Reviews

The Island, by Victoria Hislop

maren_aha's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

startreksteve's review

5.0

Recommended by Hull book club, not something I would have chosen, but I throughly enjoyed it.

mycriminalmind's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

angelica_jardinerica's review

3.0

A good summer read but not the best book in the world.

enhypenisbae's review

Started off boring, thinking of giving it a second chance

britishbookworm's review

5.0

I had heard a lot about this book, in that it was a good read, yet knew nothing of the story.
It started quite slow and I wasn't sure when the book jumped from present day to the past but I am glad that I persevered as is a well written, well researched, enthralling novel. The story is well structured and draws you in, without having one of those very obvious storylines. It is tragic without being upsetting and makes you realise how diseases like leprosy were still very real in Europe so recently - it does make you think about how we treat people today with certain illnesses and explores class, prejudice and discrimination wonderfully. It also makes you consider those who put themselves at risk for the sake of others and the bonds of family & friendship.

I did wonder if it was based on a true story, and it made me want to research Crete & Spinalonga, which indeed is a real place that was used as a leper colony. The book seems to be very well researched, the leprosy is approached factually yet always with that slight fear that everyone has about it, and you do wonder if the author has Greek roots as there are elements that seem very familiar - but maybe that's down to her skill as a writer.

megangerv's review

emotional hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

ivb_99's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

devmin's review

emotional

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

katiemoff's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0