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contemporarymeepsie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Light Between Oceans is a story about right and wrong and how sometimes they look the same. Set in Australia, this novel follows Tom Sherbourne, a man returning from the horrors of the Great War to try pick up the shards of his life and settle in to a new purpose; that purpose is to become a lighthouse keeper on the remote island of Janus. During one of his off-shore leaves he happens across a new light in Isabel Graysmark. At first tentative and unbelieving, Tom holds off their engagement but Isabel is determined and soon they are married, living together on Janus' isolation and desperate for a child. After Isabel's third miscarriage a miracle appears from the ocean. What happens next is a story of motherhood, loss, regret and a battle of morality.
I really enjoyed this book. I already knew I loved the story as I had seen the movie long before reading the book. I find the characters very realistic and heartfelt, their struggles, plight and reactions to things that happen are believable and grounded in their previous experiences. This book really makes you think about what is right and what is wrong and how single choices can have grave consequences. My only issue that stopped it from being 5 stars is that the tense seems to change in every chapter, often starting the chapter in present tense and then by the end of it, it has flipped to past tense. I found that mildly annoying but it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the whole book.
I would recommend this to anyone like me who likes a book to make you cry. I cried many times.
I really enjoyed this book. I already knew I loved the story as I had seen the movie long before reading the book. I find the characters very realistic and heartfelt, their struggles, plight and reactions to things that happen are believable and grounded in their previous experiences. This book really makes you think about what is right and what is wrong and how single choices can have grave consequences. My only issue that stopped it from being 5 stars is that the tense seems to change in every chapter, often starting the chapter in present tense and then by the end of it, it has flipped to past tense. I found that mildly annoying but it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the whole book.
I would recommend this to anyone like me who likes a book to make you cry. I cried many times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Xenophobia, and Grief
Moderate: Death, Blood, Suicide attempt, and War
Minor: Cancer, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Terminal illness
honeyenbee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Grief, and War
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
danajoy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicide, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, and War
silverrose187's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, Grief, Pregnancy, and War