3.36 AVERAGE


I went back and read The Island before moving on to read this - the sequel. I probably enjoyed The Island more on second reading and particularly enjoyed the interesting history surrounding Spinalonga and the information about leprosy as mine was very poor and out of date.
This book I found a bit insipid in contrast. It was a compelling read but I didn’t like Manolis any more and Maria was way too good to be true. I just didn’t believe in them.
emotional sad slow-paced
reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A
emotional informative sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Another evocative read from Victoria Hislop. She returns once again to the story of the leper colony on Spinalonga and what happens once the cure is discovered for leprosy and the cured are able to return to their homes.
The writing felt a little pedestrian in places and I wanted a bit more "show" and a little less "tell" to move the story forward, particularly towards the end of the book. That said, I enjoyed this book and it was good to revisit the characters from The Island.

So so. I speed read through it as I just wanted to get a gist of what happens to the characters from the Island. No where near as captivating as the first book.

Συμφωνώ με κάποιες από τις κριτικές. Το νησί ήταν ένα εξαιρετικό βιβλίο με πλοκή. Το συγκεκριμένο τώρα γιατί γράφτηκε; Να μας πει τι; Εμένα προσωπικα δεν μου προσφερε τίποτα.

Καταλαβαίνω ότι η συγγραφέας ήθελε να μας δώσει παραπάνω πληροφορίες για τους άλλους χαρακτήρες του βιβλίου αλλά μπορούσε να το κάνει και στο νησί. Δεν χρειαζόταν να γράψει ένα ξεχωριστό βιβλίο για να το πετύχει αυτό.

Ο μοναδικος λόγος που γράφτηκε αυτό το βιβλίο μάλλον είναι το κέρδος. Τα 2 αστέρια τα παίρνει μόνο και μόνο για τον χαρακτήρα του Μανώλη και το ότι ξεπέρασε επιτέλους την θλίψη που καταπλακωνε την ψυχή του.

Follow up to The Island which I loved. Will make you want to go to Crete. Afterward which explained the writer’s first visit to Spinalonga and the genesis of The Island was interesting.

#oneaugustnight #victoriahislop #the island #paperback #sequel #greece #crete #spinalonga #1950s #leprosy
emotional reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Lovely follow on to The Island