The Island

Initially I was going to give this book 4 starts, but later decided on 5. I felt like the beginning was a little hurried in certain parts. Although I had some qualms about pace and writing style in a few parts, the creativity that went into the plot is quite commendable. In "The Island," Hislop has not only given a different spin on leprosy, an illness as old as history itself, but she has also reawakened the little-known history of Spinalonga. I liked the fact that the love between Maria and Dr. Kyritsis was non-idealized, and characters like Anna were quite realistic. As Alexis undertakes the trip to unearth her family history, layers of history are skillfully unwoven by the author, and the reader is not disappointed. I was worried about how the author would end the book, but she did it quite well. "The Island" is wound up in a nice, patient way. Without care, the end of this saga could easily have been botched. Good job to Victoria Hislop!

This book is the best I've read in a long time. I've been trying to find a great family saga book and this one hits the spot. It reminded me a little of Danielle Steele's earlier novels (the only good ones, she's awful now)that involve some history and lots of family scandals. The characters were great. I loved the idea of the leper colony. I really hope this author has another book coming out sometime soon.

25 years ago I visited the leper colony of Spinalonga. It's a haunting place. Impossible to forget. And from the moment Ms Hislop took her readers to Spinalonga I was back on the island. Her descriptions are so evocative that Spinalonga becomes a character. If I refer to the novel as a family saga that sounds trite. It's so much more. But I loved the unveiling of the family history, especially the relationships between the female relatives. And whilst the subject matter--leprosy--is harrowing, this is an uplifting read, one filled with hope. I found it impossible to put down.

With a trip to Crete planned for this summer I chanced upon this book and bought it. Victoria Hislop has researched her subject very well and written a wonderful story. The life of the Cretans and the plight of the lepers was brought home with a tour to the Island of Spinalonga where the lepers lived. Having read the book and listened to our guide, you could get a keen sense of the small world the lepers lived in and even though they lived a very tough life they did find hope in the small things that made them a community. I was throughly touched by the story and my visit.

My book club in London just picked this book. I took it with me on Holiday in Crete and could not put it down! You will laugh and cry and remember these characters long after the last page. At the start the Greek names are a bit confusing but they do get easier and will soon be rolling off your tongue. Get this book right away!