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The Light Keeper
A young woman stands on the brink of a high cliff overlooking the sea, arms wide open as if to let the wind carry her over. She has run away from home to this wild, beautiful place to make a decision that is, for her, truly a matter of life and death.
Sarah is pursued by Jack, her distraught husband, who is desperate to find her on these hills before it is too late. Will he make it in time?
Volunteers on the cliff edge patrol for people to save, but the number of men and women going over has ominously increased of late . . .
Does the secret lie with the Keeper who lives alone in the old lighthouse, a few steps from the four hundred foot drop in this gorgeous, terrifying place? The radiance has gone from his llife, but we do not know how or why.
The Light Keeper is set in and around the real Georgian lighthouse at Belle Tout on the South Downs, in a dramatic landscape known the whole world over. The white faces of the Seven Sisters rise from the waves, a series of high chalk cliffs with a primal beauty. We are close to Beachy Head, where the lost and lonely come to end their lives, but this is a story of hope, redemption and love.
Sarah is pursued by Jack, her distraught husband, who is desperate to find her on these hills before it is too late. Will he make it in time?
Volunteers on the cliff edge patrol for people to save, but the number of men and women going over has ominously increased of late . . .
Does the secret lie with the Keeper who lives alone in the old lighthouse, a few steps from the four hundred foot drop in this gorgeous, terrifying place? The radiance has gone from his llife, but we do not know how or why.
The Light Keeper is set in and around the real Georgian lighthouse at Belle Tout on the South Downs, in a dramatic landscape known the whole world over. The white faces of the Seven Sisters rise from the waves, a series of high chalk cliffs with a primal beauty. We are close to Beachy Head, where the lost and lonely come to end their lives, but this is a story of hope, redemption and love.
- GenresFiction
266 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2019
12 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
Cole Moreton
12 books13 followersCole Moreton is a writer and broadcaster exploring who we are and what we believe in. His BBC Radio 4 series The Boy Who Gave His Heart Away won multiple awards including Best Documentary in the BBC Radio Awards, Best Writing at the World’s Best Radio Awards in New York and gold for Audio Moment of the Year at the Arias.
Cole writes for the Mail on Sunday and was named Interviewer of the Year at the Press Awards 2016, then shortlisted again in 2018. His work has appeared in the Financial Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph and The Sunday Times, and many other.
The first of Cole’s non-fiction books was Hungry For Home: A Journey To America From The Edge Of Ireland and published by Viking in 2000. This combination of journalism, travelogue and dramatised true events told the story of the evacuation of the Great Blasket Island in County Kerry and followed the journey taken by the islanders to new lives in the United States. It was shortlisted for the prestigious John Llewellyn Rhys Prize for a first book in any genre.
His second book was called My Father Was A Hero (Viking) and told the story of the men and women who returned home to London after WW2 but could not handle peace time. His third book Is God Still An Englishman? How Britain Lost Its Faith (But Found New Soul) was published by Little, Brown. It explores the dramatic changes in British culture and spirituality over the last 30 years and celebrates the possibilities for the future.
His fourth book was a retelling of the story of The Boy Who Gave His Heart Away for HarperCollins. His debut novel The Light Keeper will be published in August 2019.
Cole writes for the Mail on Sunday and was named Interviewer of the Year at the Press Awards 2016, then shortlisted again in 2018. His work has appeared in the Financial Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph and The Sunday Times, and many other.
The first of Cole’s non-fiction books was Hungry For Home: A Journey To America From The Edge Of Ireland and published by Viking in 2000. This combination of journalism, travelogue and dramatised true events told the story of the evacuation of the Great Blasket Island in County Kerry and followed the journey taken by the islanders to new lives in the United States. It was shortlisted for the prestigious John Llewellyn Rhys Prize for a first book in any genre.
His second book was called My Father Was A Hero (Viking) and told the story of the men and women who returned home to London after WW2 but could not handle peace time. His third book Is God Still An Englishman? How Britain Lost Its Faith (But Found New Soul) was published by Little, Brown. It explores the dramatic changes in British culture and spirituality over the last 30 years and celebrates the possibilities for the future.
His fourth book was a retelling of the story of The Boy Who Gave His Heart Away for HarperCollins. His debut novel The Light Keeper will be published in August 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
March 15, 2019
At the onset of this review, I'd like to state that at many a times, I was about to DNF this book for good, but didn't respecting the author and the publisher's decision to provide me with an ARC for an honest feedback. This is as honest as it is going to get.
The theme of The Light Keeper is something that appeals to me - love and death and suicide, and the aftermath - the suffering it causes, the depression it ensues. Even the backdrop of the storyline is an intriguing place that exists in the real world. Yet both these facts aren't enough to keep the interest alive IMO. Even small to very-small chapters, which generally are a motivating factor, failed to do that job this time. There is something amiss, which is enough to detach the reader in me from the story, and the characters it narrates.
The narration style didn't appeal to me either. Even a few characters felt forced, and that ending was plain bland, thus making the whole affair hard to follow. I can't quite place my finger as to what exactly wasn't appealing - it just was.
In any case, if you are still planning to read this one, consider this as a warning for the depressive content the book contains. It is definitely not recommended for the light-hearted.
Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.
Verdict: Skip this one.
The theme of The Light Keeper is something that appeals to me - love and death and suicide, and the aftermath - the suffering it causes, the depression it ensues. Even the backdrop of the storyline is an intriguing place that exists in the real world. Yet both these facts aren't enough to keep the interest alive IMO. Even small to very-small chapters, which generally are a motivating factor, failed to do that job this time. There is something amiss, which is enough to detach the reader in me from the story, and the characters it narrates.
The narration style didn't appeal to me either. Even a few characters felt forced, and that ending was plain bland, thus making the whole affair hard to follow. I can't quite place my finger as to what exactly wasn't appealing - it just was.
In any case, if you are still planning to read this one, consider this as a warning for the depressive content the book contains. It is definitely not recommended for the light-hearted.
Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.
Verdict: Skip this one.
July 9, 2019
“The stories we tell define us. So do the stories we don’t tell and the ones we never finish.”
Sarah and Jack Bramer are a young couple who are desperate to have a child. Or at least Sarah is… After seven years of disappointment, their relationship has reached a crisis point. Sarah is a mixed race British woman. Jack is an American. Lately, his love for her has taken a sour turn. Sarah knows that this is her last chance to become pregnant. She wants to know, yet she doesn’t …. She runs away to her favourite place on the South Downs to come to terms with her rampant emotions. Jack, goes in search of her. He is distraught, manic, and increasingly desperate.
His name is Gabriel Keane, but they call him the ‘Keeper’. A man in his forties, he lives alone in a decommissioned lighthouse located at Beachy Head, East Sussex. He is a raggedy, handsome, and battered man.
The Keeper does not keep a light. He keeps sorrow, heartache, and a crippling sadness. He mourns for his love – Maria an artist, who went by the name of Rí (rhymes with free).
“It’s so hard to be here without her, but he can’t leave, because she is still here, at least in his head. His heart. Her things in the tower, the art she made.”
Before he came here, the Keeper was a war correspondent, then an investigative journalist. Now, he questions no one. All of the sad stories he keeps locked away in his mind. From long experience, he is a good listener.
When the grieving Keeper meets up with the emotional fragile Sarah, both lives will be forever changed.
The place. The striking white chalk cliffs of the South Downs. A place where people come to admire the beauty. A place where others come to end their lives. In fact, this area is the third most common suicide location in the world! So many people come to this area to commit suicide that there are regular patrols to try to locate and stop potential cliff jumpers.
MY THOUGHTS
What a delightful surprise this novel was. Slow-paced, literary fiction that cover themes of loss, hope, childlessness, suicide, and most of all… the ways that grief and bereavement can shape a life.
The characters are written with deep empathy and compassion. The setting was rendered with affection which caused the reader to feel as if they are ‘there’.
“My place. There is a symmetry that appeals. The sea and the sky. The white and the green, the chalk and the down. The drop and the rise. Falling and rising.”
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who reads and cherishes moving, well-written, thoughtful, literary fiction. Loved it!
“The Light Keeper” will be available for purchase on August 15, 2019. Pre-order your copy today!
I received a complimentary digital copy of “The Light Keeper” from the publisher, Marylebone House, via NetGalley in consideration of my review.
Sarah and Jack Bramer are a young couple who are desperate to have a child. Or at least Sarah is… After seven years of disappointment, their relationship has reached a crisis point. Sarah is a mixed race British woman. Jack is an American. Lately, his love for her has taken a sour turn. Sarah knows that this is her last chance to become pregnant. She wants to know, yet she doesn’t …. She runs away to her favourite place on the South Downs to come to terms with her rampant emotions. Jack, goes in search of her. He is distraught, manic, and increasingly desperate.
His name is Gabriel Keane, but they call him the ‘Keeper’. A man in his forties, he lives alone in a decommissioned lighthouse located at Beachy Head, East Sussex. He is a raggedy, handsome, and battered man.
The Keeper does not keep a light. He keeps sorrow, heartache, and a crippling sadness. He mourns for his love – Maria an artist, who went by the name of Rí (rhymes with free).
“It’s so hard to be here without her, but he can’t leave, because she is still here, at least in his head. His heart. Her things in the tower, the art she made.”
Before he came here, the Keeper was a war correspondent, then an investigative journalist. Now, he questions no one. All of the sad stories he keeps locked away in his mind. From long experience, he is a good listener.
When the grieving Keeper meets up with the emotional fragile Sarah, both lives will be forever changed.
The place. The striking white chalk cliffs of the South Downs. A place where people come to admire the beauty. A place where others come to end their lives. In fact, this area is the third most common suicide location in the world! So many people come to this area to commit suicide that there are regular patrols to try to locate and stop potential cliff jumpers.
MY THOUGHTS
What a delightful surprise this novel was. Slow-paced, literary fiction that cover themes of loss, hope, childlessness, suicide, and most of all… the ways that grief and bereavement can shape a life.
The characters are written with deep empathy and compassion. The setting was rendered with affection which caused the reader to feel as if they are ‘there’.
“My place. There is a symmetry that appeals. The sea and the sky. The white and the green, the chalk and the down. The drop and the rise. Falling and rising.”
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who reads and cherishes moving, well-written, thoughtful, literary fiction. Loved it!
“The Light Keeper” will be available for purchase on August 15, 2019. Pre-order your copy today!
I received a complimentary digital copy of “The Light Keeper” from the publisher, Marylebone House, via NetGalley in consideration of my review.
July 5, 2019
Desperate for a baby, Sarah is missing.
The Light Keeper is, quite simply, stunning; beautifully written, emotionally charged and a compelling story.
The plot appears relatively simple in that a man known as the Keeper is doing up an old light house as a bed and breakfast venue, and Sarah has run away from her husband Jack. However, this belies the glorious complexity of emotion, life and relationships swirling and thrumming through this superb character led narrative. What is just fabulous is the part played by characters not actually present, like Sarah’s mother and Ri, or minor characters like Magda and the Chief, because they illustrate how easily our lives can be altered and affected by the actions of others, even if they are not physically present.
Cole Moreton’s depiction of character is just divine. Initially, I held the same rather negative opinion about Sarah that her husband Jack presents to the Keeper, but gradually, skilfully, Cole Moreton manipulates the reader until I felt as close to Sarah as any living person. Similarly, I found the Keeper and Jack totally fascinating. Both have their demons, their sense of loss, but they deal with it differently so that all life seems represented through just two characters. I loved the fact that the Keeper is both a literal keeper of the light house and a metaphorical keeper of spiritual light that contrasts with the established religious light espoused by Magda and the Chief. Once the Keeper’s name is revealed it is totally apposite, but you’ll have to read the book for yourself to discover why. I have no idea if it is intentional, but even the cover art work has the cliff top vegetation looking like a finger pointing the way towards the light, but in this intimate and wonderfully crafted narrative I can’t imagine it’s a coincidence.
Themes are raw and affecting. Infertility, death, relationships and suicide weave through the pages which should make The Light Keeper depressing and uncomfortable. With the skill of Cole Moreton, however, they form a moving, enlightening and beautiful story that held my attention, heart and soul, throughout. There’s a depth of understanding of human nature in The Light Keeper that is breathtaking and made me feel privileged to read it.
The Light Keeper is a searing, intense portrait of loss and grief that holds the reader spellbound. I’d recommend reading this book alone so that there are no interruptions because every syllable deserves the reader’s complete attention. The Light Keeper is one of the most moving and striking books I’ve read and not one I’ll forget. I loved it unconditionally.
https://lindasbookbag.com/
The Light Keeper is, quite simply, stunning; beautifully written, emotionally charged and a compelling story.
The plot appears relatively simple in that a man known as the Keeper is doing up an old light house as a bed and breakfast venue, and Sarah has run away from her husband Jack. However, this belies the glorious complexity of emotion, life and relationships swirling and thrumming through this superb character led narrative. What is just fabulous is the part played by characters not actually present, like Sarah’s mother and Ri, or minor characters like Magda and the Chief, because they illustrate how easily our lives can be altered and affected by the actions of others, even if they are not physically present.
Cole Moreton’s depiction of character is just divine. Initially, I held the same rather negative opinion about Sarah that her husband Jack presents to the Keeper, but gradually, skilfully, Cole Moreton manipulates the reader until I felt as close to Sarah as any living person. Similarly, I found the Keeper and Jack totally fascinating. Both have their demons, their sense of loss, but they deal with it differently so that all life seems represented through just two characters. I loved the fact that the Keeper is both a literal keeper of the light house and a metaphorical keeper of spiritual light that contrasts with the established religious light espoused by Magda and the Chief. Once the Keeper’s name is revealed it is totally apposite, but you’ll have to read the book for yourself to discover why. I have no idea if it is intentional, but even the cover art work has the cliff top vegetation looking like a finger pointing the way towards the light, but in this intimate and wonderfully crafted narrative I can’t imagine it’s a coincidence.
Themes are raw and affecting. Infertility, death, relationships and suicide weave through the pages which should make The Light Keeper depressing and uncomfortable. With the skill of Cole Moreton, however, they form a moving, enlightening and beautiful story that held my attention, heart and soul, throughout. There’s a depth of understanding of human nature in The Light Keeper that is breathtaking and made me feel privileged to read it.
The Light Keeper is a searing, intense portrait of loss and grief that holds the reader spellbound. I’d recommend reading this book alone so that there are no interruptions because every syllable deserves the reader’s complete attention. The Light Keeper is one of the most moving and striking books I’ve read and not one I’ll forget. I loved it unconditionally.
https://lindasbookbag.com/
August 14, 2019
The light keeper is a fascinating read that centres around two people who have faced, and continue to face, terrible loss in their lives.
Gabriel Keane, better know as the light keeper, lives in a partially renovated light house on a hill along the cliffs near the ocean. The setting is piercingly beautiful and it is a place that people come to appreciate the views, but it also holds a more sinister appeal to people who have reached a place of complete despair and wish to end their lives. Suicides are so common along this stretch of coast that a group of voluntary workers called the Guardians patrol it regularly in order to try to save the lives of the desperate. Of late, the suicides have been increasing rather than reducing, despite the apparent best attempts of the Guardians.
Gabriel bought the light house and started the renovations with his lover, Ri, whom he met while he was still a journalist reporting on war and other circumstances of human turmoil and suffering. Ri is an artist who understands how to enjoy and treasure life and she lifts Gabriel out of his place of sadness and teaches him about happiness and the goodness of life. Gabriel is now living alone in the light house that was never completed as a bed and breakfast and spends his time surviving and not living.
Gabriel meets Jack, a young and tormented man, who is searching for his missing wife. Jack professes to adore Sarah, but displays some selfish and erratic character traits, including attacking a police officer and others. Sarah and Jack have been trying to have a baby for a number of years and she is currently on fertility treatment, which has made her very emotionally volatile. Jack and Sarah's love life has degenerated into a "sperm donor" situation which Jack feeling used and Sarah feeling desperate.
Sarah is an only child who lost her mother at a young age. She is looking for love and believes she has found it with the impulsive and slightly spoiled, Jack. Her relationship with Jack appears to be more one of a carer and mother than a wife and lover, as she supports Jack with his musical ambitions. Jack came across as a selfish man who could not see the good things in his own life, but spent his time hankering after acceptance and acknowledgement from his famous father.
Gabriel and Sarah's lives are destined to cross and, together, they explore their relationships, motivations and lives. Ultimately, they much each decide on their own paths forward.
The light keeper is an intense and turbulent read which is quite disturbing with its harrowing content of abuse, suicide, loneliness and even murder.
Gabriel Keane, better know as the light keeper, lives in a partially renovated light house on a hill along the cliffs near the ocean. The setting is piercingly beautiful and it is a place that people come to appreciate the views, but it also holds a more sinister appeal to people who have reached a place of complete despair and wish to end their lives. Suicides are so common along this stretch of coast that a group of voluntary workers called the Guardians patrol it regularly in order to try to save the lives of the desperate. Of late, the suicides have been increasing rather than reducing, despite the apparent best attempts of the Guardians.
Gabriel bought the light house and started the renovations with his lover, Ri, whom he met while he was still a journalist reporting on war and other circumstances of human turmoil and suffering. Ri is an artist who understands how to enjoy and treasure life and she lifts Gabriel out of his place of sadness and teaches him about happiness and the goodness of life. Gabriel is now living alone in the light house that was never completed as a bed and breakfast and spends his time surviving and not living.
Gabriel meets Jack, a young and tormented man, who is searching for his missing wife. Jack professes to adore Sarah, but displays some selfish and erratic character traits, including attacking a police officer and others. Sarah and Jack have been trying to have a baby for a number of years and she is currently on fertility treatment, which has made her very emotionally volatile. Jack and Sarah's love life has degenerated into a "sperm donor" situation which Jack feeling used and Sarah feeling desperate.
Sarah is an only child who lost her mother at a young age. She is looking for love and believes she has found it with the impulsive and slightly spoiled, Jack. Her relationship with Jack appears to be more one of a carer and mother than a wife and lover, as she supports Jack with his musical ambitions. Jack came across as a selfish man who could not see the good things in his own life, but spent his time hankering after acceptance and acknowledgement from his famous father.
Gabriel and Sarah's lives are destined to cross and, together, they explore their relationships, motivations and lives. Ultimately, they much each decide on their own paths forward.
The light keeper is an intense and turbulent read which is quite disturbing with its harrowing content of abuse, suicide, loneliness and even murder.
January 23, 2020
I fell in love with the cover of this book and I must say that the place of action, the lighthouse on a cliff, is very poetic and beautiful, so I definitely need to consider putting it on the list of places I need to visit. The very theme of the book, problems of infertility and suicide, is really very important but often does not reach the literature. I'm really happy someone finally took some time and gave it a little thought. I did expect the book to be a little bit gloomy and dark, and it was, but I think the author really could go much deeper with it. So, in the and, I am really sad that I must say that the action is too slow and a bit washed out.
October 30, 2019
If your favoured reading material is a compelling tale with a good sprinkling of relationships, hope, childlessness, loss, suicide, tragedy, grief and bereavement, then The Light Keeper by Cole Moreton is a must-read for you!
From the get-go I was completely enraptured by this wonderful literary début. Jack and Sarah Bramer have been desperately trying for a baby but their options have become limited. Sarah's mental health has deteriorated and she has now disappeared, leaving Jack frantically searching for her as he believes that she is suicidal. A man known locally as The Keeper lives nearby, in a disused lighthouse. He is struggling to come to terms with an immense loss. As the setting is a clifftop renowned for suicides, the reader also meets The Guardians, a team specially trained to try to help desperate people who feel that jumping to their death is their only option.
I was totally smitten with Sarah and The Light Keeper, Gabriel Keane, who were both beautifully portrayed by Cole Moreton. The two opposing views of Sarah and Jack about their circumstances, their relationship and their difficulties were really cleverly written, making it difficult to decide which one of them was telling the truth, or if their versions were the full picture.
Author, Cole Moreton had really worked wonders with all of the characters in this fabulous story and I was very appreciative of most of them: Rí, Gabriel's love - Maria who was an artist; manic, desperate and distraught Jack Bramer, who wasn't personable but played a good part, to mention a few.
Aside from the brilliant cast of characters, another selling point of The Light Keeper for me was its fabulous setting; the striking white chalk cliffs of the South Downs. This setting at Beachy Head in East Sussex really added to the poignancy of the story-line.
The plot was awesome as it moved along at a really comfortable pace and I loved the author’s general writing-style. There was no room for repetitiveness or boredom here! The story was so moving and there were many moments of reflection, empathy and compassion.
The Light Keeper is a cracking story and a book that I revelled in all the way through, bringing no disappointments. Cole Moreton rounded things off so masterfully which I welcomed and I think this author will be a force to be reckoned with. I am eagerly awaiting his next contribution.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from SPCK Books via NetGalley at my own request. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
From the get-go I was completely enraptured by this wonderful literary début. Jack and Sarah Bramer have been desperately trying for a baby but their options have become limited. Sarah's mental health has deteriorated and she has now disappeared, leaving Jack frantically searching for her as he believes that she is suicidal. A man known locally as The Keeper lives nearby, in a disused lighthouse. He is struggling to come to terms with an immense loss. As the setting is a clifftop renowned for suicides, the reader also meets The Guardians, a team specially trained to try to help desperate people who feel that jumping to their death is their only option.
I was totally smitten with Sarah and The Light Keeper, Gabriel Keane, who were both beautifully portrayed by Cole Moreton. The two opposing views of Sarah and Jack about their circumstances, their relationship and their difficulties were really cleverly written, making it difficult to decide which one of them was telling the truth, or if their versions were the full picture.
Author, Cole Moreton had really worked wonders with all of the characters in this fabulous story and I was very appreciative of most of them: Rí, Gabriel's love - Maria who was an artist; manic, desperate and distraught Jack Bramer, who wasn't personable but played a good part, to mention a few.
Aside from the brilliant cast of characters, another selling point of The Light Keeper for me was its fabulous setting; the striking white chalk cliffs of the South Downs. This setting at Beachy Head in East Sussex really added to the poignancy of the story-line.
The plot was awesome as it moved along at a really comfortable pace and I loved the author’s general writing-style. There was no room for repetitiveness or boredom here! The story was so moving and there were many moments of reflection, empathy and compassion.
The Light Keeper is a cracking story and a book that I revelled in all the way through, bringing no disappointments. Cole Moreton rounded things off so masterfully which I welcomed and I think this author will be a force to be reckoned with. I am eagerly awaiting his next contribution.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from SPCK Books via NetGalley at my own request. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
March 28, 2021
Novel set in EAST SUSSEX
This is quite a short novel that packs quite a punch. The author has swept his characters into the landscape of East Sussex, around Beachy Head, and the writing has a lugubrious yet lyrical and poetic quality to it.
This area of England is a popular spot for people to choose to end their lives and as such The Guardians regularly patrol the area, in the hope that they can talk down anyone actively contemplating suicide. The shadow of suicide and human suffering in this area is thus a very real backdrop to the story.
At the heart of the novel is Jack, who has come to the area to search for his partner Sarah. She has been sliding emotionally because her most fervent wish – to have a baby – has never been fulfilled. There is also the ‘keeper’, a man who bought the lighthouse, with his partner but she has passed away and he is now struggling to find his way forward.
There is considerable grief in this novel, beautifully and at times sadly rendered. It is affecting yet not overly sorrowful. The characters move through a landscape that is verdant and yet stark, the green of the South Downs juxtaposed with the sheer magnificence of the white cliffs in the area; you can almost hear the waves booming and feel the wind off the sea, the gulls wheeling overhead. This novel has a tremendous sense of place.
Yes, it is a novel of many sadnesses, it is thoughtful; it is one to pick up when you are feeling robust – or when you feel you would like an emotional challenge.
This is quite a short novel that packs quite a punch. The author has swept his characters into the landscape of East Sussex, around Beachy Head, and the writing has a lugubrious yet lyrical and poetic quality to it.
This area of England is a popular spot for people to choose to end their lives and as such The Guardians regularly patrol the area, in the hope that they can talk down anyone actively contemplating suicide. The shadow of suicide and human suffering in this area is thus a very real backdrop to the story.
At the heart of the novel is Jack, who has come to the area to search for his partner Sarah. She has been sliding emotionally because her most fervent wish – to have a baby – has never been fulfilled. There is also the ‘keeper’, a man who bought the lighthouse, with his partner but she has passed away and he is now struggling to find his way forward.
There is considerable grief in this novel, beautifully and at times sadly rendered. It is affecting yet not overly sorrowful. The characters move through a landscape that is verdant and yet stark, the green of the South Downs juxtaposed with the sheer magnificence of the white cliffs in the area; you can almost hear the waves booming and feel the wind off the sea, the gulls wheeling overhead. This novel has a tremendous sense of place.
Yes, it is a novel of many sadnesses, it is thoughtful; it is one to pick up when you are feeling robust – or when you feel you would like an emotional challenge.
August 14, 2019
The Light Keeper is Cole Moreton's debut novel and is an emotional book about several people driven literally to the edge by exceptionally difficult circumstances.
We meet Jack and Sarah who have been desperately trying for a baby but whose options seem to have run out. Sarah's mental health has become precarious and she has now vanished, leaving Jack frantically looking for her convinced she is suicidal. Nearby in a disused lighthouse lives a man known locally as The Keeper. He has experienced immense loss and is struggling to come to terms with it. The setting is a clifftop renowned for suicides so we also meet The Guardians, specially trained to try to help the desperate people who feel that jumping is their only option.
This is the kind of book where you cannot help but feel for all of those in despair whether the main characters or more incidental ones. There are some dark themes covered including suicide, serious illness, grief, infertility and the effects all these have on relationships. And yet it is in no way a difficult book to read. Cole Moreton's insightful writing makes you get right under the skin of the characters and experience all the emotions along with them.
The Light Keeper is wonderfully written with the wildness, beauty and danger of the area so vividly depicted and reflecting the experiences of his characters. It won't be a book for everyone I would imagine, particularly if you have been affected by any of the situations covered in the book. Given the themes, I hesitate to use the word 'enjoy' in regards to this book but I did think it was excellent. It is a book which offers hope in dark times, a haunting story whose characters will stay in my mind.
We meet Jack and Sarah who have been desperately trying for a baby but whose options seem to have run out. Sarah's mental health has become precarious and she has now vanished, leaving Jack frantically looking for her convinced she is suicidal. Nearby in a disused lighthouse lives a man known locally as The Keeper. He has experienced immense loss and is struggling to come to terms with it. The setting is a clifftop renowned for suicides so we also meet The Guardians, specially trained to try to help the desperate people who feel that jumping is their only option.
This is the kind of book where you cannot help but feel for all of those in despair whether the main characters or more incidental ones. There are some dark themes covered including suicide, serious illness, grief, infertility and the effects all these have on relationships. And yet it is in no way a difficult book to read. Cole Moreton's insightful writing makes you get right under the skin of the characters and experience all the emotions along with them.
The Light Keeper is wonderfully written with the wildness, beauty and danger of the area so vividly depicted and reflecting the experiences of his characters. It won't be a book for everyone I would imagine, particularly if you have been affected by any of the situations covered in the book. Given the themes, I hesitate to use the word 'enjoy' in regards to this book but I did think it was excellent. It is a book which offers hope in dark times, a haunting story whose characters will stay in my mind.
August 16, 2019
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
A touching and emotional story of loss, death, and grief, THE LIGHT KEEPER by Cole Moreton was completely unexpected and is the type of story that stays fresh in your mind.
Sarah is missing and Jack is desperate to find her before it is too late. Both will come into contact with The Keeper, a man who lives in a dilapidated old lighthouse where he shuts himself away and mourns in his own way. Can those who need it find a way to look towards the light on the horizon or has the darkness taken hold for too long?
This book deals with a lot of deeply emotional and sensitive issues such as infertility, grief, loss, abuse, and depression so this may not suit every reader. Told in an almost lyrical fashion, this well-crafted piece of literary fiction slowly lured me on as I read each page and the setting is very special and really comes alive.
THE LIGHT KEEPER by Cole Moreton is not a quick, easy read, but a complex story displaying an array of life's hardest emotions and is sure to please fans of this genre.
A touching and emotional story of loss, death, and grief, THE LIGHT KEEPER by Cole Moreton was completely unexpected and is the type of story that stays fresh in your mind.
Sarah is missing and Jack is desperate to find her before it is too late. Both will come into contact with The Keeper, a man who lives in a dilapidated old lighthouse where he shuts himself away and mourns in his own way. Can those who need it find a way to look towards the light on the horizon or has the darkness taken hold for too long?
This book deals with a lot of deeply emotional and sensitive issues such as infertility, grief, loss, abuse, and depression so this may not suit every reader. Told in an almost lyrical fashion, this well-crafted piece of literary fiction slowly lured me on as I read each page and the setting is very special and really comes alive.
THE LIGHT KEEPER by Cole Moreton is not a quick, easy read, but a complex story displaying an array of life's hardest emotions and is sure to please fans of this genre.
August 5, 2019
This novel is deep, poignant, moving, and emotional. I found myself intrigued by both stories being told, and yearned to discover where they would lead. I was captivated by the scenery portrayed so beautifully, I could envision the old lighthouse, the crumbling cliff, the churning waters below. The scenery itself and The Keeper both reminded me of somewhere I have been before - Bar Harbor, Maine maybe? The grief, sorrow, and pain described were so deep, yet so beautiful, and prompted continuous inner thought and speculation. I did find myself skimming through parts that were just too slow moving and not enough substance, but I am glad I stuck with it and continued to read it because it picked up considerably and I was engrossed yet again. Definitely a good book club pick, there is so much to discuss and so many areas that would prompt different reflections and insights.
August 14, 2019
I guess this is classed as an ‘uplifter’, but boy does it take you on a rollercoaster of emotion. It explores how people become broken (for a multitude of reasons) and how they can heal. Read this if you need a cathartic cry 😭
June 14, 2020
The Light Keeper by Cole Morton is the most beautifully written novel that has soothed my soul. Once in a while a book comes along that has a serenely beautiful air that pervades the whole novel and I just sink into it and let the book wash over me. The Light Keeper is not a book to rush through, it is one to be savoured. There is power and understanding in the words that Cole Morton has used.
The book is a study of life and love and loss – a life that has been and a love that does not end; a life that is yet to be and a desperation that does not leave; and a love that has died but the embers remain. This is a tale that demands an emotional response on many levels.
Deep grief is found within the pages. “The white noise of grief has never stopped, only become part of the music of his life.” When life is snatched away and hope is gone, grief and love remain. “He wants to leave but she is still here.” When we are being sunk by our grief, we sometimes fear moving on in case we lose our memories and ties with our loved one.
One character mourns what she did not have – her mother died when she was just three years old but the sense of loss remains.
There is the painful subject of infertility and IVF – that desperation as hope is snatched away each month. Through the beautifully and sensitively written words we can ‘feel’ the despair and desperation.
The real life setting of Beachy Head is the focus of the novel. This is a well-known spot in England for its high cliffs and desperate people but not everyone who visits wants to jump, some merely want to escape the world for a bit.
Some books just lodge deep in your heart and soul – The Light Keeper is one such book. It is so very beautiful, almost ethereal, a work of tremendous calm and love.
The Light Keeper is a book I shall re-visit again and again as I believe that each reading will highlight something different.
I will leave you with a powerful quote:
“Love is stronger than hate. Light is stronger than darkness.”
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
The book is a study of life and love and loss – a life that has been and a love that does not end; a life that is yet to be and a desperation that does not leave; and a love that has died but the embers remain. This is a tale that demands an emotional response on many levels.
Deep grief is found within the pages. “The white noise of grief has never stopped, only become part of the music of his life.” When life is snatched away and hope is gone, grief and love remain. “He wants to leave but she is still here.” When we are being sunk by our grief, we sometimes fear moving on in case we lose our memories and ties with our loved one.
One character mourns what she did not have – her mother died when she was just three years old but the sense of loss remains.
There is the painful subject of infertility and IVF – that desperation as hope is snatched away each month. Through the beautifully and sensitively written words we can ‘feel’ the despair and desperation.
The real life setting of Beachy Head is the focus of the novel. This is a well-known spot in England for its high cliffs and desperate people but not everyone who visits wants to jump, some merely want to escape the world for a bit.
Some books just lodge deep in your heart and soul – The Light Keeper is one such book. It is so very beautiful, almost ethereal, a work of tremendous calm and love.
The Light Keeper is a book I shall re-visit again and again as I believe that each reading will highlight something different.
I will leave you with a powerful quote:
“Love is stronger than hate. Light is stronger than darkness.”
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
April 15, 2020
Sections of this book were page turners. Mainly when the action was ramped up. I felt the author wanted to say more than just give us great descriptions of Beachy Head. To write about infertility , domestic violence and suicide seems to me to need experience of these issues or vast research. His writing lacked depth and insight given the importance of the issues. So rather a roller coaster read I enjoy the downs but felt rather too long was spent filling in bits of Beachy Head history and also leaping rather mysteriously between the characters of Maria and Sarah, confusing.....
July 17, 2025
This one was a struggle. While the writing is unquestionably beautiful, it is very "painterly", not unlike Virginia Woolf. If the reader can accept being swept up into the language, as opposed to the narrative, then this book could be more pleasurable. If one is looking for narrative; however, one is bound to be disappointed and frustrated. I finished the book wondering what, if anything, actually happened.
July 29, 2019
The light keeper is a touching story, yet not depressing, it discusses grief and barevment. What it's like to love and to have lost. Anger and sadness and that maybe there is always a little bit of hope.
March 21, 2019
3.5 stars
This review is based on an ARC of The Light Keeper which I received courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher (Marylebone House).
What I liked about The Light Keeper was it's incredibly touching nature. This book faces some heavy issues (infertility, depression, suicide, rape, etc.), but does so in a human and compassionate way that makes the characters so much more real, and also proves the adept skill of the author. The pacing and character building in this story were truly excellent, giving you enough backstory to want more, then switching off to someone else to leave you curious and desperate to keep reading.
So why didn't I rate it higher then? I admit there were times when I was sure this would be a 4+ star read, but I didn't like the ending at all--it just seemed so random and like it didn't fit what led up to that point. Also, for the first half or more of the book, I didn't know who was who. I thought Jack and Gabe were the same people, and I couldn't keep clear whose girlfriend was whose, and I thought the Light Keeper was an old man (that's just how I figured a lighthouse keeper would look.) There was a lot of confusion for me at the start of this novel.
Overall though, The Light Keeper ended up being a book that I pretty well enjoyed!
Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge: a book that's published in 2019
This review is based on an ARC of The Light Keeper which I received courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher (Marylebone House).
What I liked about The Light Keeper was it's incredibly touching nature. This book faces some heavy issues (infertility, depression, suicide, rape, etc.), but does so in a human and compassionate way that makes the characters so much more real, and also proves the adept skill of the author. The pacing and character building in this story were truly excellent, giving you enough backstory to want more, then switching off to someone else to leave you curious and desperate to keep reading.
So why didn't I rate it higher then? I admit there were times when I was sure this would be a 4+ star read, but I didn't like the ending at all--it just seemed so random and like it didn't fit what led up to that point. Also, for the first half or more of the book, I didn't know who was who. I thought Jack and Gabe were the same people, and I couldn't keep clear whose girlfriend was whose, and I thought the Light Keeper was an old man (that's just how I figured a lighthouse keeper would look.) There was a lot of confusion for me at the start of this novel.
Overall though, The Light Keeper ended up being a book that I pretty well enjoyed!
Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge: a book that's published in 2019
March 4, 2019
Disclaimer – this review is based upon a draft of The Light Keeper made available on Net Gallery by the Author.
This, Cole Moreton’s debut novel, explores the themes of love and fear, birth and death, beginnings and ends with the backdrop of the cliff’s edge, where earth and sky, land and water come sharply together. A trio of characters, Jack, Sarah and the enigmatic Keeper (known only by this appellation for much of the book), along with a cast of ‘ghosts’ of others, against the backdrop of the fourth character, the Belle Tout lighthouse, near Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters.
It is this backdrop that truly sets the scene for the book, scenery that Moreton clearly knows well and loves. The sharpness of the cliff’s edge provides tension to the plot and is suggestive of the binary choices being faced by the characters. Of course, the sharpness of the edge is not as clear cut as it might seem, suddenly erosion by the elements can force a dramatic collapse, a crumbling away, likewise the unexpected coming together of the characters forces them to face decisions which suddenly protrude into the foreground having been put off or suppressed. The isolated nature of the lighthouse itself creates the perfect tension for these decisions and their consequences to be played out.
It is not just the author’s appreciation of the landscape that informs the text, it is also shaped and coloured by his faith, but not in a way that is contrived, awkward or proselytising. Those who do not share his background should not be put off. Behind Sarah’s story sits the Old Testament story of another Sarah, Abraham’s wife, another tale of regret, hope, choices and the unexpected. There’s also her Father, a priest, one of the background characters, or ‘ghosts’ who speak into the present. And then there are two Gabriel’s, one alive and one more symbolic.
The issues explored in the novel are big painful issues; abuse, suicide, bereavement and childlessness. Some might be caught out by these, especially if they judge the book by the cover, which, although it depicts the cliff and lighthouse, the threat they should suggest is not necessarily captured in the tone. That said, I did not personally find it a heavy read (maybe that says more about my background and experience than its ability to disturb those effected by these issues). The language had a light immediate quality to it that carried me along to the end, to me an attractive and surprising gentleness.
I thoroughly enjoyed the read, (despite the clumsy page formatting in the preview draft as sent to my kindle, which I’m sure this will be sorted out by publication), and I expect my appreciation will grow as I reflect. It’s not perfect, although I think the ‘Guardians’ were possibly included to reflect the well-meaning but not always helpful intervention of outsiders into such emotionally charged situations by those who don’t really ‘know’ what it is like to face them, I wasn’t entirely convinced by parts of their story. These quibbles are minor as far as I’m concerned, and I’m happy to recommend this to others (with the obvious trigger warning). This isn’t my favoured genre – I’m more of a sci-fi man myself – but it captivated me.
Sarah stands on the brink, arms open wide as if to let the wind carry her away. She’s come to the high cliffs to be alone, to face the truth about her life, to work out what to do. Her lover is searching, desperate to find her before it is too late. But Sarah doesn’t want to be found. Not yet. Not by him.
And someone else is also seeking answers up here where the seabirds soar – a man known only as the Keeper, living in an old lighthouse right on the cusp of a four-hundred-foot drop. He is all too aware that sometimes love takes you to the edge . .
This, Cole Moreton’s debut novel, explores the themes of love and fear, birth and death, beginnings and ends with the backdrop of the cliff’s edge, where earth and sky, land and water come sharply together. A trio of characters, Jack, Sarah and the enigmatic Keeper (known only by this appellation for much of the book), along with a cast of ‘ghosts’ of others, against the backdrop of the fourth character, the Belle Tout lighthouse, near Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters.
It is this backdrop that truly sets the scene for the book, scenery that Moreton clearly knows well and loves. The sharpness of the cliff’s edge provides tension to the plot and is suggestive of the binary choices being faced by the characters. Of course, the sharpness of the edge is not as clear cut as it might seem, suddenly erosion by the elements can force a dramatic collapse, a crumbling away, likewise the unexpected coming together of the characters forces them to face decisions which suddenly protrude into the foreground having been put off or suppressed. The isolated nature of the lighthouse itself creates the perfect tension for these decisions and their consequences to be played out.
It is not just the author’s appreciation of the landscape that informs the text, it is also shaped and coloured by his faith, but not in a way that is contrived, awkward or proselytising. Those who do not share his background should not be put off. Behind Sarah’s story sits the Old Testament story of another Sarah, Abraham’s wife, another tale of regret, hope, choices and the unexpected. There’s also her Father, a priest, one of the background characters, or ‘ghosts’ who speak into the present. And then there are two Gabriel’s, one alive and one more symbolic.
The issues explored in the novel are big painful issues; abuse, suicide, bereavement and childlessness. Some might be caught out by these, especially if they judge the book by the cover, which, although it depicts the cliff and lighthouse, the threat they should suggest is not necessarily captured in the tone. That said, I did not personally find it a heavy read (maybe that says more about my background and experience than its ability to disturb those effected by these issues). The language had a light immediate quality to it that carried me along to the end, to me an attractive and surprising gentleness.
I thoroughly enjoyed the read, (despite the clumsy page formatting in the preview draft as sent to my kindle, which I’m sure this will be sorted out by publication), and I expect my appreciation will grow as I reflect. It’s not perfect, although I think the ‘Guardians’ were possibly included to reflect the well-meaning but not always helpful intervention of outsiders into such emotionally charged situations by those who don’t really ‘know’ what it is like to face them, I wasn’t entirely convinced by parts of their story. These quibbles are minor as far as I’m concerned, and I’m happy to recommend this to others (with the obvious trigger warning). This isn’t my favoured genre – I’m more of a sci-fi man myself – but it captivated me.
August 4, 2020
The Light Keeper is an emotional rollercoaster of a read, full of drama and tension. This book is about Sarah, Jack and a man known only as the Keeper, whose lives converge at Beachy Head. Sarah is runing away from her life and Jack, she doesn’t want to be found. Jack is desperate to find Sarah, frightened that she has taken her life. The Keeper lives in a lighthouse on the edge of one of the cliffs, everyday he sees how life and love can take you to the edge. They are linked together by love, loss and grief which is eating away at their lives. As a debut novel this is remarkable, the writing flows beautifully and Cole Moreton really captures the deep emotions of all three characters with skill and understanding.
Cole Moreton is like an artist in that he gradually builds his characters personalities layer by layer, so the reader slowly gets to know them as they would in real life, making them more personable so you become invested in their story. Sarah has gone to Beachy Head to think, both about her future and past. She lost her mother when she was three years old but never grieved and never wants to talk about her mother until now. Not only is she mourning the loss of her mother, but also the fact that she has had problems conceiving and has had her last course of IVF. The pressure has put a strain on her marriage to Jack, and he is having his own problems. Jack is the son of a famous rock star who wants nothing to do with him, so he is mourning for the absence of a father figure in his life, leaving him filled with an anger he can’t control. For me the most interesting character was the Keeper, silently watching from his tower who finds himself part of Sarah and Jack’s story. He is solitary by choice, living with the ghost and memories of his wife, who he was renovating the lighthouse with. His grief and hurt literally dropped of the page for me, his enforced isolation almost like a self inflicted punishment.
The attention to detail in his characters and their psyche is also apparent in Cole Moreton’s depiction of the setting. He captures the raw beauty of the South Downs, the Seven Sister’s Hills and Beachy Head, the everchanging sea and the resilience of the flowers that continue to grow there. He also captures the danger, the crumbling cliffs, the sheer drop on to the rocks, a place frequently visited by those in despair wishing to end their lives. The constant erosion of the cliffs, that will eventually take the Keeper’s Lighthouse, are a constant reminder of the transience of life, that in the end, pardon the pun, we all fall of the edge.
The Light Keeper is a book that really touched me, and left me raw with it’s emotion. Cole Moreton has created three flawed characters that I really felt a connection with, all touched by grief and dealing with it in very different ways. Beautifully written, this book had me gripped until the last page, wanting to see the outcome for all the characters. He also brings to light the brilliant work of those who patrol Beachy Head and the cliffs, and who try to help those who go there in desperation. This is a stunning debut and I look forward to reading the next book from Cole Moreton.
Cole Moreton is like an artist in that he gradually builds his characters personalities layer by layer, so the reader slowly gets to know them as they would in real life, making them more personable so you become invested in their story. Sarah has gone to Beachy Head to think, both about her future and past. She lost her mother when she was three years old but never grieved and never wants to talk about her mother until now. Not only is she mourning the loss of her mother, but also the fact that she has had problems conceiving and has had her last course of IVF. The pressure has put a strain on her marriage to Jack, and he is having his own problems. Jack is the son of a famous rock star who wants nothing to do with him, so he is mourning for the absence of a father figure in his life, leaving him filled with an anger he can’t control. For me the most interesting character was the Keeper, silently watching from his tower who finds himself part of Sarah and Jack’s story. He is solitary by choice, living with the ghost and memories of his wife, who he was renovating the lighthouse with. His grief and hurt literally dropped of the page for me, his enforced isolation almost like a self inflicted punishment.
The attention to detail in his characters and their psyche is also apparent in Cole Moreton’s depiction of the setting. He captures the raw beauty of the South Downs, the Seven Sister’s Hills and Beachy Head, the everchanging sea and the resilience of the flowers that continue to grow there. He also captures the danger, the crumbling cliffs, the sheer drop on to the rocks, a place frequently visited by those in despair wishing to end their lives. The constant erosion of the cliffs, that will eventually take the Keeper’s Lighthouse, are a constant reminder of the transience of life, that in the end, pardon the pun, we all fall of the edge.
The Light Keeper is a book that really touched me, and left me raw with it’s emotion. Cole Moreton has created three flawed characters that I really felt a connection with, all touched by grief and dealing with it in very different ways. Beautifully written, this book had me gripped until the last page, wanting to see the outcome for all the characters. He also brings to light the brilliant work of those who patrol Beachy Head and the cliffs, and who try to help those who go there in desperation. This is a stunning debut and I look forward to reading the next book from Cole Moreton.
April 17, 2019
This was a very confused novel.
Full review to follow
UPDATE:
I was given a free copy to read through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
This review contains spoilers
I can’t say I would recommend this book.
Full review to follow
UPDATE:
I was given a free copy to read through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
This review contains spoilers
I can’t say I would recommend this book.
June 6, 2020
The Light Keeper is Cole Moreton's first novel. It took a while for that to sink in, as the story here is as wide as it is deep and this allegorical tale sucked me in gently, then held me mesmerized, then allowed me to fall at the end.
The setting is Beachy Head and The Seven Sisters. Both places I have heard of and both I have never visited. It wasn't difficult to imagine them in my head though by the evocative and often lyrical writing. The imagery is spectacular.
The Light Keeper doesn't have a name at the begining so we will just call him The Keeper. He lives in a lighthouse that he is/was doing up to become a B&B, although those plans have fallen by the wayside as he is consumed by a grief so ravaging and complicated. The sense of loss itself is enough to bear without looking to the future.
Sarah Bramer is missing. Longing to have a baby, she is beset by anguish of her own. Sarah always used to visit Beachy Head and East Sussex. Perhaps this is where she would head to stir the emotion and the memory, in order to forge the way ahead.
Sarah and The Light Keeper cross paths, each trying to find their own ways back in to the light. Their interactions highly visceral and somewhat of two souls seeking the answers. Characters that are perhaps seeking guidance and spirituality in a variety of forms, not everything always as it seems.
There are other characters of course including The Guardians up on Beachy Head, keeping their eyes out for people that might want to end their lives. There is a thread of Suicide that is tackled but it is dealt with senstively and handled with care.
In terms of talking about characters the landscape and the setting is as much a character as the others, the author seems to know the area well and manages to portray a great beauty and fragility about it. As a reader I was jarred by the juxtaposition of the beautiful landscape and the intense and often overwhelming feelings of the characters.
The Light Keeper is a story of loss, grief, longing, redemption and ultimately love.
A deeply moving, profound and distinguished read that I found difficult to read in many senses but one that I found to be richly rewarding. I don't believe that I have read a novel that explores the depths of grief particularly with such clarity and for that reason I found The Light Keeper to be startling
The setting is Beachy Head and The Seven Sisters. Both places I have heard of and both I have never visited. It wasn't difficult to imagine them in my head though by the evocative and often lyrical writing. The imagery is spectacular.
The Light Keeper doesn't have a name at the begining so we will just call him The Keeper. He lives in a lighthouse that he is/was doing up to become a B&B, although those plans have fallen by the wayside as he is consumed by a grief so ravaging and complicated. The sense of loss itself is enough to bear without looking to the future.
Sarah Bramer is missing. Longing to have a baby, she is beset by anguish of her own. Sarah always used to visit Beachy Head and East Sussex. Perhaps this is where she would head to stir the emotion and the memory, in order to forge the way ahead.
Sarah and The Light Keeper cross paths, each trying to find their own ways back in to the light. Their interactions highly visceral and somewhat of two souls seeking the answers. Characters that are perhaps seeking guidance and spirituality in a variety of forms, not everything always as it seems.
There are other characters of course including The Guardians up on Beachy Head, keeping their eyes out for people that might want to end their lives. There is a thread of Suicide that is tackled but it is dealt with senstively and handled with care.
In terms of talking about characters the landscape and the setting is as much a character as the others, the author seems to know the area well and manages to portray a great beauty and fragility about it. As a reader I was jarred by the juxtaposition of the beautiful landscape and the intense and often overwhelming feelings of the characters.
The Light Keeper is a story of loss, grief, longing, redemption and ultimately love.
A deeply moving, profound and distinguished read that I found difficult to read in many senses but one that I found to be richly rewarding. I don't believe that I have read a novel that explores the depths of grief particularly with such clarity and for that reason I found The Light Keeper to be startling
May 2, 2019
This review is based on an advance copy of The Light Keeper provided with thanks from the author, Netgalley and Marylebone House. This novel is strong on deeply emotional triggers around infertility, abuse, rape, suicide, death and depression.
The Light Keeper is a story with many interlinking threads all based around a lighthouse and its Keeper teetering on the edge of a bold and dramatic landscape that provide the setting for the many stories in this book. The stories weave around the lives of those lost and broken some of whom come to end their lives at Beachy Head. We meet Jack whose wife Sarah has gone missing and we meet a cast of characters in his search for her including the lighthouse keeper.
In the copy I received there were a range of formatting and copy issues which made it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the story. This definitely affected my initial impressions and also detracted from the flow of the book.
The premise of the story is good and there was some prose that I enjoyed very much. At times the characters did not feel fully developed and their actions and reactions were at odds with the impression's I built over time getting to know them. There were moments I wanted more details to really take me into the current lives, and there were times that unnecessary and repetitive reflections and backstory detracted from the pace of the novel.
There were opportunities to develop and fine tune the Guardians so they didn't seem so disjointed from the story, and without giving any spoilers there was scope to heighten tension and create a sense of urgency around the reason why there were so many suicides. The mystery surrounding them conflicted with the search for Sarah and was confusing.
Overall I liked the premise of the book and aspects of it were strong, however the plot at times did not feel connected and some chapters felt like short stories within the setting and not part of the overall plot.
If you enjoy darker fiction and you have the frame of mind to explore daring subject matter then this thought provoking novel may be worth reading.
The Light Keeper is a story with many interlinking threads all based around a lighthouse and its Keeper teetering on the edge of a bold and dramatic landscape that provide the setting for the many stories in this book. The stories weave around the lives of those lost and broken some of whom come to end their lives at Beachy Head. We meet Jack whose wife Sarah has gone missing and we meet a cast of characters in his search for her including the lighthouse keeper.
In the copy I received there were a range of formatting and copy issues which made it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the story. This definitely affected my initial impressions and also detracted from the flow of the book.
The premise of the story is good and there was some prose that I enjoyed very much. At times the characters did not feel fully developed and their actions and reactions were at odds with the impression's I built over time getting to know them. There were moments I wanted more details to really take me into the current lives, and there were times that unnecessary and repetitive reflections and backstory detracted from the pace of the novel.
There were opportunities to develop and fine tune the Guardians so they didn't seem so disjointed from the story, and without giving any spoilers there was scope to heighten tension and create a sense of urgency around the reason why there were so many suicides. The mystery surrounding them conflicted with the search for Sarah and was confusing.
Overall I liked the premise of the book and aspects of it were strong, however the plot at times did not feel connected and some chapters felt like short stories within the setting and not part of the overall plot.
If you enjoy darker fiction and you have the frame of mind to explore daring subject matter then this thought provoking novel may be worth reading.
February 27, 2019
*** I did not finish this book ***
I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review from Net Galley and Marylebone House.
I was able to get approximately 20% through the book, and I wanted to finish it, but the rampant formatting issues were just too much for me. The font size would be randomly and drastically changed from one paragraph to another, there were gaping spaces between paragraphs, there were numbers (presumably page numbers) alone on blank pages between or in the middle of paragraphs, and (not following any particular pattern I could see) words would be hyphenated when they did not need to be (ex. laugh-ing and confu-sion). The book was downloaded from Amazon on to my Kindle - so, I'm not sure if it is a genuine formatting problem or if something happened during the download that messed with the file. However, I did delete it from my device and re-download with the same effect.
It's a bummer - and I will try to get my hands on the book once it is published, because I do want to know what happens. So far, I was following Jack - who has lost his wife and he believes she may have committed suicide due to multiple failures to conceive a child through a variety of means. Also, I've been introduced to a man known only as the Keeper, who is halfheartedly transforming a lighthouse on the English coast as was the wish of his now deceased (not sure how) lover/wife/partner. The two men have just come in to contact with each other and the book is tagged as mental health, suicide, etc...so I'm curious of the relationship they may or may not develop. The writing style up until this point has taken me a little bit to get used to - there are short, choppy sentences with seemingly disjointed ideas - but, this could be representative of both men's frame of mind. Anyway, I'm curious to see what unfolds.
I'm going ahead and giving the book two stars because I believe it has potential, but there are formatting issues others (potentially) need to be aware of. I will make sure to edit/update my review once I am able to finish the book.
I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review from Net Galley and Marylebone House.
I was able to get approximately 20% through the book, and I wanted to finish it, but the rampant formatting issues were just too much for me. The font size would be randomly and drastically changed from one paragraph to another, there were gaping spaces between paragraphs, there were numbers (presumably page numbers) alone on blank pages between or in the middle of paragraphs, and (not following any particular pattern I could see) words would be hyphenated when they did not need to be (ex. laugh-ing and confu-sion). The book was downloaded from Amazon on to my Kindle - so, I'm not sure if it is a genuine formatting problem or if something happened during the download that messed with the file. However, I did delete it from my device and re-download with the same effect.
It's a bummer - and I will try to get my hands on the book once it is published, because I do want to know what happens. So far, I was following Jack - who has lost his wife and he believes she may have committed suicide due to multiple failures to conceive a child through a variety of means. Also, I've been introduced to a man known only as the Keeper, who is halfheartedly transforming a lighthouse on the English coast as was the wish of his now deceased (not sure how) lover/wife/partner. The two men have just come in to contact with each other and the book is tagged as mental health, suicide, etc...so I'm curious of the relationship they may or may not develop. The writing style up until this point has taken me a little bit to get used to - there are short, choppy sentences with seemingly disjointed ideas - but, this could be representative of both men's frame of mind. Anyway, I'm curious to see what unfolds.
I'm going ahead and giving the book two stars because I believe it has potential, but there are formatting issues others (potentially) need to be aware of. I will make sure to edit/update my review once I am able to finish the book.
August 2, 2020
In The Light Keeper, author Cole Moreton introduces us to Sarah, who wants nothing more in life than to have a baby. Over the years she has become increasingly desperate to fulfil this wish, and increasingly sad when it hasn’t happened. Sarah is standing on a cliff near Beachy Head, feeling alone and trying to decide what to do.
Jack is an American musician, eccentric and now frantic as he searches for his wife after discovering Sarah had left their marital home. He believes Sarah has come to this area for one reason and he is determined to find her before she makes her decision.
Gabriel, known to locals as The Keeper, lives in the old lighthouse nearby. He too is alone, but he tells himself that’s the way he wants it.
A local group of volunteers, known as The Guardians, patrol the cliffs; they try to show the souls they meet that there’s always another way.
When I find a book I enjoy I usually race through it, turning pages as fast as my fingers (or device) will allow. But very rarely I come across one which is so mesmerising, so beautiful, that I savour it slowly, reading but a few pages at a time as I don’t want the experience to be over. Cole Moreton’s writing had such a profound effect on me that I’m struggling to convey with mere letters and punctuation just how moving it was.
I could almost hear the cries of the gulls and the sighing of the sea as I read. I felt the isolation and pain of the characters, especially The Keeper, as he struggles to heal his heart.
There are trigger warnings for this novel of suicide and grief but it is in no way a bleak experience: It was a revelation; a journey; a spiritual song for my soul.
Before reading The Light Keeper, I had planned to swap it with another bookworm but having finished it I know there’s absolutely no way I can part with it. I hope you have the opportunity for The Light Keeper to sweep you off your feet as I did. The best book I’ve read in years: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Jack is an American musician, eccentric and now frantic as he searches for his wife after discovering Sarah had left their marital home. He believes Sarah has come to this area for one reason and he is determined to find her before she makes her decision.
Gabriel, known to locals as The Keeper, lives in the old lighthouse nearby. He too is alone, but he tells himself that’s the way he wants it.
A local group of volunteers, known as The Guardians, patrol the cliffs; they try to show the souls they meet that there’s always another way.
When I find a book I enjoy I usually race through it, turning pages as fast as my fingers (or device) will allow. But very rarely I come across one which is so mesmerising, so beautiful, that I savour it slowly, reading but a few pages at a time as I don’t want the experience to be over. Cole Moreton’s writing had such a profound effect on me that I’m struggling to convey with mere letters and punctuation just how moving it was.
I could almost hear the cries of the gulls and the sighing of the sea as I read. I felt the isolation and pain of the characters, especially The Keeper, as he struggles to heal his heart.
There are trigger warnings for this novel of suicide and grief but it is in no way a bleak experience: It was a revelation; a journey; a spiritual song for my soul.
Before reading The Light Keeper, I had planned to swap it with another bookworm but having finished it I know there’s absolutely no way I can part with it. I hope you have the opportunity for The Light Keeper to sweep you off your feet as I did. The best book I’ve read in years: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
October 30, 2020
Stay Away From The Edge
Set on the beautiful, wild and unforgiving South Downs of England, this is a story of love, loss, longing and despair.
Both the protagonists are in mourning - one for a partner who was taken too soon, the other for children never to be born.
The Keeper never wanted to come to this place - it was her dream, not his - but now he cannot leave because this is where she remains. He sees her, feels her, hears her and speaks to her. And he is content to remain here alone with her and his memories.
This is a wild and beautiful place, but it is also savage and unforgiving - a place where desperate people come to step into oblivion. So much so, that the Guardians patrol the cliffs offering support and comfort to those most in need.
The Keeper tries to remain separate and aloof from these goings on outside his Light, but one day he is dragged from his solitude by an urgent knocking at the door. A young man is desperately in search of his wife, who, he fears, has come here to put an end to her misery.
Later, she does indeed turn up at The Light in search of peace and sanctuary... and a transformation slowly unfolds as they start to talk and listen to each other and share their deepest heartbreaks.
This is a haunting and often harrowing story. The author creates a real sense of place in his writing. He creates a ballet, almost, a fine dance between the magnificent beauty and the unforgiving savagery of the Downs.
The characters are likewise drawn - they have beauty and spirit, but are equally flawed and broken. Ultimately, they have to learn to believe in themselves and trust in each other to move on with their lives.
I loved this book. It had me reading into the early hours as I hungrily turned page after page. My eyes were stinging at the end from the salty tears I shed. I know one thing for sure - at MY hour or greatest need and deepest despair, I pray that I don’t meet a ‘Magda’.
Set on the beautiful, wild and unforgiving South Downs of England, this is a story of love, loss, longing and despair.
Both the protagonists are in mourning - one for a partner who was taken too soon, the other for children never to be born.
The Keeper never wanted to come to this place - it was her dream, not his - but now he cannot leave because this is where she remains. He sees her, feels her, hears her and speaks to her. And he is content to remain here alone with her and his memories.
This is a wild and beautiful place, but it is also savage and unforgiving - a place where desperate people come to step into oblivion. So much so, that the Guardians patrol the cliffs offering support and comfort to those most in need.
The Keeper tries to remain separate and aloof from these goings on outside his Light, but one day he is dragged from his solitude by an urgent knocking at the door. A young man is desperately in search of his wife, who, he fears, has come here to put an end to her misery.
Later, she does indeed turn up at The Light in search of peace and sanctuary... and a transformation slowly unfolds as they start to talk and listen to each other and share their deepest heartbreaks.
This is a haunting and often harrowing story. The author creates a real sense of place in his writing. He creates a ballet, almost, a fine dance between the magnificent beauty and the unforgiving savagery of the Downs.
The characters are likewise drawn - they have beauty and spirit, but are equally flawed and broken. Ultimately, they have to learn to believe in themselves and trust in each other to move on with their lives.
I loved this book. It had me reading into the early hours as I hungrily turned page after page. My eyes were stinging at the end from the salty tears I shed. I know one thing for sure - at MY hour or greatest need and deepest despair, I pray that I don’t meet a ‘Magda’.
June 8, 2020
For a fairly short book, this one certainly packs a punch in the emotive department! If you’re looking for a lighthearted read, this certainly isn’t it, but if you enjoy stories that are intriguingly unique, compelling for their raw honesty, then this will almost certainly appeal to you.
There are several potential triggers throughout the story, including Suicide, bereavement (death and the resulting grief) and so on, however they are handled in a way that although raw at times and very open, it is beautifully for the glorious honesty that threads through the story in a seemingly effortless way.
Although the story centres around three particular characters, what I liked about the authors style is the way in which Cole manages to subtley and effectively highlight how the smallest thing can have a huge impact, a single conversation can change the flow of your life. Characters that seem only a side role, in fact influence the story in a potentially huge way.
I also liked how the story shows just how our opinions of people and peoples decisions, is very much coloured by the stories others tell, their views and experiences. Initially I rather disliked Sarah and I was prepared to continue to do so, but the further into the book you get, the more you realise there is more to each characters story and choices.
In short, the book certainly isn’t long, the chapters vary in length and the style flows wonderfully, but the topics covered are grippingly truthful. The Author openly considers a wide range of things people struggle with throughout their lives and does so in a way that is intriguing and easy to digest. It isn’t always easy of ‘fun’ to read, but it is very engaging and addictive from start to end!
If you can read the topics without discomfort, i THOROUGHLY recommend it!
There are several potential triggers throughout the story, including Suicide, bereavement (death and the resulting grief) and so on, however they are handled in a way that although raw at times and very open, it is beautifully for the glorious honesty that threads through the story in a seemingly effortless way.
Although the story centres around three particular characters, what I liked about the authors style is the way in which Cole manages to subtley and effectively highlight how the smallest thing can have a huge impact, a single conversation can change the flow of your life. Characters that seem only a side role, in fact influence the story in a potentially huge way.
I also liked how the story shows just how our opinions of people and peoples decisions, is very much coloured by the stories others tell, their views and experiences. Initially I rather disliked Sarah and I was prepared to continue to do so, but the further into the book you get, the more you realise there is more to each characters story and choices.
In short, the book certainly isn’t long, the chapters vary in length and the style flows wonderfully, but the topics covered are grippingly truthful. The Author openly considers a wide range of things people struggle with throughout their lives and does so in a way that is intriguing and easy to digest. It isn’t always easy of ‘fun’ to read, but it is very engaging and addictive from start to end!
If you can read the topics without discomfort, i THOROUGHLY recommend it!
September 18, 2019
💫💫💫Review Time💫💫💫
****sensitive topic - suicide ****** 🔦🔦The Light Keep by Cole Moreton Published by @spck_publishing 🔦🔦
Here is a book with a spiritual feel to it. It is so beautifully written with 2 stories amalgamating into one.
🔦🔦
The atmosphere that Cole has created is so gentle yet in the same vain haunting. The timing of his writing creates an aura.
🔦🔦
Sarah disappears and does not want to be found- Her husband Jack is out looking for her and is desperate to find her.
🔦🔦
The very first paragraph of the book starts with Sarah standing by the cliffs of Beachy Head.
🔦🔦
You have the Light House Keeper ‘Gabe’ who is a recluse and does not really socialise . He lives alone at the derelict lighthouse but he talks to his late partner ‘Rhi’
🔦🔦
There were times when I felt the story got a little side tracked but as the story progressed it all made sense. It is a fascinating read.
🔦🔦
The dynamic between Jack & Gabe, Gabe & Sarah , Gabe & Rhi are written really well- 🔦🔦
As you start to read the story you are given the impression that the reason for Sarah running away is due to her unable to conceive a child naturally nor through IVF. However the deeper you go into the book the deeper the problems actually are.
🔦🔦
2 lost souls that find each other.
🔦🔦 I’ve you get the opportunity to read this I implore you to do so. It is a short book but it does not skimp on detail nor plot.
🔦🔦 Highly recommended 💫💫💫💫💫 #thelightkeeper #indepth #detailed #bookcommunity #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks📚 #reading #readerofig #lovetoread📚 #readingloversinsta #booknerd #bookobsession #bookaddiction #tylwythtegyllyfr #literatureisbeauty
****sensitive topic - suicide ****** 🔦🔦The Light Keep by Cole Moreton Published by @spck_publishing 🔦🔦
Here is a book with a spiritual feel to it. It is so beautifully written with 2 stories amalgamating into one.
🔦🔦
The atmosphere that Cole has created is so gentle yet in the same vain haunting. The timing of his writing creates an aura.
🔦🔦
Sarah disappears and does not want to be found- Her husband Jack is out looking for her and is desperate to find her.
🔦🔦
The very first paragraph of the book starts with Sarah standing by the cliffs of Beachy Head.
🔦🔦
You have the Light House Keeper ‘Gabe’ who is a recluse and does not really socialise . He lives alone at the derelict lighthouse but he talks to his late partner ‘Rhi’
🔦🔦
There were times when I felt the story got a little side tracked but as the story progressed it all made sense. It is a fascinating read.
🔦🔦
The dynamic between Jack & Gabe, Gabe & Sarah , Gabe & Rhi are written really well- 🔦🔦
As you start to read the story you are given the impression that the reason for Sarah running away is due to her unable to conceive a child naturally nor through IVF. However the deeper you go into the book the deeper the problems actually are.
🔦🔦
2 lost souls that find each other.
🔦🔦 I’ve you get the opportunity to read this I implore you to do so. It is a short book but it does not skimp on detail nor plot.
🔦🔦 Highly recommended 💫💫💫💫💫 #thelightkeeper #indepth #detailed #bookcommunity #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks📚 #reading #readerofig #lovetoread📚 #readingloversinsta #booknerd #bookobsession #bookaddiction #tylwythtegyllyfr #literatureisbeauty
November 23, 2019
A haunting story of life and death, beginnings and endings, and a unique landscape.
Beachy Head is at the tip of England and has the unfortunate reputation of being one of the most popular suicide spots in the world. The cliffs are sheer, white and dramatically high, so it's understandable. The wind is sharp and brings tears to your eyes. This is the setting for this novel and if you know the area the atmosphere is already set. Add to that an old lighthouse...
There is a great sense of place in this book. Morton captures the landscape, the danger of catching your foot in a rabbit hole or slipping on a bit of gravel and ending your days by falling off the edge. Terrifying.
The story has a man who has bought a disused lighthouse (he is known as 'the Keeper') with the intention of opening it as a bed and breakfast. Sadness over the loss of his artist wife has prevented him from doing this. There is also another man who fears that his missing wife has taken her own life. Between these two men are other characters who go over the edge or attempt to, the Guardians who try to prevent the jumpers, the desolate pub and the tourists.
The plot is to find out what happened to the two wives and how the husbands cope. But the appeal of this book is that it is evocative and emotionally gripping, gothic, realistically gritty and magical at the same time. There is the constant fear of danger contrasted with the nostalgia and comfort of a cosy lighthouse. A wonderful enigmatic novel. Highly recommended.
Beachy Head is at the tip of England and has the unfortunate reputation of being one of the most popular suicide spots in the world. The cliffs are sheer, white and dramatically high, so it's understandable. The wind is sharp and brings tears to your eyes. This is the setting for this novel and if you know the area the atmosphere is already set. Add to that an old lighthouse...
There is a great sense of place in this book. Morton captures the landscape, the danger of catching your foot in a rabbit hole or slipping on a bit of gravel and ending your days by falling off the edge. Terrifying.
The story has a man who has bought a disused lighthouse (he is known as 'the Keeper') with the intention of opening it as a bed and breakfast. Sadness over the loss of his artist wife has prevented him from doing this. There is also another man who fears that his missing wife has taken her own life. Between these two men are other characters who go over the edge or attempt to, the Guardians who try to prevent the jumpers, the desolate pub and the tourists.
The plot is to find out what happened to the two wives and how the husbands cope. But the appeal of this book is that it is evocative and emotionally gripping, gothic, realistically gritty and magical at the same time. There is the constant fear of danger contrasted with the nostalgia and comfort of a cosy lighthouse. A wonderful enigmatic novel. Highly recommended.
February 20, 2019
Without a doubt
The Light Keeper
will take you on an emotionally demanding journey over challenging terrain. In fact, my first thoughts while reading this book was just how much anguish was hiding behind its tempting, almost carefree façade of a cover.
But perhaps that’s the whole point. The image people project on the surface may not reflect what truly lies beneath. The characters reach a personal crossroads where they wait alone, that is until the direction they ultimately take has revealed itself.
After immersing myself in the ‘Guardians’ patrolling miles of cliff tops for signs of distress, the gruelling routine of IVF, and the enigmatic ‘Keeper’ with his silent ache of grief and endless reminders of loss, I can’t say I finished this read feeling emotionally buoyed – if anything I’d have to say quite the opposite.
It was the passages involving 'The Keeper' that were the most emotive for me. I believe that’s because although he’s attempted to distance himself from others, he discovers that unpredictable and unwelcome contact with strangers in need results in some pretty affecting exchanges – for him, them, and me.
Due to the subject matter it’s not a book I can say I ‘enjoyed’. But in no time at all I became concerned for the welfare of characters, hoping they may find a light in the dark.
(I received a digital copy of this title via Netgalley with my thanks, which I have voluntarily chosen to read and review.)
But perhaps that’s the whole point. The image people project on the surface may not reflect what truly lies beneath. The characters reach a personal crossroads where they wait alone, that is until the direction they ultimately take has revealed itself.
After immersing myself in the ‘Guardians’ patrolling miles of cliff tops for signs of distress, the gruelling routine of IVF, and the enigmatic ‘Keeper’ with his silent ache of grief and endless reminders of loss, I can’t say I finished this read feeling emotionally buoyed – if anything I’d have to say quite the opposite.
It was the passages involving 'The Keeper' that were the most emotive for me. I believe that’s because although he’s attempted to distance himself from others, he discovers that unpredictable and unwelcome contact with strangers in need results in some pretty affecting exchanges – for him, them, and me.
Due to the subject matter it’s not a book I can say I ‘enjoyed’. But in no time at all I became concerned for the welfare of characters, hoping they may find a light in the dark.
(I received a digital copy of this title via Netgalley with my thanks, which I have voluntarily chosen to read and review.)
August 23, 2019
Sarah Bramer is desperate for a child but with her marriage struggling with the strain of infertility, and in a sense of hopelessness, she has run away from her husband, Jack. Jack starts a desperate search to find Sarah before her fractured mind causes her to do something dreadful.
Near to Beachy Head, a man known as the Keeper tends an unused lighthouse, where high above the cliffs he guards his own battered soul, searching for answers he can never find, about a loss so great his mind is numbed by it. And then the Keeper meets Sarah, and life is irrevocably changed for both of these troubled souls.
With strong themes about love, loss, infertility and suicide, this is sometimes a difficult book to 'enjoy' in the widest sense, however, the author's ability to get right into the heart of these characters turns this story into something quite special. Each word is carefully placed, and with never an emotion wasted, the author's passion for imaginative storytelling shines through.
The Light Keeper is an insightful and carefully constructed story around the power of loss and of the torment of struggling in a world where all hope of understanding seems to have disappeared. Emotional and tense the story runs through a myriad of emotions which are beautifully expressed, often quite stark in places, but always reminiscent of those individual hurts which can so easily threaten to overpower everything.
May 17, 2020
Cole Moreton's novel, The Light Keeper, is a book that deserves to be savoured like a glass of good red wine on a winter's evening. The writing is exquisite, the characters beautifully drawn, the landscape permeates the book with awe and dread and the plot is well-paced with interesting twists and turns that kept me engrossed to the last pages. This book is romantic but not sentimental, it does not shy away from the gritty reality of life but it is suffused with something mythical and spiritual that lifts it above the everyday.
I didn't savour the book as I should have. I gulped it down in two sittings but it has stayed with me and I know I will re-read it shortly. It is a novel that works on many levels - there are rich references to Biblical mythology and more recent literary genres, the characters reveal themselves in their full humanity throughout the novel until they feel like friends and the sublime landscape, a character in itself, grounds the story, giving it depth and texture. It's not an easy read but I found it effortless and I hope Cole Moreton goes on to write more fiction to lift our souls, stir our hearts and feed our minds.
I didn't savour the book as I should have. I gulped it down in two sittings but it has stayed with me and I know I will re-read it shortly. It is a novel that works on many levels - there are rich references to Biblical mythology and more recent literary genres, the characters reveal themselves in their full humanity throughout the novel until they feel like friends and the sublime landscape, a character in itself, grounds the story, giving it depth and texture. It's not an easy read but I found it effortless and I hope Cole Moreton goes on to write more fiction to lift our souls, stir our hearts and feed our minds.
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