This gentle novel takes place in an island off the N. Carolina's Outer Banks, where lexicographer Abigail Harker lands after the tragic loss of her husband and young son. Sight unseen, she rents a decrepit lighthouse keeper's cottage and slowly adjusts to life on Chapel Isle in the off season. Charmingly, each chapter begins with an illustration, A-Z, of an unusual word and its definition. Abby's transformation of her living quarters and her growing involvement with the eccentric residents is quite charming, and rather than saving it for a summer beach read, my suggestion is to use its warmth now, in the deep midwinter, when we all really need it. And there's a sequel, The Definition Of Wind, so I'm looking forward to seeing how Abby fares during the summer season on the island. ( )

The perfect summer/beach read.Story of horrifc loss and re-building a new life in a new locale.Fast read,good character development.This "small" book packs alot of story.Well written,loved it! ( )

I would have given this novel 1 star except it ended up serving a purpose. Woken up from a nightmare at 3:30 AM, it turned out to be mind-numbing enough to distract me for a couple of hours until I could get back to sleep. The author certainly didn't have insomnia therapy as her intention, although her protagonist herself, Abigail (who annoyingly obsesses about her newly given nickname, Abby), a lexicographer by profession, puts a second-hand pulp romance novel to similar use in the book. That Abigail/ Abby is a lexicographer is hardly significant, other than that I suppose the author had to choose some titillatingly exotic profession for her. Block's other aim might have been to justify the Random House Unabridged Dictionary entries that she inserted as headings or epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter. To no great effect, in my opinion. They neither illuminate nor even really intrigue (odd admission coming from me, an ardent devotee of unusual words). Both the plotting and character development here are pedestrian & predictable. Almost everything in the novel is obvious. Only one turn in the narrative caught me a bit by surprise, & that only because I probably dozed off & missed a"wink wink" knuckle rap to the skull earlier in the novel. Oh dear, I've torn the poor thing to pieces. Here's the short story: a grieving widow (young, of course); an island with quirky year-round (i.e. not summer vacationing) residents, a "haunted" lighthouse with a "secret" history; a misunderstood guy who seems to always be getting on the wrong side of everyone, a couple of bighearted older folks who have experienced "loss" & who become stalwart friends & advisers to Abby, etc. Oh yeah, & an almost hurricane, some burglaries & a suicide thrown in for good measure. Why did I read the book at all? Well, it crossed the threshold, so the 100pp trial period rule went into effect. Page 100 hit right at the beginning of my nightmare therapy. Enough said. Don't waste your money. ( )

This was a very enjoyable book on many levels. I felt a great sense of time and place. The characterization was pretty good, but I think the characters will be deepened in further volumes. The plot was gentle but moved well and there was an entirely satisfying conclusion. My instincts were excellent when I purchased THE DEFINITION OF WIND the second novel in this series because I wanted to slip right into it. I loved the way each chapter started because it is nice to carry away something from a book that one can use.[bc:The Language of Sand: A Novel|7621807|The Language of Sand A Novel|Ellen Block|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275927335s/7621807.jpg|10098121] ( )

It wasn't a bad book..just kind of dragged in places. I'm glad I read it though... ( )