Victoria Hislop, "The Island"
Jun. 12th, 2011 06:18 pmA frustrating book. This was a mildly interesting story in a very interesting setting - Greece's leper colony on the island of Spinalonga, off the coast of Crete - but so poorly written that it was a real struggle to get into. Point of view shifts every paragraph, telling not showing, and cardboard characters combined to make an unconvincing narrative. The portrayal of Anna, the older sister, was particularly irritating - bad-tempered, selfish, and sexually voracious, with little understanding from either the author or the other characters. That said, she was at least memorable, unlike the rest of the cast.
http://www.bookcrossing.com/359-8138592
http://www.bookcrossing.com/359-8138592