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jaypappy's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Nice book that looks at the different family member behaviours and how lives and futures can be affect by this, set against a scenario that is not used often in storytelling. A very light and easy read, good one for holidays. I think most readers would identify a person from their lives reflected in one of the characters.
sallygilson's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
apageofwordsandwishes's review against another edition
3.0
I have really mixed feelings about this book. I read it as a teen and had a vague memory of being really intrigued by the Island of Spinalonga and the leper colony.
Kind of wish I had left it at that as the re read wasn’t as enjoyable. I didn’t get on with the writing style and was left feeling a bit baffled by some of the authors choices. She obviously spent a lot of time researching and building up some of these characters who are then killed off in a sentence and never mentioned again, yet a minor character who is only in a couple of scenes has a big detailed death with funeral and mourning all described.
It’s a good story but I can’t really say more than that.
Kind of wish I had left it at that as the re read wasn’t as enjoyable. I didn’t get on with the writing style and was left feeling a bit baffled by some of the authors choices. She obviously spent a lot of time researching and building up some of these characters who are then killed off in a sentence and never mentioned again, yet a minor character who is only in a couple of scenes has a big detailed death with funeral and mourning all described.
It’s a good story but I can’t really say more than that.
sannamarilka's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing, powerful story of love, deception, grief and joy. Absolutely excellent!
sdmomof5boys's review against another edition
3.0
This was a good read. Having lived on Molokai, Hawaii, which also has a leper colony that I have visited and learned some about the history of it, it was interesting to read about another leper colony on the other side of the world near Crete. I enjoyed the back story of Alexis' family and their lives in Plaka and Spinalonga. I thought Alexis' story itself was irrelevant and not that well put together. But that was a short part of the book, so it didn't bother me too much. Overall, I thought this was a good story of family, heartbreak, tragedy, but also hope, love and understanding.
naomiallen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
mikesqw's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
navayiota's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was shocked by how accurate the characters' interactions with each other were. It seems crazy to me that this author isn't Greek, and compiled all this information from simply research. Incredible. The translator obviously helped, but there is no way to translate something into a better story than it is, at least not to this degree. It did feel slightly "and they have a strange magical love in that magical country" at the end but I'll forgive it cause the story is that good
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Abandonment, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Terminal illness, War, Body horror, Death, Grief, Ableism, Gun violence, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Drug use, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
embezzlerr's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. Not a book I would normally picked up from the shelf as it had that samey feel as many other books in the charts. This was February's book in our book club and with the horrid weather here in UK, the descriptions of glorious Crete weather kept me warm! Anna's character provoked a strong reaction in me! She made me angry, whilst Maria,the complete opposite, was a little frustrating with how angelic she was. The descriptions of Crete, Spinalonga and the characters were fabulous and I forgot all about Alexis and Ed. I was so engrossed in the story of the Petrakis family, I was sad when it came to an end.