The Light Between Oceans Read-A-Long discussion

As we’re nearing the end of The Light Between Oceans, I felt the theme in these last couple chapters were based around decisions and consequences. This theme is especially portrayed through Lucy/Grace. M.L. Stedman is showing us how the decisions of Tom and Isabel have impacted Lucy and will continue to impact her for the rest of her life.

As many of us discussed in our previous thread, Dr. Sumpton’s advice isn’t exactly what you would call sound. Clearly he does not understand the emotional trauma that Lucy is going through and this is especially shown in his comparison of Lucy’s situation to that of a physical surgery. Lucy’s emotional wounds of being ripped from Tom and Isabel will cut deeper and take longer to heal than any surgical procedure. This also goes the same for Hannah, it will take a very long time for her to come to terms with the fact that Lucy is not the Grace she lost so many years ago.

This is shown clearly in the line:

“’I want my Grace back,” she mouths silently through her tears. “This isn’t my Grace!” Her baby had died, after all.”(Pg 288)

Reading the moment where Gwen brings Lucy to see Isabel gave me such a sigh of relief, the feeling that finally this child can have a moment of peace. But, it was cut short when reality comes back and we all know she can’t stay with her.

To me, these chapters felt like Isabel’s last chance to redeem herself with the town and with us as readers. She finally comes clean about her involvement with Lucy (although, her lying to Hannah the entire time did not help her situation). When she sees Tom at the police station it was such an emotional scene, Tom would do anything for her and we see Isabel finally showing remorse and taking responsibility.

This book has been an emotional roller coaster and we’re so close to the end. I hope you’re all enjoying it as much as I am!

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QUESTIONS:

1. Do you think it was right of Gwen to intervene in Hannah and Lucy’s relationship? She first brings Lucy to see her mother without Hannah’s consent and then convinces Hannah to offer Lucy back to Isabel permanently. How would you react if this was something your sister had done?

2. Were you surprised by Isabel’s final decision to admit her role in the choice to keep Lucy—freeing Tom, but losing her child forever? Why or why not? What would you have done?

1. I'm glad Gwen did what she did, since I think it was really good for Lucy. I can't blame Hannah for being pissed off though, I probably would've been angrier at the deception.

2. I'm surprised but glad at Isabel's choice. It was really hard to do but it was the right thing.

Also, I totally teared up at that ending. Ugh.

1. I completely agree with what Gwen did although if I was Hannah I would be livid! I think that Gwen is right that it would be best to give Lucy back to the only parents she's ever known. It's just too traumatic for her to be ripped away from them!

2. I was totally shocked that Isabel chose Tom over Lucy, or maybe she just chose to do the right thing. I really thought she would be vindictive to the end and leave Tom hung out to dry, or just hung (so not funny of a pun.) I don't know that I would ever be in a similar situation but I do think that the truth is usually the best policy. In this fictional situation I think it would have been kindest for Tom to keep his mouth shut and for Lucy to never know she wasn't their biological child. It would have been kinder for Hannah too than the horrible situation that she is in now.

Did anyone else read these chapters, and then just decide to finish the book for a matter of a few more pages?

I thought it was really interesting to hear the doctor's advice on how to handle Lucy's situation. It's actually fairly accurate to how mental health and trauma was approached at the time - you just gotta adjust. In these days, we'd never do that to a child, but that was the mindset of psychology at the time. Not to mention, the guy's a medical doctor, not a psychologist.

1. I think Gwen has the right idea. She understands that Lucy just needs time to adjust, and that a clean break is not necessarily what's best for hte child. Doing it without Hannah's consent is a grey area - she wouldn't have got permission, but she also did something to a child without a parent's permission. As far as the convincing bit, she's just trying to do the best she can, and what's best for everyone involved.

I would be more likely to be Gwen in this situation than Hannah - I couldn't do to a kid what Hannah's doing to Lucy, regardless of intentions. I don't know how I'd react if my sister did something like that.

2. I was a bit surprised, because I honestly thought that she would continue to be stubbornly selfish. This is really the only kind thing she's done in the entire book. Lucy was never hers, so she might as well stick to Tom, who she can lay claim to.

I would never have kept a child like Isabel did, because I honestly can't see how that would be beneficial to a child, so I can't say what I would have done.

1. Something had to be done for Lucy and since Hannah agreed to follow the advice of the doctor, Gwen was the one who had to do it. Hannah had every right to be mad at Gwen for taking the situation into her own hand and taking Lucy to visit Isabel.

2. I was very surprised that Isabel went to support Tom and confess to her part in the situation, especially after Hannah's offer. All of Isabel's actions up to her decision to go to Tom had me believing that she would choose motherhood above everything.

Susan wrote: "1. I completely agree with what Gwen did although if I was Hannah I would be livid! I think that Gwen is right that it would be best to give Lucy back to the only parents she's ever known. It's jus..."

I don't blame you! It's hard to resist when the end is so close.
The final read-a-long discussion will be posted tomorrow. I can't believe its been 8 weeks!

1. I agree that Gwen had the right idea but not sure she should have went behind her sister's back to do. If I was Hannah I would have been so angry. It would be easier for Lucy adjustment to have a little interaction with Isabel.

2. I didn't think Isabel would come to Tom's defense but was so happy when she did. I think she realized that was the right thing to do. I believe she came to realize she would never get Lucy back and she needed to help. Tom.

I also couldn't stop reading and had to finish the book.

1. I think it was wrong for Gwen to bring Lucy to see Isabel even though I know she meant well. Hannah is Lucy's mother and parents don't always make the right decisions but they make them out of love and her decisions need to be respected. I would be very angry with my sister. She had no right to intervene.

2. I was very surprised with Isabel's decision. I really didn't think she was going to come forward, especially after Hannah's offer. I actually thought Tom and Hannah might end up together.

I'm surprised Isabel made the choice that she did. I really thought she was going to keep quiet on the whole situation. Especially after the offer that Hannah made her.

As for Gwen intervening that wasn't very good even thought I know she meant well. It kind of made the situation worse. If she wanted Lucy to adjust to being with Hannah she should have left it alone. The less interaction with Isabel the better.

1. I think that Gwen in the end, was right but ultimately handled it the wrong way. She should have not kept it a secret when visiting Isabel, though I know that Hannah wouldn't have let it happen. I think Gwen meant well and knew that it was wrong but also knew that it could potentially help Lucy/Grace. I also think that Hannah reacted the way most people would in this situation. She felt betrayed and lied to.

2. I was surprised to be honest! I thought she would go quietly and let Tom take all the blame. I thought for sure Isabel would do whatever she could to throw Tom under the bus. Everything she has done up until now proves that she would keep quiet and let Tom take the blame. I'm still not convinced that she even has the tiniest inkling that what she did was wrong. As for what I would have done, it's so hard to say.

And I also really felt moved by this quote:
“’I want my Grace back,” she mouths silently through her tears. “This isn’t my Grace!” Her baby had died, after all.”(Pg 288)

It really summed up Hannah's feelings about Grace/Lucy.

I had to finish the book early, as I attended a screening for the movie a couple of weeks ago. I didn't want to answer any questions until I was sure that I wouldn't spoil the book inadvertently.

1. I think that Gwen had Lucy/Grace's best interests at heart. Although, I do think that in the end it is best to just rip off the bandaid and move forward. If this had happened to me, I certainly would have felt betrayed.

2. I was surprised at Isabel's choice, as it really was the right thing to do. I would have come clean as well, however I cannot see myself getting into this situation in the first place!