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The Island
The Island | Victoria Hislop
On the brink of a 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. When Alexis decides to visit Crete, however, Sofia gives her daughter a letter to take to an old friend, and promises that through her she will learn more. Arriving in Plaka, Alexis is astonished to see that it lies a stone's throw from the tiny, deserted island of Spinalonga - Greece's former leper colony. Then she finds Fotini, and at last hears the story that Sofia has buried all her life: the tale of her great-grandmother Eleni and her daughters and a family rent by tragedy, war and passion. She discovers how intimately she is connected with the island, and how secrecy holds them all in its powerful grip...The acclaimed million-copy number one bestseller and winner of Richard & Judy's Summer Read 2006 from Victoria Hislop is a dramatic tale of four generations, rent by war, illicit love, violence and leprosy, from the thirties, through the war, to the present day.On the brink of a 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. When Alexis decides to visit Crete, however, Sofia gives her daughter a letter to take to an old friend, and promises that through her she will learn more. Arriving in Plaka, Alexis is astonished to see that it lies a stone's throw from the tiny, deserted island of Spinalonga - Greece's former leper colony. Then she finds Fotini, and at last hears the story that Sofia has buried all her life: the tale of her great-grandmother Eleni and her daughters and a family rent by tragedy, war and passion. She discovers how intimately she is connected with the island, and how secrecy holds them all in its powerful grip...
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review
Jody3
Island | Victoria Hislop
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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
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Peterfox123
The Island | Victoria Hislop
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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
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Peterfox123
The Island | Victoria Hislop
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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.

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Peterfox123
The Island | Victoria Hislop
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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
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jenniferw88
The Island | Victoria Hislop
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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❣️😂 6y
Mdargusch Yes! 😴😴😴 6y
Reviewsbylola Love this! And yeah . . . that‘s a lot. 6y
emilyhaldi Good luck! 😅 6y
84 likes5 comments
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Rambo_Reads
The Island | Victoria Hislop
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Mehso-so

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

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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).

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

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Onioons
The Island | Victoria Hislop
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Getting stuck into The Island now & really enjoying it!

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Onioons
The Island | Victoria Hislop
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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
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Michellesibs
The Island | Victoria Hislop
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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
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Crazeedi
Island. Victoria Hislop | Victoria Hislop
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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.

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Crazeedi
The Island | Victoria Hislop
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One of my views on this warm, almost summer day. Halfway through my book, liking it so far. #summerreading. #porchlove #readingismagic

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Crazeedi
The Island | Victoria Hislop
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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
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Insightsintobooks
The Island | Victoria Hislop
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Sounds interesting. I can't wait to start it.

48 likes1 stack add
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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. 😑 7y
Meeko93 I thought it was too 7y
38 likes2 comments
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Edyswiat
Island. Victoria Hislop | Victoria Hislop
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Mehso-so

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

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ReadingRuby
The Island | Victoria Hislop
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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

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Lizabella28
The Island | Victoria Hislop
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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
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Lizabella28
The Island | Victoria Hislop
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Reading this delight in Crete😀🍹🏖

Ms_T Lucky you! Her books are lovely 😊 7y
12 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Bookloverforever
The Island | Victoria Hislop
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myers85
The Island | Victoria Hislop
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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.

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jceradtech
The Island | Victoria Hislop

Excellent!

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MayJasper
The Island | Victoria Hislop
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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
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Book_Gnome
The Island | Victoria Hislop
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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

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hadar23
The Island | Victoria Hislop
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The Hebrew version of "The Island" in the amazing Crete island #somthingforsept

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Book_Gnome
The Island | Victoria Hislop
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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
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AmieJane
The Island | Victoria Hislop
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Loving this book, makes me want to go back to Crete and visit Spinalonga #Greece #Travel