Island of the World: A Novel

This modern- day story of the Odyssey epic is a masterful work. Josie’s journey is both external and spiritual. He is a most attractive and credible character. I’ve read this book twice and would not be surprised to find myself on number three. If you believe in redemption and the transcendence, you’re going to like this book a lot.

A hard read, a beautifully sad tale woven through decades of tragedy, inhumane treatment, ravages of war yet emerging with beauty and truth and redemption. What an incredibly masterful story!

This book is of a different style than many that I have typically read. My wife had it recommended to her and I got to experience watching her read it. She was completely enthralled with the book (read her review here: K. Liz Barker). To be honest, I wasn't sure I would feel the same way but I decided to read it anyway.The book is simply one man's life story. Born in the mountains of Croatia this book takes you soaring into the heights and will absolutely devastate you at other moments."We are born, we eat, and learn, and die. We leave a tracery of messages in the lives of others, a little shifting of the soil, a stone moved from here to there, a word uttered, a song, a poem left behind. I was here, each of these declare. I was here."It will open your eyes to the joys of incredibly rich and vibrant culture and it will also open your eyes to the horrors that were committed by the people in that same culture."A man suffers injustice. He resents it, and his resentment grows and grows and becomes anger. Anger, if it is fed, then becomes hatred. Hatred, if fed, opens the soul to evil spirits. And when they possess a man, he becomes capable of any atrocity. Afterward, he will not know how or why he became like that."The author of this book not only intends to open your eyes to the richness and meaning that this life has - but in the end - he opens your eyes to the richness and meaning that this life has because of the ultimate reality of the One who made us and made this world and is actively at work in this world."Seldom have I encountered the few who are awake, who cast their gaze to the real foundations, which, as human beings should know, are above."I don't even know what more to say. The book is extremely well written. It is quite long (800+) yet can be a surprisingly quick read, if you become as rapt as I did. As you read you will be caused to think. This is a very good thing indeed.

Mr. O'Brien has generated quite a number of works, of which I have read many and enjoyed them all. In my opinion, this is one of the most profound explorations of the human condition, of the pain and suffering he can receive, of his bewilderment and agonizing loneliness, and of his discovery of the redemption of all of these seeming losses. This work is a tour de force and will, I think, bring you to ponder more deeply life and its purpose, as well as the joy that can be discovered and received in the midst of its sorrows.

I read the whole thing in a week. Be prepared to weep. The whole world needs to read this book. O'Brien brings history to life in a very intimate, soul wrenching story.

What does it take for mankind to truly control his world? All dictatorships must rely on repression. Islands of the World takes a very close and intimate look at the dark cost of totalitarianism and what it take to be truly free. Following the life of a young Croation caught in the web of a communist dictatorship Islands of the World exposes just how ugly humanistic idealism can become in order to maintain its grip on the society it attempts to control. It does not leave us hopeless however, revealing how the strength of the human spirit and and the fortitude of faith can overcome incredible odds.

It has taken me several days to be able to put into words my feelings about this magnificent work. After the great disappointment of Sophia House - such a poor conclusion to a wonderful series - and the rewarding but hardly exciting Theophilos, I am sorry it has taken me over a year to get around to reading what is probably O'Brien's greatest work.The Island of the World is fit to be called not only one of the great Catholic novels, but perhaps the greatest novel so far of the third millennium. It is a Catholic novel in the most profound sense, in which the values of the world are overturned by the values of Christ. The story of Josip Lasta grows out of the horrific political upheavals that took place in Croatia during and after the Second World War, but also out of man's inhumanity to man, revealed in both the inhuman brutality of the tyrant and the sadist, and the petty brutality of the weak and envious. The suffering of Josip and those around him is almost unbearable to read. This is one of the great tragedies, easily rivalling the tragedies of Lear and Hamlet. But the peculiar greatness of this novel is the way in which Josip is transformed by the healing touch of Christ, so that his tragedy is transformed into triumph.Unfortunately The Island of the World is far from being flawless. There are also mysterious passages which are never really explained. The writing, which is frequently sublime, falls on occasions to the banal, and the book would have been better if some sections were cut out. Nevertheless, a novel should be judged primarily on its strengths, and this is a creation of true greatness.Josip's tragedy becomes his victory. One of the tragedies of our time is that while millions will flock to the latest superficial best-sellers, so few will read this masterpiece.

Reading this was good for my soul. Michael O’Brien is excellent at depicting the good that can come from suffering.

I read this huge book in five days - that's how much I loved it. It's now my favourite book of all time and I'm currently re-reading it. Highly recommended!

If you've been to Croatia or the region, this will add interest. This book was recommended by a tour guide in Split. Very well written in varying styles.

This is a very moving book and one of the most meaningful I have read. I highly recommend it. do not be put off by the length of the book - the story is gripping and personal with wonderful links across the years. The imagery is powerful and the wisdom insightful. I have read it 3 times already in the past 2 years and each time I am moved to tears in certain places.

Ever since Michael O’Brien released his first works of fiction I found myself captivated by his poetic style, truthful account of the very complex and largely unknown to the West history of other European countries. I came to deeply respect this author as I feel he respects and connects with profound human suffering of this part of the world. He tells the story as he was one of them and one with them.Thank you Michael.

Michael Brennan is a master craftsman. I first discovered this delightful book on a friend's bookshelf. I. treasure my own copy which I promptly ordered.The range and beauty of Brennan's knowledge makes him quite exceptional.I hope to read his Sophia House in the next month.