The Petrakis family lives in the small Greek seaside village of Plaka. Just off the coast is the tiny island of Spinalonga, where the nation’s leper colony once was located—a place that has haunted four generations of Petrakis women. There’s Eleni, ripped from her husband and two young daughters and sent to Spinalonga in 1939, and her daughters Maria, finding joy in the everyday as she dutifully … dutifully cares for her father, and Anna, a wild child hungry for passion and a life anywhere but Plaka. And finally there’s Alexis, Eleni’s great-granddaughter, visiting modern-day Greece to unlock her family’s past.
A richly enchanting novel of lives and loves unfolding against the backdrop of the Mediterranean during World War II, The Island is an enthralling story of dreams and desires, of secrets desperately hidden, and of leprosy’s touch on an unforgettable family.
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Pack it in your tote bag…this is a wonderful beach read, exotically beautiful.
Very informative about the leprosy colony, the inhabitants and the misunderstandings and fears of those not living in the colony. Wonderful character development. Book starts a little slow but rapidly picks up pace. Excellent read.
Didn’t know that there were still Leper colonies until the 1950’s
This heartfelt book is such a good storyline and told so well, I loved it.
A truly magnificent and very moving story spanning four generations.
Alexis goes to Crete to find the truth of her mother’s past; many secrets are revealed including the family’s connection to the leper colony of the island of Spinalonga.
Well written and researched, I can thoroughly recommend it.
A great read I really enjoyed the characters in the story was very entertaining
I had never heard of an island for people with leprosy so this was quite informative. Following the characters through the pre-WWII era, the war, and the discovery of a cure was very interesting.
I read a good deal on my new nook reader and have gotten many goods from BoobkBub since the first of the year. This book, The Island, was outstanding. Interesting characters and an interesting story of family, friendships, and history. I couldn’t put it down and it is a story that will stay with me. Highly recommend!
Excellent book! Really puts one to think!
I learned a lot about Greece and leprosy. it could use some editing but I enjoyed it.
Informative about an area and a subject that I wasn’t very aware of – touching
I love historical fiction, and “The Island ” is the “cream of the crop” in my opinion.
Victoria Hislop creates characters that are so realistic I honestly feel that they are real and that I have met them. The charm and dignity of the Greek people is now forever fixed in my memory. Greek music, food, dress, traditions, and sense of fun are so …
this was one of the best books I have read in a while
It was about a time and a situation unknown to me and you became a part of the story and the characters.
A book to read when you want to escape the cold wintry days outside. Victoria Hislop takes you on a journey to a former leper colony near Crete – the island of Spinalonga. The story spans four generations with an array of characters that are well drawn and each with their own story to tell. It’s one to dive into and enjoy!
The story gave me a perspective of what life may have been like during the time period when leprosy was feared.
The Island is a story about a family torn apart by the disease leprosy and the Greek government’s decision to have all lepers sent to the island of Spinalonga in Crete to die. The tale of how the victims of this terrible disease rise above their suffering and achieve incredible things in spite of their isolation and discrimination is an …
I loved this book. It made me want to search out more information. I hadn’t known about this area — a Greek island. I found the book so interesting, while it followed a great story line too. I would definitely recommend reading this book — we all have different tastes in books, but I think this book covers so much — there is something of …
This story is about an island of lepers and how they survive around the time of WWII. It is tragic but ends with hope.
It has everything!!!