Island of the World

by Michael D. O'Brien

Island of the World  is the story of a child born in 1933 into the turbulent world of the Balkans and tracing his life into the third millennium. The central character is Josip Lasta, the son of an impoverished school teacher in a remote village high in the mountains of the Bosnian interior. As the novel begins, World War II is underway and the entire region of Yugoslavia is torn by conflicting German and Italian occupying armies, and the rebel forces that resist them?the fascist Ustashe, Serb nationalist Chetniks, and Communist Partisans. As events gather momentum, hell breaks loose, and the young and the innocent are caught in the path of great evils. Their only remaining strength is their religious faith and their families. For more than a century, the confused and highly inflammatory history of former Yugoslavia has been the subject of numerous books, many of them rife with revisionist history and propaganda. The peoples of the Balkans live on the border of three the Islamic, the orthodox Slavic East, and Catholic Europe, and as such they stand in the path of major world conflicts that are not only geo-political but fundamentally spiritual. This novel cuts to the core how does a person retain his identity, indeed his humanity, in absolutely dehumanizing situations? In the life of the central character, the author demonstrates that this will demand suffering and sacrifice, heroism and even holiness. When he is twelve years old, his entire world is destroyed, and so begins a lifelong Odyssey to find again the faith which the blows of evil have shattered. The plot takes the reader through Josip's youth, his young manhood, life under the Communist regime, hope and loss and unexpected blessings, the growth of his creative powers as a poet, and the ultimate test of his life. Ultimately this novel is about the crucifixion of a soul?and resurrection.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Catholic, Novels, Christian, Religion, Adult Fiction

850 pages, Hardcover

First published November 15, 2007

About the author

Michael D. O'Brien is a Roman Catholic author, artist, and frequent essayist and lecturer on faith and culture, living in Combermere, Ontario, Canada.

Reviews

[John O'Brien]

I'm rating my father's novels here as a fan. But I think I'm going to decline writing a review for now, due to my kinship with the author. Suffice to say, I look forward to his books as much as anyone else, and find them deeply moving. I am not unaware of their flaws, but their strengths surpass them, and so abundantly, that I find them almost moot. If I find myself choked up and in tears only once in a novel, I tell him it's not his best work. I'm normally moved at a deep level 3-4 times per novel. He has a rare gift of penetrating deep into spiritual truths by means of his craft, which is a reflection of the person he is -- an artist who has been refined in a furnace of faith not unlike many of his characters.

Island of the World, however, is currently my favourite of all his works, due to the way it explores the mystery of suffering: not offering pat answers, but pointing to glimpses of meaning and transcendence. In this respect, it is immensely consoling.

[Marie]

This is an extremely intense novel. Michael O'Brien has a knack for writing books that change the reader. This book is a marvelous, painful, and redemptive look at how love and suffering are two sides of one coin. He seems to capture the most sublime love and also the most unimaginable suffering, and somehow pack them into one character and make us understand how all of this could really exist in the history of one person. By the grace of God, suffering does not blot love out of his heart. This book has a way of orienting the reader to that which is actually important in life. With the main character I feel gratitude for every bit of beauty, every civility, and with him I learn to feel fearless in the face of "enemies" that are the garden-variety type I am likely to encounter.

Never have I read a book that had me exclaiming out loud when something happened to a character, or stopping dozens of times to cry, sometimes to sob. I would like to believe that no real person has ever experienced the sorts of sufferings Josip lived through. I feel like after reading this, I will tread this earth with far more reverence for its inhabitants than I have known before.

[Nelleke Plouffe]

Bosnia-Herzegovina. Croatia. Serbia. Yugoslavia.
Croats. Chetniks. Ustashe. Partisans. Communists.
Suffering. Massacres. Labour camps.

Having read this book, I am only marginally less confused about the history of the former Yugoslavia, but then a comprehensive view of the different parties and factions involved is not its point. This is the inner life of one person, Josip, an unusually bright and spiritually perceptive boy who grows up in the midst of unimaginable suffering. As the horror of what he has gone through takes hold, he is changed. Human love and beauty make a great difference, but not an ultimate one. When he loses everything again, he finds that his own heart has become as bitter and murderous as those who have done evil to him. It seems like an inevitable cycle "--the children of Cain breeding Cain breeding Cain breeding Cain breeding Cain--". But the cycle is broken with the forgiveness and love of Christ.

This is a devoutly Roman Catholic book. I am not; I cling to the clarity and simplicity of the Reformation solas. And yet I was deeply blessed by the deeper Christian themes of this book --themes of suffering with Christ, of redemption through his sacrifice, of the continual dying to self of the Christian life, and of Christ's return. This was a moving, even heart-breaking book in many ways, but I did not weep until I came to Josip's vision as an old man of the celestial city come down from above. I thought, "Yes. Jesus will come, and He will set everything right." There is Truth here.

I have not yet mentioned Josip's poetry, which is beautiful and all the more powerful because it is paired with this story.

I hope to read this book again when I have read The Odyssey, which is referenced throughout the book. I know I missed some depth of meaning because I was not familiar with it. I will also keep it in my mind should ever God allow deep suffering to come into my life. It is a powerful, beautiful book.

[Cindy Rollins]

Beautifully written novel which could be titled The Odyssey of Josip Lasta. My most respected friends had urged this book on me for years but in the end I see that Providence kept the book waiting for me.

I learned much about happiness, personal fulfillment, and forgiveness from this poetic novel. Godliness with contentment is great gain.

Once again Homer provides THE outline. I hope to one day see the Adriatic.

I did not give this book 5 stars. There is a 5-star book within these 850 pages but a bit of editing would have sharpened the dagger during the last third of the book, in my opinion. Still, well worth the time and effort to glean.

[Jessi]

​"Does something really bad happen?" my husband whispers as I'm weeping inconsolably.

Yes. The whole time. Yes.


Beauty and heartbreak cover every page. Hope and despair, too.

Come, Lord Jesus.

[Renee]

Now that I have read the last pages I know I won't be able to pick up another novel for a while, Island of the World grabbed me and will be holding me for a while longer.

I have longed for a good read, one that would stay and change me and this book, did just that. I see the world with new eyes, I understand history better and understand forgiveness even better.

Josip Lasta, what a life did he have, what a journey and what a beautiful life he lived, hard yes but also beautiful.

I will be recommending this book over and over and will re read it many more time .

[booklady]

Phenomenal book! The characters in The Island of the World frequently refer to the Homer: The Odessey and though there are more differences than similarities between the two works, they are both about epic adventures. Josip Lasta, the main character in this novel, born in 1933 in the Croatian area of Bosnia-Herzegovina is the vehicle for Michael O'Brien to tell its volatile history during the second half of the 20th century. But as always, it's also a very human and personal story which is why he's so famous, prolific and one of my favorite authors. There are more than a few surprises in Josip's long life. I grew so very fond of him and dreaded the end of the book.

This is a chintzy review for such a magnificent novel, but I don't think I can begin to do it justice until I read it again which I fully intend to do. This first listen was a rush through because I couldn't tear myself away from it.

I will just say, READ IT! Or, listen to it if you can.

[Pippin]

I think if I were a knight, I would be called "Sir Helen, Devourer of Books." Gone with the Wind? Read that baby in two days. The Heaven Tree Trilogy? I liked that one a lot more, so I slowed down... and still finished all three books in as many days. My point is, I read fast. There's nothing wrong with that, most of the time. And then, about a month ago, I went to college. It's hard to just sit down and read, when at any given moment three essays need writing and there's a test day after tomorrow and everyone's going to dinner so won't you come? This became my bedtime book. How long I read each night depended on how drop-dead exhausted I was. It took me weeks to finish, and honestly, I think that for this book it's a good thing. Sure, the plot gallops at times, but at others it's just the slow steady unfolding of daily life, beautifully, almost poetically written. As I read it, night after night, my own life unfolded as well. My reading pace came closer to matching the plot's pace then if I'd chewed it up in a sitting. It's a temptation with this book. It wavers between transcendence and harsh, horrible reality. Terrible things happen. Wonderful things happen. Tears streamed down my cheeks more times than I'd like to count. At this speed, I could soak it all in, marinate in the prose and the story and the characters. With this book, it's worth it to take it slow.

[Sarah Clarkson]

A story of how brutal circumstances cannot break the beauty of a heart that loves God. You will ache in reading this book, but the ending ache is that of hope. One of the most beautiful novels I've read.

[Peter Darcy]

This is one of the most well-written books I’ve ever had the pleasure to read. It’s long and heart-rending in parts. It’s one of those books that completely absorbs you from beginning to end.

[Olesja]

Divan je osjećaj kada nakon pročitane knjige vidiš da ni ti nisi više isti. Ima nešto što te oplemeni, uzdigne, otvori nove vidike, podsjeti na ono bitno i Vječno, postavi ti blagi osmjeh na lice, unese u tebe mir i jednostavno te učini boljim. Nema takvih knjiga puno. Doduše, ovo je jedna od spomenutih.
U vremenima zbrkanih vrijednosti i zatvaranju u čahure vlastitog egoizma te zaboravljanju na Ljubav s križa - svakako preporučam!

[ladydusk]

Borrowed from a Library. Hope to own.

This book is beautiful beyond words. Painful, excruciating at times. But even there the words are beautiful.

Joy, infinite joy. Sadness, deep sadness. It will make you think. I can't review such a book.


Island of the World is the life story of Josip Lasta, a Croatian, a Catholic, a traveler of the world, a mathematician, a poet. He is raised in an idyllic village, horrors descend with the Second World War and its immediate aftermath. Life resumes. Joy is found again. And then the horrors of totalitarianism end the world a second time. Improbably, he escapes and wanders the earth, living a lifetime in New York City. His country is freed and he returns.

Oh, there is more. So much.

I suspect more than a passing knowledge of The Iliad and The Odyssey would have been helpful as this, too, was a journey of a man returning home to his beloved.

Several bloggers (U Krakovianki and Anne) have recommended it and named a life-changing book and their favorite book; I may have to concur.

[Danna]

Your heart, with the pages, will rip and turn and tear and rest a while. This book embodies the heights of human suffering while pulling you undeniably into the love that comes from the Crucified Lord.
____________________________

My second review:
This story felt much different the second time, somehow less dramatic and more gentle - though I think it’s because I knew what was coming.

My main takeaway is the character of Josip. Josip, Josip, I want to be like you — to love and forgive, to live so simply. If my love were yet more simple, I would take Him at His word. The interior life is endless riches, endless possibility of knowing self and knowing Love.

[Anne]

Second time through, and it's still my favorite novel.

[Parmida R. A.]

"We came to know that Love is the soul of the world, though its Body bleeds, and we must learn to bleed with it."

[Gracie Muraski]

Whew. Ok here we go.
First off, proud of myself for finally knocking this off my to-read list after being there for years, also over 800 pages is definitely the longest book I’ve ever read so 😤
What to even say. Definitely an epic saga of a story. Some parts were dry for me and others I simply could not put down. Hard hard hard to read about that intense level of suffering, but also wildly inspiring to see how he conquers and overcomes it. Lots of food for thought I’ll be digesting for a while. Some of the imagery def went over my head and I felt like I’d probably appreciate it more as a birder but I refuse to conform. All in all, beautiful, inspiring, challenging, eye-opening, gut-wrenching.

[Rhoda]

What a gripping and magnificent work art this novel is!
I felt like I was living inside this story for months, slowly taking it in and keeping in mind that, as the author put it, “all that is most improbable in this tale occurred.”
The turbulent history of the Balkans is one that I knew very little about, and reading this book only scratches the surface of the complex and bloody story. O’Brien brings a beautiful, redemptive framework through the eyes of Josip, a child born in Croatia in 1933 who suffered staggering atrocities during the occupation, eventually escaped & fled to America, then years later returned to his beloved homeland where he spent his latter days as a poet/author. The book is deeply philosophical & spiritual, with strong themes of human suffering, resilience, and redemption through Christ.
“Isn’t it a basic truth that we are brought to prayer only by passing through suffering? In this respect, the war was a blessing because it taught this generation how to pray, and it taught us the power of prayer.. in Christ, the worst catastrophe can be transformed into a blessing.”

[Heidi Mussoline]

Uuuugggghhhhh. To finally be able to hold this as a book I’ve read is a great gift - both because of our families frequent trips to Croatia/my dad speaking the language fluently and because of our beloved Samantha’s love for it (we miss you every day, Sam). O’Brien is simply masterful in his storytelling and I could weep at the depth of suffering present in this book, while weeping all the more at the reality laid out again and again: it is ONLY IN JESUS that our suffering has meaning.

[Joel Larson]

3.5/5 stars. Y'all, I so deeply wanted to love this with everything in me. Sections of the novel were an easy 5 star read - unforgettable characters, gorgeous and lyric writing, and a plot that is larger than life. Unfortunately, there were also aspects of the novel I just couldn't seem to overlook, primarily O'Brien's approach to religion.

What's done well in this book: this is a MOVING story. Gosh, the author knows how to make you care about characters, and parts of this story just made me hear sing. and feel like it was shattered hopelessly. The pathos of this story is exceptional and there are characters here I'll be thinking about for years. This is also a prime example of a modern epic. Josip Lasta lives through the later 3/4ths of the 20th century, and the history nerd in me LOVED the timeline of the novel. He honors a cultural region which is rarely written in fiction by focusing the plot in Eastern Europe, and the book as a whole is also a wonderful homage to storytelling and purpose of art. These elements I couldn't get enough of.

Sadly, there were other persistent elements in the book that took away from the parts that worked well. Look, I believe there are GOOD ways to approach religion in books; take Graham Greene's The End of the Affair, The Brothers Karamazov, or Shusaku Endo's Silence, for example. I'm not opposed to religion as a primary theme in a text when it's done well, but in my opinion, this ain't it. The implications of Josip's journey with faith are excellent: he struggles with doubt and directs anger toward God. There is breakage and repair, disbelief and numbness, and ultimately, healing and hope-filled faith. What didn't work for me was the extent to which O'Brien expects readers to suspend disbelief to explain the circumstances (and miracles) of Josip's life. The book is deeply Catholic, which explains this to some extent, but the Eucharistic miracles as primary plot point just didn't work in the narrative as a whole; at least not with the weight the author gives them. I also struggled with the narrative voice in large sections of this book - when Josip describes being a child, for instance, it's with an abstract eloquence that was hard to accept as coming from an 8 year-old boy. His descriptions of falling in love, while quite flowery and lovely from a prose standpoint, just lacked the realism and conversation to make the story believable. Especially given the detailed description and vibrancy of the text's horrific moments, it was surprising to me how the happier sections seemed so unrealistic.

On the whole, this was a very good read. I had multiple days where I couldn't put this book down, and it was hard for this 800-page story to end. Perhaps I would be less disappointed if I hadn't started out with such lofty expectations. If you're looking for a deeply religious story with a historical scope, this is still quite an excellent novel that creates deep empathy and examines the difficulty of faith in light of human suffering!

[Conrad Stoltzfus]

This story is a vivid depiction of the burden and beauty of individuality, both crushing and hopeful. O’Brien nears Dostoevsky in his ability to portray the isolation of the individual’s search for love but weaves in beautifully the hope of the gospel and relationship with God, echoing John Donne’s claim that “no man is an island.” While the plot of the book is not its most engaging feature and strays into the improbable and impossible often, it is full of beautiful and profound reflections and themes. I would totally recommend the book, especially for anyone who is experiencing loneliness and is struggling to feel connected to God.

[Rebecca Weber]

Five stars are not enough. This book is in a category of its own. It is devastatingly beautiful and beautifully devastating. Poetry, philosophy, history, spiritual insight, political wisdom--it's all here, and woven together in a masterful saga of humanity, loss, love, and forgiveness. There were times that I had to lay the book aside for a time; the way this book draws you inside of it means it takes time to live the story. There is horrible pain but also poignant hope and powerful redemption. There are sparrows and stones and the sea. Always the sea. There are no words. You learn something new every day. There is no need for this, it is already spoken.

[Melz Ebersole]

Island of the World deserves a slow reading. It is so full of depth and sentences packed with meaning.

It makes you cry, but reminds you that “laughter should enfold all weeping.”

Island of the world is a must read, and is a book I intend to read again, taking time to savor the beauty and sorrow and soak in the depth and meaning that is layered throughout the story.

[Lori Eby]

As I started in on this tome for the second time, I was ready to lower my rating. The story starts slowly. The horrors and brutality, while true to history, are revolting and unrelenting, reminding me of what a visit to the holocaust museum feels like. But all those pages and pages provide a sense of time passing, a life lived, and they give the second half (and the aging character) its power and brilliance. The vision of suffering and love and forgiveness remains with me.

First review: Thrilling as a story, stimulating as philosophical fodder, evocative as a retelling of history, compelling as spiritual insight, Island of the World holds moments of inexpressible beauty and inexpressible evil. Both exist in the world, but few people are able to see both with the clarity O'Brien has seen them and gives them to us. This is as true a story as a story can be.

[Marina]

Prekrasna knjiga. Knjiga o čovjeku koji je toliko toga proživio i doživio a svojim postupcima, razmišljanjima te ostavlja bez riječi...Kao što sam negdje pročitala: "Zlo ih je pržilo, oni umjesto da odgovore mržnjom, odgovaraju dobrim i nadom u bolje sutra."
Knjigu je tako tesko bilo ispustati iz ruke, a onda kad bi je zatvorila tesko sam se vracala u stvarnost. Tesko je bilo ostati ravnodusan na toliku bol, patnju, tugu. Ostati svoj, vjeran sebi, Bogu, onome sto je ispravno, biti ponizan, ne popustiti kušnjama, podrugima drugih.

"...dovoljno je biti ono što jesi. To je tvoja poruka svijetu."

"Ne traži ništa za sebe!! Budi spreman služiti u tišini, ne tražeći ništa, ne očekujući ništa, žrtvujući se i moleći da nitko ne zna. Tiho, tiho, tiho... "

[Bonnie]

It's hard to put into words just how impactful this book really is. It would be a great experience to sit down and try to write a beautifully worded review that this story deserves, but life is busy and now is not the time. I'll jumble together some thoughts instead.

I went into this book totally blind. A friend told me it was the best book she has ever read and I found that compelling especially as I had never heard of it before. I failed at getting past the first thirty or so pages a couple times. And then years later, I hit upon a great stride of reading and that really put the pressure on for needing a fantastic book to satiate my bookish desires (right?). The better books you read, the more you want the best.

This book starts from a child's perspective. Josip is only 9-years-old when the story begins and the book follows him throughout his life. One thing that set this story apart for me was that the writing is fantastic throughout, but it grows with the MC as he grows. That's not to say it is juvenile when he is a child, but that the writing does start out fairly believable for a child's persepctive, then becomes more complex as he comes into this prime, and then is more reflective and a bit more to-the-point as he reaches old age. I really enjoyed this.

The storytelling is...immense. I don't know another word to use. It is not necessarily slow, but it is detailed even in times of calm. And then in times of tragedy it is so incredibly impactful that I found myself unable to breathe at times. This is by far the most brutal book I have ever read...not that I seek out books with brutality. On the contrary, I tend to avoid books with torture or pain because it feels manipulative and pointless. So how did the most ugly, horrible, disgusting book I've ever read rocket its way to my top 3 favorites of all time? Because the brutality is not the point. The author's point is not necessarily to highlight some horrific tragedy (although he does that) or to make the reader think in dichotomous terms (them bad, us good)...it's actually far deeper, far more emotional, far loftier. The point is forgiveness and self-reflection. Is the sin I see in my enemy also in my heart? At the end of the day, am I that different than my enemy? Where is the line between "good" and evil? Who or what is really the ultimate good? THIS is the type of book I want to read. Now, that being said...after many, many hard situations in this story there was one particular scene that my heart could not handle and admittedly I did skim it just looking for the end because my spirit needed relief. I cannot stress enough that this book is brutal. If you're a sensitive reader, don't go there or maybe go there with a friend.

Another thing that stood out to me is just how real and raw the author wrote describing trauma. He just doesn't let up. As we follow Josip through these events in his life, we do so in every possible way - mentally, spiritually, physically, behaviorally. It's all there. What does one do when everything around him has been destroyed? The author does not just skip to a Superman story or paint over the moments, months, or years after these trials that Josip goes through - he painstakingly takes the reader along with him, plunging through the depths of spiritual confusion, hallucinations, grief, insanity, etc. I felt that it was a very real depiction of how a human would respond to these horrific tragedies.

This book really is about suffering. How do we suffer, what is our hope, from where does strength descend to us in moments of grief and exhaustion? How does one endure? How does one see beauty after horror? Can we ever impose suffering on anyone else? This would be an excellent book to read with a trusted friend.

Finally, for my fellow Protestant friends who seem unable to review fictional books without marking them down for theology they do not agree with - this book is Catholic. Unapologetically so. Please, do not read this incredible work and give it three stars because you do not see your exact flavor of Christianity or belief reflected in its pages. It would be really sad and small-minded to do so. Expand beyond, below, and above the need to see your exact doctrinal beliefs affirmed on every page of a book that is written by an author who claims to know the same God you do. This book is deeply spiritual. Consider how you feel when an atheist gives low ratings to books with spiritual content that you admire and then, don't do that thing.

Everyone, this is one to prioritize. Like, before you die? You should read this one. At the right time. Don't miss it. Let it find you - in every way ❤️ I will reread this, and at the right moment, years from now, each of my three sons will receive a copy.

"God has the final say."

[Rosie Gearhart]

A profound masterpiece that broke and healed me simultaneously. The contemplation on suffering was a needed balm to my spirit after being raised under the “prosperity gospel” and then having experienced my own deep and inexplicable suffering.

I resonated so much with Josip’s intellectual, poetic, philosophical habits of thinking. I loved his refusal to be dehumanized, his friendship with Winston, his care for Jason and Caleb, his consistent pursuit of Christ-likeness. And I openly sobbed at the unexpected “thing that happened” (no spoilers) near the end.

I can’t remember ever having been as affected by a piece of literature. Where can I find more books of this caliber?


CC: Gruesome images of dead and mutilated bodies (including children), trauma of finding loved ones dead, of almost being shot, stories of killing atrocities, detailed concentration camp torture scenes, so much blood

(The narrator is able to do an impressive number of voices and accents, but his voices for old women and children are very shrill. Still overall a well done reading.)

[Hope]

An achingly sad and beautiful book. Sometimes Josip’s hardships were overwhelming and I had to put the book down for a few hours, but there was a redemptive thread throughout that kept them from being unbearable. I appreciate the ability of Catholic authors to include suffering in their fiction without facile answers. But I struggled at times to identify with the more mystical elements of Obrien’s book.

Still, this is some of the best storytelling you will ever read. The combination of drama, theology, pathos, and gentle joys (told in exquisite prose) will leave a long-lasting impression.

I’m ashamed to say that Island of the World has been on my Kindle for eight years waiting for just the right occasion to fit in an 800 page book. I’m glad I finally made the time.

[Janae Byler]

Upon enthusiastic recommendation from a friend that I read this and the generous gift of the book itself from another friend, I undertook this lengthy 800 page novel, not sure what to expect.

The result was a stunningly rich and beautiful story that had me blinking back tears as I read, groaning and rejoicing with the sorrows and joys of mankind. Island of the World is a work of art and struck deep within me. The unspeakable suffering of humanity paired with the gentle pursuit of God was truly moving.

Yes it was lengthy and the plot lagged at times, but still highly recommended for those who wish to think and feel deeply as they read.

[Sarah Nisly]

This book left me with few words, but many thoughts. The stories of suffering were excruciating, yet the redemption that flowed from it felt real and true (Yes, maybe idealistic, but it is the idealism which points to the higher truth that is here but which we cannot yet see in all its fullness). I was reminded of Langburg's book, Suffering and the Heart of God, many times; Island of the World felt like a novelist's spin on it.
And the writing. The writing is beautiful.
I must read this again.

[Brianna Schwartz]

Touched my heart, unclogged my eyes