“It's like a bird in a bloody cage, isn't it, it's fine while it's in the cage but then as soon as you let it out it sees what it's been missing. It sees it wasn't ever meant for this, and its wings don't work after all.”

Oh my god? Well, it’s what it said on the tin: this “based on a true story” story oscillates between the 1972 disappearance of three lighthouse keepers, and the present day (1992) reflections of their families. The result is a slow revelation of hidden feelings, longing, and despair. Secrets, secrets, secrets. Extremely well written, purple tinged prose surrounding complex, complicated people. I wish it was a bit gayer but we can’t always get what we want, can we? Stonex measures loss in the countless rolling waves, the turning and turning beam of amber light, and the way a man can love a lighthouse and a woman can love a man but at the end of the day, who is loving them?

The ending isn’t going to satisfy you, but to be completely clear: I don’t think anything following that story could.

4.5/5 I love lamp.