THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS by M. L. Stedman is not a book for light-weight readers. It is important to know going into this book that it is deep and incredibly heart-wrenching. It deals with loss--extreme loss--and not only the feelings that come from experiencing such incredible loss, but the actions such losses lead to that never would have occurred without the deep pain and soul-wrenching sorrow experienced.
I saw that THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS is being made into a movie--or has already been made into a movie. It apparently will be released on September 2 this year. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnBMGa6z-Bg> I bought the book online; it was here two days later. I read it in 3 days. I would have finished it on the 2nd day, but we had a birthday party to go to.
I don't know how Stedman got the idea for this book, the research required, or anything beyond the fact that she was born and raised in Australia (the setting for the novel), she now lives in London, and that THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS is her first book. I normally try to find out as much as I can about the authors of the books I read, but Stedman remains a mystery that I would love to solve. I will continue to research her until I know more.
I want to know how much loss she herself has experienced. I want to know what research she had to do to write this novel. I want to know how she got the idea for this story. I want to know her writing process--her writing journey. I want to know how hard she had to think to come up with her amazing poetic language throughout the novel--language that speaks volumes that mere words can't convey.
This is a beautifully written book, but very difficult to read--as one who has experienced child loss similar to that of Isabel. My heart was wrenched out of my chest with the turning of each page, but I was powerless to stop reading. If you choose to read it, go in with your eyes wide open, knowing that the story is gut-wrenching.
*As kind of a side-note, I couldn't help thinking of THE MEMORY-KEEPERS DAUGHTER as I read THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS. Both dads make decisions that impact not only the futures of their families, but the futures of others. Both dads are tortured for many years by that one moment of decision. Both stories in as happy an ending as is possible with such stories--with a reminder that no matter how difficult life gets--no matter what life throws at us--life does go on and we can only choose what we're going to do with our lives each moment. One major difference between the books that makes THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS definitely the better book of the two is that in THE MEMORY-KEEPERS DAUGHTER, the author always told me what to think and explained certain parts of the story as if I was unable to read between the lines. For example, one scene I remember specifically is when the dad goes to a bridge and stands on the edge with his toes sticking out over the edge in the pouring rain. It's a powerful scene, of course, demonstrating the difficulty of the dad as he struggles with the decision he made all those years ago. What ruins the scene, though, is that the author then takes two pages to explain to the reader how the dad was on the bridge because he was considering suicide and, just in case we had trouble figuring out why, she reminds us of the dad's horrific decision all those years ago. As a reader, I love minimalism. I love being allowed to figure out what's going on inside a character from inference rather than being blatantly told by the author, "Hey, idiot reader! Just in case you didn't understand, here's what you were supposed to GET from that scene you just read!"
Several years ago, a sweet friend of mine who shall remain nameless (Amber Benge) introduced me to Jesus Culture and I have been a big fan ever since. We are the proud owners of all their albums which we listen to every chance we get, especially on Sundays. My husband even has a bit of a crush on Kim Walker-Smith that I think is adorable. I can't help but agree with him about
the anointing that is on her; it's impossible to be angry about a crush on someone so passionate for the Lord! ;)
So when I heard about Banning Liebsher's book ROOTED, it was a no-brainer for me to get a copy immediately and read it with great care. There is a website to accompany the book with a group Discussion Guide as well as a video for each chapter of Banning discussing the book with a reading group (see below for the link).
When my husband first started preaching, one of his very first sermons was about how God puts us in His quiver as He prepares us for the ministry He has for us. He uses the quiver as an opportunity to test us and tweak us so that when the time is right, He pulls out of the quiver and shoots us to do our ministry for Him.
Banning's book ROOTED is essentially the same idea with a different metaphor. We must be prepared for ministry. We can't just jump into ministry without growing roots and being prepared according to God's great plan for us. We are tested and tweaked and prepared so that when the time is right, we are so rooted in Him that everything we do is in service to Him, to honor Him.
ROOTED: THE HIDDEN PLACES WHERE GOD DEVELOPS YOU by Banning Liebscher is a book that any and everyone with a calling to ministry should read. Don't be surprised if your Christmas present sounds familiar! ;)
http://jesusculture.com/rootedbook/
Many of my co-workers and friends have mentioned Lee Smith over the years as an English Instructor in the state of North Carolina. I had never heard of her, though, and simply allowed their recommendations to go in one ear and out the other. Several years ago, we had Lee Smith at our CEI Conference (Conference of English Instructors). My colleagues were quite excited to have her there. I was oblivious. I still had never read any of her works and, honestly, had no real desire to do so--even though she gave everyone on the CEI board (of which I am a member) an autographed copy of one of her books, BLACK MOUNTAIN BREAKDOWN. (No, I haven't read it yet.)
My co-workers were appalled that I had never read anything by Lee Smith, so one of them loaned me a copy of FAMILY LINEN. I have had it for at least 3 years. I finally decided that I needed to read it so I can give it back to my co-worker. I always try to read books that are loaned to me--even if I personally have no interest in the book or author.
So then the question is, I suppose, did I like FAMILY LINEN? That honestly is not an easy question to answer. I didn't hate or dislike it. I didn't love it, either. As a Southern novel, it certainly has everything to delight those who enjoy the Southern genre. There is even a really GOOD story that made me, as the reader, want to keep reading.
I did not like the foul language or the fact that everyone was having an affair and acted as if that was the way of life for a Southerner.
Anyway, I think I will go ahead and read BLACK MOUNTAIN BREAKDOWN and see if I like the works of Lee Smith more with that one.
Yes, I read another book about Lady Jane Grey. And?!
Sue Reid's version of LADY JANE GREY is told through the perspective of Jane herself, in diary form. The reader is incredibly limited in details given as, it appears, Jane must have been. She was a young girl in a world that was changing by leaps and bounds faster than anyone had time to absorb. What wasn't changing was the power parents had over their children, so Jane had to do what her parents told her. That brings to question, then, how much Jane knew of what was going on to make her queen and how much she was kept in the dark and truly was surprised when she was told she was queen--and that she had no choice but to accept.
As I mentioned previously, I have always been extremely fascinated with Lady Jane Grey, the Nine-Days Queen. She may have been queen of England for only 9 days total, but she made a powerful impact in the history books--enough so that people like me continue to be curious about her and want to know as much as we possibly can about the very young woman who became queen of England for a grand total of 9 whole days.
I adore Oscar Wilde. Because of that, I'm not so sure it's a good idea for me to evaluate his works. As a big fan, I simply love reading everything he's written! So yes, I thoroughly enjoyed THE HAPPY PRINCE AND OTHER TALES by Oscar Wilde. I'm not sure others would enjoy these stories, but I found them simply charming. I was even pleasantly surprised by one story that is very Christian in its focus and purpose, a clear deviation for Wilde. I like the way Wilde uses these stories to demonstrate the idiocy of some people in their thinking, especially in regards to friendship. Each story is short enough to be read in just a short time and just fun to read for one such as me--who enjoys just about everything ever written by Oscar Wilde.
Yes, I stayed up until 4:00 am to finish MY LADY JANE by the Lady Janies. And it was so very worth it!!! This is my new favorite book! The Lady Janies have taken the tragic, horrific story of Lady Jane Grey and made it something hysterical to read. It is very clear that this a work of historical FICTION. There are details that are true to history, too, which makes a book like this that much more fantastic. I LOVE historical fiction and since I have always been uber fascinated with Lady Jane Grey, this book fed my love of reading like nothing else has! This book is simply delightful!
What makes this book even more super-fantastic are the wonderful
references to modern-day movies/stories!!
It is a clear tribute to one of my all-time favorite movies, LADYHAWKE--"always together, eternally apart." I hope this book sends millions of people running to watch this movie because it's fantastic!!!
There is a reference to The Red Wedding in GAME OF THRONES!!!
To my great delight, it is also a wonderful tribute to the amazing and super-fantastic THE PRINCESS BRIDE!!!!
Lady Jane is described as a Hermoine-type character with a love of reading, loving libraries, and wild [red] hair!!!
Elizabeth (yes, THE Queen Elizabeth) is a Professor McGonagall-type character!!!
Lady Jane uses a frying pan to beat up soldiers, just like Rapunzel in TANGLED!!!! That's quite possibly my favorite part!!! "Frying pans! Who knew?!"
G reminds me so much of R in WARM BODIES! He's also portrayed as a would-be, possibly-could-have-been William Shakespeare! And his constant, "Oh, that's good. I need to write that down," is wonderfully reminiscent of the fantastic DRAGONHEART!!!
There is even a reference to JAWS!!! "We're going to need a bigger sword!"
I know I haven't even come close to mentioning all the wonderful stories the Lady Janes have referenced in the wonderful MY LADY JANE, so if you see others, I'd LOVE to compare notes. This book was worth the impulse buy, reading it all in one day, and staying up until 4:00 am!!!
Oscar Wilde's delightful play LADY WINDEMERE'S FAN could
easily become one of my all-time favorite Wilde plays. I think I will always prefer THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST simply because of the cucumbers, but LADY WINDEMERE'S FAN, as a serious play rather than comedic, is simply fantastic. I was disappointed in the predictability of the story, yet found that I simply enjoyed the story anyway. Typically I get bored when I am able to predict the plot and especially when I am able to figure out the "secret" well before it is revealed, but knowing such things prior to their reveal did not diminish my enjoyment of the play in the slightest. I can't wait now to see a version of this play on stage or even as a movie!!! I have no idea as of the writing of this if there is a movie, but I promise you that if there is, I will be watching it as soon as I can find a copy to watch! Maybe even one day I'll find an opportunity to act in a local performance of this play.....That could prove to be a LOT of fun!!!!
