Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Island. Victoria Hislop
Island. Victoria Hislop | Victoria Hislop
On the brink of her own life-changing decision, Alexis Fielding longs to find out about her mother's past. But Sofia has never spoken of it. All she admits to is growing up in a small Cretan village before moving to London.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
Jody3
Island | Victoria Hislop
post image
Pickpick

The book really does make you think about how you cannot change your past and you have no choice but to move forward in life and forgive as everybody makes mistakes.

This is a beautifully imagined and evocatively told story that weaves actual facts into fiction. Readers who love historical fiction, especially based in Greece will adore reading this book. I look forward to reading the sequel; One August Night very soon.

11 likes1 stack add
review
Peterfox123
The Island | Victoria Hislop
post image
Pickpick

I read this book mainly on a sunbed in Crete. Too far from Spinalonga to visit but it was rendered easy enough to enter the small communities this book portrays. Almost unremittingly sad, with only brief episodes of relief. Overall a delightful read but too often, for me, the book was loosely written. For such an emotional narrative I felt the author was guilty of skating over significant episodes. Still very enjoyable.

Cathythoughts Interesting review! I‘ve been thinking of getting this one 5y
Peterfox123 @Cathythoughts I‘d certainly recommend it. It‘s just there were occasions where I felt the author left me feeling slightly shortchanged. 5y
25 likes2 comments
blurb
Peterfox123
The Island | Victoria Hislop
post image

To be utterly frank, this has so far proved a letdown. I was looking to enjoying a lighthearted ramble through a tale of Irish folklore and magic. Several chapters in and still no appearance of a single mischievous mythical pot-of-gold owner. Where are the leprechauns?

What?

Really?

Oh.

In that case it‘s all rather good.

blurb
Peterfox123
The Island | Victoria Hislop
post image

Very taxing day planned having arrived in Crete. It will include food, some walking around and probably some more food. Also starting this as I rigorously test the sunbed by the pool. We‘re too far away to visit Spiralonga which is a part of this book but we do have the food as compensation remember?

Cathythoughts Enjoy! Crete ♥️... one of my favorite places on earth 5y
Peterfox123 @Cathythoughts Thank you! It‘s our first visit and we‘re really impressed. 5y
Lcsmcat Don‘t wear yourself out with your taxing day. Try to take a break now and then. 😉 5y
Peterfox123 @Lcsmcat Thank you. I should possibly scale back on the more ambitious plans. 😁 5y
Ms_T Enjoy the holiday and the book! 5y
21 likes5 comments
blurb
jenniferw88
The Island | Victoria Hislop
post image

It would be #aharddaysnight if I were to attempt to read all of these World Book Night selections in one go - 3,394 pages! #AnglophileApril @Cinfhen @Mdargusch @Reviewsbylola @emilyhaldi

Cinfhen Ha❣️😂 5y
Mdargusch Yes! 😴😴😴 5y
Reviewsbylola Love this! And yeah . . . that‘s a lot. 5y
emilyhaldi Good luck! 😅 5y
84 likes5 comments
review
Rambo_Reads
The Island | Victoria Hislop
post image
Mehso-so

Although I had a few issues with this book, it still succeeded in taking me away to a new place in time

review
HannahKate
The Island | Victoria Hislop
Pickpick

Equal parts beautiful, interesting and sad, The Island is set on Spinalonga, a leprosy colony off Crete in 1940s (ish).

blurb
Onioons
The Island | Victoria Hislop
post image

"Today Fotini was going to be her Scheherazade." Struggling to find time to read but excited for Hislop to be my Scheherazade ???

blurb
Onioons
The Island | Victoria Hislop
post image

Getting stuck into The Island now & really enjoying it!

blurb
Onioons
The Island | Victoria Hislop
post image

Distracted from reading by the Limerick Cork All-Ireland Semi-final this afternoon. What an epic afternoon #LuimneachAbu #hurlingisforheroes (pic: Ryan Byrne in thejournal.ie)

Cinfhen Cool pic😍 6y
Onioons @Cinfhen absolutely not my pic (I should have said!) Taken from the journal.ie 6y
Cinfhen It‘s still a cool photo 6y
Onioons @Cinfhen true 😊 6y
43 likes4 comments
review
Michellesibs
The Island | Victoria Hislop
post image
Pickpick

This is a historical novel set in Crete and in particular the island of Spinalonga, a leper colony which opened at the beginning of the Century. I had not known such an island existed and I didn‘t know much about lepers at all so I found this fiction weaved with facts novel really interesting. I‘m definitely inspired now to visit Crete and Spinalonga in the future.

10 likes2 stack adds
review
Crazeedi
Island. Victoria Hislop | Victoria Hislop
post image
Mehso-so

The story line was very good. But there was much about the story that was extraneous. Alexis goes to Plaka, on the island of Crete to find the story of her mothers life. Most of the book was the story of her grandmother and aunt. The leper colony on Spinalonga figures intimately in the story. I am conflicted because this could have been a 5 star book, sadly it wasn't. But I'm happy I read it. I have a couple more books by the author to read.

blurb
Crazeedi
The Island | Victoria Hislop
post image

One of my views on this warm, almost summer day. Halfway through my book, liking it so far. #summerreading. #porchlove #readingismagic

blurb
Crazeedi
The Island | Victoria Hislop
post image

Next book up to read. I read a good review, so I'm anxious to see, since I got a couple other books by this author when I got this.

BookwormM I liked this one 6y
Crazeedi @BookwormM so far I'm enjoying it 6y
LeeRHarry I enjoyed this one too, I‘ve read most of her books and they‘ve all been good - enjoy! 😊 6y
Crazeedi Thanks @LeeRHarry @BookwormM , I have 2 more of hers to read 6y
55 likes2 stack adds4 comments
blurb
Insightsintobooks
The Island | Victoria Hislop
post image

Sounds interesting. I can't wait to start it.

48 likes1 stack add
blurb
Laalaleighh
The Island | Victoria Hislop

I thought Litsy was broken and I was so so sad.

PurpleyPumpkin Me too! And that‘s two days in a row. Ugh. 😑 6y
Meeko93 I thought it was too 6y
38 likes2 comments
review
Edyswiat
Island. Victoria Hislop | Victoria Hislop
post image
Mehso-so

Between "I like" and "not sure"...

blurb
ReadingRuby
The Island | Victoria Hislop
post image

1. The Island - Victoria Hislop. Although leper colonies are a bit of a depressing subject, Crete sounded beautiful 🌞 and I‘m going there for a week in June!
2. Prague 👑
3. The Maldives / Antigua 🌴
4. Fly ✈️ you‘d have to drive a long way from England to get somewhere hot enough!
5. Ice Cream - especially if its mint choc chip 😍

#manicmonday

review
Lizabella28
The Island | Victoria Hislop
post image
Pickpick

This book is awesome. Hooked from start to finish yet not something I would have read from the books blurb. Lots of friends recommended it and I read it while on holiday on the island of Crete. Glad I did.

Bklover Beautiful photo! 7y
13 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
Lizabella28
The Island | Victoria Hislop
post image

Reading this delight in Crete😀🍹🏖

Ms_T Lucky you! Her books are lovely 😊 7y
12 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
Bookloverforever
The Island | Victoria Hislop
post image

review
myers85
The Island | Victoria Hislop
post image
Panpan

I really enjoyed Hislop's The Thread but I'm surprised to say I didn't enjoy this. Perhaps it's because it's her first novel as it does feel amateurish. Its overly descriptive, it could easily have been a 100 pages shorter. Also the narrative for large parts just summarises events rather than focusing on particular scenes and bringing them to life. Whilst there's some interesting insights into leprosy this isn't explored as much as I'd have liked.

blurb
jceradtech
The Island | Victoria Hislop

Excellent!

1 like1 stack add
review
MayJasper
The Island | Victoria Hislop
post image
Pickpick

One of my favourite writers. Moving story of some of the last inhabitants of an island off Crete, Greece for lepers shortly before a cure was found. Great characters worth investing in.

10 likes1 stack add
blurb
Book_Gnome
The Island | Victoria Hislop
post image

Opening line:
"Unfurled from its mooring, the rope flew through the air and sprayed the woman's bare arms with droplets of seawater."
#dumbledwarf #bookgnome #victoriahislop #theisland

blurb
hadar23
The Island | Victoria Hislop
post image

The Hebrew version of "The Island" in the amazing Crete island #somthingforsept

1 like1 stack add
blurb
Book_Gnome
The Island | Victoria Hislop
post image

Another treasure from the no more #worldbooknight A 2013 book selection

Angela_AVT That looks good 8y
Book_Gnome @Angela_AVT I've always wanted to read it. You read it whilst on holiday and let me know if I should 😂 8y
13 likes2 stack adds2 comments
blurb
AmieJane
The Island | Victoria Hislop
post image

Loving this book, makes me want to go back to Crete and visit Spinalonga #Greece #Travel