The Return: Amazon.co.uk: Victoria Hislop: Books

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Product Description

The Times

The Return, 'may be a beach book, but it goes inland and rummages around the cellars' --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

‘At last – a beach book with a heart’

(Observer )

'A compelling story that has rarely left the bestseller list this year and deservedly so'

(Sunday Express )

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Customer Reviews

91 Reviews

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(24)
2 star:		(16)
1 star:		(19)

Average Customer Review

3.0 out of 5 stars (91 customer reviews)

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34 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, intriguing and interesting, 25 Sep 2008

By	E. Heckingbottom "elaineheck143" (U.K.) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Return (Hardcover)

I was eagerly looking forward to this book, and, unlike other readers, was not disappointed at all.

The book is based around the Spanish Civil War, and is incredibly well researched. The 'flashback' sections are very revealing, and echo many of the facts that i have read before about this incredibly traumatic time - whatever side of the war you were on. These fit fairly comfortably with the 'modern day' events, which come together to help us to further understand the traumas inflicted by a civil war. (One only has to hear Michael Portillo or any other Spanish family on the subject to know how families were affected)

One or two events in the story are a little 'contrived', and the final twists are anticipated by all but the main characters, which has reduced it to a 4 star book in my opinion; however, I still feel it to be a good read and worthy of the wait.

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50 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Why would Victoria do this again?....., 31 Jul 2008

By	RH (Evesham, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Return (Hardcover)

Take a perfectly good historically based story and make it into an unconvincing flashback?
I loved "The Island" but it stood on its own as a story about Spinalonga and did not need the link to the modern day bad relationship and family secret. In the same way this wonderful saga of the Spanish civil war does not need to be encompassed in a modern day scenario of "unhappy London girl seeks solace in salsa". In fact, it spoils it. How likely is it that the unhappy London girl would visit Granada and unknowingly go into the very bar which was the home of her Mother?
That said, the book had me in tears as I became wrapped up in its revelations. Victoria, please just stick to the story you want to tell next time. You make it come to life and have relevance without obscure modern beginnings and endings.

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36 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Eagerly awaited Victoria hislops second book, 16 Jul 2008

By	A. Gallagher "Bookworm" (Ireland) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Return (Hardcover)

I eagerly awaited Victoria Hislops new book as her debut novel The Island was a terrific read- simply the best book i have read in years.
How disappointed I was with her second offering The Return, While it started off promising enough I found myself weaving through a long and weary narrative on the Spanish Civil war with the plot or love story only hinted at and no plot subsequentally emerging at all.It is as if the author could not make up her mind whether to write a historical version of the Spanish Civil War or a fictional piece and sadly this book did not attain either and failed to 'grip' me or engage my interest. However I plodded dutifully through its pages and sadly by the time I did finish the book I had lost interest in Mercedes the heroine and her fate anyway and she had been buried by the unneccessary historial detail in the book. Quite simply put - a chore not a delight.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars A disappointing book
After Hislop's first book The Island I was looking forward to reading this, but was very disappointed. The plot is clumsy and the main characters lack any real depth. Read more

Published 9 days ago by I. D. Denny

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing and plodding
This book is far too long, too wordy, and badly written. It could do with drastic editing. There is so much unnecessary verbiage, very poor use of English, unimaginative dialogue,... Read more

Published 11 days ago by Woodpecker

2.0 out of 5 stars What a disappointment
I loved "The Island" so couldn't wait to read Victoria Hislop's second book. I have yet to complete it. I found it confusing. Read more

Published 12 days ago by Mum of 3

3.0 out of 5 stars A useful book!
It is basically a love story written in an easy 'Woman's Own`style into which she sneaked in a well-researched history of the Spanish Civil war. How very clever of her. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Mrs. E. M. Mcardle

3.0 out of 5 stars Lacks emotional punch
I was left a little underwhelmed by this second novel. The story of the Ramirez family is heartbreaking and an effective canvas for painting the horrors of the Spanish Civil War,... Read more

Published 1 month ago by Dustin St Clair

4.0 out of 5 stars Cecile's comments
This is a well written, very well researched book - definitely a good read, but not so gripping that it could not be put down! Read more

Published 1 month ago by Mrs. Cecile A. Walker

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a review! A warning for potential purchasers
Before launching into the reviews set out below, please beware that several give crucial parts of the plot away without warning!

Published 1 month ago by Mg Sj Shorthose

4.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
My Book Group selected The Return as our summer read since we had all enjoyed The Island. The general consensus was that this follow up was no where near as impressive, although... Read more

Published 1 month ago by Roundpeg

1.0 out of 5 stars hard going!!
I thoroughly enjoyed The Island ,so thought this next book would also be as good.How wrong I was.I practically had to force myself to read on. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Mr. Michael Wheeler

5.0 out of 5 stars History Lives!
Strong and believable characters bring a painful history to life in a story that will engage your emotions from start to finish. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Crystal

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	84% buy the item featured on this page: The Return 3.0 out of 5 stars (91)
	10% buy The Island 3.6 out of 5 stars (279) �5.18
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	2% buy The Villa in Italy 3.9 out of 5 stars (24) �4.54

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