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The Island |  | Author: Victoria Hislop
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy Used: $0.01
as of 9/9/2010 09:36 PDT details
You Save: $14.94 (100%)
Seller: your_online_bookstore
Rating:  46 reviews
Sales Rank: 429665
Media: Paperback
Pages: 480
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.3 x 1.3
ISBN: 0061340324
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.92
EAN: 9780061340321
ASIN: 0061340324
Publication Date: July 1, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The Petrakis family lives in the small Greek seaside village of Plaka. Just off the coast is the tiny island of Spinalonga, where the nation's leper colony once was located—a place that has haunted four generations of Petrakis women. There's Eleni, ripped from her husband and two young daughters and sent to Spinalonga in 1939, and her daughters Maria, finding joy in the everyday as she dutifully cares for her father, and Anna, a wild child hungry for passion and a life anywhere but Plaka. And finally there's Alexis, Eleni's great-granddaughter, visiting modern-day Greece to unlock her family's past. A richly enchanting novel of lives and loves unfolding against the backdrop of the Mediterranean during World War II, The Island is an enthralling story of dreams and desires, of secrets desperately hidden, and of leprosy's touch on an unforgettable family.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 46
An interesting book July 26, 2010
Thomas Evans (Durham, NC)
I learned many things about leprosy reading this book. The author writes vividly about the personal anguish suffered by these people and their families.
 Enjoyable June 25, 2010
Emily Smith (Florida, USA)
This was an enjoyable book, but it does have a few issues. I do agree with some others who said the characters seemed distant, and that there was far too much needless detail about everyday drudgery. I never felt all that connected to the characters, and I think that's the result of just not having developed them well enough. I found myself skipping whole pages and skimming paragraphs that were simply little details about this and that, and were nothing really important to the storyline. I ended up doing that a lot because I wanted to find out what was next in the story but was getting impatient reading things that I found really boring. I was saying a lot of, "OK! GET TO THE POINT!" in my mind while reading.
I think the premise is very unique and interesting, but it was executed in a very mediocre way. The switching back and forth between points of view kind of annoyed me as well. I think that's another reason why I felt unable to connect with the characters.
That said, I did finish it and all in all I DID enjoy it, which is why I'm giving it three stars. The first 50 or so pages dragged, but once you get into the main part of the story, it does get more interesting and I personally was curious to know how it ended. I even found myself tearing up at certain moments at the end, so perhaps I DID connect to one or two of the characters more than I thought. The subject matter in itself is pretty fascinating and that helped keep my interest. I give this one three stars. Not one of the best I've read, but a good effort regardless.
 Book Club favorite May 1, 2010
loyal book clubber (Pittsburgh PA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
We really enjoyed this book. It is a flashback of three generations, with wonderful insight into the strengths and weaknesses of people. It is an easy, enjoyable read and the end explains how mistken we can often be in our actions toward others.
A Different Island Paradise April 12, 2010
Dr. James Stathis
I visited the island of Spinalonga in 2009 courtesy of the Greek Government. Though I knew it had been a Leper Colony, it had a peacefulness about it that was attractive. Now barren and in ruins, you will read how the Lepers organized and turned this island into a hospitable paradise (essentially near perfect Greek village life minus the leprosy, of course) for the inhabitants compared to the free, but crazy, war torn world just a mile away on Crete. I highly recommend a visit. But read the Victoria Hislop's book first!
My company, [...], has travelled extensively throughout Greece making documentaries, feature films, etc. Our DVD, A GREEK ISLANDS DESTINATION COOKING CLASS (NTSC), was chosen as the #1 New York Times' [...] Culinary-Travel DVD. It takes place on Santorini, just 70 miles NW of Spinalonga.
If you visit Spinalonga, stay at the Blue Palace (if you can afford it). The hotel and their private pools overlook Spinalonga.
really gripping March 2, 2010
Sally (London)
I do enjoy novels based on true events! Found the story gripping but writing a little clunky in places.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 46
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