Reg asks Evie what she will do with the island. She says, "I don't know." He says, "That's a start." What do you think he means?

At the end of the novel, Reg asks Evie what she will do with the island now that she knows the truth, and when she says, "I don't know," he answers, "That's a start." What do you think he means by that?

The island is a source of unrest in the marriage. The fact that Evie is not sure if she wants to keep it (as is the usual response), there may be hope that the property can be removed from the family assets.

I felt that Reg was glad she wasn't going to stick to the "old ways" and just doing what had always been done, and that she was open to new ideas, to new ways of thinking about the Island, about life in general. Reg may be relieved to know that because Evie knows the truth about the Island and all the occurred there. The memories will be seen through a different lens and perhaps wrongs will be righted.

He was inquiring about her decision and when she honestly said she didn't know, his response was his way of saying to her that he was glad she was looking at all options honestly.

It seemed as if he thought of Evie as a fresh start for the family and the island. She isn't coming in with preconceived notions or entitlement but instead was open to change.

I totally agree with "dianac". My interpretation of the comments was that she was honest about her position yet happy she was considering all options.

I think he feels it is an encouraging sign that she can begin to look at the decision in an objective way. Once Evie learned the truth about some of her family's history, owning the island became less of an obsession for her.

Agree with tired book reader. Reg is optimistic that Evie is coming to terms with her families’ true history, not the pretty picture the Matriarch Kitty wanted everyone to believe. The Island isn’t heaven. It might just be okay for Evie to give it up or perhaps share it with her Half Brother as he suggested. Now that would be satisfying

I think Reg was relieved to not hear Evie say "I plan to keep it". He wanted her to face the facts.

Based on the family history, there is relief that she is considering change instead of stuck in family “tradition.”

I think that Evie was being honest which is different than the way the family handled all matters. She really didn't know what she was going to do. Take her time, think it through, and see what works.

I believe Reg is glad that Evie is beginning to see that there might be another path that she can choose for herself rather than blindly following what her family has set out for her.