Book Review : The Island

I got this book as a birthday present - The Island by Victoria Hislop.

And to answer the question that you may have, this book is NOT related to The Island movie.

The book is a good read, very vivid and touching story. Story background was at Plaka, a small village at Greece in the 1950s. They have this Spinalonga island - a place which used to be a colony for the lepers. Then... a terribly dreaded disease. Once you get it, you become 'untouchables'. You can imagine the psychological pain is greater than the physical pain itself. It is a very sad story, but has a happy ending though.

It reminds me of Pulau Jerejak, the little island on the right hand side of the Penang bridge. My mom tells me that it used to be a place for leper colony too. Must have many suffering souls who spent their last days on the island. It was closed in 1969 fortunately. Leprosy is now curable disease.

Now Pulau Jerejak has a difference face, it is turned into a tourist destination.