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Fiction. Literature. Historical Fiction. HTML: "Jean Pendziwol's beautifully written novel captured me from the very first page. Its descriptions of the windswept lightkeeper's station of Elizabeth's and Emily's youth are so crisply rendered I felt I was standing on its shores watching the great ships cross the stormy waters of Lake Superior. Even more than its vivid evocation of a unique time and place, The LightKeeper's Daughters is a sensitive and moving examination of the nature of identity, the importance of family, and the possibility of second chances."â??Heather Young, author of The Lose Girls With the haunting atmosphere and emotional power of The Language of Flowers, Orphan Train, and The Light Between Oceans, critically acclaimed children's author Jean E. Pendziwol's adult debut is an affecting story of family, identity, and art that involves a decades-old mystery. Though her mind is still sharp, Elizabeth's eyes have failed. No longer able to linger over her beloved books or gaze at the paintings that move her spirit, she fills the void with music and memories of her family, especially her beloved twin sister, Emily. When her late father's journals are discovered after an accident, the past suddenly becomes all too present. With the help of Morgan, a delinquent teenager performing community service at her senior home, Elizabeth goes through the diaries, a journey through time that brings the two women closer together. Entry by entry, these unlikely friends are drawn deep into a world far removed from their own, to Porphyry Island on Lake Superior, where Elizabeth's father manned the lighthouse and raised his young family seventy years before. As the words on these musty pages come alive, Elizabeth and Morgan begin to realize that their fates are connected to the isolated island in ways they never dreamed. While the discovery of Morgan's connection sheds light onto her own family mysteries, the faded pages of the journals will shake the foundation of everything Elizabeth thinks she knows and bring the secrets of the past into the light.… (more)
User reviews
I don't want to risk giving spoilers because the author has done an amazing job of weaving an intricate plot, dropping just enough clues to keep the reader wanting to know more. The setting itself (the island) really adds to the story by isolating the characters, making their secrets easier to keep and their ties to each other stronger.
There are a few weak points in the book -- the motivations of Elizabeth's brother Charlie are never clear, and brother Peter is barely present in the story at all. But these are, in my view, minor concerns. An excellent read.
In the early part of the twentieth century safe navigation of the Great Lakes depended on lighthouse signals. The lighthouse
This book kept me guessing almost up to the last minute. Well done.
"The wind was light but strong enough to fill our sail and send a trail of ripples out from the stern. The sea rolled, large, lumpy waves that heaved across the still surface and tumbled little "Sweet Pea" about like a cork." The Lightkeeper's Daughter - Jean E. Pendziwol
It felt like I was in that little boat with Emily, Elizabeth and their brother Charlie. This is a truly wonderful novel with a beautiful story. I hope you will take the time to read it and be mesmerized like I was.
This is a beautifully written story. The setting is amazing, who wouldn't want to live in a lighthouse on an island in one of the largest lakes in North America, Lake Superior. The idea of the secrets that are written in the journals from the past, coming to light in this shared manner is intriguing. I loved how they were revealed, bit by bit, page by page. It wasn't until about halfway through the story that I began to suspect a few things, and a mystery began to reveal itself. I don't want to share anymore about this story, because I do not want to ruin this book for anyone. At first I found Morgan hard to take. She was crude, short tempered, and a bit nasty. Elizabeth was soft spoken, very sharp and could be a bit flippant when she wanted to be. Eventually, they became friends and learned to read each other very well. As they shared the history of Elizabeth, her family and Porphyry Island, they blended well, like they had known each other all their lives. Elizabeth's story is well written, and it was actually based on journals found in the lighthouse, although the real family was much larger. As the story went on, I developed a real empathy for both Morgan and Elizabeth. Their lives were irreparably changed by situations beyond their control, the love they had for family members and their will to survive and take care of things. It was easy to admire and respect both these women.
This book was a family drama, historical fiction, and a mystery all woven together by a wonderful author that created a book that needs to be read slowly, digested and thought about. I read this book over several days, and am sad that it is now ended. This is the first book I read by Jean E. Pendziwol and this one was recommended to me by The Traveling Sisters. I am so glad I picked this one up.
Highly recommend this book!
Update: I originally gave this novel a 4 star review, which, for
The reason I changed this book to a 5 star? It just would not leave my mind. I wanted to open the pages and continue on with the story. I know how the book ended but it seems like there is so much I yearn to know about the characters, all of them. It’s not because the author did not develop them properly, but because she DID! You become invested in them and what to know more.
Again, this book is a wonderful yet heartbreaking read. Please don’t let it pass you by.
Weaving back and forth in time, The Lightkeeper's Daughters by Jean E. Pendziwol is a poignant novel about an elderly woman's childhood on Porphyry Island and the troubled teen who helps her piece together long ago events from her past.
After her beloved grandfather death, Morgan Fletcher
Life has not been easy for Morgan and past heartbreak has taught her not to become too attached to anyone. She is currently on a somewhat self-destructive path after meeting Derrick, a young man who is only looking out for himself. Morgan has a negative attitude when she begins her community service so she is surprised to find herself drawn to Elizabeth. Intrigued by the unfolding drama as she reads the diary entries aloud, Morgan is quickly caught up the long ago events surrounding Elizabeth's life on Porphyry Island.
Despite some very harsh living conditions, Elizabeth's childhood on Porphyry Island was somewhat idyllic. She and her twin sister Emily were inseparable and Elizabeth knew from a young age she needed to watch out for her artistically gifted but ever silent sibling. During her childhood, an overheard conversation between her parents and her inexplicable discovery on a neighboring island raise several questions that Elizabeth never receives answers for. Will Elizabeth find the truth about her past in her father's journals?
The Lightkeeper's Daughters is an incredibly atmospheric story that is quite captivating. Morgan is initially quite prickly with a bad attitude but spending time with Elizabeth helps smooth over her rough edges. Elizabeth is incredibly patient with her new companion and her wry observations and keen insights are instrumental in Morgan's transformation. Jean E. Pendziwol brings the past vibrantly to life through the journal entries and these glimpses into lightkeeping duties on an isolated island are quite fascinating and educational. With surprising twists and turns, the novel comes to a heartwarming conclusion that will delight readers.
Insert into this unlikely relationship
Pendziwol handles the two timelines extremely well, alternating between the exigencies of life in a lighthouse in the 1920s, and the present, building the mystery of Elizabeth's past along with the development of a meaningful relationship with her recalcitrant helper, who is nearer to her than either of them realize.
The writing is vivid, deft, never precious, Pendziwol's understanding of the duplicity of Superior's northern shore intimate and credible. This is one of those rare books which brings together all the fine elements of writer's craft.
An historical fiction, inspired by some true events, exploring the life a lightkeeper and his family living in partial isolation on Lake Superior. After the discovery of the lightkeeper's journals, his daughter Elizabeth,
This was easy to read and perfectly slow-paced, whilst surprising engrossing. Although the plot was quite obvious from the start, there was an unexpected twist which I loved. The story was atmospheric, the characters well-constructed, with enough detail to keep me hooked. I particularly liked how Elizabeth spoke her mind in a brazen way that only the elderly can truly get away with.
The author easily flowed between the past and the present, with vivid descriptions showing just how tough life could be when living in isolation in such a harsh environment. Yet the author also managed to make growing up on Lake Superior appear spellbindingly enchanted, even in the deadliest of winters.
When reading historical fiction, I’m usually drawn more to one element than the other, but on this occasion, I equally enjoyed both storylines. Knowing that journals from a genuine lightkeeper were used as inspiration made this all the more special. I’m not sure if this has been made into a movie, if not it should be.
Elizabeth, a twin and one of the titular lightkeeper’s daughters, is now elderly and living in a nursing home. Her estranged brother’s boat
Told in dual timelines, of sorts, between the present-day interactions with Elizabeth and Morgan, and Morgan’s reading the decades old journals to Elizabeth, The Lightkeeper’s Daughters had me enraptured from start to finish. Highly recommended for lovers of historical fiction and book club readers. Add the book to your TBR list today and then drop me a Comment below to let me know what you thought of it!
I feel the author did so much research before she wrote this book. The lighthouse I was always
Thanks to the author for this wonderful story.