Stories about lighthouses always appeal to me. There's something so romantic about being all alone with a view of the ocean and a duty to those you cannot see.

My favorite part of the book was Tom Sherbourne. He's a great character, one who has sustained some emotional damage both from his family and his time in WWI, but he is so very thankful to be alive. He's a stable rock, and that is why I had a very hard time believing that he would do anything so immoral and hurtful as what his wife urged him to do. It was hard to accept, but I tried to get over that and keep reading. It became an urgent read near the end, as I hoped Isabel would come around and be Tom's ally again. There was a tense moment there, when I thought Isabel might do everything she could to do him harm, out of revenge. I can't say that I understand Isabel. In the beginning, she's such a lighthearted, fun-loving person, but quite the opposite in the end. Exactly how did this happen? There didn't seem to be any foreshadowing about high expectations or pressure to produce children, or any signs of depression. And being so secluded on Janus Rock would seem to lighten any perceived feelings of inferiority.

I did like the way the author occasionally left the story line to tell other people's stories. During this time period, most people, most families, had been touched by the war in different ways, and these details added some rich perspective.

This is a sad story, and it is thought-provoking. I did enjoy it, though with some mixed feelings.