The Light Between Oceans: Summary

The Light Between Oceans is a novel by M.L. Stedman that tells the story of a lighthouse keeper, Tom Sherbourne and his wife Isabel who live off the coast of Australia in Janus Rock. The couple struggle to have a child of their own and when a boat washes up on shore carrying a dead man and a living infant, they make the fateful decision to raise her as their own. The main themes of The Light Between Oceans include love, sacrifice, morality, fate and redemption. It explores the idea of what makes us human and how we are capable of making difficult decisions for love and loyalty. Additionally, it looks at the effects of grief and how it can shape our lives. Ultimately, the novel is about coming to terms with our pasts and learning how to forgive ourselves and others in order to move on.

1. At what point did you begin to feel sympathy for Tom and Isabel, despite their flawed decision making?
2. How did Hannah’s presence shape the lives of Tom, Isabel and Lucy?
3. What were some of the key themes dealt with in The Light Between Oceans?
4. How did the character’s relationships evolve throughout the novel?
5. What do you think would have happened if Tom had not been a lighthouse keeper?
6. How did the author effectively illustrate the moral dilemma faced by Tom and Isabel?
7. How does the setting of Janus Rock add to the story?
8. Was there anything about the novel that you didn't like or felt was missing?
9. Do you believe that a happy ending was possible for all those involved in this story?
10. What did you learn from The Light Between Oceans about forgiveness and redemption?

• The Light Between Oceans is a beautiful exploration of difficult moral choices and the consequences of those decisions.
• I think the novel captures the complexities of love and loyalty in a way that is both heartbreaking and hopeful.
• The characters are so well-developed and real, it was easy to get emotionally invested in their story.
• The setting of Janus Rock was so vividly portrayed that I could almost feel the wind off the ocean as I read.
• While reading, I felt a deep sense of empathy for the characters as they navigated through life's toughest dilemmas.
• It was interesting to observe how different people reacted differently to the same situation, which showed how nuanced morality can be in certain situations.
• The Light Between Oceans is an excellent example of how tragedy can bring out both the best and worst in people.
• I thought it was incredible how M.L Stedman managed to create such complex characters with such depth in only a short novel.
• It's no wonder this book has been made into a movie; its themes of hope, human frailty and redemption are timeless and universal.
• Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an emotional journey that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.

1. "Love is a wild thing. It can slip through your fingers like sand, but when you hold on tight it can be as strong as the sea."
2. "The only way out is through."
3. "It's not always necessary to be strong, but to feel strong."
4. "We all make choices in life, but in the end our choices make us."
5. "Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes."

Film The Light Between Oceans is a 2016 romantic drama film directed by Derek Cianfrance, based on the 2012 novel of the same name by M.L. Stedman. The film stars Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Rachel Weisz, and Bryan Brown, and follows a lighthouse keeper and his wife who rescue and raise a baby girl adrift at sea. Radio BBC Radio 4 produced an hour-long adaptation of The Light Between Oceans in 2017, starring Jodhi May and James D’Arcy as Isabel and Tom Sherbourne respectively. Podcasts In 2020, Penguin Random House Audio released a podcast adaptation of The Light Between Oceans featuring narration by Annabelle Dowler and Ben Addis and music by composer Gareth Johnson. Theatrical Adaptations A stage production of The Light Between Oceans was adapted by Andrew Bovell and premiered at the Sydney Theatre Company in 2019. It starred Anna Torv and Ewen Leslie as Isabel and Tom Sherbourne respectively.

• The Mountain Between Us
• The Best of Me
• Before the Rains
• The Shipwreckers