We then discussed whether it was right to disobey the law and decided that it is sometimes for the best, but we felt that if Tom had recorded what had happened in the book that would have been better, because then whatever happened they could say that they did what they thought best at the time. So, given the circumstances as they presented themselves, we felt we could not blame her for the decision she made. There is no doubt that they had a lot of love to give and if they had reported what had happened and it had transpired that the mother was also dead, Lucy’s life would have been a much less happy one.

We felt that Isobel’s decision was influenced by the fact that she had just lost a baby of her own, and also that she had seen the orphanage her friend’s baby had been sent to and knew what would happen if both parents had died and she and Tom didn’t keep the baby. We spent a lot of time discussing whether Tom and Isobel did the right thing in keeping the baby. We liked the style of the writing and found it easy to read. It was compared to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, which has been our favourite book so far. Despite this, the discussion was lively and we all enjoyed the lemon cake which Amy brought along!Įverybody enjoyed this book. Not only is the characters’ conflict gripping and touching, but the settings mystical and enchanting. This book is an extraordinary and rare reading experience.There were only five people present at this month’s meeting due to a lot of members being on holiday or having other commitments. So gorgeously and expertly written, I’ll never forget the sorrow, joy, love, struggle and everything in between contained in these pages. Stedman’s exquisite story of desperate choices and tragic consequences immediately grips your emotions and holds on to the perfect ending. I can’t remember a novel that made my heart ache more than this one. Author M.L. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them. But Isabel has taken the tiny baby to her breast. Against Tom’s judgement, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. Tom, whose records as a lighthouse keeper are meticulous and whose moral principles have withstood horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind.

To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season and shore leaves are granted every other year at best, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s journey from the coast.

Between the oceans book