story suddenly, she seems fun but the courtship is fast (out on necessity) and from that point things are rushed. I wish we felt more of the journey of their marriage and more about her despair over the lost babies. The decision making is crazy and I guess it's explained, but I didn't feel like it was earned.
Once they get Lucy, everything Izzy did annoyed me more than the last. Hannah too grated. I'm sure part of it is the fact that I am not a mother (have never wanted to be a mother) so their behavior seems insane to me, although maybe it's legit primal instinct.
The resolution seems unsatisfying too. The benevolence of dead Frank just arrived out of left field.
Aside from all of that, I didn't really enjoy the writing either. It seemed very remote and standoffish at times. Perhaps because that is Tom's personality? I don't know. It just didn't quite sit properly with me.
It sounds like I really disliked the book. That's not true, but for me it was just OK.
kacie_mc's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting piece of historical fiction. Big fan of the style of writing, very descriptive. LOVED the character of Tom, have a feeling I was supposed to like Isabel more than I did, which is a big part of what prevents me from giving it five stars. Would recommend tho!
msnyderk's review against another edition
5.0
This book really got under my skin. The choices we make in life, how those choices affect others, a parents' love, a life spent with someone you love. So many things to think about with this story. Well written and something that will be with me.
mimizehetmayr's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sleightoffeet's review against another edition
4.0
I'm torn with how I feel about this book.
It's a good book, that I didn't necessarily enjoy reading. Now, I don't have children, and still parts of the book tore at my heart, I can't even imagine how this book would read if I did. It's a hard read because there's right and wrong and shades of grey... And I was rooting for ALL of the characters, but I knew they couldn't all be happy. So as I read it, I knew the ending would both make me happy and disappoint me all at the same time.
It's a good book, that I didn't necessarily enjoy reading. Now, I don't have children, and still parts of the book tore at my heart, I can't even imagine how this book would read if I did. It's a hard read because there's right and wrong and shades of grey... And I was rooting for ALL of the characters, but I knew they couldn't all be happy. So as I read it, I knew the ending would both make me happy and disappoint me all at the same time.
pbair90's review against another edition
4.0
I chose to 'read' this bookclub selection on audio, and was glad that I did. While starting off slow, the writing style grew on me, and I was swept away by the descriptive writing of the island, the light, and the emotion of unconditional love and consequences. Watching the ramifications of Tom and Isabel's poor choice play out was heart wrenching, and making the wrong right again, where there were no winners and many losers, was difficult. I can't say that this was an enjoyable feel good read, but the story was beautifully told.
jessiereads315's review against another edition
4.0
For part of this book, I asked myself why I was reading such a sad story. The beginning was lovely. The middle rough. The end...the end...a punch in the gut but in a very good way. The end was worth pushing through the middle for. Oooph my heart.
april_golden's review against another edition
2.0
Did not finish. Not a bad book, but not a book for me.
ashleylillis's review against another edition
4.0
More like 4.5 stars. I thought that this book was so beautifully written and it really transported me to the little island of Janus off the coast of Australia. This is also a very sad book and I felt for all of the characters and the emotional roller coaster that they were going on.
The only thing I didn't really care for or understand that much was why Izzy did what she did in the first place. Obviously, there wouldn't have been a story if they had reported the baby when they first found her, but Izzy just felt very selfish, stubborn, and headstrong and only seemed to care about herself and her losses and needs over everybody else's, including her own husband.
The only thing I didn't really care for or understand that much was why Izzy did what she did in the first place. Obviously, there wouldn't have been a story if they had reported the baby when they first found her, but Izzy just felt very selfish, stubborn, and headstrong and only seemed to care about herself and her losses and needs over everybody else's, including her own husband.
mpdarby's review against another edition
5.0
definitely a page turner. The characters were wonderfully realistic.