cthrnsabourin's review against another edition
4.0
This book - so many emotions.
M.L Stedman writes so beautifully and her characters as well as their choices, life events, and thoughts are so devastating and haunting. The island of Janus becomes a character in of itself, its isolation the beauty and safety of the removal of human community makes it a paradise for the Sherbourne family as they hide their secret from the community at large. When they return to the mainland there is a sense of danger and pain that they all experience. This book makes you question right and wrong as well as the depths of human connection, what is stronger more significant the family you build or the family you were born into? At the same time Stedman manages to have the reader question the meaning of life and death.
I highly recommend this book as long as you have a tissue box nearby.
M.L Stedman writes so beautifully and her characters as well as their choices, life events, and thoughts are so devastating and haunting. The island of Janus becomes a character in of itself, its isolation the beauty and safety of the removal of human community makes it a paradise for the Sherbourne family as they hide their secret from the community at large. When they return to the mainland there is a sense of danger and pain that they all experience. This book makes you question right and wrong as well as the depths of human connection, what is stronger more significant the family you build or the family you were born into? At the same time Stedman manages to have the reader question the meaning of life and death.
I highly recommend this book as long as you have a tissue box nearby.
kelbi's review against another edition
3.0
I have been listening to this on Audible but stopped because I didn't like the narrator. Anyway I decided to finish it. In many ways it is a good story - very unusual. Ive given it three stars as it just doesn't quite get there somehow. But worth reading
lbb00ks's review against another edition
Deftly woven tale of love in all its forms: romantic, parental, filial, redemptive, respectful, misguided. I especially enjoyed the wild island lighthouse setting and lifestyle. Complex, finely wrought characters and a plot that keeps those pages turning to the end.
ablotial's review against another edition
2.0
After reading the synopsis of this book, I was hooked. Trying to place myself in these people's shoes ... finding a baby , raising her as my own, discovering who the child belonged to and the state she was in... what a situation! I can't even begin to imagine how I would react in such a situation. Or the other shoes -- losing my baby and husband, and discovering, years later, that the baby is still alive and has been raised by someone else! My mind reels trying to imagine either event.
But I hope with all I am worth that I would not be as horrible as the women in this book!
Yeah. I was really disappointed in this book, overall. I liked Tom, for the most part, but every other character in the book (well, except the baby) were really ... awful. I liked the young Isabel -- feisty! I guess, never having gone through multiple miscarriages and living in isolation in the middle of the ocean I am really not one to judge her but ... Man, I hated her a lot by the end of the book.
And then the ending! How completely unsatisfying. I mean, I guess I'm glad Hannah finally came around, that Lucy was able to learn about her past... that Tom got to see the child grown up (I still feel like he was the only good character and maybe deserved it more) but I feel like it would have been more satisfying to either let Isabel see Lucy while on her death bed, or else just have ended it before that epilogue and let us imagine how the future ended up.
The only real redeeming qualities were the historical aspects. I loved learning about the workings of the lighthouse, the trips back to shore, the rules and regulations. The author did a great job describing both the town and the island - I had a vivid picture of these places in my mind and was disappointed and surprised to learn that they were made up.
But yeah. Not impressed. Very surprised that this won the GR choice awards. There were many much better books out there this year.
But I hope with all I am worth that I would not be as horrible as the women in this book!
Yeah. I was really disappointed in this book, overall. I liked Tom, for the most part, but every other character in the book (well, except the baby) were really ... awful. I liked the young Isabel -- feisty! I guess, never having gone through multiple miscarriages and living in isolation in the middle of the ocean I am really not one to judge her but ... Man, I hated her a lot by the end of the book.
Spoiler
But not for keeping the baby. No, I probably would have done that, too, to be quite honest. But the first time I had learned the mother's story and what had happened, I believe I would have talked to her about it. Yes, by the time she finally did it was really traumatic for Lucy, who was old enough now to care, but if she had done it right from the get-go it would have been fine. And, ok, sure, it sucks for HER, but seriously... really that self centered? And besides, who in their right mind would have thought Hannah would be such a bitch. Again, I'd like to think that I would have allowed the baby to spend time with the woman who was her mother for the first part of her life. And I would have expected that when I returned the child, we would all stay in touch -- maybe Lucy would come out to the island for one quarter a year? I couldn't believe when Hannah so forcefully took her away. Now, I suppose that Hannah was mostly so upset because they had waited so long to say anything (and obviously weren't planning on it). So if Isabel had just come out with it right at the beginning that would have solved everything.And then the ending! How completely unsatisfying. I mean, I guess I'm glad Hannah finally came around, that Lucy was able to learn about her past... that Tom got to see the child grown up (I still feel like he was the only good character and maybe deserved it more) but I feel like it would have been more satisfying to either let Isabel see Lucy while on her death bed, or else just have ended it before that epilogue and let us imagine how the future ended up.
The only real redeeming qualities were the historical aspects. I loved learning about the workings of the lighthouse, the trips back to shore, the rules and regulations. The author did a great job describing both the town and the island - I had a vivid picture of these places in my mind and was disappointed and surprised to learn that they were made up.
But yeah. Not impressed. Very surprised that this won the GR choice awards. There were many much better books out there this year.
katemariea514's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kcw98's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book while holding my 6-week old baby, so I think all the baby-mommy stuff made me extra emotional. It was a tear-jerker for sure. I cried like crazy while reading it then cried again while telling the plot to my husband. It was depressing.
BUT. I couldn’t put the book down! I read it for hours. The writing was beautiful, and the plot was frustrating but intriguing. I was very emotionally invested in the characters and felt heartbroken for all of them.
BUT. I couldn’t put the book down! I read it for hours. The writing was beautiful, and the plot was frustrating but intriguing. I was very emotionally invested in the characters and felt heartbroken for all of them.
sarasreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
coletters's review against another edition
3.0
I have to say, that while the plot kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen next, i had a hard time really enjoying it. Or the characters. (Spoilers!!!)
I thought Isabelle was a selfish woman for assuming the baby's mother was dead and insisting to her hubby that they keep the child. I kept cheering in my head "Come on Tom, put your foot down. Report it!!" But that never happened.
No, i have not suffered the loss of a miscarriage, nor am i a mother so i really cannot say that i wouldn't have done the same thing in her position.
I dunno. I can see why people would love this book. But i can understand why some people hated it. I say read it for yourself and decide for yourself.
I thought Isabelle was a selfish woman for assuming the baby's mother was dead and insisting to her hubby that they keep the child. I kept cheering in my head "Come on Tom, put your foot down. Report it!!" But that never happened.
No, i have not suffered the loss of a miscarriage, nor am i a mother so i really cannot say that i wouldn't have done the same thing in her position.
I dunno. I can see why people would love this book. But i can understand why some people hated it. I say read it for yourself and decide for yourself.
amymo73's review against another edition
3.0
Overall, a lovely read. The story is centered on Tom Sherbourne, a WWI vet with his own demons from childhood who returns to Australia and becomes a lighthouse keeper. He falls in love with Isabel and their life on the isolated Janus Point becomes beautiful and sorrowful. And then they find a baby. And then the young child is returned to her mother. And along the way there is love and betrayal and confusion and emotional blindness. Some emotional blackmail too, for good measure.
The book moves on narrative. It's not quite character driven and in fact I felt wanting in some of the characters. I felt for Isabel during her miscarriages but didn't feel her pain when Lucy was taken away nor was I able to appreciate her sense of betrayal by Tom.
I didn't feel connected to any of the characters in the book, and yet the final few pages tugged at my soul. At the heart of it all is a beautiful story of how we all must come to terms with the past, move forward and live a life that's full and uniquely ours.
While I didn't find myself fully invested in the characters, I was still pulled by the story, by the impact of well-intention little lies and the ways in which we decide how we feel and move and be in this world.
The book moves on narrative. It's not quite character driven and in fact I felt wanting in some of the characters. I felt for Isabel during her miscarriages but didn't feel her pain when Lucy was taken away nor was I able to appreciate her sense of betrayal by Tom.
I didn't feel connected to any of the characters in the book, and yet the final few pages tugged at my soul. At the heart of it all is a beautiful story of how we all must come to terms with the past, move forward and live a life that's full and uniquely ours.
While I didn't find myself fully invested in the characters, I was still pulled by the story, by the impact of well-intention little lies and the ways in which we decide how we feel and move and be in this world.