No comments about The Rough Guide to Cyprus Map (Rough Guide Country/Region Map).

5 comments about The Summer of My Greek Taverna: A Memoir.

1. Save your money and read "Extra Virgin" instead.

   In a book about someone opening a greek restaurant, it takes the author half the pages to even begin cooking his first meal. Much of the book is given to the author's whining about money, unfair deals and his struggles.

   And to Tom (the author), thanks for reminding us that you sleep in the nude. That added so much to the book.

   No laugh out loud moments here and the recipes are just really filler to pad the book.




2. As a Greek-American who was born, and lives in the US, but also lived in Greece for 12 years, I am always very interested in reading the experiences of expatriates, especially those from the US. I took some time to read through the other reviews here, especially focusing on the ones with negative things to say. I must say this, because I like to keep my reviews brief: Tom Stone did not produce the perfect book here, nor do I think we should expect that from him---what he did do was absolutely capture both the Greek mentality and spirit, the beauty of the land and its culture, and the very difficult divide in which foreigners who live in Greece full-time find themselves. I highly recommend this book not just for Greek diaspora who want to wax nostalgic of the mother country, but for ANY American heading over for a visit, if not a longer stay. I recently recommended this book to two proteges of mine who were headed to Greece for a short stay, and a semester abroad respectively, and both told me upon their returns that it was a priceless learning tool which enhanced their visits, as well as a very enjoyable read. I cant think of any higher recommendation than that of didacticism and real world, in-country experience. Well done, Mr Stone!



3. Reading these little expat memoirs used to be a pleasure, but now there are so many self-congratulatory accounts that they've long since begun to pall. Greek Taverna is a welcome exception. Stone manages to convey the essence of Greek island life, geography, and ambience without attempting to convince the reader that life in those parts is idyllic and carefree. Indeed, Tom and his family encounter as many problems and stumbling blocks as they might have in NYC, as well as enjoying the beauty and simplicity (all is relative). Reading his experiences is as refreshing as a dip in the Aegean. Bravo to Tom Stone for his honesty, sense of humor, and willingness to remain in Greece despite the bursting of the bubble of his dream.



4. You laugh and then you cry when you read this bittersweet memoir. The Summer of my Greek Taverna is a funny, poignant saga of a naive American, whose Greek friend, Theologos, offers him a "summer partnership" in The Beautiful Helen Taverna, located on the small Aegean Island of Patmos. Although his wife and Greek friends caution him to be aware of "Greeks bearing gifts," Stone jumps at the offer. His life is never the same, arriving home at night, at three or four in the morning, completely spent, with no time for sex or even a cuddle, and up at dawn to start another day at the restaurant, only to have his partner swindle him of the profits.
   Stone captures the essense of the Greek people and writes lovingly of them, the good ones and the not-so-good ones. My Taverna is reminiscent of many excellent books of American expatriates living in foreign countries, all with their own unique experiences. Memoirs of an American Housewife in Japan is one of many. In spite of his trials and tribulations, Tom Stone survives his ordeal and returns to the states. He opens his own successful restaurant in Southern California. At the end the book, Stone lists "The Menu of the Beautiful Helen," with 20 recipes of his favorite Greek dishes in full detail. If the story doesn't stimulate you, the recipes will. A good read, bon appetit. Yassou.



5. The writer has a very straightforward style that I truly enjoyed. The fact that this was a true story kept my interest and made me put the Greek Isles high on the list of places to visit in the next few years.
   The author's sense of adventure and risk taking appeals to me.
   At the end of this book, I felt that i had acquired a good bit of knowledge of the physical aspects of the islands and even more so about the culture.

5 comments about Greek Salad: A Dionysian Travelogue.

1. In "Greek Salad," Miles Lambert provides some of the expert commentary enjoyed previously in his first book, "The Wines of Greece," but in this volume lets us join him, personally, in his quest for great Greek wines in the classical and modern traditions. His witty insights and delightful references to ancient and more recent writers, from the likes of Aristophanes and Homer, through travelers on "the Grand Tour," such as Lord Byron and others, will no doubt bring a sense of keen recognition and delight to most of his readers. Authored by a master of English with a considerable command of Greek language and culture, "Greek Salad" makes me want to jump on a plane, and then catch a boat, to seek out "tavernas" of my own and experience some of the Greek places, wines, and foods our "Odysseus of the Wine Jars" so deliciously and entertainingly describes.



2. A satisfying chunk of black volcanic rock never leaves my desk. I picked it up personally on the Greek island of Santorini, where steam still percolates from the ground some twenty-five hundred years after the island exploded, upending the Aegean world. You can believe my powerful paperweight is the match of even the most truculent culinary book. It has certainly helped me plumb the depths of Greek Salad, a "Dionysian Travelogue" by American wine writer Miles Lambert-Gócs. Lambert roams Greece-the Aegean islands, the mainland, the Ionian islands-in an attempt to transmit, even amplify, a taste of Greece into accessible English prose. The result-even if you can taste Greece only vicariously-is the stuff of persistent reverie.
   
   Taken individually, Lambert's 26 vignettes could only succeed in generating dramatic tension, unless, like me, you retain taste memory of a challenging retsina from Rhodes, or the best yogurt you have ever ingested. The whole of Greek Salad, though by rights it should be at least a coffee-table book (it is a tight small-format paperback), succeeds as it satisfies. I read just yesterday that recent surveys found Greeks, both male and female, to be on average even heavier than Americans. Evidently, Greeks do a lot of eating and drinking. The way Lambert tells it, the food, the wine, the soul of Greece do not spring fully-formed from a laminated restaurant menu; they are animated by earth, sea and sky. If you find yourself in Greece, you might as well eat, and wash it down with wine that originates just a stone's throw from your table. You can work it all off in the gym on your return.
   
   Lambert has the imagination and scope to extol both the obscure and the predictable. Nearly every American "Greek diner" I have ever turned to as refuge from the night has offered a credible mousaka, a hybrid dish Lambert examines lightheartedly in his chapter on Larissa, on the Greek mainland in Thessaly. "Mousaka," Lambert writes, "certainly cannot lay with the en croute delicacies; but on the other hand it does not sink with the fluid casseroles either. Sometimes it seems to slide in between the terrines and pâtés...However, the rarer low-built mousaka, with its slim strata, cuts nicely on the bias and, if highly flavored with sweet spices, can for all the world seem a soft, non-stick baklava." If detail is delicious, Lambert serves up a feast, even if we want to pardon the author's French.
   
   Or ferry-hop to the Aegean island of Syros, which Lambert visits for a second, longer look after having guiltily given the island short shrift in a previous incarnation. Here Lambert is hosted by shipping magnate John Vatis, who, after having acquired a taste for chardonnay in California, has fostered a wine-culture on the island. Vatis cultivates his vines "under Israeli conditions-no water and very bad land," using elaborate drip irrigation systems combined with the best technology money can buy. At the outset, a California enologist had informed Vatis that the "official" temperatures on the island were far too hot for chardonnay. But that was before the enologist visited the island and "found himself needing a jacket on the veranda in the evening-and before John discovered that the temperature readings were taken in the daytime in a stuffy nook downtown." At lunch, John's wife Helen prepares that other food I find on Greek diner menus: "pastitsio of a quality above what even an inveterately hopeful fan of Greek dishes might imagine that pastitsio has in it" (and a far cry from my own pale experience in American eateries).
   
   Greek Salad handily transcends the American notion of "Greek food and wine," and yet I find a strong Greco-American thread throughout the book. Lambert sweeps through Greece not only as a journalist but also as a representative of the United States Department of Agriculture, a role that forces him on occasion to visit food processing plants, consume their output, and say nice things about it. We Americans love foreign references to our homeland, and Lambert provides them, from the Greek sailors who wax fondly over their visits to US ports, to Lambert's own habitual pilgrimage from his home in Virginia to a Greek wine shop in Astoria, New York, where he crams his car trunk with viniferous products he simply cannot live without. Writers always have a choice of perspective, voice and personal character; Lambert's is one of honest immediacy. The writing is unapologetically personal, vivid, experiential; therein lies the problem, since the only meal we really get to eat is composed of words rather than olive oil and lamb. Those of us who can't quite swing a leisurely voyage to Greece had better hope PBS drafts Lambert to host a thirteen-part series soon.
   
   Food writer Elliot Essman's other reviews and food articles are available at www.stylegourmet.com



3. Miles Lambert-Gócs. If ever you longed to discover Greece with a guide who knew not only the history of Greece with all the Islands included but also manifested the same gusto for life that is part of the Greek heritage, then this very fine author is the one to take you there. GREEK SALAD: A DIONYSIAN TRAVELOGUE is so full of fascinating insights into Greek history, Greek personality, and of course Greek food that is truly Hemingway's 'moveable feast.'
   
   It is one thing to write a travelogue that points the particularly splendid aspects of a country in your direction, but it is an entirely different one that is so full of spirit and tales that it also serves as a novel. Reading this book, yes, encourages calling a travel agent post haste, but it also is such a well written piece of literature that it can be appreciated simply for the repast it provides. Lambert-Gocs is a wise, informed, ebullient connoisseur of wines and foods: he is also a sprite that opens the joys of Greece like few others. Highly recommended reading! Grady Harp, March 06



4. Okay, that's a Latin phrase, and this book is a paeon to Greece and particularly to the various wines and food one can find while traversing the hills or climbing down the cellars of an inviting taverna.
   
   Greek Salad consists of a series of travelogues about the Greek mainland and many of the islands, written over a period of years. We see Naxos and Milos, Crete and Santorini as they were before and during the time when the influx of tourists changed everything. The author is a wine expert so much of the book follows his search for authentic wines that go beyond retsina. But he also is a lover of both the ancient Greece of Homer and the recent one of Zorba the Greek. There are plenty of historical and literary allusions in the book. as well as plenty of anecdotes about taxi drivers, casual friendships, tavern owners who invite him in for a sip and all those foreign tourists one runs into on the ferry over to various islands. The author offers descriptions of the brush paths and hills, beaches and small towns clinging to the ports where the ships come in from the sparkling sea so that the reader is ready to book the next flight for the Aegean.
   
   
   One of the historical tidbits I learned is that is that the Venetian influence over Greece extended to religion. On one island, half the population is Roman Catholic while the other half is Greek Orthodox.
   As for food--moussaka is basically meatloaf (made of lamb, of course), with custard embellishments. There is also something called "false meatballs" --he gives the Greek name for it--that sounds like an early version of Hamburger Helper.
   
   Cruise ships have become an important presence in the islands and a source of income for the shops and merchants that circle the harbor. However, the passengers seem to be an annoyance to the long-term visitors who abandon certain restaurants and beaches on cruise days. And the growing popularity of certain Greek islands as a "girls gone wild" hangout
   may make the authentic pleasures that Miles Lambert-Gocs talks about a thing of the past.
   
   I've just seen the movie "Mama Mia!" and the gorgeous scenery of the sleepy island set within a sparkling sea should have many a movie-goer packing his bags. This book will make a pleasant read before you depart.



5. I purchased this book based on the reviews. The title is the best part of the book. It reads like j random blog returned by a google search on 'greek blog'. If you are trying to choose a Greek Island to visit allow me to suggest Freely's Cyclades or Eyewitness Greek Islands. If you want entertainment choose Kazantzakis or Homer. If you want a printed blog and feel the need to spend money while killing a tree, choose Greek Salad.

3 comments about Crete (Directions).

1. There is an interesting paragraph where Unsworth talks about his approach to writing historical fiction.



2. I had thought that the advent of film and television had banished this genre from the book stores. After all, why read about a place when you can turn on the travel channel and see it in living color? Well, for one reason, it's reading! But, I'll try not to climb up on my soapbox. Unsworth does a wonderful job of presenting a textual picture of the people, culture and history of this cradle of civilization. His insights on travels to the scenic countryside, tourist Mecas and ruins of past civilizations on this Mediterranean island provide the reader with more than just pictures; he provides us with the flavors and smells, awakening the senses of our imagination more than any passive media presentation.
   
   The bottom line is that this is not an exhaustive treatment of the history, geography or culture of Crete, nor is it a picture book; it is a throwback to a time when travel was not the commodity of the everyday man, a time when we lived vicariously through the likes of Hemmingway and Stevenson. If all you want is to see beautiful scenery, there are any number of picture books or web sites to entertain you, but if you want to experience Crete without the trip, you will want to read this book.
   P-)



3. I was surprised and pleased to find a new Unsworth book- particularly since I am planning a trip to Greece this summer. I have perused several travel guides, but this book stands out, despite its brevity (or perhaps on account of it).
   
   Unsworth's glimpse at Crete is by no means comprehensive, but fills in the gaps that he proposes- What kind of place Crete is, some interesting things to see there, and an outline of his tour with his wife Aira. His style is unashamedly first-person reflective, and he gives a fair and balanced account of the island which becomes saturated by tourists each summer. Barry has whet my appetite for visiting this island without overwhelming me with his own ideas and opinions. Do not look for a detailed history; instead look for an impressionistic accounting of the caves, gorges, churches and urban labyrinths of Crete. Fans of Unsworth and thoughtful travellers will enjoy this novella immensely.

No comments about Mycenae - A Guide to its ruins and History (Archaeological Guides).

5 comments about The Rough Guide to Greece 11 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1. Watch out, even though the edition date is 2006, many of the references in the guide point to pre-OLympic (2004) information. Not very useful. All in all, one is better off using Google for information,rather than travel guides.



2. This book is so extensive it is actually kind of hard to use.
   I wish they would break these books into smaller volumes. Maybe one for Athens, one for islands, one for southern Greece, one for Northern Greece. Something like that.
   Also, for American readers: with this series, I think many or all the writers are from Britain. So when you read of a good restaurant, you have to take it with a grain of salt. It may actually be good or, kind of average.



3. Not bad, but there are 2 changes the editors must make for it to be far more helpful:
   
   1) The index must be improved. For example, of the dozens of museums described (very well!) in the book, not a single one of them is listed in the index! I found it frustrating trying to find information for a museum that I remembered was described SOMEWHERE in the book.
   
   2) The Athens "Main Tourist Office" is incorrectly located on the map (p. 128). It is not too far away, but a miss is as good as a mile when you are using the map to try to find it.



4. The good things about this book are the index, maps, and descriptions of museums and background information on a myriad of sights, accommodations and restaurants. The weaknesses are that some maps are not totally accurate, such as street name misspellings which can be frustrating, nor are the maps detailed enough at times, and that the book is rather heavy when you are toting it around Greece in a backpack.
   
   
   I took it with me on a two week trip to Greece. I traveled very loosely, meaning I was never sure where I might end up. So, this book was great to have as it covers just about every possible place in Greece you could be. I did spend time in a village or two that were not described, but the main surrounding areas were, so the text was very useful nonetheless.
   
   I used some of the phone numbers listed throughout the book and they worked fine. The color pages are filled with great information that enhance your experience for those of us not too informed about Greece and its culture. The list of interesting sights to see at each place is great as it saves you time trying to ask around locally or find such information on your own when you are pressed for time and exhausted.
   
   Overall, this book is a terrific resource and very comprehensive. I do not think you can be too disappointed with this book, especially if you have never been to Greece before or are a novice traveler. I would recommend buying a set of detailed maps of Athens, Nafplion, or cities you intend to explore before you leave. Call the numbers or visit the websites in the book regarding metro and bus information before you go too. Most people in major cities in Greece speak enough English and/or French to help you over the phone, or at least, that was my experience.



5. This is a great book. Very comprehensive and generally accurate. One thing to watch out for though: double check with the tourist office the opening hours of sites before you go. Many sites seem to have shortened their opening hours dramatically. For example, Acropolis in Athens closes at 5 instead of 7 in April. Also in April, Nafplio's Paramidhi castle closes at 2:45 pm instead of 6:30 according to the book. I got there at 3 and was turned away!
   
   Other than that and a few minor spelling issues (the book uses Syndagma square even though all English signs in Athens spell it Syntagma), this book is almost perfect. I brought it on a guided tour to Corinth, Mycenae, and Epidauros. It's more helpful than the guide. Especially in Mycenae, the book pointed me to the two tholos outside the wall that most people missed.

1 comments about The Xenophobe's Guide to the Greeks, 2nd (Xenophobe's Guides - Oval Books).

1. This small book better describes the average Greek and his society than any book I have read. The author is frank about the good and not so good qualities of the average greek but does it in a way that doesn't offend. I have shown it to greek friends and they agree with most of the descriptions of the greek society,people, and government. recommended for anyone going to greece which is a must see country.

No comments about Travels and Researches in Crete: Volume 1.

No comments about Travels and Researches in Crete: Volume 2.

No comments about Greek Islands, 9th (Country & Regional Guides - Cadogan).