The Sunrise

By: Victoria Hislop

Narrated by: Carole Boyd

Length: 11 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's Summary

The new novel from Victoria Hislop, the million-copy best-selling author of The Island, The Thread, and The Return.

In the summer of 1972, Famagusta, in Cyprus, is the most desirable resort in the Mediterranean, a city bathed in the glow of good fortune. An ambitious couple open the island's most spectacular hotel, where Greek and Turkish Cypriots work in harmony. Two neighbouring families, the Georgious and the Özkans, are among many who moved to Famagusta to escape the years of unrest and ethnic violence elsewhere on the island. But beneath the city's façade of glamour and success, tension is building.

When a Greek coup plunges the island into chaos, Cyprus faces a disastrous conflict. Turkey invades to protect the Turkish Cypriot minority, and Famagusta is shelled. Forty thousand people seize their most precious possessions and flee from the advancing soldiers. In the deserted city, just two families remain. This is their story.

©2014 Victoria Hislop (P)2014 Headline Digital

OK

I have read all Victoria Hislops novels and enjoyed them all, part from the short stories.
This one I felt was well behind the others. I kept waiting for the story to become really interesting, but it didn't. It was enjoyable enough to keep listening, but only just. Compared to the The Last Dance, the Thread et al. It was much weaker than her other books.
The narration was also not as good and it seemed that the narrator didn't relax until the last third of the book. Poor ending also. Disappointing.

A little disappointing

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I wouldn't recommend this book to a friend. I had pre ordered it as I enjoyed The Island by Victoria Hislop but it did not live up to my expectations. Frankly, I found it a little boring. I didn't engage with the characters and didn't care much what happened to them.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

It was a part of recent history about which I was mostly ignorant so it was interesting to learn about what happened within my lifetime. I found the characters the least interesting.

What three words best describe Carole Boyd’s performance?

Monotonous, soothing, lacklustre

Do you think The Sunrise needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No, I wouldn't bother reading a follow up.

Any additional comments?

In my opinion although significant events were described, I just found the book somewhat boring and in the final parts I was looking forward to finishing it just so I could start a different Audible book.

Thought provoking

I didn't know anything about Cyprus history before I listened to this story. Well told and performed. Tragedy, drama, loss, all types of human feeling crammed into this story.
Outlining refugees and what today's refugees may have lost too.
Thoroughly enjoyed this story. Would like to read more on Cyprus history too.

Excellent

This is yet another great book by Victoria Hislop. Historically informative with an emotional portrayal of the difficulties of two families suffering during the troubled times of Cyprus

Cliched and disappointing

Any additional comments?

I loved The Return by this author and have read the others too. I just couldn't finish this as it seemed so trite. I gave it a good try as I know the others have "built up" into an interesting theme. The beauty of Aphrodite - the heroine - her feistiness - I was waiting for Marcos (her future secretive lover no doubt) to stride out of the water in a wet t-shirt........... Sorry, but I have to give it back!

Very disappointing

Would you ever listen to anything by Victoria Hislop again?

Yes, I have enjoyed all her other books and hope the next one would be better

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The book was well read it's just the story that was poor.

Any additional comments?

This book was definitely not up to the standard of Victoria Hislop's previous books. It was well researched but the story was boring and the characters uninteresting and frequently quite unpleasant. I was most disappointed.

Twists and Turns

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, a moving family saga.

What did you like best about this story?

The history.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The escape.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was sad in places.

Any additional comments?

I remember this happening at the time.

Rather strange

I struggled to finish this book. it took ages to get going and I nearly gave up. There was too much detail, which was tedious and boring. It eventually engaged me around chapter 22, but it is nowhere near as good as her other works. The main characters are horrid and there is a lack of depth to the others. Rather disappointing overall.

long and not a good read

narrator was the only good thing about it. long and dull..

nothing else to add

I really enjoyed The Sunrise

... as I have all previous Victoria Hislop books, fiction woven around truth! I am hoping for more books from this author.