October 4, 2007

  • The Island by Victoria Hislop

    I'm happy that I've managed to get back into the rhythm of reading.  It's a pity that it only takes me a day or two to get through a book that I am really enjoying.  They are over too fast!  And for books that I don't like as much, I usually take over a week ... and I can't wait for them to be over!

    On the whole, I really enjoyed The Island.  It's a story of life in a small village of Crete which is a short boat ride away from the island of Spinalonga, a former leper colony. The fable-like storytelling style of writing was a bit irritating at times.  It seemed overly simplistic and is fine for a short story but not for a novel.

    I'll take the book for what it is ... a bit over dramatized, a bit of cheesy romance.  All the women are devastatingly beautiful and the men are dark and handsome.  While reading, you wonder if you would feel as sorry for these people if they were described as ordinary (horrible, I know)!  But I have to admit. I cried.  It's definitely chick lit but with a bit more purpose as you get a glimpse of what life was like for people banished to a leper colony.  I have no idea if the book was historically accurate or not but I won't find myself quoting it just to be on the safe side.  Just a bit of light reading.

    Four out of five    

    (Xanga still not able to find books.  The Island )