San Stefanos Online ~ North West Corfu
Welcome to San Stefanos (NW Corfu) => San Stefanos news and views => Topic started by: tonyco1 on July 18, 2012, 04:22:15 AM
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I was amazed - every woman on the Beach seemed to be reading 50 shades of Grey - - Men beware!!!
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Reading the first book at home at the moment. Not sure it is a beach or pool book lol!!!!!! ;D :o
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Am sorry but I thought it was a terrible book - literary prize it ain't!
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Pam read all 3 whilst in Kefalonia......she thought the first one was awful but said the other two were slightly better. I think it's deffo Emporers new clothes with this one.
I broke my record on my fortnights holiday........8 books completed!! The Kindle was brilliant for just nipping to reception, hopping on the WIFI and getting another book!
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I broke my record on my fortnights holiday........
Gavlah - I was wondering what you were going to say next in light of the thread. Phew. It's books not the other.........lol
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Lol....not so lucky !!
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Gaviah - I am taking my kindle - not tried it in Ag Stef but had no problem just downloading anywhere in Australia - is it that easy there?
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I have the Wifi only one and never had any problems dowloading books where there was Wifi
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I just load a lot of books before leaving. The Kindle will hold thousands!
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Duncan downloaded books by the side of the pool at the Vicky , absolutely no problems.
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Had go at the Kindle but a book is more satisfying - has any one read "The Island " by Victoria Hislop
now that's a good read----the other two are" Eleni " by Nicolas Gage and " One Fourteenth of an Elephant"
all three are factual.
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I have "The Island" in my Corfu folder on the Kindle, ready for our August holiday.
Good to know others have enjoyed it.
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Lizzie - I have read The Island by Victoria Hislop and also her other two books. I thought The Island was excellent but that was untill someone told me about a series of books by Beryl Darby see link http://www.beryldarbybooks.com/
Her books were written before Victoria Hislop's and there are about ten in the series. They start off with the first one Yannis which is based on Spinalonga - dont be put off though it is about 750 pages and I thought I am never going to get through that but I read it in two weeks couldnt put it down. It is compelling story of Yannis, who comes from the village of Plaka on the island of Crete. He attends school in the town of Aghios Nikolaos and gains a scholarship to the Gymnasium in Heraklion. Whilst in Heraklion, he is diagnosed with leprosy, shattering his dreams of becoming an archaeologist. He is admitted to the local hospital for treatment and subsequently transferred to the hospital in Athens. The conditions in the hospital are appalling; overcrowding, lack of amenities, poor food and only basic medication. The inmates finally rebel, resulting in their exile to Spinalonga, a leper colony just across the water from Yannis’s home village. This book tells the heart rendering account of his life on the small island, his struggle for survival his loves and losses along with that of his family on the mainland from 1918 to 1979. All the events described are true. The school teacher who became the Mayor of Heraklion is entirely fictitious, as are all the characters.
The other books carry on with the other family members the second one being Anna his sister which I have just finished reading and is also a cant put it down book. I have just ordered the third in the series Giovanni.
You can only buy these from Waterstones or direct from the publisher and they are £7.99 each but are excellent but you do need to read them in order as they refer back to the ones before.
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sunshinegirl
You will have tonyco after you having your name on so many threads, or have you had permission :)
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I was lucky enough to read this book whilst staying in Elounda and my balcony actually over looked Spinalonga. Though i must admit i think i would still have enjoyed the book as much if i had been lying in bed at home. Hope you enjoy it too.
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I have enjoyed Victoria Hislops books,so have downloaded Beryl Darbys Cretan saga onto my kindle,all low prices from Amazon.Looking forward to reading them.Off to San Stef Monday for 2 weeks .
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Hi Sunshine girl and Shellby,
Thankyou so much for info on books-will def. follow up. We spent one week in Elounda and visited Spinalonga. Whilst walking back we met a very old lady who had friends on the island and was very close to the last priest there , such a lovely old lady i'm glad we could understand some of what she said. Her friend had lost both legs to the disease.It must have been awful. There was also a video shown by the local council . they had interviews with the people who were thee and sadly died not long ago. x We felt it was a bit too commercialised in Plaka though. We would rather go back at a quieter time .( we are based in Corfu )
Lizzie
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Hi Lizzie - we were in Elounda last September and visited Spinalonga. We only went because after reading Victoria Hislop's the Island I wanted to go and see it for myself. I found it really weird after reading the book and being there as you felt you knew the place and could imagine the people that lived there. the worst part for me was walking through the tunnel it made me feel really sad as I imagined all the people that had gone through it and sent a shiver down my spine. We spent about 3 hours there and would definitely recommend it. If anyone wanted to go I would advise you to go over on a boat yourself and come back when you want. If you go with the organised tours you dont get to spend much time there and also going on your own means you can just wonder around as you please and return when you want and is also a lot cheaper. Also remember to take water as they dont sell it there.
It was whilst I was in Elounda that someone told me about the Beryl Darby books.