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)

Great Listen!

Where does The Light Between Oceans rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of my top books thus far. Well done all the way around.

What does Noah Taylor bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Having the Australian dialect for the story had a great way of transporting me out of my own American residence and every day moment. It was great to be so drawn into a book!

Loved the book

I loved the book. The movie had parts missing that were important. The only thing I had problems with was the narration by the person. I couldn't hear what he was saying, I had to put the volume up to understand. I have listened to many books from different people and loved their voices but this person, when reading the narration of the book would be dull and difficult to understand. When he did the parts of the people in the book it was easier to understand. I hope he reads this and speeds more clearly in the future

Beautiful well narrated story

An emotional rollercoaster that pulls at your heart strings and your sad when it ends

Changed my life.

Where does The Light Between Oceans rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It was one of the single most painful things I've ever experienced...finishing this book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Light Between Oceans?

Love. The trillions upon trillions of tons of heart-aching love. From both the Sherbornes and Hannah and Frank.

Have you listened to any of Noah Taylor’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Never heard anything read so eloquently. Don't listen to anyone else about the "terrible" narrator. He brought life to the faces Steadman describes, and Hell follows every sentence if you don't prepare yourself.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I am a manly man. I am also a father. This book changed my life; several viewpoints or morals, what have you; and I smiled so much. I held back titanic tears, and am currently drowning in them as I write this review.

Any additional comments?

Do yourself a favor and never finish this book. If you do, God have mercy on you. The second trouble rears its ugly head, put the book down and never pick it back up.

Enjoyed the story

If you could sum up The Light Between Oceans in three words, what would they be?

Story of Love

How did the narrator detract from the book?

In areas of the narration, the narrator whispers and it's very hard to follow the story. Other than the whispering areas, I think he did a good job.

If you could take any character from The Light Between Oceans out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Lucy

Don't let the bad reviews scare you

at least about the narrator, I had zero trouble understanding or listening to him. I did find myself kind of wandering away from the story at times though as it gets very lengthy and doesn't necessarily add to the story. overall it's a worthy listen but I probably would have preferred to read it myself

Worst narration

Horrible narrator. The story is amazing and the narration truly took away from it. Incredibly hard to understand without out blasting the volume. Lots of mumbling. Would read this one ten times before listening to it.

Amazing and Heartbreaking

A beautiful yet heart breaking story of true love and loss. I do agree that the narrator was difficult to understand however, once I got used to his accent, I felt it added to the telling of the story.

Enchanting and gut wrenching

The story drew me in. I had a difficult time decided which 'side' I was rooting for. Wonderful narrator. Easy quick read that often left me wanting me when I had to pause. Highly recommended.

Amazing beautiful story that brings you to tears

Beautiful words and so wonderfully read. I highly recommend listening to this. It will stay with you for a long time.