The Lighthouse Keeper: A Novel

by James Michael Pratt

The beloved bestseller that will shine in your heart forever...

From the acclaimed author of The Last Valentine comes an unforgettable story about family, loss, and eternal love. Bestselling writer James Michael Pratt once again touches our emotions and our spirit as only a great writer can...

Ten-year-old Peter O'Banyon's life changes forever when his family dies in an accident. Orphaned, he goes to live with his garrulous Uncle Billie, the keeper of the Port Hope Island Lighthouse in Massachusetts. There, as the beacon leads sailors home, Peter learns an astonishing truth about Billie's past-- and the power of love. This message guides Peter's life, even when World War II's brutality rocks his faith, even when he returns to his young bride and an unimaginable tragedy. Now, in the final days of his own life, Peter needs to pass on the lighthouse keeper's secrets to his own daughter, but to do it may take nothing less than a miracle...

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Book Club, Contemporary, Faith, World War II

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Ellen Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite book! I don't like war stories and also felt this was a slow moving book which was hard to get into. I read it in 1 day but not because I couldn't put it down. I wanted to get through with it so I could read something I'd like better. This. one was a selection of my book club and was recommended by a member whose other book suggestions I have loved. One positive--it had short chapters, which I like!

[Robin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boy, I'm definitely in the minority with this one. I didn't like this book at all. I finished it, just to see if the ending had any redeeming qualities, but nope, none there. I think what I really didn't like were all the cliche's the author uses throughout the book. It just seemed too predictable to be interesting. This is not an author I would recommend to my friends.

[Abby Milatz · Rating 4 out of 5]

super quick book about love and family. wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read but definitely made me tear up a couple of times

[Phyllis Barlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had this book languishing on my book shelf for I don't know how many years and just ran across it. Glad I did.
If you like books by Nicholas Sparks or Pat Conroy you will probably like this one.

[Brianna Broten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! It was a fast read, partly because it was a fast read but i also couldn’t set it down! The setting, the era, the love, the touch of religion, the spirit…this book is an unexpected 5 star discovery!

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A faith filled family story spanning fifty years. Billy emigrated from Ireland to eventually become the first lighthouse Keeper at Point Hope Island off the coast of Massachusetts. He soon married his beloved Katie, but the tragic deaths of their children and,then Katie herself are told to his nephew's daughter in back-story. Billy's nephew,Peter, a young boy who lost his parents to an auto accident,was brought to live with Billy and eventually became its next lighthouse keeper.
There was a slice of terror for Peter when he left the island to become a tank commander in Tunisia and Italy during WW 2.This part was interesting to me.Injured in battle Peter was brought home to the lighthouse, only to live through the drowning death of his beloved wife, Anna, before his own death.Their only child, Kathleen becomes the lone survivor of the story.

The lighthouse seemed to change the characters from despair to hope and brought contentment with the keeping of the light. Through all the heart-wrenching scenes runs a thread of abundant faith in God. They were Irish Catholics and sometimes the brogue became repititous and a little too saccharine to my ears/eyes. Their faith and the words of the author, however were most meaningful and memorable. As an artist, Kathleen captures some of the beauty of description in her dialog:"A fiery mix of light and pigment;surrounded by light, light of the world, beacon of hope." That light refers to God, but to me the light didn't come from the outside,but from the inside- from the heart.
It is an easy read, a story of love and devotion with good description, a plethora of pathos,but not outstanding enough to earn more stars.

[Julie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. It was written well. I couldn’t help but hear the Irish and Italian accents from the characters in my mind as I read about their lives and how they were all intertwined. It’s a sad story in many ways, but also so realistic. I enjoyed the wholesomeness in the relationships between the characters. It was admirable to see how Uncle Billie learned something good after losing so much and how later in life, those lessons would be passed on to the nephew he loved like a son. Happy endings don’t always come in the ways we expect them, and happiness doesn’t always show up in the things we expect will bring it. I do love stories set in time periods where technology didn’t exist - where saying goodbye was a punch to the gut, and the anticipation of receiving a letter in the mail from a loved one was enough motivation to keep you looking forward to the next day no matter what other difficulties you had to face. The love between the characters in this story is a love anyone would be lucky to experience whether that dynamic be between friends, spouses, children & parents, or an uncle and his nephew. The Lighthouse Keeper told a story that anyone would benefit from hearing.

[Dar B · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would rate this book 2.5 out of 5.0, to be honest. The author is not very good, to the point of, I hope that I can do much better than this at my first attempt at a novel! It is NOT his first, either! The story is a good one but he skips and skims along; perhaps to keep it short? He could add so much more "beef" to it by developing the supporting characters and adding detail. Obviously, they are not necessary to the story but I feel that it would just make it a better read, overall. The fact that the men come from bad situations, questioning the fairness of life, mad at God and the world, then turn around because of the faith and love of others who are important to them, is compelling. To believe in the premise that one's love for another can bring them to God and His light, is fantastic. Seldom have I met anybody that attributes the goodness in their life to the love of just one person. Interesting, just not well written.

[Gail Barger · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a book that we found at my mother in law's house while cleaning out. It got put aside and I finally decided to read it. I had the hardest time getting into it for some reason! The main character Peter goes to live with his uncle the lighthouse keeper when he's orphaned at age 10. When he's older and in his young married life the book goes back to the time of WWII and then back to present time with Peter trying to pass along lessons from his uncle to his daughter. I enjoyed the parts during the war but just not quite sure what to think overall; maybe not quite what I wanted to read so this was just ok for me. Maybe 2.5 stars from me :)

[Tammra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love lighthouses and really looked forward to reading this one but I ended up disappointed with it. I was hoping to learn more about the lighthouse keeper but it turned into a war story and for me it got off track. I wasn't looking for a war story when I decided to read it.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it and loved it about 10 years ago. Read it again and related to it more than ever. Uplifting, but keep the tissues handy.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written touching novel that the reader (at least this one) got lost in. A quick read, but so worth it!

[Teresa Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

Wonderful story . It was heartwarming to see how a family can suffer and still find God and forgiveness and understanding of generosity and love.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did you ever see the Hallmark Movie - The Last Valentine, starring Betty White? I did and really enjoyed it. I was surprised to discover this book at the last Webster Public Library sale - it was written by the same author as the book - The Last Valentine, that the movie was based on. It was intriguing enough to come home with me, finally to be read last week. It was the story of immigrants, love, loss, generations, and change. The characters were well developed and it was heart breaking when things didn't go according to my wishes. However, life rarely does. I have read more than one book about lighthouse keepers, and find this fascinating, the daily dedication for the safety of those at sea. I learned a great deal about tank warfare, during WW II, also fascinating and ultimately, the heart of this book was faith, pure and simple. Living a life with values and actions that might be worthy of heaven. I have to admit, I did shed some tears, simply because rather than the void of death leaving sadness, the glory of crossing over to heaven and being greeted by loved ones for that journey - a beautiful and comforting hope. It was a good read, I did get a bit bogged down by the war chapters, and felt some story lines simply fell by the wayside.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, nostalgic story of love, loss and hope. I am drawn to books with a lighthouse as one of the "main characters" since I have visited 170 or so. It is told from the viewpoint of the father, recounting his life to his grown daughter as he battles illness. Both he and his Uncle Billy, the man who raised him, endured war, hardship, and loss of loved ones, but persevered with hope, faith and love. It is a heartwarming tale, and will fill you with hope as well.

[Avonlea Gal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love randomly finding a really good book.
The story telling was really good and the romance was so well done. I have to admit I liked the first “half” better, and found it hard to follow all the fighting. But Uncle Billie’s Katie calling him when he died actually made me cry ( ok I didn’t ACTUALLY cry. But I would have if I was an emotionally unavailable person). And I HATED how Anna died. They needed their happy ending! Still amazing.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that warms the heart and gives you the symbolism of the lighthouse in the lives of the characters in the story even when they are overcome with sadness. It is not the lighthouse, but the light itself. Memorable characters and circumstances. A book that spoke to me and underscored my love of lighthouses. If you love lighthouses and brave people who love each other deeply, this is your book.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet and sad story of an uncle and his nephew and the similarities of their lives. Most of the story centers around Peter and his separation from his wife during his service in WWII, but you come to the realization that he is living the same life as his uncle. Both having served in war two decades apart.  Both having lost people they loved.  And how leaving the light on for their loved ones through the lighthouse, and their faith, helped them cope with those losses.

[Lucinda Vinoski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drawing on his faith and the teachings of his forefathers, Peter finds the spiritual strength to carry on after the tragedies of war and personal tragedies. These lifetime tragedies can cause one to become hardened, but by keeping one's eye on the Light of Christ one will be given the necessary graces to persevere. Love and joy are still to be found on this earth despite its hardships.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love, loss, tragedy, and hope are all themes in this emotional story. I gave up using white-out on all the swearing because there was just too much. Most all was by soldiers during the war, but it got old and a little sickening. There was talk about faith in God, and praying, but not a book I'd recommend unless you can overlook the crude language.

[Hannah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I maybe would give this two stars, but I'm not feeling generous right now. There were some great premises, but I didn't care for the execution. Why, if UB has land in Ireland, go to the U.S.? And why not go back? We don't hear much of Peter keeping the light...so then why not make the book just about UB?

[Julia Chambers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t a great book and it wasn’t a horrible book. The story was beautiful and I am definitely glad I read it, but I am not sure I would read any other books by this author. I liked how the character’s subtle Christianity impacted those around him. His “light” shone to the people in his circle and made them better people.

[Marcelle Malillo maggio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy read full of heartwarming and heartbreaking personal accounts. If you love lighthouses and Irish life in America at the turn of the century through WW2 up till present you'll truly enjoy this story of beautiful souls.

[Amy Loewe · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the end of his life a lighthouse keeper relates his life story and that of his beloved uncle to his daughter. Though war, tragedy and the power of love you gain a new understanding of the meaning of the words lighthouse keeper.

[Terry Confer Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautifully written book-part historical, part a love story of family connections, heartache and a link with our Heavenly Father. Don't let the Biblical references keep you from reading this small book-and get the kleenexs before you start reading

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Almost gave up on it but found it interesting as it progressed. Did skim over some of the war passages.

Will pass this book on to my church consignment in the hope it finds someone who can appreciate it more.

[Deborah Kerns · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this sweet story, I found it to be about love and loss and finding that light inside to keep living your life, even when it really hurts. Also finding a faith that carries you through the really tough stuff.

[Dee Schwinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

With all the tragedy in this book, there is still hope. There are the love stories, the struggles in Ireland, World War II, family and the light. The authors has a knack for dealing with emotion

[James Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it.

[Sharon Buxton · Rating 2 out of 5]

C. fiction, lighthouse, WWII, Ireland, schmaltsy, Mom's stash, discard