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natalie_1127's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility and Pregnancy
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Sexual violence, Rape, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, Blood, and Violence
portybelle's review against another edition
5.0
The Light Keeper is Cole Moreton's debut novel and is an emotional book about several people driven literally to the edge by exceptionally difficult circumstances.
We meet Jack and Sarah who have been desperately trying for a baby but whose options seem to have run out. Sarah's mental health has become precarious and she has now vanished, leaving Jack frantically looking for her convinced she is suicidal. Nearby in a disused lighthouse lives a man known locally as The Keeper. He has experienced immense loss and is struggling to come to terms with it. The setting is a clifftop renowned for suicides so we also meet The Guardians, specially trained to try to help the desperate people who feel that jumping is their only option.
This is the kind of book where you cannot help but feel for all of those in despair whether the main characters or more incidental ones. There are some dark themes covered including suicide, serious illness, grief, infertility and the effects all these have on relationships. And yet it is in no way a difficult book to read. Cole Moreton's insightful writing makes you get right under the skin of the characters and experience all the emotions along with them.
The Light Keeper is wonderfully written with the wildness, beauty and danger of the area so vividly depicted and reflecting the experiences of his characters. It won't be a book for everyone I would imagine, particularly if you have been affected by any of the situations covered in the book. Given the themes, I hesitate to use the word 'enjoy' in regards to this book but I did think it was excellent. It is a book which offers hope in dark times, a haunting story whose characters will stay in my mind.
We meet Jack and Sarah who have been desperately trying for a baby but whose options seem to have run out. Sarah's mental health has become precarious and she has now vanished, leaving Jack frantically looking for her convinced she is suicidal. Nearby in a disused lighthouse lives a man known locally as The Keeper. He has experienced immense loss and is struggling to come to terms with it. The setting is a clifftop renowned for suicides so we also meet The Guardians, specially trained to try to help the desperate people who feel that jumping is their only option.
This is the kind of book where you cannot help but feel for all of those in despair whether the main characters or more incidental ones. There are some dark themes covered including suicide, serious illness, grief, infertility and the effects all these have on relationships. And yet it is in no way a difficult book to read. Cole Moreton's insightful writing makes you get right under the skin of the characters and experience all the emotions along with them.
The Light Keeper is wonderfully written with the wildness, beauty and danger of the area so vividly depicted and reflecting the experiences of his characters. It won't be a book for everyone I would imagine, particularly if you have been affected by any of the situations covered in the book. Given the themes, I hesitate to use the word 'enjoy' in regards to this book but I did think it was excellent. It is a book which offers hope in dark times, a haunting story whose characters will stay in my mind.
meldav4's review against another edition
4.0
This novel is deep, poignant, moving, and emotional. I found myself intrigued by both stories being told, and yearned to discover where they would lead. I was captivated by the scenery portrayed so beautifully, I could envision the old lighthouse, the crumbling cliff, the churning waters below. The scenery itself and The Keeper both reminded me of somewhere I have been before - Bar Harbor, Maine maybe? The grief, sorrow, and pain described were so deep, yet so beautiful, and prompted continuous inner thought and speculation. I did find myself skimming through parts that were just too slow moving and not enough substance, but I am glad I stuck with it and continued to read it because it picked up considerably and I was engrossed yet again. Definitely a good book club pick, there is so much to discuss and so many areas that would prompt different reflections and insights.
mikeiswhere's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
At its heart this book is a reflective, interesting story of characters brought together by place and circumstance.
Despite its short page count this book did feel like a slig in the middle, at tomes the narrative is lost in the reveries of the characters.
Ultimately, worth a read.
Despite its short page count this book did feel like a slig in the middle, at tomes the narrative is lost in the reveries of the characters.
Ultimately, worth a read.
kellyyou_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
myliteraryshelf's review against another edition
2.0
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Light Keeper is certainly an emotional novel, tackling issues of grief, suicide and infertility. Unfortunately, I found the book too triggering and did not finish. This was a shame as I did really enjoy the writing style. I would look out for any subsequent work by Moreton but only if the subject matter is considerably lighter.
The Light Keeper is certainly an emotional novel, tackling issues of grief, suicide and infertility. Unfortunately, I found the book too triggering and did not finish. This was a shame as I did really enjoy the writing style. I would look out for any subsequent work by Moreton but only if the subject matter is considerably lighter.
glw_xxx's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
lucsbooks's review against another edition
2.0
The book starts off interestingly enough divided by the pov's of a man who is looking for his wife, afraid she has committed suicide and a lighthouse keeper whose wife died. The characters are relatable at first and the setting of the story is really interesting but after a while, all the desperation and memories get very tiring. The themes in this book range from loneliness to suicide, inability to have children and loss. My favorite part was the way the people that live close to a suicide point are portrayed.
raoionna's review against another edition
4.0
Love lost is terrible, but worse when the loss is due to death. This is a very emotional book and could be triggering to some.
This is a lovely, sad book about mental health and suicide. The prose is slow, though, this might be due to the main character’s path towards acceptance of loss. The lighthouse, and the crashing waves below, are a metaphor, in some ways, but also a setting where loss often happens.
I really enjoyed this book, but I was not expecting the heavy tenor when I saw the cover. I don’t have personal experience with suicide, so I was able to focus on the beautiful words. I don’t know if this book would be challenging for someone dealing with suicide.
Thanks to Netgallery for the book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a lovely, sad book about mental health and suicide. The prose is slow, though, this might be due to the main character’s path towards acceptance of loss. The lighthouse, and the crashing waves below, are a metaphor, in some ways, but also a setting where loss often happens.
I really enjoyed this book, but I was not expecting the heavy tenor when I saw the cover. I don’t have personal experience with suicide, so I was able to focus on the beautiful words. I don’t know if this book would be challenging for someone dealing with suicide.
Thanks to Netgallery for the book in exchange for an honest review.
booksnotcooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Gorgeous book. Well written, just beautiful descriptions of the scenery.