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The Island cover art

The Island

By: Victoria Hislop
Narrated by: Sandra Duncan
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Summary

INSPIRED BY TRUTH, THE STORY THAT HAS CAPTIVATED THE WORLD.

This was not the start of a short trip to deliver supplies. It was the beginning of a one-way journey to start a new life. Life on a leper colony. Life on Spinalonga.

Fifty years later, making a life-changing journey of her own, Alexis Fielding feels the pull of the abandoned island. A distant shadow off the coast of Crete, she knows it holds the secrets of her mother's past, buried for so long but surely not forgotten . . .

Discover for yourself why 10 million readers and critics worldwide love Victoria Hislop's books . . .

'Passionately engaged with its subject . . . meticulously researched' The Sunday Times

'Hislop carefully evokes the lives of Cretans between the wars and during German occupation, but most commendable is her compassionate portrayal of the outcasts' Guardian

'A page-turning tale that reminds us that love and life continue in even the most extraordinary of circumstances' Sunday Express

'The story of life on Spinalonga, the lepers' island, is gripping and carries real emotional impact. Victoria Hislop . . . brings dignity and tenderness to her novel about lives blighted by leprosy' Telegraph

'Vivid, moving and absorbing' Observer


©2005 Victoria Hislop (P)2006 Headline Digital

What listeners say about The Island

Average customer ratings
Overall
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  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Lovely book

As my first audio book I was not disappointed.
This is a beautiful book, heart wrenching and painful at times but beautiful no less.
So lovely read, I really felt for the characters in the book, and lost myself in the story on many occasions.
Well worth a listen.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A moving story of love against the odds

Having greatly enjoyed The Thread by the same author I downloaded this earlier book and was not disappointed. It has similarities in that it is based the same geographical area, this time Crete, and is told over many decades of the 20th century. Where The Thread encompassed love and war, The Island uses the fear and shame of leprosy as a backdrop to a love story. It's a very moving book with a sympathetic narration that carries the listener along. Recommended.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

An engaging and moving story beautifully read

An engaging story and beautifully read by Sandra Duncan. Sometimes I have a problem with the voices which narrators use to portray different characters and I found this so with the whiny, shrill tones of the young Anna. But it did point up what an unpleasant and selfish child she was, traits which did not change in adulthood. A very moving story especially of how characters adapted to their new lives on Spinalonga, the prejudices which surround the disease of leprosy and what we can learn from the resilience, understanding and sacrifice of others. Highly recommended.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

The Island

I found this book fascinating. Very interesting characters. The locations are beautifully discribed. Lots of facts and information along the way. I couldn't stop listening and was quite disappointed when I got to the end.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Rather predictable writing

I really wanted to enjoy this book - the theme, the idea behind it all sounded like they'd sweep me away from mundane life. Sadly, I found the descriptions all too predictable and found myself writing the script before I heard it! Just not dynamic enough for me I'm afraid.

It doesn't help that it sounded like it was being read by a slightly passionless newsreader ... sorry!

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

You will get hooked!

Lovely book. Nicely told. You get sucked into the island and story and the way of life. And you learn a lot about an illness that in those days we knew little of. Its cruel in parts. But that can be life .......... You want it all to end well. A book not to be missed in my view. It will be one you remembered.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

My favourite "pick it up anywhere" book

Where does The Island rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The Island is one of my favourite audiobooks. It's always downloaded to my phone, it's my "go to" for a quick listen.

What did you like best about this story?

The lovely words read by the "perfect-for-this-story" narrator who adds to the romance and the atmosphere of the book

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The romance between husband and wife though they were seperated by infection adn a stretch of water

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Very emotional, it's hard not to get wrapped up in the horrible situation of the inhabitants of the islands knowing that normality is but a stretch of water away.

Any additional comments?

Great read, cracking to listen to. I can press play and get lost for a short time. They have chosen the perfect narrator for this story

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Good plot idea, shame about the writing

Such a powerful issue deserves so much better writing. The characters are predictable and cardboard - and the writing has no concept of nuance and understatement. The bad guys are too bad, the good guys are too good, and its hard to care about any of them because its all so wooden. Dramatic tension absolutely lacking - and it was just so obvious how it was going to end.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

a much loved story..

well worth listening to snuggled up in bed or even passing the time while donate ironing...

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable enough

I'd heard a lot about this book, but I found the story a bit clichéd and more 'Mills and Boon' than my usual audible books. That said, it was enjoyable enough and I finished it (on x1.5 for the last few hours).

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1 person found this helpful