It was under the category: A Book that was made into a movie
This is the story of Tom and Isabel Sherbourne who live in Australia. Tom returns from the war and meets Isabel. They fall in love and get married. Tom has decided to take a job as a lighthouse keeper on the island of Janus Rock, and Isabel agrees to go with him. They try desperately to have children but Isabel suffers two miscarriages and a stillbirth. One day, Isabel hears a baby crying on the shore of Janus Rock. She discovers a small infant in a boat with a dead man. Isabel is immediately drawn to the baby, since she just lost one of her own. Tom - her husband - wants to report the incident immediately to the authorities, but Isabel begs him to wait for awhile and let her care for the baby girl. Tom and Isabel fall in love with the little girl and name her Lucy. They never report her as a baby that was found in a boat, but claim her as her own, since Isabel was recently pregnant (and no one knew of the stillbirth).
When Lucy is two years old, Tom gets leave to return to the mainland. They take Lucy to meet Isabel's parents who are thrilled to finally have a grandchild. But they find out that their decision to keep the little girl has devestated someone from their small town, and now face the consequences of their decision.
This was a great book. I have had it on my shelf for a long time, but it took the movie coming out to remind me I had not read it. I can't imagine having a life on an island where it is just you, your family and the lighthouse. It would take special people to be so isolated for years at a time. The only visitors they ever received was a supply boat every 3 months. Isabel wanted a child so desperately, and when her heart is broken with a stillborn son, and this baby shows up on the shore alone and hungry, I can't imagine more people not making the decision she made. She was sure the baby was going to be put into an orphanage, and that she and Tom would not be eligible to adopt her because of their lifestyle. So it is hard to judge her for the decision she made.
I definitely recommend this book. It kept me captivated from beginning to end. Now I can't wait to see the movie.
Stars: 4 1/2
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