The Light Between Oceans

A Novel

By: M. L. Stedman

Narrated by: Noah Taylor

Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

A captivating, beautiful, and stunningly accomplished debut novel - the story of a lighthouse keeper and his wife who make one devastating choice that forever changes two worlds.

In 1918, after four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia to take a job as the lighthouse keeper on remote Janus Rock. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes only four times a year and shore leaves are granted every other year at best, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Three years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel is tending the grave of her newly lost infant when she hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up on shore carrying a dead man and a living baby. Tom, whose records as a lighthouse keeper are meticulous and whose moral principles have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the dead man and the infant immediately. But Isabel has taken the tiny baby to her breast. Against Tom’s judgment, they claim the child as their own and name her Lucy, but a rift begins to grow between them. When Lucy is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world…and one of them is desperate to find her lost baby.

M.L. Stedman’s extraordinarily compelling characters, still trying to make sense of life in the wake of so much death in the war, are imperfect people seeking to find their north star in a world of incomprehensible complexity.

©2012 Grasshill Communications. (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“M.L. Stedman’s The Light Between Oceans is a beautiful novel about isolation and courage in the face of enormous loss. It gets into your heart stealthily, until you stop hoping the characters will make different choices and find you can only watch, transfixed, as every conceivable choice becomes an impossible one. I couldn’t look away from the page and then I couldn’t see it, through tears. It’s a stunning debut.” (Maile Meloy, author of Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It)

Leaves a Lasting Effect

I come late to the party, listening to this book for the first time in 2023. I had never seen the movie (and still haven't at the time of writing). I do like fictional history, and even though romantic dramas never seem to scream for me to come, I seem to enjoy them when forced or relented to listen / watch one. This one is no different.

I appreciate many things about this book, some of which will likely rub others the wrong way. I appreciate the old period setting, and I feel there is an “old period telling” to the story, that doesn't demand cultural virtue signals, except for perhaps what might be native to the writer (and reader – I know nothing about the author). I guess I could state a personal bias that seems present in the book, is an unapologetic consideration of God, religion, and Christianity. Mind you, it's not front, or center, and could barely even pass as a sub-setting, nevertheless present. I appreciated that it wasn't shamed or apologized for, but as it was in the 1920s and 30s of Australia, an assumed part of life. (Full disclosure: being a Christian myself, it probably contributes to my warm reception of it).

The author's command of sea-faring, and light/dark imagery throughout the book, even showing up when unexpected but making sense for its illustrative purposes was pleasantly enjoyable. She no doubt has a gift for story-telling.

Both characters and their psyches felt so real and true-to-life. Nothing, not even the smallest storied-detail seems wasted (unlike other books where you know certain scenes or instances can likely be erased). Thus, “listen / read” closely.

No doubt the book raises questions about right and wrong. And unlike a few stories here and there which ends an on ambiguous obvious moral failing that is morbidly praised, I am grateful how this book turned out. Where wrongs were brought to their consequences – even though like I'm sure most people... wished the story could end fairytale like, its ending felt most realistic and suitable, and made up I suppose for the suspend-belief set-up (though stranger things have probably happened at sea).

My one criticism as far as the audio edition goes, is, has been stated, the narration. Noah Taylor I'm sure is a brilliant actor (as his iMDB shows). However, I had to play only with ear-buds, usually with a volume that upset my iPhone (constantly sending me warnings about high audio levels) and 1.3x the speed seemed the most efficient. His drifting, trailing off thoughtfully while reading – maybe to him, felt like fit the mood – but became old real fast. Thankfully his voices for characters didn't match the narrator's thoughtful dramatic observatory tones. His “pause for effect,” was definitely overused (hence the 1.3x speed). I am usually one to desire a natural speed at all times, anxious to miss nothing, however at 1.3x for this book was good enough for me, only a few times did I have to rewind, and eventually go to natural speed to catch something usually muffled by Aussie accent (on my American ears). I would likely even give the book another listen should another narrator give it a go.

Nevertheless though, I might even give Noah Taylor another chance should I find myself wanting to listen to the book again. Give it a shot if you're interested.

Heart-wrenching tale, PERFECTLY narrated.

Gripping story of choice and consequence. Australian story written by an Australian born author, and narrated by an Australian born actor with an Australian accent. To forgo this novel due to negative reviews of the narrator would be missing out on a fabulous portrayal of human nature--it's shortcomings and strengths. At no point did I find the narrator difficult to understand. Noah Taylor's slow, somber voice expertly portrays the mood of the book. ML Stedman tells the story of unfortunate people working their way through great sadness, their memories and hopes of great joys, and the reality of their lives. It's a tale of kinship, understanding and misunderstanding, forgiveness and grief. Although rarely uplifting, it is a conceivable, thought-provoking, moving debut novel.

No light to be found

What did you like best about The Light Between Oceans? What did you like least?

***spoiler alert****Narration was VERY bad..this might be my 1000th audio book and I usually never complain too much about narration because you get use to about any reading, but this was BAD - he mumbled and sounded so bored - like it was tortuous to have to read it. But to make matters worse the story is just depressing. And just when you think that's about as depressing as it gets, she dies before she ever sees her daughter again!!! I was like REALLY? Wow, i shoulda just watched the local news for an hour. I was able to finish the book, so it's written well enough, just missing any LIGHT! I think all the light sunk between the oceans! Now wouldn't this book have been much better if the daughter had showed up before the mother died and they were able to have some involvement with the grandchild? Perhaps she even went into labor while visiting or something? It's a shame, as it has so much potential to be amazing!

Recommended if want to hear in authentic Aussie

What made the experience of listening to The Light Between Oceans the most enjoyable?

Having an authentic Australian voice was great! I read reviews before buying and heard a sample. The reviews were not very positive, but I understood the sample well so I went ahead and purchased it.

What about Noah Taylor’s performance did you like?

It was an authentic accent. If the listener is not familiar with accents outside of the US, I can see the frustration. Best recommendation would be to have a hardcopy book on hand for any difficult areas. It's a pleasure hearing it in an voice similar to the setting and author's voice.

Hang in there!

Not only did I not like the narrator, he made me mad! I had to turn the volume way up to be able to decipher the mumbling, uninflected reading. I nearly gave up on it a number of times.

But, I continued, and found it to be a sensitive, interesting portrayal of an impossible family situation. The characters were, for the most part, well-drawn and depicted. The ending is a tear-jerker, and I wept for all the losses and poignant dilemmas. The book did move me, and was well written.

I CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE NARRATOR

I tried to to listen to this book three different times because I heard it is a very good book, but I cannot understand the narrator. What a shame!

Narrator

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I am enjoying this book very much.however having an extremely difficult time listening to the reader. He is very difficult to understand with his accent.
I wish I had another choice to listen to as I would never purchase another book by Noah Taylor.

How could the performance have been better?

If I could have understood the narrator.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

probably

Great story, Horribly Performed

I enjoyed the story line of The Light Between Oceans very much. It was a little slow at the beginning, but got very interesting by part 2 and kept my attention until the end. It is an emotional story that is well told with complex characters.

The issue I had was with the narrator of the audiobook. Between his accent and the fact that he mumbled and swallowed the end of his sentences it was extremely hard to understand. I had to listen to the book at a very loud volume in order to catch enough words to completely understand what was being said.

Good story, poor narration.

Every sentence trailed off in volume. I'm not sure I heard the last words of any sentence. Frustrating.

Great listen

I enjoyed this story. life is full of difficult choices in this was a peek into the difficult choices made by many. the book was great, the narrator a little hard to understand at points. Overall I enjoyed the book and the performance.