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Informative,
Insightful,
Dramatic

6 reviews

The Island
by Victoria Hislop

Published: 2007-07-01
Paperback : 480 pages
9 members reading this now
22 clubs reading this now
5 members have read this book
Recommended to book clubs by 6 of 6 members

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 ...

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Introduction

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 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.

Editorial Review

No editorial review at this time.

Excerpt

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Discussion Questions

Suggested by Members

There is an interview on Victoria Hislp's website that is interesting.
by sraber (see profile) 08/02/11

No
by lrw101251 (see profile) 05/16/11

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

No notes at this time.

Book Club Recommendations

Watch Captain Corelli's Mandolin after reading this book to get the flavor of the island.
by sraber (see profile) 08/02/11
The Island
by LeonoraS (see profile) 09/26/09
We are having a Greek themed potluck...I made an eggplant/tomato/garlic feta dish and honey puffs (super easy to make).

Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
 
by Diana C. (see profile) 05/11/19

 
by Louise O. (see profile) 02/18/19

 
  "The Island"by Fern C. (see profile) 08/31/17

We had a lively discussion about lepers and the way they were treated because of the unknown. We branched beyond the book to learn more as a group and individuals. Everyone liked the book very much.... (read more)

 
  "The Island by Victoria Hislop"by Susan B. (see profile) 08/02/11

None of the group loved it. But the group did find Spinalonga to be very interesting. We felt that there could have been more development of many of the characters in the book and also some felt the... (read more)

 
  "The Island"by Mary D. (see profile) 07/28/11

A perfect summer read. It was enjoyable and romantic although at times unbelievable. I liked it and will recommend.

 
  "The Island"by Libby W. (see profile) 05/16/11

My mother told me that I had to read this book. I then selected it for my book club. Everyone loved it. You not only learned something about leprosy, but of a family's faith in one another!

 
  "Interesting saga in Greece in the 40's - 60's."by Lynn M. (see profile) 12/01/10

I liked all the characters and I learned about the disease leprosy and life in a leper colony. It made you feel for the suffering of these people in those times and how that diagnosis changed their lives... (read more)

 
  "The Island"by Leonora S. (see profile) 09/26/09

Great for a mental escape. Beautiful description of the countryside and interesting characters.

 
  "Story of family and community in a unexpected location"by marcia i. (see profile) 04/18/08

A serious read with many sub plots. The story takes place on the island of Crete and one of its Islands. It is truely an unexpected saga that one would not expect from a mordern author. It is truely... (read more)

 
  "great book"by Tee S. (see profile) 04/18/08

I really loved this book!
I liked reading about the Greek islands and had been to see the leper colony on Molokai in Hawaii so I had a foundation for what it was like to go through this disease.

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