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Review
'At last - a beach book with heart'
(Observer )'Powerful stuff'
(Daily Mail ) --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.Review
'Sweeping, magnificently detailed and ambitious'
(The Sunday Times )'Fast-paced narrative and utterly convincing sense of place'
(Guardian )'Fresh, tenacious and rather intrepid'
(Independent )'This is storytelling at its best and just like a tapestry, when each thread is sewn into place, so emerge the layers and history of relationships past and present'
(Sunday Express )'Her best novel yet' (Scotsman )
'A brilliant page turner and destined to become a reading group staple, THE THREAD is rich with drama and historical detail'
(Glamour )'Meticulously researched and compellingly told'
(Woman & Home )'An evocative exploration of the past's hold on a family, with an exquisite love story at its centre'
(Good Housekeeping )'A book to lose yourself in'
(We Love This Book )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
113 of 114 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The Thread is set in Greece's second city Thessaloniki with a prologue set in the present day. A young Anglo-Greek hears for the first time the story of his Grandparents and this story starts in 1917. A fire rages out of control and most of the citizens are left homeless. A baby boy is born that night and The Thread follows the story of that child - Dimitri Komninos. As a small boy Dimitri plays on the street with Katerina who is a refugee from Asia Minor, she fled when the Turks invaded her homeland.
This is a story of long-lasting, enduring love. It is also the story of a nation and particularly a city. Following the turbulent events of the twentieth century. Fires, wars, invastions, dictatorship and earthquakes this country and it's people went through so much. There are heartbreaking scenes within the story - the brutality and violence that happened during the German occupation - the fierce civil war and fighting between the Government and the rebel communists
At times this is a complex read and The Thread is an apt title - not only because of the links to the textile industry but also the clever way that Hislop has linked her characters, regardless of their race or status within the city.
Ultimately a love story, this is also a story of survival and of bravery, of passion and at times of brutality and such great sadness.
As in her previous novels, the modern day prologue and epilogue tie up the historical story. It's a neat way of letting the reader know how history influenced the present for the characters.
I was bewitched from page one, and The Thread is most certainly going to be one of my Top Five reads of 2011.
This is a story of long-lasting, enduring love. It is also the story of a nation and particularly a city. Following the turbulent events of the twentieth century. Fires, wars, invastions, dictatorship and earthquakes this country and it's people went through so much. There are heartbreaking scenes within the story - the brutality and violence that happened during the German occupation - the fierce civil war and fighting between the Government and the rebel communists
At times this is a complex read and The Thread is an apt title - not only because of the links to the textile industry but also the clever way that Hislop has linked her characters, regardless of their race or status within the city.
Ultimately a love story, this is also a story of survival and of bravery, of passion and at times of brutality and such great sadness.
As in her previous novels, the modern day prologue and epilogue tie up the historical story. It's a neat way of letting the reader know how history influenced the present for the characters.
I was bewitched from page one, and The Thread is most certainly going to be one of my Top Five reads of 2011.
206 of 209 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is the first book I have read by Victoria Hislop and I shall definitely be reading her others. Young Dimitri visits his grandparents in Thessaloniki in 2007. He would really like them to come and live with other members of the family now they are old and frail but they tell him they are happy where they are.
Most of the book is taken up with the story of their lives. Grandfather Dimitri and his wife Katerina first met as children when Katerina arrives in Thessaloniki as an exile and ends up living next door to Dimitri and his mother in a rundown area while their mansion is rebuilt following a fire which destroyed much of the city.
What follows is a joyful and at times harrowing and poignant story of their lives from the World War I to the latter half of the twentieth century. Katerina has a gift for sewing and embroidery and as she grows up finds it easy to get work. Dimitri is not on good terms with his wealthy father and frequently disagrees with him on politics and his future career to the extent that he is estranged from his family and has to visit his mother, Olga, in secret for much of her life. The chapters which cover World War II show how inhumane people can be but it also shows how compassion and humanity can be found in the most unexpected places.
I found the book enjoyable and well written in a low key style which lets the events of the story speak for themselves. The backdrop of the volatile politics in Greece over the whole of the twentieth century is never obtrusive though the main characters are clearly rooted in their time. I liked Katerina, in particular, as a character and she comes over to the reader as a very strong and down to earth individual. Dimitri is not so prominent in the story and I didn't really feel I got to know him that well as I was reading the book. It is a story of how exile and war affect everyday life and how individuals deal with manmade and natural disasters.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys novels where the setting is as important as the characters. I really felt by the end of the book that I knew a great deal about Thessaloniki even though I have never lived there.
Most of the book is taken up with the story of their lives. Grandfather Dimitri and his wife Katerina first met as children when Katerina arrives in Thessaloniki as an exile and ends up living next door to Dimitri and his mother in a rundown area while their mansion is rebuilt following a fire which destroyed much of the city.
What follows is a joyful and at times harrowing and poignant story of their lives from the World War I to the latter half of the twentieth century. Katerina has a gift for sewing and embroidery and as she grows up finds it easy to get work. Dimitri is not on good terms with his wealthy father and frequently disagrees with him on politics and his future career to the extent that he is estranged from his family and has to visit his mother, Olga, in secret for much of her life. The chapters which cover World War II show how inhumane people can be but it also shows how compassion and humanity can be found in the most unexpected places.
I found the book enjoyable and well written in a low key style which lets the events of the story speak for themselves. The backdrop of the volatile politics in Greece over the whole of the twentieth century is never obtrusive though the main characters are clearly rooted in their time. I liked Katerina, in particular, as a character and she comes over to the reader as a very strong and down to earth individual. Dimitri is not so prominent in the story and I didn't really feel I got to know him that well as I was reading the book. It is a story of how exile and war affect everyday life and how individuals deal with manmade and natural disasters.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys novels where the setting is as important as the characters. I really felt by the end of the book that I knew a great deal about Thessaloniki even though I have never lived there.
31 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
It is 1917 in Thessaloniki and Dimitri Komninos is born at the same time as a ravage fire breaks out, the first of many tragic events that destroy this Greek city where people of different races and religions have historically lived amongst each other in peace and harmony. Five years later Katerina Sarafoglou, a small girl, escapes to Greece when separated from her mother after their home in Asia Minor is eradicated by the Turkish army. This is the story of the intertwined lives of Dimitri and Katerina. From World War 1 through to modern day we read not only of the catastrophic events that took place and the heartbreak caused to so many families due to war and oppression, but also of love, friendship and bravery.
This was such an enjoyable novel , was hooked from the very beginning, highly recommend.
This was such an enjoyable novel , was hooked from the very beginning, highly recommend.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Transporting...
I loved this book. The story of Katerina, her separation from her mother when a child and her subsequent journey is incredibly moving and the research is meticulous - I felt myself... Read more
Published 8 days ago by southlondonbookie
A Must Read
This is a must read for fans of Victoria Hislop. It's a potted history of twentieth century Greece and the affect these events have on the various characters in the book. Read more
Published 21 days ago by Kindler
The Thread
Excellent! Every bit as good as The Island.....lovely, couldn't put her down! One would think that Victoria Hislop came from these Islands, such is her knowledge of the history,... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. Sarah Fryer
Couldn't stop reading it
I absoltely loved the book. Amazing blend of historical events with the story of the main (fictional) characters. Couldn't stop reading it.
Published 1 month ago by Venia Sym
Interesting in the light of Greece's problems
Interesting book especially at this time in view of Greece's monetary problems - however I felt it glossed over too many points and characters could have had much more depth Good... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Russ
Why is the Kindle version more expensive than the paperback version?
I am bewildered as to why the Kindle version of this book is more expensive than the paperback version (£7.99 vs £5.11)? Read more
Published 2 months ago by Sony Victim
Victoria Hislops the Thread
I found this book an excellant read from the start to finish you are drawn along with Victoria's narrative you almost could believe you where watching the events enfold. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Sue Armstrong
A fascinating read.
I enjoyed reading this book even though it was a bit long-winded. It was a story of tragedy and love in the midst of heart-breaking historical events in Greece. I learnt a lot!
Published 2 months ago by Patricia A. Rantisi
Another stellar read from Victoria Hislop
I was very eager to read the third book by Victoria Hislop as I have really loved her other work. I was anticipating a solid read with believable characters that would bring a... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Nicola F (Nic)
Love the facts and fiction
Having read The Island and The Return, could not wait to read this book too.
Have not finished reading it yet but have enjoyed both previous books, so sure this will be as... Read more
Have not finished reading it yet but have enjoyed both previous books, so sure this will be as... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Dee
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