Hello again to our Rotary Readers! Thank you all for your messages and feedback on ​‘The Lamplighters’ by Emma Stonex. I’ve loved reading your views and I hope you ​enjoy reading this article.

First of all, wonderful news that our friends from Telford Centre Rotary Club in ​Shropshire have set up their own reading group and held their first meeting to ​discuss ‘The Lamplighters’! They are going to continue discussing our books, and ​hopefully this is the start of something wonderful and fulfilling for them all.

So, onto the book – the bare bones of this story are based on the real-life ​disappearance of all three keepers from a remote lighthouse in the Outer ​Hebrides in 1900. They were never found, and there were strange details like ​stopped clocks, closed doors and a set of oilskins remaining inside. Emma Stonex ​took these facts and reimagined the story with her own fictional characters; a ​conscious decision to be respectful to the actual keepers and their families.

Material for an intriguing story in a rather unique setting, then, so it was ​fascinating that your views were very polarised – many weren’t keen on it, but ​others (me included) thought it a really good read!

The author had clearly done her homework, and her interest in lighthouses and ​the way of life for the keepers and their families was clear. Several of you ​commented that it was well researched, and my favourite comment was “a ​realistic and, at times, a rather visceral, description of the strains and ​claustrophobia of lighthouse keeping life.”

It wasn’t difficult to put ourselves in the shoes of the keepers, from the curved ​beds to how they took it in turns to cook and the interests they developed to ​pass the time. The book gives a fascinating insight into a way of life that many of ​us would not have given a thought to.

Why, then, didn’t the story resonate with us all?

Quite a few found the ghostly elements of the story unnecessary, sinister, and ​off-putting.

The silver man was an odd addition to the story, and it was difficult to work out ​whether the mystery mechanic Sid was in fact him. He puzzled quite a few of us – ​one wondered whether he was “the hidden conscience of the people who see ​him” – quite possibly, as he seemed to know far more about Bill’s thoughts and ​feelings than anyone else.

However, the presence of the briefcase and the mended radio also suggests a ​physical presence. It was a little frustrating that the author didn’t either develop ​this or omit it completely.

Others found the ghostly references to Arthur’s son strange and unnecessary. ​Although I think we could all understand how periods of solitariness could lead ​to the mind playing tricks. The story could have been told perfectly well without ​this, although it was rather nice that his son came for Arthur in the end.

Quite often when reading a book, it is necessary to suspend one’s disbelief, given ​that creative licence is a useful tool for authors, but sometimes there are details ​that grate on the reader and make this difficult.

For example, one would think it a critical safety feature that the doors on a ​lighthouse could be opened from the outside, and some questioned that. Others ​found the idea of Arthur not having a spare pair of trousers and helping himself ​to Bill’s (thereby discovering Helen’s necklace) rather odd.

Some of our readers found the multiple first-person narrative chapters ​disjointed, repetitive and difficult to follow, particularly on the audio and kindle ​versions. Interestingly, the author did that on purpose to highlight the confusion ​that the failure to communicate causes.

She gives us multiple examples of the lack of communication within the couples ​(Arthur and Helen after Tommy’s death) and between the couples (Jenny ​convinced of Helen’s affair with Bill). Perhaps the most surprising example was ​between Arthur and Bill when they were both on the lighthouse – Arthur ​concludes that Bill and Helen are having an affair but says nothing at all to Bill. ​Although an interesting approach by the author, this narrative unfortunately fell ​rather flat for some of us.

Some of our readers (me included) really enjoyed the book, finding it well written ​and engaging, and one of us had read three of the books that the author lists in ​her acknowledgements!

This book, like many, can be read on several number of levels – the story itself is ​intriguing and different, but go deeper and there is much on human ​relationships, grief, guilt and obsession.

All very aptly summed up by one of our readers, who said this story looks at ​“complex human tragedy… failing marriages, people with dark secrets… and a ​compelling story that I could not leave alone.” There is much more to explore, ​including the persona of the Maiden herself, but my word limit says I must stop ​here!

Our readers scores ranged from 4 to 8 so 'The Lamplighters' By Emma ​Stonex scores a 6.

Our third book to review is going to be 'The Secret History' by Donna Tartt. ​Please send me your views and scores by August 15th and I will sum them up for ​the Autumn magazine.

For our fourth book you’ve voted for ‘The Perfect Golden Circle’ by Benjamin ​Myers. Please send your views and scores by November 15th for the Winter ​magazine.

Please submit your votes for our fifth book between:

• ‘All The Light We Cannot See’ – Anthony Doerr
  
• ‘Under the Hornbeams’ – Emma Tarlo
  
• ‘The Boy and the Dog’ – Seishu Hase
  

As you may have seen, our Facebook page is now live, but has been rather quiet.

Please have another look as I’ll now be managing it actively and it’s a good way to ​give your views on the book while also exchanging views with others. You can ​find our Facebook page at: facebook.com/rotarybookclub and Email me at: ​rotarygbibookclub@gmail.com

Keep reading!