As I write this, I’m on an emotional and adrenaline high. I will have to admit that there are several factors contributing to this, a few which have absolutely nothing to do with the actual contents of this novel. With that being said, I’m not sure that I’ve ever read a book that mixes a deeply emotional feel with elements of a thriller in such a compelling fashion.
I initially picked up this book based upon several recommendations, but it didn’t take long before I was pulled into the story and atmosphere. Similar to those ocean waves on the front cover, the ebb and flow of emotions paralleled the surprising evolution of the plot, with new, confusing, and complex scenarios playing out in the reader’s mind with each new developmental surge, as if we were experiencing them as the characters in the story.
The manner in which Mr. Baldacci captures such an intimate vantage point with a third person point of view is truly impressive, and from the perspectives of so many varied characters: Jack, Lizzie, Mikki, Jenna… the list goes on and on.
As someone who is currently drafting a new story with a lighthouse as a central focal point of their latest novel, I admit that I initially was paying close attention to details that I may have overlooked thus far and could use to complement my existing research. But to be honest, all those thoughts got washed out to sea (using the ocean vernacular) because they became unimportant. When an author can pull you into their world so effortlessly and with such conviction, therein lies the powerful influence that a well-told story can have on one’s life.
The themes of loss, love, light, and healing all tangle together in a most beneficial and beautiful way with Mr. Baldacci’s offering in this novel. I closed the back cover of this book with a humble, moving, and hopeful reminder, mirrored by one of my favorite quotes by George Eliot, that it is never too late to be who you might have been. While it might have taken one summer to recognize that discovery inside the context of this book, the story and the way it’s shared convinces us that it really only takes a single moment to do so in our own lives.
Dave’s Rating: ☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️
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