Lighthouse Island

A Novel

By: Paulette Jiles

Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins

From the Author of the National Book Award Finalist News of the World

Paulette Jiles, the bestselling author of the highly praised novels The Color of Lightning, Stormy Weather, and Enemy Women, pushes into new territory with Lighthouse Island—a captivating and atmospheric story set in the far future—a literary dystopian tale resonant with love and hope.

In the coming centuries the world's population has exploded. The earth is crowded with cities, animals are nearly all extinct, and drought is so widespread that water is rationed. There are no maps, no borders, no numbered years, and no freedom, except for an elite few.

It is a harsh world for an orphan like Nadia Stepan. Growing up, she dreams of a green vacation spot called Lighthouse Island, in a place called the Pacific Northwest.

When an opportunity for escape arises, Nadia embarks on a dangerous and sometimes comic adventure. Along the way she meets a man who changes the course of her life: James Orotov, a mapmaker and demolition expert. Together, they evade arrest and head north toward a place of wild beauty that lies beyond the megapolis—Lighthouse Island.

What a story!

The story was a 10
The images created by words are wonderful
They weave together to create an inter laced story of intrigue, mystery,survival and passion
A read well worth your time
Thank you Paulette Jiles for sharing a gift with the world

Not for me. Too much angst, not enough story

I gave up after chapter 6. The main character had no identity or companions. Just angst and desire to overcome the machine that still isn't identified.

Not what I expected

I’m a fan of Paulette Jiles. I loved her novel News of the World. I was looking forward to hearing this story. But soon I found it to be a story of the apocalypse. I find these stories depressing and disturbing. I really did not like the narration. I found him monotonous and annoying. I was quite disappointed with this production.

I just couldn’t finish it.

I tried at least three times to get all the way through this book but simply was not able to do it. I lost interest with about four hours still to go. The writing is beautiful. It’s almost as if you’re reading a poem despite the subject matter. But I just couldn’t get into it enough to care how it ended.