THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS

After the grim reality of WWI, Tom Sherbourne signs on with the Australian Lighthouse Service, enjoying the uncomplicated solitude of isolated Janus Rock. Narrator Noah Taylor sounds appropriately depressed and low-key as Tom reveals details of his life. Listeners will grow to like this orderly man who takes comfort in sameness. Tom marries Isabel, and they’re happy until Isabel suffers a series of miscarriages. When a boat drifts ashore carrying a dead man and a live infant, Tom and Isabel decide to raise the baby as their own. Taylor does well with the dialogue and character development in Stedman’s intriguing debut novel. The author’s polished storytelling poses a heart-wrenching moral dilemma for the couple, and Taylor’s narration adds color to the otherwise bleak landscape. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2012]