The Light Between Oceans

The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman
Kate F house 15th May

Kate F, Kate G, Therese, Bronwyn, Wendy, Lynn, Kate S, Fiona, Pauline and Cathy all gathered last Wednesday night to discuss The Light Between Oceans. Apologies from Jenny, Genny, Sue Gi and Sue Ge.

This months book, "The Light between Oceans" was a outstanding story loved by all. It is set off south-west Western Australia, on a remote island, Janus Rock and the small mainland port, named Port Partageuse, with beautifully described landscape and characters, in a post WW1 world.


Kate G kicked off the discussion with a rapturous endorsement of the story. The beautiful story of the dilemma that unveiled, delighted Kate throughout. When asked to rate the book out of 5 she gave it a 10+!
The discussion went on what a delightful story and incredible sadness and joy the events revealed as we read about the discovery of the baby and the ethical dilemma and consequences of Isabel's decisions. With Tom's ever present conscience doubting the correctness of Isabel's decision.

The beautiful description throughout the story, such as Tom's first moments on Janus Rock alone,

"Then, a moments stillness. Not silence: the waves still shattered on the rocks, the wind screeched around his ears, and a loose door on one of the storage sheds banged a disgruntled drumbeat. But something inside Tom was still for the first time in years."

We talked about the sadness of Isabel at not being able to have children, how none of us could ever really understand how hard that was for her, and of her beautiful relationship with Lucy.
We loved the wonderful other characters in the story, of Bluey and Ralph, Bill and Violet, (Isabel's parents), Hannah and her sister Gwen and their father Septimus, the policemen and of course Lucy/ Grace.
We talked about post war life. The difficulty Tom had adjusting to life after the war, why he had been allowed to stay alive. Violet coping with the loss of both her sons. The attitude of the town to Frank, the "Hun" which had started the whole sorry story. The utter sadness which Lucy had to deal with, loosing all she knew, her parents and grandparents and then the slow rebuilding of her life beginning with Septimus's help.
The ending we agreed led to many buckets of tears, of wanting a "Hollywood" ending where it is all happy and contentment.
It was a outstanding story loved by all.

Average rating by all

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Cathy's Chronicles

Congratulations to 

• Sue Gi becoming a grandmother.

• Kate G announced her Son got engaged. And she's very pleased.

• Therese moves to her new house this weekend.

• Pauline's son is off to USA in June.

• Cathy's daughter is in USA now, and she's staying for a year!

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NEXT BOOK

Selected by Bronwyn 

Wolf Hall  

By Hilary Mantel 

On June 12

Venue TBA 

then Wendy on July 10

then Kate G on August 7

then Therese on September 4

then Genny on October 2

then Jenny on October 30