The light between oceans presents a wellacted and handsomely mounted adaptation of its bestselling source material, but ultimately tugs on the heartstrings too often to be effective. Debut novel for this author discussion questions 1. Stedman, her debut novel, published by random house australia on 20 march 2012. The light between oceans, her first novel, is an international bestseller, having spent well over a year on the new york times bestsellers list.
Stedman was born and raised in western australia, and now lives in london. Reading this book from the perspective of so far away made it even more romantic and touching. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. It gets into your heart stealthily, until you stop hoping the. Our book pick was the light between oceans about a young couple who lives in a lighthouse on an island all to themselves.
Janus rock is a lonely speck of land far out to sea. Stedman chronicles the lives of a couple and the baby they adopt. Sep 01, 2016 take a field trip to a nearby light house. The light between oceans unfurls in small acts, at first feeling slight to touch, then building in emotional substance. Markus zusaf, author of the book thief, sees it as being about good people, tragic decisions and the beauty found in each of them. The light between oceans includes an introduction, discussion questions and ideas for enhancing your book club the suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. Before heading out to his post its customary to join the harbormaster and family for a dinner.
Stedmans acclaimed bestselling novel, the light between oceans. A comprehensive guide to this contemporary classic, this book includes useful literary context. If you like the light between oceans you might like similar books orphan train, the invention of wings, the guernsey literary and potato peel pie society, sarahs key. Thanks to everyone who joined us for this months virtual book club. It is the winner of three prestigious abia awards, including their book of the year, and also won the indie awards. The light between oceans richly illuminates a couples.
Stedmans seductive debut, is just that sort of book. I really appreciated that the light between oceans recognizes that so much of life unfolds in shades of gray, not simple black and white. The book is split into three sections, including a first one which alternates chapters between the time of ellies disappearance and the present and a second section that begins as laurel and floyd meet. Ovolo light between oceans film best book club books, book club reads. Overall, our group agreed this was one of those books that just begged to be discussed.
The story begins when a light house keeper and his wife find a life boat containing a live baby and dead man on the shore of their isolated island. If you were in tom sherbournes position, would you have let the lightkeepers log book stay silent when the baby was. Today were discussing the light between oceans by m. The light between oceans is a 2012 australian historical fiction novel by m. Having survived wwi tom sherbourne takes a job as a lighthouse keeper on a remote island off western.
The orchardist by amanda coplin the lightkeepers wife by karen viggers latitudes of melt by joan clark. While some parts of the book seemed to drag, overall this story kept my interest and had me in tears by the end. The light between oceans is a deep reflection on two mothers love for the same child, although different to each one. See more ideas about the light between oceans, michael fassbender and. Stedmans the light between oceans is a beautiful novel about isolation and courage in the face of enormous loss. Total prep time without including time for cupcakes to cool was about 25 minutes. Light between oceans stedman discussion questions litlovers. The light between oceans is a beautiful narrative that whisks the reader on a journey across time, love and a vast amount of water. Dec 31, 2014 my book club met to discuss the light between oceans just before christmas. The light between oceans from amazon click here to look inside were really excited to announce that the light between oceans by m l stedman will be our book of the month for november. Still have fond memories of the time a certain author of a blogbook about dinner called in for our book club a couple of years ago it was a huge success. We didnt go to just any lighthouse, but particularly one on an island. The light between oceans drifts offcourse in the ending, which drags on for one epilogue too many and operates under the ancient hollywood sailors mistaken belief that a touch of schmaltz cures.
A veteran of the first world war, 27yearold tom sherbourne takes a position with the commonwealth lighthouse service and finds himself on a remote island off the west australian coast, at the meeting point of the indian and southern oceans. The light between oceans is an incredibly moving novel about what happens when good people make bad decisions. The iconoclastic director derek cianfrance brings a fierce visual grandeur to the light between oceans, a film drama that recalls one of those thomas hardy adaptation of decades past. Is there a particular passage or scene that stood out to you. Childless lighthouse keeper, wife make lifechanging choice in light between oceans.
This study guide consists of approximately 51 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the light between oceans. Our reading guide for the light between oceans by m. This mesmerizing australian novel has been a bestselling book around the world, and hollywood movie rights were recently snapped up by dreamworks, with david heyman harry potter set to produce. Oct 20, 2015 linda taft mackinnon october 20th, 2015. The author herself is a very interesting character. Oh my goodness, friends i absolutely loved this months book club pick, the light between oceans by m. May 09, 20 the light between oceans unfurls in small acts, at first feeling slight to touch, then building in emotional substance. Tom sherbourne is the lighthouse keeper on janus rock, a remote island off. This is a book club for people who love british mysteries both modern and classic. The story takes place in the town of point partageuse, australia during the 1920s. Because its a novel that is built on a single plot idea with no supporting cast of ideas.
They find the baby washed up on shore and decide to raise the child as their own. May 02, 20 the light between oceans is set in the southern hemisphere, off the coast of southwest australia. An extraordinary and heartrending book about good people, tragic decisions and the beauty found in each of them. My book club ladies decided to read the light between oceans by m. I read about it on here when you wrote about his other book about running. My book club met to discuss the light between oceans just before christmas. The light between oceans is exquisite and unforgettable, a deeply moving novel. Stedman is an extraordinary, heartrending tale of love, loss and a couple who must live with the consequences of rescuing a baby who was not theirs to take. Aug 25, 2016 light between oceans book club notes share this whether you share this mesmerising australian novel with your reading group before you catch the screen adaptation, or followup the film with the book, the light between oceans is sure to spark a memorable discussion. No book group should be without this companion guide to m. Let me know what you thought of the book and any other creative ways to up your book club game for this novel. Ill throw out a few topics for discussion, and you can write your responses about these topics or others youd like to discuss in the comment section.
A novel at our thursday, february, 2014 meeting at the leawood pioneer library 7 pm. What do you visualize when you hear or read the light between oceans. This month we are discussing the light between oceans, by m. This would make a great book club book as theres a ton of discussion points. Light between oceans book club notes penguin books. At the opening of the novel, tom has just left service in wwi and has signed on a lighthouse keeper.
Tom, as keeper of the books on the lighthouse, needs to record this. Into the spaces between words, stedman breathes an anxiety and pulsating intensity that roils with the ocean and the lighthouse beacon, sydney morning herald book of the week. Tom sherbourne is the lighthouse keeper on janus rock, a remote island off the western coast of australia. Stedmans mesmerizing, beautifully written novel is a sweeping story about extraordinarily compelling characters seeking to find their north star in a world where there is no right answer, where justice for one person is anothers tragic loss. The light between oceans reading group guide one book one city resources lit lovers discussion questions reflection on a light between oceans book discussion. The light between oceans tells the tragic story of lighthouse keeper tom sherbourne and his wife isabel who, after discovering a baby in a shipwrecked boat, must face the terrible consequences of their decision to raise the child as their own.
The light between oceans, her first novel, is an international bestseller, having spent well over a year on the new york times bestsellers list as well as being translated into almost forty languages, the book was nominated for the miles franklin award, the womens prize for. Discuss the novels title, the light between oceans. The light between oceans is set in the southern hemisphere, off the coast of southwest australia. They each handled a difficult situation in the worst way possible to the detriment of a little girl though it seems she turned out ok in the end. Whsmith richard and judy book club podcast summer 20 duration. A window opens for our book club when i host which is in may. A film adaptation of the same name starring alicia vikander and michael fassbender was released on 2 september 2016. Sep 01, 2016 the light between oceans drifts offcourse in the ending, which drags on for one epilogue too many and operates under the ancient hollywood sailors mistaken belief that a touch of schmaltz cures. For this book club evening i kept it classic with salty and sweet snacks. Make a beach day or a stargazing adventure out of it. Stedman the yearslong new york times bestseller and goodreads best historical novel that is.
The light between oceans discussion questions all good. Light between oceans book club notes penguin books australia. Tom, as keeper of the books on the lighthouse, needs to record this event and. Mar 19, 2018 the light between oceans is a beautiful narrative that whisks the reader on a journey across time, love and a vast amount of water. The light between oceans the books the book club abc tv. Jul 25, 2019 ive been wanting to visit a lighthouse with the book club for a while now, so in april we finally did it. The yearslong new york times bestseller and major motion picture from spielbergs dreamworks is irresistible. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. If you havent read the book or seen the film, perhaps you should opt out of reading this posting to prevent me from spoiling the story for you. The light between oceans is a perfect book club read. Stedman this month and paired it with an outing to go watch the film, which also just came out. If you like the light between oceans you might like similar books orphan train, the invention of wings, the guernsey literary and potato peel pie society, sarahs key, all the light we cannot see.