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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “the story of a modern day woman who follows her family history. it leads her back to the late 40's and a leper colony on a small island off the greek coast. |
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“While reading Victoria Hislop’s The Island, I felt myself walking hand in hand with the main character as she unravels her family history. It is a novel composed of the simultaneous and entwined stories of characters belonging to one family. This family is plagued by leprosy that landed two of their family members on the leper colony of Spinalonga and by an incessant grief that continued to engulf them. I was able to view leprosy in a different light, rather than just the horrific tales I have heard or the biblical story that refers to lepers. The main story takes place during a time of rapid medical research, which leads to the eventual cure for leprosy. The stories were marked by love and family loyalty that kept this family afloat through their catastrophe stricken lives. In addition, there were love stories that ran throughout. Maria and Ana, the two sisters in the novel, served as perfect foil characters for one another. I constantly felt intensely aggravated with Ana for her detached behavior and very proud of Maria for her strength. The suspense and dramatic irony kept me hooked throughout. This novel was not only historically enlightening, but also luminescent of Greek culture and values. I felt as if I was a part of the Petrakis family and so deeply engulfed in the novel.
Hanna B wrote this review Friday, May 17, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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“Great plot, great read, beautifully written. ”
Jo Walsh wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“a good read”
Jeanie wrote this review Monday, March 11, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Très belle épopée familiale, pleine de non dits, de secrets inavouables, de passions et de crimes au sein d'une petite île en Crète, face à l'île des Lépreux, Spinalonga. Où l'on apprend comment vivaient ces lépreux dans les années 50 avant la découverte miraculeuse du traitement. Belle plume sensible et touchante”
Vanessa I wrote this review Sunday, February 17, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I really enjoyed this book. I didn't know much about leprosy before reading this, so it was really interesting. It was the kind of book that once you pick it up, you just can't put it down. I liked the pace, the plot. pretty much everything.”
Lorna Dounaeva wrote this review Saturday, January 12, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A good representation of a country's existence among Leprosy. ”
Hannah A -the dancer- wrote this review Thursday, January 3, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Loved it! Such a heart warming novel, & written in a way that i felt like i was right there. The characters were real, the story easy to read & follow. ”
sofouly wrote this review Friday, December 14, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“I hadn't read anything about leprosy before, and this book gave me an idea of how that disease affects families. Set at a time when treatment finally gave promise of a cure for some sufferers, this book also gives a good picture of the Italian invasion of Greece during WWII. ”
Carol A wrote this review Tuesday, December 11, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Brilliant book”
Josephine Lesley Rogerson wrote this review Wednesday, November 28, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“A fantastic book! I have put off reading it because it didnt appeal to me, I picked it up as I had nothing else to read and didnt put it down til I finished it! It is a sad story but full of love and hope, it tells a good story of how leprosy touched the lives of 4 generations. brilliant.”
Sheila L wrote this review Tuesday, November 27, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
