Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

The Island

By Victoria Hislop

The book is bittersweet , uncovering family secrets and contrasting village life during World War 2 with modern society. This first novel is well written and tugged at the heart strings. It was enjoyed for its portrayal of passion ,family life interwoven with historical facts as well as attitudes to and fear of leprosy: a Greek tragedy gripping, moving and absorbing and therefore to be recommended . However it was rated 1/5 by one reader for being long winded with large tracts being very Mills and Boon and the "dark secret" underpinning the novel hardly worth the effort .