An international coproduction between the united states, australia, the united kingdom, and new zealand, the film stars michael fassbender, alicia vikander, rachel weisz, bryan brown, and jack thompson. Light between oceans book club notes penguin books. Thanks to everyone who joined us for this months virtual book club. Stedman this month and paired it with an outing to go watch the film, which also just came out. The power of a parents love is clear and it is strongly felt, even if you have never had children. The novel is rich with detailed descriptions of the ocean, the sky, and the wild landscape of janus rock. Book club questions for the light between oceans by m. Stedman, author of the light between oceans interview by tess taylor the opening sequence of your book captures the solitary beauty of living on a lighthouse and looking back to land. The author herself is a very interesting character. Reading this book from the perspective of so far away made it even more romantic and touching. The light between oceans reading group guide one book one city resources lit lovers discussion questions reflection on a light between oceans book discussion. I find some of the more controversial books make the best book club books because theres so much more discussion to be had. Stedman a boat washes up on the shore of a remote lighthouse keepers island.
What do you visualize when you hear or read the light between oceans. The light between oceans is the first novel by australianborn author, m. Discuss the novels title, the light between oceans. Elegantly renderedheartwrenchingbeautifully drawn usa today, the light between oceans is a gorgeous debut novel, not soon to be forgotten. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. The light between oceans is an incredibly moving novel about what happens when good people make bad decisions. Set just after world war i, its the story of a lighthouse keeper and his wife, tom and isabel sherbourne, who, after several failed attempts to have a child of their own, claim a baby that washes up on the islands shore. It is the winner of three prestigious abia awards, including their book of the year, and also won the indie awards book of the year. The light between the oceans is a fantastic novel and it will touch your heart.
The light between oceans includes an introduction, discussion questions and ideas for enhancing your book club. Our reading guide for the light between oceans by m. I enjoyed the light between oceans so much, i felt i had to buy the guide, which of course took me straight back to the story again without actually reading the whole book. Deciding to do an online book club the thursday before graduation was probably the worst idea i ever had. The light between oceans is a 2016 romantic drama written and directed by derek cianfrance and based on the 2012 novel the light between oceans by m. The light between oceans melissas online book club. The light between oceans by ml stedman mount prospect public. This debut surely will be high not only on my list of alltime favorites, but also on.
The light between oceans the books the book club abc tv. Light between oceans book club notes penguin books australia. Cianfrance had his breakthrough with a movie called blue valentine. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. What to read after the light between oceans bookpage. The light between oceans tells the tragic story of lighthouse keeper tom sherbourne and his wife isabel who, after discovering a baby in a shipwrecked boat, must face the terrible consequences of their decision to raise the child as their own.
The light between oceans cooking with the book club. Ill throw out a few topics for discussion, and you can write your responses about these topics or others youd like to discuss in the comment section. This comprehensive guide includes useful literary context. An impossible situation set in a beautiful and captivating setting. No reading group should be without this book club companion to m.
Today were discussing the light between oceans by m. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. If you were in tom sherbournes position, would you have let the lightkeepers log book stay silent when the baby was. My book club met to discuss the light between oceans just before christmas. Stedman scribner, hardcover, 9781451681734, july 2012, 352pp. After four, very long years fighting on the western front, tom sherbourne returns to. Janus rock is a lonely speck of land far out to sea. The time period of the novel matches the plot perfectly, providing a somber backdrop to the story, which is. Having survived wwi tom sherbourne takes a job as a lighthouse keeper on a remote island off western.
The light between oceans is a 2012 australian historical fiction novel by m. If you havent read the book or seen the film, perhaps you should opt out of reading this posting to prevent me from spoiling the story for you. Stedman was born and raised in western australia, and now lives in london. The light between oceans is a rare melding of lyrical prose and a truly gripping read, the kind that leads one to stay up all night in order to finish the book. The light between oceans is an oddly oldfashioned enterprise, wedded to the principle that love conquers all. The orchardist by amanda coplin the lightkeepers wife by karen viggers latitudes of melt by joan clark. Its an absolute zoo at the high school, and its all i can do to keep my head about me, let alone finish. Stedmans the light between oceans is a top pick among bookbrowse readers. Stedman the yearslong new york times bestseller and major motion picture from spielbergs. Read the light between oceans absolutely for free at readanybook. Overall, our group agreed this was one of those books that just begged to be discussed. I love how novels can reveal big life questions and how people can have completely opposite opinions about moral choices.
Jul 31, 2012 the light between oceans, her first novel, is an international bestseller, having spent well over a year on the new york times bestsellers list. The yearslong new york times bestseller and major motion picture from spielbergs dreamworks is irresistible. Better reading book club live the light between oceans by m. This 36page guide for the light between oceans by ml stedman includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 37 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. The light between oceans summary and study guide supersummary. May 07, 20 book club questions for the light between oceans by m. May 02, 20 the light between oceans is set in the southern hemisphere, off the coast of southwest australia.
The light between oceans begins to suggest an overly plotted, highend nicholas sparks film awash in tears, pleas and threats, and acts of treachery and nobility. The light between oceans took out numerous categories at the australian publishers awards this year, much to newcomer m. Dec 31, 2014 my book club met to discuss the light between oceans just before christmas. A veteran of the first world war, 27yearold tom sherbourne takes a position with the commonwealth lighthouse service and finds himself on a remote island off the west australian coast, at the meeting point of the indian and southern oceans. Between the great southern ocean and the indian ocean, on this small spot of land, the couple make a life altering decision. The light between oceans is set in the southern hemisphere, off the coast of southwest australia. Aug 25, 2016 light between oceans book club notes share this whether you share this mesmerising australian novel with your reading group before you catch the screen adaptation, or followup the film with the book, the light between oceans is sure to spark a memorable discussion. These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points if you have not read the book. The light between oceans is the debut novel from australian author m l stedmen now living in the uk, which sparked a fierce bidding war and has already sold into multiple territories. The light between oceans, her first novel, is an international bestseller, having spent well over a year on the new york times bestsellers list as well as being translated into almost forty languages, the book was nominated for the miles franklin award, the womens prize for literature the. The light between oceans, her first novel, is an international bestseller, having spent well over a year on the new york times bestsellers list.
Stedman, her debut novel, published by random house australia on 20 march 2012. The story begins when a light house keeper and his wife find a life boat containing a live baby and dead man on the shore of their isolated island. This study guide consists of approximately 51 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the light between oceans. The book is split into three sections, including a first one which alternates chapters between the time of ellies disappearance and the present and a second section that begins as laurel and floyd meet. The story itself is both heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful, with a pitchperfect conclusion. Is there a particular passage or scene that stood out to you. I have not read a heartwrenching, dramatic novel such as this one in a long time. As well as being translated into almost forty languages, the book was nominated for the miles franklin award, the womens prize for literature the orangebaileys prize, and the walter scott prize for. Stedmans acclaimed bestselling novel, the light between oceans. The light between oceans is exquisite and unforgettable, a deeply moving novel.
A film adaptation of the same name starring alicia vikander and michael fassbender was released on 2 september 2016. Anyone whos worked on the offshore lights can tell you about itthe isolation, and the spell it casts. The light between oceans discussion questions all good. Having survived wwi tom sherbourne takes a job as a lighthouse keeper on a remote island off western australia. The light between oceans is a beautiful narrative that whisks the reader on a journey across time, love and a vast amount of water. He and his young wife isabel live in contented isolation, but they are. Stedmans bestselling novel, the light between oceans. A novel at our thursday, february, 2014 meeting at the leawood pioneer library 7 pm. Stedman may 7, 20 books books contemporary fiction fiction m.