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 book, BAD NARRATION

I initially thought the authentic Australian accent was a perfect fit, but it quickly felt like the narrator was dragging down the story. He spoke so quietly at some parts it was difficult to hear. This would have been much more enjoyable not listened to.

Modern day tragic love story

Would you listen to The Light Between Oceans again? Why?

Yes, ML Stedam is a great writer and I anxiously await any furture books he write !

Something to think about!

This book was enjoyable and gave me something to think about. If I were in this situation, what would I do, how would I feel, would I have made the choice to be in this situation being desperate as this couple was?
I am American -all the way- I can understand a lot of British but that being said, it took me a little while to get into the narration by Noah Taylor. I found some words just hard to understand.

Narrator

I loved the narrator's voice and cadence--but his voice was often difficult to hear distinctly

Excellent and unusual story

Liked the book and the sequence of events.
Lighthouse workings and history of the wars from downunder interesting.
Narrator was poor, occasionally unintelligible due to speed of reading and tonelessness but improved as he went along.

What a Moral Dilemma

What a complex and gripping story that caused me, so many times to question what I would have done. And the author could have wrapped up the story in a nice near bow, but didn't let us readers off the hook.

I listened to the audio version and found the volume a problem. Sometimes the narrator spoke too softly. But I guess I got used to it.

Wish I'd Read the Reviews First

This is a great story, but the narration is impossibly difficult to understand especially if driving in a car. If I'd read the reviews first I wouldn't have purchased.

loved the narrarator!!!

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

the narrarator, Noah, made the book experience EXCELLENT! I would love to know other books that he has narrarated.

What other book might you compare The Light Between Oceans to and why?

The story was so detailed that I thought...what exactly has happened? BUT BY THE END OF THE BOOK, I WAS CRYING SO HARD! EXCELLENT story and very well written.

Which scene was your favorite?

my favorite? the most moving was when the true mother came to talk to the mother about taking the little girl back. wow, how hard!!

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

the wife- to discuss her feelings about her decision and her feelings toward her husband.

Any additional comments?

loved this book and especially the narrator-please tell him!!

Heartwarming and Heartbreaking

What did you like best about this story?

In the end, I dare you to pick a side. I like that the ups and downs have you battling with and then defending the main characters. There really is no right and wrong, no way to choose a side when you can see both of them. The write does an excellent job of portraying the joy and sadness through this long journey and getting you to see the "light" at the end.

What about Noah Taylor’s performance did you like?

I enjoyed the accent.

If you could rename The Light Between Oceans, what would you call it?

I feel like the title fits. It's as compelling as the story.

gloomy and sad

Well written and holds your interest however depressing. if your already sad this could send you to a ledge