1 comments about in Hellas.

1. This book should be on the shelf of many scholars as well as those who are just begining to learn about Ancient Greece. Schoellkopf manages to take a most complex, rich civilization and explain it all to his teenage granddaughter in a most simple and eloquent manner. Very interesting read, informative, and refreshingly easy to follow. A valuable roadmap for anyone travelling to Greece. Schoellkopf's 25 year plus study of Ancient and Modern Greece may very well become my 3 week itinerary for my future trip to Greece.

1 comments about Ionian Cruising Companion (Wiley Nautical).

1. The book provides just what you would need to know if you were sailing in the Ionian Sea. Items are up to date. You may want to pair it with a land-based guide if you are more interested in what to do after you find your way into port.

No comments about Knossos - A Complete Guide to the Palace of Minos.

No comments about Michelin Green Guide Greece (Michelin Green Guide: Greece English Edition).

5 comments about Things of the Hidden God: Journey to the Holy Mountain.

1. Although useful as another account of a pilgrim's journies on the Holy Mountain, I found it a bit disjointed and dull. Others I know have really enjoyed it much more than myself, and the content is factual and at times edifying. I would suggest that readers also read Markides' "The Mountain of Silence" for a better, if not more exotic and spiritual, account of the best that Athos has to offer.



2. Christopher Merrill's writing was a pleasure to read. The flow of the text and the descriptions were obviously those of a talented writer and poet. However, I felt like he presented and weaved together multiple ideas and subjects in a way that did not work for me.
   
   I believe he wanted to show how he experienced spiritual growth through his experience on Mt. Athos. However, so many of his descriptions felt very negative to me and I couldn't see how or why he was growing.
   
   I believe he wanted to condemn the Serbs and to a lesser extent, the Russians for the events that happened in the former Yugoslavia. He already tried to accomplish that in a previous book, and I'm not really sure that it fit very well with the subject of this book. Additionally, most actions by Serbian or Russian monks were portrayed negatively and judged harshly by Mr. Merrill. He makes some pretty severe accusations and jumps to conclusions about their behavior without actually having spoken to many of the monks. I felt as though Mr. Merrill went there with some preconceived notions about what these monks would think of him based upon his previous work, and any action he could regard as a snub he was quick to believe.
   
   I also felt that Mr. Merrill came across as somewhat self-righteous. I don't remember him once having admitted to learning anything from the monks in the process of his travels. Most of his transformation seems to take place through the hardships he overcomes all by himself. The ideas and beliefs of the other monks and of the Orthodox faith are quickly dismissed when they conflict with Mr. Merrill's. I wouldn't expect him to change his views, but to at least recognize that the other side might have something to offer. He was also very selective in presenting the poetry and historical examples he used to suplement his already existing beliefs.
   
   I really hope that the spiritual growth that Mr. Merrill alludes to in the text is genuine and real. Maybe this a beginning step for him and he will be able to in the future recognize the contribution of others. I hope he finds it in his heart to be able to see that the Serbs and Russians are not bad people in the eyes of God, the only eyes that matter. I also pray that he will open his heart to the teachings of the Orthodox Church in a way that will allow him to experience the faith and not to judge.
   
   The comments above are centered mainly around the things in the book that didn't work for me, personally. I do think he was attempting to be honest and was not mean spirited. I get the feeling that Christopher Merrill really wants to transform his life. I hope he continues his efforts and I look forward to reading some more of his fabulous prose. As anyone can see, it is far better than my own.



3. Christopher Merrill's book invoked in me truly mixed feelings. On one hand, it is (probably) the most recent account of a pilgrimage to, and through, the Mount Athos peninsula, therefore a valuable source of information for the aspiring pilgrims (I was really sorry to learn that Athos now has not only electricity but also cars, the worst plague of our times.) The book also contains a large number of solid and useful historical and theological data. On the other hand, though, Merrill is surprisingly conventional (this is to say, cliche) in his opinions about the so-called "anti-semitism" in Christian history, the Serbs as the only bad guys in the breakup of Yugoslavia, and in his unqualified admiration for Western democracy. This is probably the result of his North American upbringing; he himself quotes the words of the Jewish-Russian poet Joseph Brodsky to the effect that Americans have no sense of history or geography.
   
   As for the accuracy of historical information in "Things of the Hidden God", I have spotted only one serious error: Merrill clearly implies that the Jesuits have run the papal inquisition while in fact it was the Dominicans. This is strange as Merrill himself had been employed for several years by a Jesuit college.
   
   Merrill seems to be quite put off by some of the Athos monks treating him as a third-class visitor because of his Protestant affiliations. However, the Orthodox approach their religion in a completely serious manner, and they do not prefer being nice over being principled. This is one of the most valuable features of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, especially in comparison with the modern "cafeteria Catholics" who see nothing absurd in supporting abortion or homosexual "marriages", or with many Protestant churches that function solely as social welfare organizations.
   
   To sum up, Merrill's book is definitely worth reading but much more for its prose and the hard facts then for its take on Orthodoxy.



4. Previous reviews seem to focus solely on Merrill's condemnation of Serb atrocities in Bosnia,and that is a shame, for this is one of the wisest and most learned books I have encountered in many years. Painfully honest and forthright about his dissatisfaction with marriage, vocation, and faith, Merrill is as much pilgrim as poet. He is also a remarkable researcher: the book is filled with the sort of history that takes a narrative sweep, building toward Athos in the late 20th C. There is something in the coalescence of gorgeous prose and spiritual hunger that elevates this book to that of a classic.



5. When I first picked up this book, I have to admit I was turned off by its apparent self-indulgence and what seemed to me like self-righteousness. However, since I am a true Mt. Athos fan, I picked it up angain, and found it to be a wonderful description of the Holy Mount with all its warts and a surprisingly honest spiritual autobiography of a man struggling to find God and himself (and his family). If one reads this as a tourist or traveler's guide, I think one will be disappointed, and may well be confused. However, as an exploration of God and the people who pursue him relentlessly. This is a fascinating read. The photo on the cover is extremely well chosen as an emblem for what the book is about. The book provides a window onto the mountain and into the author's soul and life. And as with any view from a window, you only get a very partial picture of the actual reality.

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.

1 comments about St Paul in Greece (In the Footsteps of the Saints Series).

1. I actually found this book in Greece as I was leading of tour along the path of Paul's missionary journeys. As I examined the book I was sorry that I hadn't had access to it before I left on the trip...it provided excellent biblical and cultural insight into each of the places that we visited (Thessaloniki, Philippi, Corinth, Athens, Ephesus). It is the kind of thorough guide that every busy pastor hopes to find that will make his/her work a little bit easier. It is not a lengthy book but the information is sufficient for the background one needs to learn about the places Paul (and we) traveled.

No comments about The Rough Guide to The Ionian Islands 4 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1 comments about Rhodes Travel Pack (Globetrotter Travel Packs).

1. The book is fairly good on what to see but some of the discription of the places are a little overstated such as Lindos and it's tourist accommedations. This Island's tourist season is May through October, pretty much, the rest of the time the majority of the places are closed. The beaches are at best okay but there's a great deal of trash washed up and the roadsides are also suffering from litter. The book does not really point this out very well plus the included map is old and does not highlight the more passable roads.

No comments about W.W. Greece Meteora.