Book Review #4

Lighthousekeeping by Jeanette Winterson

My friend lent me this book with the comment, “As I was reading it, I wondered if you would finish it.” This comment was made in regards to my fiction crisis. I was curious myself. The result? I finished it rapidly and actually enjoyed myself! I am nearly ready to say that the fiction crisis has ended.

Lighthousekeeping is a tormented voyage to the shores of Scotland through the eyes of a girl who was brought up by a lighthousekeeper after her mother blew away in the relentless wind. However, her apprenticeship is cut short when the lighthouse will be automated. In cases like these, I hope fiction is stranger than truth.

Apparently one of the major duties of a lighthousekeeper is to entertain arriving sailors with captivating and fantastic stories. I think Ms. Winterson could have easily held this position as her book was chockfull of them. Her description of life in Salt, Scotland was so vivid it resulted in my craving clam chowder.

My range of emotions while reading the book ran the gamut from delighted and amused to touched and introspective to confused. I loved when the protagonist stalked a librarian to get her hands on the book she was obsessed with finishing. I could really relate.

Length of time to read cover to cover: 12 hours
General consensus: A unique, thought-provoking approach to storytelling and a wonderful escape from reality