Edwardsville Public Library discussion

Have you ever had to make a truly difficult moral choice? Did you weigh all of the consequences of your decision? “The Light Between Oceans”—the story of Tom Sherbourne, an Australian war veteran who takes a job as a lighthouse keeper, and his young wife, Isabel, presents a life changing dilemma about “right and wrong and how sometimes they look the same.” (Random House)

This discussion will be moderated by Judy T.

Reading/Discussion Schedule:
Week 1 (November 4-10) Chapters 1-9
Week 2 (November 11-17) Chapters 10-19
Week 3 (November 18-24) Chapters 20-28
Week 4 (November25-30) Chapters 29 to end

I hope to hear from you soon!

After reading Part 1 (chapters 1-9), do you have any forebodings about how this story will unfold for Tom and Izzy? How does the author create this atmosphere?

From the very beginning I got the sense things would not go well for Tom and Izzy. Unfortunately I don't have the book anymore (library copy) so I can't give concrete examples of how the author gave me that feeling. I think there were references to Tom's uncertainty about keeping the baby in the first chapter.

I remember reading the section about Isabel asking for a map of Janus and naming everything on the island. This made Tom uneasy, yet he played along with her and was telling himself that maybe there was no harm in it. You could almost feel the trouble approaching.
I did love the descriptions of the ocean and the island in the book. I felt that was the only beauty in a rather bleak story. Maybe that was intentional?

As you continue to read through this book, how do you feel about Isabel and Hannah? Do your feelings change as the story unfolds? If so, what causes the change?

I think both women have issues. I never really liked either one. Hannah has never on with her life. Isabel doesn't seem to be able to understand that keeping the secret going is cruel. I kept wanting to scream at the characters.

I also kept hoping that Isabel would make the "right" choice (as I saw it). If the situation had been handled differently, everything could have turned out so much better for everyone (I'm being vague to avoid spoilers!)

I agree that much grief and unhappiness could have been avoided if Tom and Isabel had acted differently. I became increasingly less sympathetic towards Isabel as the story evolved. She states several times one of the reasons for keeping Lucy was to protect her from an uncertain, and perhaps even cruel, fate if she had no family. Although I think that motivation was there, I felt Isabel was totally self-absorbed and selfish. Were there any other characters you especially liked or disliked?

I agree with both of you, but at the same time I could almost feel Isabel's adamant belief in her own side of the situation. After telling yourself something over and over it becomes your reality. We can see that easily as outsiders but if you are living it - I think it can become less clear.

I found myself liking Tom a lot, yet I found his behavior and reactions to Isabel frustrating! I liked the way he felt his responsibility as caretaker yet was careful to not think of the island/lighthouse as his own. I felt that he appreciated the quiet beauty of Janus.

I also had less sympathy for Hannah than I would have expected to, but I felt that her character was written that way intentionally. It makes it all more unclear!

I really liked Tom. But even with him, I was frustrated with how he was willing to sacrifice himself for Isabel. All along he didn't think he should keep the baby and he kept making choices to make Isabel happy.

I apologize for getting behind a bit with our last week of conversation about this book, but I would like to wrap this up with a couple of questions. First, I wonder what you think about Tom leaving notes and the silver rattle for Hannah, unbeknownst to Isabel? Did that change your opinion of him? Second, I wonder what you think the title of the book refers to--just the actual lighthouse or something more?

At first, I thought it was Isabel that was leaving the notes for Hannah. When I found out it was Tom, I liked him more and Isabel less. I thought Isabel was showing her humanity toward a woman whose life had been destroyed by her loss, but it was Tom showing compassion.

Until you asked the question, I hadn't thought about what the title of the book referred to. Clearly it could refer to the lighthouse but could Lucy also be the light between Isabel and Hannah (or Isabel and Tom)?