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The Island House: A New Life on a Tiny Cornish Isle
Mary and Patrick's dream was to live in London, have 2.4 children, the nice house, the successful jobs. But life had other plans, and in one traumatic year that all came crashing down.Bruised and battered, Mary finds herself pulled towards Cornwall and dreams of St George's Island, where she spent halcyon childhood summers. So, when an opportunity arises to become tenants if they renovate the old Island House, they grab it with both hands.Life on the island is hard, especially in winter, the sea and weather, unforgiving. But the rugged natural beauty, the friendly ghosts of previous inhabitants, and the beautiful isolation of island life bring hope and purpose, as they discover a resilience they never knew they had.
- GenresNonfiction
Hardcover
Published June 9, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 29, 2022
A solid 3.5 stars really. This is an interesting memoir of the author's "relationship with" the tiny St George's Island just off the Cornish mainland at Looe, from idyllic childhood holidays, when it provided an escape for her and her brothers from a tricky home life with separated parents, to her marriage ceremony conducted there, through a six and a half year stint living on the island with her husband, acting as custodians for the trust which now owns it. The opening of the book is somewhat opaque and confusing, describing the arrival of an unannounced stranger to the island who has swum, at great danger to himself, across to St George's one night. This episode doesn't really go anywhere and I found it a less than satisfactory opening but is intended to point to, I think, the allure of the place, which incites such reckless behaviour. When Mary and her husband, Patrick, seek solace for their lost dream of having children of their own by re-locating to live on the island in their 40's, there are immense hardships, given the run-down state of the accommodation, lack of power, water etc and, as we gradually learn, Patrick's disabilities due to a rare genetic condition. But there are also heart warming descriptions of celebrations with friends, family and animals and the endless beauty of the land. I did find the structure of the story a little confusing at times (not linear!) and the ending unexpected.
July 29, 2022
I love Cornwall and reading books set there, so I was really excited to join the blog tour for The Island House. This is a non-fiction book which details Mary and Patrick’s move to the tiny St George’s Island (also known as Looe Island) in Cornwall.
The book covers the background of how Mary and Patrick met, their life in London and Mary’s childhood holidays spent at the Island.
It also goes through the history of the house and the previous owners. The Island was bought by The Atkins sisters in the 1960s and stayed in their possession until they died and left it to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. The two sisters would do tours and have tourist visits during the summer season and during the winter, when the sea was too rough to make the short crossing, they would simply hunker down with lots of books and cases of gin and whisky that they had bought. I love the sound of just staying on the island for the winter with lots of books!
The book also cover the renovation that Mary and Patrick started on the house, a condition of their long term lease and spending Christmas there.
I loved reading about the history of the island and Island House, it read like a novel and includes hidden treasures and secret smugglers coves.
This is a fantastic book that I would recommend, especially if you have an interest in Cornwall.
The book covers the background of how Mary and Patrick met, their life in London and Mary’s childhood holidays spent at the Island.
It also goes through the history of the house and the previous owners. The Island was bought by The Atkins sisters in the 1960s and stayed in their possession until they died and left it to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. The two sisters would do tours and have tourist visits during the summer season and during the winter, when the sea was too rough to make the short crossing, they would simply hunker down with lots of books and cases of gin and whisky that they had bought. I love the sound of just staying on the island for the winter with lots of books!
The book also cover the renovation that Mary and Patrick started on the house, a condition of their long term lease and spending Christmas there.
I loved reading about the history of the island and Island House, it read like a novel and includes hidden treasures and secret smugglers coves.
This is a fantastic book that I would recommend, especially if you have an interest in Cornwall.
August 20, 2022
A very honest account of living on a small island albeit one relatively close to shore. The author goes to great lengths to explain the challenges and difficulties, that only seem to get larger as time progresses.
I enjoyed the early passages, describing the history of the island and the previous inhabitants. Unfortunately, as the book progresses, it seems to drift. Perhaps this is due to the large number of characters that appear and disappear, ofthen without much context. The longer the book ent on, the less sympathy I had for the author and her husband.
Perhaps a more focussed approach to her writing would have helped?
I enjoyed the early passages, describing the history of the island and the previous inhabitants. Unfortunately, as the book progresses, it seems to drift. Perhaps this is due to the large number of characters that appear and disappear, ofthen without much context. The longer the book ent on, the less sympathy I had for the author and her husband.
Perhaps a more focussed approach to her writing would have helped?
June 25, 2022
What an enchanting book! From the first paragraph, I was drawn into Mary and Patrick’s dream and their experiences. It is beautifully written with a poignancy that reaches out and touches the heart.
Mary Considine spent much of her childhood holidays on Looe Island, helping the indominable sisters, Attie and Babs Atkins. These ladies had bought the island in the 60’s and, through offering “working holidays”, managed to keep their frugal lifestyle going until 2004. In her will, Babs left the Island to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, and this is when Mary was able to realise her dream of living there.
They take a twenty-year lease out on The Island House, committing to renovate it in the most sympathetic and environmentally friendly way they could. Documenting their ongoing battle against the elements in winter, the logistics of getting items to the island make fascinating reading. There are wonderful characters here, the ones who are long gone and the ones who are definitely alive and kicking! We feel Mary’s dilemma when the pigs they have reared are dispatched; when poaching nets have trapped cormorants and when their ducks have husband problems! We also feel her despair when Patrick’s health starts to fail and they are faced with difficult decisions.
Do yourself a favour, read it.
I was sent this book by the publisher through Love Reading.
Mary Considine spent much of her childhood holidays on Looe Island, helping the indominable sisters, Attie and Babs Atkins. These ladies had bought the island in the 60’s and, through offering “working holidays”, managed to keep their frugal lifestyle going until 2004. In her will, Babs left the Island to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, and this is when Mary was able to realise her dream of living there.
They take a twenty-year lease out on The Island House, committing to renovate it in the most sympathetic and environmentally friendly way they could. Documenting their ongoing battle against the elements in winter, the logistics of getting items to the island make fascinating reading. There are wonderful characters here, the ones who are long gone and the ones who are definitely alive and kicking! We feel Mary’s dilemma when the pigs they have reared are dispatched; when poaching nets have trapped cormorants and when their ducks have husband problems! We also feel her despair when Patrick’s health starts to fail and they are faced with difficult decisions.
Do yourself a favour, read it.
I was sent this book by the publisher through Love Reading.
July 21, 2022
I think the sentence that resonated most with me was – he knows the island is calling. I think at the core of decisions to sever oneself from the societal norm and rat race, which may or may not go hand-in-hand with trauma, stress, burn-out or other great upheavals there can be an element of gut instinct. The instinct that tells us we need to readjust, re-evaluate and seek change.
The isolation seems to adhere to those lines, although in this case it can bring both peace and hardship. Imagine cutting yourself off from the extended world, where you often rely on nothing else but your own strength and stamina. Survival instinct kicks in, but perhaps also a resonance of forgotten ancestral genetic instincts.
I found the story, the memoir, quite fascinating. There must be plenty of people who think of going slightly off-grid and retreating in a way – I know I certainly have. However I am more realistic about being able to cope with the extreme situations, and reverting to more basic comforts. It’s tough, albeit that fact is obscured by the scenery and the fantastical notion one has stepped back in time and staking a claim and place in the unknown. This imaginary fantastical notion of a fantasy life doesn’t do justice to the people who actually do make these choices and live in isolated areas.
The isolation seems to adhere to those lines, although in this case it can bring both peace and hardship. Imagine cutting yourself off from the extended world, where you often rely on nothing else but your own strength and stamina. Survival instinct kicks in, but perhaps also a resonance of forgotten ancestral genetic instincts.
I found the story, the memoir, quite fascinating. There must be plenty of people who think of going slightly off-grid and retreating in a way – I know I certainly have. However I am more realistic about being able to cope with the extreme situations, and reverting to more basic comforts. It’s tough, albeit that fact is obscured by the scenery and the fantastical notion one has stepped back in time and staking a claim and place in the unknown. This imaginary fantastical notion of a fantasy life doesn’t do justice to the people who actually do make these choices and live in isolated areas.
September 18, 2025
The author holidayed on St George's Island as a child, when it was owned by the Atkins sisters (you can read about their time on the island in Evelyn Atkins' book We Bought An Island) and it became a magical place for her. In her 30s, struggling to come to terms with trauma, she and her husband are given the opportunity to lease Island House, the Atkins' former residence, if they renovate it during their tenancy. This book describes their life on the island.
I was disappointed not to enjoy this more. I found Considine's style hard to follow, as she jumped from past to present and back again with no warning and also used oblique phrases, meaning that I often had to read a sentence several times to work out what she was saying. I also found it quite a sad and depressing book. Considine and her husband originally move to the island after discovering they will never be able to have children, and they are forced to leave it six and a half years later when they both experience major health problems. Perhaps this explains the reason for the sense of melancholy, but I struggled to finish this. I much preferred Atkins' book, although it seemed to be less professionally put together.
I was disappointed not to enjoy this more. I found Considine's style hard to follow, as she jumped from past to present and back again with no warning and also used oblique phrases, meaning that I often had to read a sentence several times to work out what she was saying. I also found it quite a sad and depressing book. Considine and her husband originally move to the island after discovering they will never be able to have children, and they are forced to leave it six and a half years later when they both experience major health problems. Perhaps this explains the reason for the sense of melancholy, but I struggled to finish this. I much preferred Atkins' book, although it seemed to be less professionally put together.
September 7, 2025
This is an account of a couple who give up the London life and move to a small island off the coast of Looe for 6 years.
I enjoyed the beginning, then felt it got a bit disjointed and disconnected, but liked the end where it was more linear again.
Lots of people were mentioned and I wasn't clear who they were some of the time, when I felt I should.
There are of course lots of idyllic things on the island, but we also read about the many struggles too.
By the end I was full of admiration for the couple. To have made a go of it, in the face of all their difficulties, is amazing.
I enjoyed the beginning, then felt it got a bit disjointed and disconnected, but liked the end where it was more linear again.
Lots of people were mentioned and I wasn't clear who they were some of the time, when I felt I should.
There are of course lots of idyllic things on the island, but we also read about the many struggles too.
By the end I was full of admiration for the couple. To have made a go of it, in the face of all their difficulties, is amazing.
August 19, 2022
Such a beautiful read! Gloriously written, telling the tale of Mary’s life-long relationship with a small Cornish island, describing the adventures of living there full time, lovingly renovating the Island House, and slowly realising this particular adventure will have to come to an end. Philosophical and funny, but ultimately a love letter to a beautiful island and the small community of its keepers.
July 14, 2022
I have always dreamed of living on a remote island and for Mary and Patrick this becomes their reality, I enjoyed reading about their journey living on the island and all the difficulties and challenges they experienced on the way.
August 1, 2023
the writing is beautiful yet almost conversational, and drips with nostalgia and love for nature and the island the book is about. it left me longing to escape to an island of my own, and unexpectedly moved.
September 15, 2023
Lovely story evoking St George's Island, Looe, Cornwall and its past together with Mary and Patrick's own modern challenging story - both unasked for challenges and asked for; pigs, ducks, agas and inflatables!
Must read if you visit Cornwall.
Must read if you visit Cornwall.
July 25, 2022
My review for this fascinating book is on my blog https://thefallenlibrarian.wordpress....
August 7, 2025
I had no idea you could visit Looe Island but this couple actually leased a house and lived there.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews