Reviews: The Lightkeeper's Daughters (5)

This is the kind of novel you hug after you’ve finished but get wet with the tears you have wept whilst reading.

It’s a poignant and gorgeous read all in one. When it’s sad, it’s sad – oh my goodness. But it’s also lyrical, poetic and crying to be read aloud. I need this to be a film as I need to hear the soundtrack for real I had playing in my head when I read this.

There’s something very magical about a story woven with historical fact and once I’d found out just what kind of story and place inspired this novel, I was captivated. There’s so much historical mystery and suspense in this book. The author has carefully done her research and brilliantly woven it into a novel of intrigue and suspense.
It’s also one of those novels where the setting is the story and the story is the setting. Lake Superior – the Canadian Side is highlighted and is also the star of the show. Glorious and slow paced, this novel drifts into your consciousness and hits on every one of your emotions.

Love it and highly recommend. I also have to say – what a gorgeous cover! (And covers having seen the foreign editions!)

I finished reading this about a week ago, and I'm still trying to absorb it all. The story itself pulls you in with all its twists and turns. I was really taken by the descriptions of the geography and the history of the place. In this day of automation, the thought of having to maintain the light and the horn 24 hours a day is almost unimaginable.

Almost, but not quite, thanks to Jean Pendziwol's vivid descriptions. The book brings the reader into that lighthouse keeper's world, showing you the hardships and the rewards, and of course the profound impact this kind of life can have on family.

Even though I'm from Thunder Bay (where part of the story takes place), I ordered the UK edition from Waterstones for several reasons. The rocky islands, the harsh winters, the plants and animals that live on the southern edge of the Boreal forest -- all are accurate in this novel. Besides being a great story, the book gives the reader an interesting look at life 90 years ago or so in the wilds of central Canada on the world's largest lake.

A totally captivating story.
Weaving past and present. Recently discovered journals which raise more questions than answers. Was the past as we thought?
Elderly Elizabeth learns through Morgan,a troubled soul, revelations about the events of 70 years previously.

It is beautifully written and will have you so involved and wrapped up in it. So vivid and clear. Precise and concise.
It's an amazing and exhilarating read. Very moving and thoughtful.
I loved it and would highly recommend it .

I have never had to process a novel as much as I have had to with The Lightkeeper's Daughter. I very kindly received this book as a reader's copy from W&N Fiction/ Orion Books in exchange for an honest review so here we go...
(Side note before I begin: I really struggled to only give this book 3 stars so my actual rating would be 3.5 which is amazing in my books! - this will make sense if you read on to the end of the review)

Do not be put off but I am going to start this review with the negatives and then go onto all the amazing positives. I have to admit that I began by really not enjoying this novel, I struggled with the back and forth between the narrators Elizabeth and Morgan and I think that was due to the age gap. I did feel as though Morgan's chapters read a little like a YA in Part 1 leading into Part 2 which really did start to annoy me because it felt out of place, however upon reflection I do understand why it was written in that way to gather details surrounding Morgans life at that time. Part 1 was so descriptive that I felt as though a lot of questions were asked but then never answered, maybe this was to try and ignite the suspense early on but it did in fact lead me to not want to continue...

However, there was something about the vivid and lyrically, poetic writing that did captivate a part of me and I found myself reading on and on and not being able to put it down. I started to find myself falling in love with the character of Elizabeth and really wanting to see how her life would unfold on the island as she was faced with so many hardships. The more I read on, the more that the weaving of the past and present started to make sense. I began to really enjoy the interesting element of the journals revealing the historical suspense and mystery throughout and opening up the twists and turns of decades of family secrets.

I really enjoyed Part 3 with everything tying together nicely although I did have to read some sections a couple of times to really understand what was happening because it could get a little confusing. I think this was more the fact that I wanted to race on to find out more but I should have really savored the writing to get the full experience of the novel. The beautiful setting of the island and Lake Superior really captivated my imagination as I lived on an island in childhood and I have also lived in Canada for a short period of time, so it brought back lots of feelings and memories.

All in all it was a fantastic read and one that I could actually see myself reading again in the future (something that I never do!) Maybe that means that I should change my star rating to 4 stars which I think I might just do...

Mystery runs deep throughout The Lightkeeper's Daughters, as the lives of Elizabeth and Morgan serendipitously intertwine. Elizabeth is an elderly lady living in a care home, and Morgan a troublesome teen assigned to community service at the care home in which Elizabeth resides. As the two cross paths, an unexpected bond is formed.

The story itself is, for the most part, told in alternating chapters between Elizabeth and Morgan. This storytelling method is an effective way in which to get to know both main characters individually, as well as seeing the relationship between them evolve from both sides. Once you settle into the book and follow the flow, as well as identifying the two distinct voices of Elizabeth and Morgan, The Lightkeeper's Daughters is a truly captivating read.

Elizabeth tasks Morgan with reading her dad's journals from when he worked as a lighthouse keeper, with Elizabeth sensing some long held family secrets may be being stored within. It is through these journals that the two connect, with life long mysteries slowly being revealed. I really enjoyed the pacing of this book, as well as the overall plot, and the way in which the author wrote surroundings and landscape was atmospheric at times.

The Lightkeeper's Daughters is the kind of book where the little you know going in, the better. I will say though, if you're a fan of historical fiction & family sagas, this would be a great pick for you.

For me, this was one of those books you find yourself buying on a total whim, but I'm happy to have done so as I've discovered a gem of a read.