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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
So I decided to read On the Island for a few reasons. First, it's summer and hello look at the cover! Who doesn't want to enjoy a nice, beachy read? Second, my friend had gifted me this book years ago and it's just been sitting on the shelf forever. So why not.
With that said, this read was definitely not what I expected. You know that saying "Don't judge a book by it's cover"? Here I was thinking that this woman had some lustrous affair on a beach while sipping on mai tais and relaxing on vacation. I couldn't be more off if I tried.
After several airport delays, 16-year-old TJ who is currently on remission from cancer, and Anna (his 30-year-old summer tutor) find a last minute flight to meet TJ's parents at their Maldives summer home rental. Relieved to finally be on their way, they settle into their seats and prepare for the short plane ride, however things take a drastic turn when the pilot starts having a heart attack mid-flight and the plane quickly crashes straight into the Indian Ocean. Anna is knocked unconscious and TJ is left holding onto her in shark infested waters praying that someone will come rescue them soon. As daylight turns to night, TJ can only hope they survive to see the next day. Hours later they find themselves drifting onto a deserted island and discover that they will have to depend on each other in order to survive. As the days turn into weeks, into months and into years.... Anna and TJ learn how to find food, water and shelter ... they learn to trust one another in times of difficulty, they learn how to take care of each other when one or the other is sick or injured and they learn to depend on each other when things just seem hopeless.
The author does a magnificent job setting the scene. I could picture everything perfectly... the island... the weather... the water... so much detail. The character development was spot on. The story is told in dual POV's between Anna and TJ which allows the reader to understand what each character is going through as the situation becomes more and more dire.
Beautifully written, this story will capture you from the very beginning and will pull at your heartstrings throughout the entire read. There are a few commentaries here and there about Anna and TJ's age difference and I'm not going to lie, in the beginning before anything physical happened I was a little weary... but as time progresses, I promise you, this becomes a non-issue.
With that said, this read was definitely not what I expected. You know that saying "Don't judge a book by it's cover"? Here I was thinking that this woman had some lustrous affair on a beach while sipping on mai tais and relaxing on vacation. I couldn't be more off if I tried.
After several airport delays, 16-year-old TJ who is currently on remission from cancer, and Anna (his 30-year-old summer tutor) find a last minute flight to meet TJ's parents at their Maldives summer home rental. Relieved to finally be on their way, they settle into their seats and prepare for the short plane ride, however things take a drastic turn when the pilot starts having a heart attack mid-flight and the plane quickly crashes straight into the Indian Ocean. Anna is knocked unconscious and TJ is left holding onto her in shark infested waters praying that someone will come rescue them soon. As daylight turns to night, TJ can only hope they survive to see the next day. Hours later they find themselves drifting onto a deserted island and discover that they will have to depend on each other in order to survive. As the days turn into weeks, into months and into years.... Anna and TJ learn how to find food, water and shelter ... they learn to trust one another in times of difficulty, they learn how to take care of each other when one or the other is sick or injured and they learn to depend on each other when things just seem hopeless.
The author does a magnificent job setting the scene. I could picture everything perfectly... the island... the weather... the water... so much detail. The character development was spot on. The story is told in dual POV's between Anna and TJ which allows the reader to understand what each character is going through as the situation becomes more and more dire.
Beautifully written, this story will capture you from the very beginning and will pull at your heartstrings throughout the entire read. There are a few commentaries here and there about Anna and TJ's age difference and I'm not going to lie, in the beginning before anything physical happened I was a little weary... but as time progresses, I promise you, this becomes a non-issue.
Que leitura esta! Já tinha ouvido falar bem desta história, mas nunca pensei vir a gostar tanto dela - normalmente perdidos em ilhas parecem trazer histórias muitos más, dramáticas e tristes e eu não costumo gostar muito porque parece que é inevitável morrerem na ilha. Mas neste (e isto não é spoiler! está em todo o lado) eu sabia que eles um dia iriam conseguir salvar-se.
O facto de saber que neste caso havia esperança ajudou-me na leitura, ajudou-me a suportar com os protagonistas tudo o que eles passavam (sim, porque se a história for bem escrita eu sofro com eles, o que aconteceu neste caso), a sentir com eles o desespero e a inevitável falta de esperança por não serem encontrados durante tanto tempo. Mas felizmente eles não deitam mãos ao ar e lutam para sobreviver, tendo a sorte de várias coisas do avião terem dado àquela costa e de terem encontrado técnicas para encontrar aquilo de que precisavam! A isto (o terem encontrado coisas do avião) tenho que dizer que os ditos cujos também tiveram muita sorte! Mas também se não fosse assim, não iriam sobreviver.
Quando são resgatados as coisas não irão ser um mar de rosas, porque a vida real é muito diferente da passada na ilha - e o que não importava perante a inevitabilidade de ficarem lá a viver para sempre, importa quando regressam às suas vidas normais - estou a falar do envolvimento dos dois, tendo em conta a diferença de idades. Quanto a isto, posso dizer que estive do lado dos dois, e a história ajuda-nos a torcer por eles.
Foi uma excelente leitura, e será certamente uma que irei recordar muitas vezes e com um sorriso. Recomendo plenamente :)
O facto de saber que neste caso havia esperança ajudou-me na leitura, ajudou-me a suportar com os protagonistas tudo o que eles passavam (sim, porque se a história for bem escrita eu sofro com eles, o que aconteceu neste caso), a sentir com eles o desespero e a inevitável falta de esperança por não serem encontrados durante tanto tempo. Mas felizmente eles não deitam mãos ao ar e lutam para sobreviver, tendo a sorte de várias coisas do avião terem dado àquela costa e de terem encontrado técnicas para encontrar aquilo de que precisavam! A isto (o terem encontrado coisas do avião) tenho que dizer que os ditos cujos também tiveram muita sorte! Mas também se não fosse assim, não iriam sobreviver.
Quando são resgatados as coisas não irão ser um mar de rosas, porque a vida real é muito diferente da passada na ilha - e o que não importava perante a inevitabilidade de ficarem lá a viver para sempre, importa quando regressam às suas vidas normais - estou a falar do envolvimento dos dois, tendo em conta a diferença de idades. Quanto a isto, posso dizer que estive do lado dos dois, e a história ajuda-nos a torcer por eles.
Foi uma excelente leitura, e será certamente uma que irei recordar muitas vezes e com um sorriso. Recomendo plenamente :)
It's a 4.5/5 for me. I couldn't put it down because it's so good but I was expecting something more
Great book... I could really feel what was happening.
2-2.5 stars. This was a quick read for me, as I wanted to find out what happens, but there were quite a few things that detracted from the story. It seemed so shallow in certain areas and so convenient I couldn't suspend my disbelief and fully invest in the story and the characters. Very predictable plot, I never was scared that one of them was going to die. Also, if you're stranded on an island, truly trying to survive, is it idiotic how much Anna invests in shaving, washing, etc., it was like an island paradise getaway instead of stranded on an island fighting to stay alive. Being stranded was basically a plot device to throw these two together, then the author threw in another one to pull them apart, and then another to bring them back together. I felt that their relationship wasn't deep at all, despite spending so much time together and going through such life changing experiences, it was superficial. Because of these reasons, I do not recommend reading this book.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
I enjoyed the overarching story here but just had too many issues with the details. The male POV is not told like a teenager & I often had a hard time determining which character's POV we were in without the names on the page because they both read the same. Additionally which I am willing to suspend my disbelief somewhat, there were just some preposterous choices. Characters shaving their legs & worrying about how they smell while stranded on an island for years? Suitcases from a crashed airplane washing up on shore with the contents (a datebook) completely dry? I didn't hate this book but felt like the editing was lacking and the story was too simplistic.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
After reading a book like this one, I wish there were more stars to give out. I didn’t just love it, it was excellent. It’s the kind of book that makes you feel and sticks with you for a long time.
The book is not just about survival on an island, it’s about friendship, understanding and love.
"We live here now."
And then more survival, friendship, understanding and love after the characters are no longer on it.
I really liked the way the narrative was written, alternating points of view between Anna to T.J. in each chapter, giving us a better scope of what was going on in their lives and at the same time, giving the book a great pace and making me want to read through it in one sitting.
The book is not just about survival on an island, it’s about friendship, understanding and love.
And then more survival, friendship, understanding and love after the characters are no longer on it.
I really liked the way the narrative was written, alternating points of view between Anna to T.J. in each chapter, giving us a better scope of what was going on in their lives and at the same time, giving the book a great pace and making me want to read through it in one sitting.