Cover Image: The Light Keeper

The Light Keeper

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Member Reviews

I fell in love with the cover of this book and I must say that the place of action, the lighthouse on a cliff, is very poetic and beautiful, so I definitely need to consider putting it on the list of places I need to visit. The very theme of the book, problems of infertility and suicide, is really very important but often does not reach the literature. I'm really happy someone finally took some time and gave it a little thought. I did expect the book to be a little bit gloomy and dark, and it was, but I think the author really could go much deeper with it. So, in the and, I am really sad that I must say that the action is too slow and a bit washed out.

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A lighthouse on the cover is an automatic seller for me. Same thing for books that seem to be a bit dark and gloomy with the themes (TW: Suicide, infertility, tragedy.) Sara and Jack felt like two complete opposites of characters, but you could tell they both had different ideas of each other and their relationship. At the time my own marriage was going through some discourse (it ended but y'know lol) this book helped me kind of cope with the issue I was dealing with at the time and I was pregnant. SO I spent the majority of my time projecting my life onto the characters and hating Jack.

Anyways, this isn't a book for everyone. But it is a good enough book to gift to someone who wants to get their mind off of the daily woes of life.

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The Light Keeper was not exactly what I expected. I believe it has the potential to be a great book.

Here is the synopsis: Sarah stands on the brink, arms open wide as if to let the wind carry her away. She's come to the high cliffs to be alone, to face the truth about her life, to work out what to do. Her lover Jack is searching, desperate to find her before it is too late. But Sarah doesn’t want to be found. Not yet. Not by him. And someone else is seeking answers up here where the seabirds soar – a man known only as the Keeper, living in an old lighthouse right on the cusp of a four-hundred-foot drop. He is all too aware that sometimes love takes you to the edge . . .

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TW: mental health, suicide, death, loss, grief, abusive relationship, domestic violence

Last year, after I first got this ARC, I opened it, excited to read it, then closed it not long after. And so began a month-long attempt at reading this book, finally ended with a close that lasted a year.

Last week, I came to it again. In the middle of a pandemic, having moved to a country which has no plans of controlling the virus, and having recently graduated from uni, I found myself looking for things to do again. And so I found myself revisiting this ARC, long after its date of publication (sorry Mr. Moreton and SPCK!), determined to finish it and finally write a review.

You see, the reason I couldn't get through much of this book the first time wasn't because of the story. It was a horrible formatting of the digital copy on Kindle that I got, filled with different-sized text and empty pages in the middle for no reason at all. It disturbed my reading experience so much I couldn't continue.

But as I pushed past it this last week, I am glad I decided to give this book another chance. It's a beautiful character study and a deep dive into grief and the different ways people deal with it. The setting Moreton chose was apt - a desolate but absolutely beautiful oceanic scene, filled with imagery of landscapes and rural life. Though the story was slow enough for me to consider if there was even a plot, Moreton consistently pulled out twists that kept it interesting.

That being said, despite all of the above, this book wasn't able to pull me in and immerse me into the story. Though I would marvel at the writing, I felt detached the whole time, as if I was watching over everything happening from a distance that prevented me from empathising with these characters. Even at the end, I felt like I had missed something, like there should have been a conclusion that the author seemed to stray away from. Moreton tackled large issues like loss and marriage and mental health but seemed to forget in the process what point he was trying to make.

As mentioned above, this book does have some pretty graphic trigger warnings, but if you like slow-moving stories that focus on character, gorgeous landscapes that are also characters, and an exploration of interpersonal relationships, try this one on for size.

(Thank you to Netgalley and SPCK for this ARC.)

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Honestly, I liked the title and the cover better than the novel. The writing felt a little like the writer was trying too hard to be lyrical and mysterious without much success at either. I liked the format of the story being told from different perspectives. While the theme of the novel is interesting and relevant, it kind of fell flat for me.

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It took me a while to finish this book, because the file was really weirdly formatted. I found the writing style to be okay, sometimes it sounded very prosaic to me, but in general easy to understand. There sure is something mysterious going on, and while I found it at times to be very dark and moody, there is also a side to it that is touching. The themes dealt in this book are very heavy, and I liked the different perspectives on the story, especially the one of the Keeper. The ending fell a little flat for me.

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This review was posted on my Goodreads account. Although I did not enjoy it as much as I hoped to, I am thankful that the publishers granted me access to read it.

It has taken me many, many months to finish this book. I received an advanced copy to read through NetGalley. I kept trying to convince myself that the writing was artful or lyrical, but so much of the time it just felt manic and “meh” all at the same time. I found the story strange, the characters even stranger, and what the heck was up with Magda? I don’t know...I didn’t hate it as much as The Goldfinch, but I also couldn’t recommend it to anyone to read...sorry.

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I fell in love with the cover of this book and I must say that the place of action, the lighthouse on a cliff, is very poetic and beautiful, so I definitely need to consider putting it on the list of places I need to visit. The very theme of the book, problems of infertility and suicide, is really very important but often does not reach the literature. I'm really happy someone finally took some time and gave it a little thought. I did expect the book to be a little bit gloomy and dark, and it was, but I think the author really could go much deeper with it. So, in the and, I am really sad that I must say that the action is too slow and a bit washed out.

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A haunting story of life and death, beginnings and endings, and a unique landscape.
Beachy Head is at the tip of England and has the unfortunate reputation of being one of the most popular suicide spots in the world. The cliffs are sheer, white and dramatically high, so it's understandable. The wind is sharp and brings tears to your eyes. This is the setting for this novel and if you know the area the atmosphere is already set. Add to that an old lighthouse...

There is a great sense of place in this book. Morton captures the landscape, the danger of catching your foot in a rabbit hole or slipping on a bit of gravel and ending your days by falling off the edge. Terrifying.

The story has a man who has bought a disused lighthouse (he is known as 'the Keeper') with the intention of opening it as a bed and breakfast. Sadness over the loss of his artist wife has prevented him from doing this. There is also another man who fears that his missing wife has taken her own life. Between these two men are other characters who go over the edge or attempt to, the Guardians who try to prevent the jumpers, the desolate pub and the tourists.

The plot is to find out what happened to the two wives and how the husbands cope. But the appeal of this book is that it is evocative and emotionally gripping, gothic, realistically gritty and magical at the same time. There is the constant fear of danger contrasted with the nostalgia and comfort of a cosy lighthouse. A wonderful enigmatic novel. Highly recommended.

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This is a beautifully written book written with empathy, sympathy and consideration for the subject and the characters therein. I suppose the setting allows for the number of characters who are in depression and struggling with life, but it is not the most uplifting of reads. Amongst all this there is a threatening element which is disturbing. I was very aware that the story was missing truths that were eventually drip fed to the reader.
Not a book to be read if you are in your own depths of despair perhaps, although there are positive elements and it is quite a debut.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Cole Moreton/SPCK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

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This book was a roller coaster of emotions for me. I was going into this novel having heard that it was a heartwarming tale, and although I would call it a touching story, I wouldn't necessarily call it heartwarming. It wasn't light and frothy enough for that. This book dealt with some very hard topics, but did so in a compassionate way. The characters were very three dimensional and well developed. As a character driven reader, this was a huge plus for me. Unfortunately, without giving any spoilers, I just really had an issue with the ending, which unfortunately put a big damper on the book for me! But overall, this was a good read I think, just not a great one for me personally.

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Received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Beautifully written and a compelling story. He author takes up topics that might be hard to talk about in public and he does it in a beautiful way.

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If your favoured reading material is a compelling tale with a good sprinkling of relationships, hope, childlessness, loss, suicide, tragedy, grief and bereavement, then The Light Keeper by Cole Moreton is a must-read for you!

From the get-go I was completely enraptured by this wonderful literary début. Jack and Sarah Bramer have been desperately trying for a baby but their options have become limited. Sarah's mental health has deteriorated and she has now disappeared, leaving Jack frantically searching for her as he believes that she is suicidal. A man known locally as The Keeper lives nearby, in a disused lighthouse. He is struggling to come to terms with an immense loss. As the setting is a clifftop renowned for suicides, the reader also meets The Guardians, a team specially trained to try to help desperate people who feel that jumping to their death is their only option.

I was totally smitten with Sarah and The Light Keeper, Gabriel Keane, who were both beautifully portrayed by Cole Moreton. The two opposing views of Sarah and Jack about their circumstances, their relationship and their difficulties were really cleverly written, making it difficult to decide which one of them was telling the truth, or if their versions were the full picture.

Author, Cole Moreton had really worked wonders with all of the characters in this fabulous story and I was very appreciative of most of them: Rí, Gabriel's love - Maria who was an artist; manic, desperate and distraught Jack Bramer, who wasn't personable but played a good part, to mention a few.

Aside from the brilliant cast of characters, another selling point of The Light Keeper for me was its fabulous setting; the striking white chalk cliffs of the South Downs. This setting at Beachy Head in East Sussex really added to the poignancy of the story-line.

The plot was awesome as it moved along at a really comfortable pace and I loved the author’s general writing-style. There was no room for repetitiveness or boredom here! The story was so moving and there were many moments of reflection, empathy and compassion.

The Light Keeper is a cracking story and a book that I revelled in all the way through, bringing no disappointments. Cole Moreton rounded things off so masterfully which I welcomed and I think this author will be a force to be reckoned with. I am eagerly awaiting his next contribution.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from SPCK Books via NetGalley at my own request. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Light Keeper is certainly an emotional novel, tackling issues of grief, suicide and infertility. Unfortunately, I found the book too triggering and did not finish. This was a shame as I did really enjoy the writing style. I would look out for any subsequent work by Moreton but only if the subject matter is considerably lighter.

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While I found this to be a good book, it was on the longer side for my taste. I enjoyed the emotional journey and character development, as this is something I cling to as a reader.

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The Seven Sisters and Beachy Head are places noted for their remarkable beauty but also for great tragedy. Both of these aspects are portrayed very well and very sensitively by the author, reflecting both the beauty and tackling head on difficult and important themes such as depression, domestic abuse, loss and death. But the novel is not anywhere near as depressing as my review implies! For ‘The Light Keeper’ speaks of themes of restoration and redemption, love and new life and surprisingly (and vitally) humour and so is ultimately uplifting.
But it is also quite a gripping read with moments of real drama at various points in the story and some clever and surprising turns and deftly handled misdirection; I especially enjoyed the final quarter of the book for this reason. What a great ending!

Based on the publisher of this title and the short description provided, I was expecting a particular type of story: light, inspiring, ‘spiritual’– to use shorthand, a little bit Oprah… but this proved to be not even nearly the book I thought I was picking up. It was tough and real and truly moving and has stayed with me; I am still pondering its stories and the meanings held within many days after finishing.

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A very absorbing read - I don't remember the last time I devoured a novel in two days! Not the easiest of subject matter, and not a book I would give to minors. Nevertheless, the author raises issues in such a way that it makes you think and compels you to read on. Without spoiling the plot, there is little else I can say other than 'thoroughly recommended'.

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A moving story that kept my attention throughout . A book that explores very difficult issues in a masterful way. The setting of Beachy Head adds to the poignancy of the storyline as it has significance for the main characters Sarah and Gabe, the Light Keeper but also it’s history of a place for suicides and anguish. A distraught Sarah flees to her place of sanctuary and meets an equally troubled person in Gabe. Their interaction will have a lasting effect.
I can recommend this book but some people may find it difficult due to the subject matter
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC copy

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I have to say, I really struggled with this book. While I don’t have the speed I used to have in reading books, I can still tell whether I am slow at reading because I’m just slow, or I’m too busy, or because I am having a difficult time in reading the book. And this kind of fell into the last category. It took me around two months to finish this book. This book didn’t really captivate me in the way I hoped, and the chapters, while they were short, I couldn’t breeze through. I had to stop after two to three short chapters at a time, as if I can only take this book at small doses. I almost stopped at one point, and I don’t really DNF (“did not finish”) books, so that’s how bad it got.

There was a point in the story where my interest got piqued, and that helped me to continue with the book. However, it was a bit of a side story to the main plot, and it is a bit telling if that’s what got my interest more than the main plot. The book also pulled me in a bit more at around the final 30 to 40 pages of the story, so there is that at least.

With respect to the characters and POVs, the changes in the POV the story is in wasn’t the best to me. My favorite character is probably the Keeper, and after him I didn’t really care much about the rest. I just didn’t connect with Sarah and Jack, the other two main characters in the story.

It does deal with some serious and potentially disturbing themes, and thinking about it now, it’s a bit interesting how the different perspectives play on those themes, and perhaps it’s up to you what you really want to believe. No one is perfect here, that’s for sure.

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The premise of this book seemed interesting, I love lighthouses, but I was unable to finish the book. I didn't like the short chapters and I thought the characters were boring, not well developed. Maybe this is a book for someone, but it wasn't for me.

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