Island of the World: A Novel

Excellent! Should become a classic. I have read all of his other novels and they are also excellent. He is the greatest novelist and storyteller of our times and Josip Lasta (the main character)is an example of moral courage and character in overcoming life's trials. Should be assigned reading for all high school students.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this large novel, but I didn't expect something that made me look at my own life a little closer. O'Brien does a perfect job drawing the reader into the life of his characters. I found myself identifying with Josip Lasta even though we have very little in common. Throughout the entire novel, I couldn't wait to find out what happens to Josip next. I had to keep reading to find out if he finally achieves and keeps happiness. The tales of life under a series of totalitarian regimes made me feel grateful for my freedoms, and reminded me to be more active in preserving them. Josip's grappling with faith was inspiring, and caused me to ponder my own spirituality at length. I tried--as best I could from a novel--to learn from how Josip interacted with the people in his life. All of it put together left me thinking, and wishing I could go right back into the book and recapture the joy of first discovery. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy thought provoking, deep stories where the true meaning may take a bit of consideration to unearth.

The remote, edenic Coatian village of Rajska Polja, translated, "the field of heaven," is the initial setting of a magnificent story, beginning in 1933, of one human's suffering through a violently cruel century, concluding in today's world. Beautifully written, the epic (839 pages) is the latest of six earlier books by an author who cares for his characters, experiencing their trials. It is, in a way, a modern morality play brimful of allegorical drama and poetic words, a book the reader will long remember.

Michael D. O'Brien challenged, moved and amazed me with this lyrical and harrowing novel. I wept many times, remembering the "fields of heaven" where he grew up, and the horror he grew into through the terror of war and despotism. The spiritual passages and poetry lifted me above this world toward the infinite. You will never forget the characters and places, the injustice, the love, the faith, and the sheer majesty of this story played out against the history of the Croatian people. Every time I think Mr. O'Brien cannot possible top himself in print, he does;- his talent that he shares so liberally with others elevates and deepens one's view of life, and stretches your mind and spirit to the shattering point. An experience not to be missed or taken on lightly.

Michael D. O'Brien is truly a gifted writer. During the last several weeks that I spent reading this phenomonal book I felt like I was in the skin of the main character, Josip Lasta. I have rarely, if ever, been so emotionally involved in reading and had to keep telling myself, "it's only a book". I shed so many tears I had to put the book away for a time and told myself to "forgadbout it" (an expression of one of his many characters in the book). Mr. O'Brien's descriptions of the agony and the rising of Josip Lasta are unparalleld in any book I've ever read and shows profound insight into the inner workings of his character's mind, body and spirit. This book deserves to be #1 on every bestseller list. I intend to gift several friends with a copy and to tell all the readers I know to read it.