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Мед, море и Афродита
Дойдох тук да търся някакъв вид щастие. Мисля, че това може да е най-мъдрото, което някога съм правила.
Море и любов, изумително красиви изгреви и залези, нощно къпане, танци, вкусни ястия и техните рецепти. И всичко това, пренесено на един сякаш измислен гръцки остров. Но Тилос не е измислен. За младата англичанка Дженифър, той се превръща в упование и сила, в спасение, в очакване и надежда. Тя посвещава на него книгата си „Мед, море и Афродита”.
Разказът е изненадващо пластичен. Но като всяка житейска история е изпъстрен с върхове и разочарования, с неочаквани обрати и решения, с много размисли за смисъла на съществуването, за предназначението на жената, за истинските стойности на живота.
Героинята, съвременна млада жена, работи в областта на високите технологии, притежава неспокоен и авантюристичен дух. Тя обожава да пътува, да се запознава с другите страни по света и техните култури, да се среща и сприятелява с различни хора. Преживяла любовно разочарование, решава да си направи няколко „Подаръци за самата мен”, както сама ги определя, за да се стабилизира емоционално. Но според правилото „ти предполагаш, но Господ разполага” животът й поднася неочакван подарък в лицето на Мат – млад англичанин, възпитан, внимателен, грижлив и необичайно щедър. Връзката им се развива спокойно и сравнително щастливо. Те започват да правят планове за съвместен живот, за брак и деца. Дори възнамеряват да си купят къща на остров Тилос и да се опитат да заживеят в него постоянно.
И тогава се налага Мат да разкрие дълго пазената си тайна...
Следва драматичен обрат, Дженифър се оттегля да живее и работи на острова. Дали красотата на морето, добрите приятелства и силата на духа ще й помогнат да възвърне душевното си равновесие?
Море и любов, изумително красиви изгреви и залези, нощно къпане, танци, вкусни ястия и техните рецепти. И всичко това, пренесено на един сякаш измислен гръцки остров. Но Тилос не е измислен. За младата англичанка Дженифър, той се превръща в упование и сила, в спасение, в очакване и надежда. Тя посвещава на него книгата си „Мед, море и Афродита”.
Разказът е изненадващо пластичен. Но като всяка житейска история е изпъстрен с върхове и разочарования, с неочаквани обрати и решения, с много размисли за смисъла на съществуването, за предназначението на жената, за истинските стойности на живота.
Героинята, съвременна млада жена, работи в областта на високите технологии, притежава неспокоен и авантюристичен дух. Тя обожава да пътува, да се запознава с другите страни по света и техните култури, да се среща и сприятелява с различни хора. Преживяла любовно разочарование, решава да си направи няколко „Подаръци за самата мен”, както сама ги определя, за да се стабилизира емоционално. Но според правилото „ти предполагаш, но Господ разполага” животът й поднася неочакван подарък в лицето на Мат – млад англичанин, възпитан, внимателен, грижлив и необичайно щедър. Връзката им се развива спокойно и сравнително щастливо. Те започват да правят планове за съвместен живот, за брак и деца. Дори възнамеряват да си купят къща на остров Тилос и да се опитат да заживеят в него постоянно.
И тогава се налага Мат да разкрие дълго пазената си тайна...
Следва драматичен обрат, Дженифър се оттегля да живее и работи на острова. Дали красотата на морето, добрите приятелства и силата на духа ще й помогнат да възвърне душевното си равновесие?
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2013
About the author
Jennifer Barclay
16 books57 followersAuthor of Meeting Mr Kim, Falling in Honey, An Octopus in my Ouzo, Wild Abandon and Taverna by the Sea. Live mostly on a tiny island in Greece. www.octopus-in-my-ouzo.blogspot.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
July 19, 2013
How many times can one mention feta, yoghurt, honey and goats in one book?
I found this travel/love memoir set on a tiny Greek island extremely shallow; it also needed better editing to weed out redundant vocabulary and improve the construction of the narrative.
There was potential for an engaging story here, but the main character came off as vapid and none of the characters -- including the island itself -- ended up doing much for me.
I found this travel/love memoir set on a tiny Greek island extremely shallow; it also needed better editing to weed out redundant vocabulary and improve the construction of the narrative.
There was potential for an engaging story here, but the main character came off as vapid and none of the characters -- including the island itself -- ended up doing much for me.
September 9, 2016
Par Grieķiju autore raksta ar lielu sirsnību un ļoti interesanti lasīt par ikdienišķu dzīvi mazā salā. Diemžēl, autores ne pārāk izcilās spējas sastādīt smukus teikumus mazinās, tiklīdz stāstījumā uzpeld kārtējais vīrietis. Ar vīriešiem viņai neveicas. Bet varbūt teksta daļa ir pazudusi tulkojumā, radot iespaidu par autores ierobežoto vārdu krājumu. Tracināja stāstījuma vienkāršās tagadnes/pagātnes lietošana un nevaru piekrist, ka "ej uz to virzienu, uz kuru raugies".
Pilnā atsauksme https://gramatas.wordpress.com/2016/0...
Pilnā atsauksme https://gramatas.wordpress.com/2016/0...
March 7, 2014
Five honey dipped stars.
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When I saw this book on Netgalley and got invited to the tour, I knew I couldn't resist. Thanks in large part to my dad being a chef, I have always loved Greek food and culture. I actually have a little bit of an obsession with it, and it's only worsening as I get further into my Classics studies in college. I'm happy to say, this book did not disappoint.
The way that Jennifer Barclay writes about her experiences makes you feel like you're right there beside her. You can almost smell the honey in the air and the salt of the sea, you can pretty much feel the warm sun and white sand. It's a relaxing sort of calm that lulls you into the story in the best possible way. As someone currently in the middle of taking their midterm exams, this was a great break in an otherwise stressful life. She writes in amazing detail, and makes you vividly picture the words that she pens, from the people she meets to the villages that she visits.
She also writes of her life and adventures in Greece with a raw sort of honesty and sincerity, like you're just at a bar together and she's letting you know about her life. It feels genuine without being braggy about anything she's done- you just want to pack a suitcase and explore the islands (and gorge yourself on treats) with her.
If you didn't want to travel Greece before reading this book, I can promise that you will afterwards. Falling in Honey is a sweet non-fiction work exploring the author's life, relationships, eats, journeys, and so much more. Prepare to get hungry with a need to travel (or Google Greece to daydream). This is a perfect book for lounging on the beach, or for helping you pretend that you are during the winter. Fans of books like Eat, Pray, Love and Karma Gone Bad ought to check this out.
Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for my chance to read this. This review can also be found on my new blog, Bitches n Prose.
---
When I saw this book on Netgalley and got invited to the tour, I knew I couldn't resist. Thanks in large part to my dad being a chef, I have always loved Greek food and culture. I actually have a little bit of an obsession with it, and it's only worsening as I get further into my Classics studies in college. I'm happy to say, this book did not disappoint.
The way that Jennifer Barclay writes about her experiences makes you feel like you're right there beside her. You can almost smell the honey in the air and the salt of the sea, you can pretty much feel the warm sun and white sand. It's a relaxing sort of calm that lulls you into the story in the best possible way. As someone currently in the middle of taking their midterm exams, this was a great break in an otherwise stressful life. She writes in amazing detail, and makes you vividly picture the words that she pens, from the people she meets to the villages that she visits.
She also writes of her life and adventures in Greece with a raw sort of honesty and sincerity, like you're just at a bar together and she's letting you know about her life. It feels genuine without being braggy about anything she's done- you just want to pack a suitcase and explore the islands (and gorge yourself on treats) with her.
If you didn't want to travel Greece before reading this book, I can promise that you will afterwards. Falling in Honey is a sweet non-fiction work exploring the author's life, relationships, eats, journeys, and so much more. Prepare to get hungry with a need to travel (or Google Greece to daydream). This is a perfect book for lounging on the beach, or for helping you pretend that you are during the winter. Fans of books like Eat, Pray, Love and Karma Gone Bad ought to check this out.
Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for my chance to read this. This review can also be found on my new blog, Bitches n Prose.
May 31, 2014
This book was a HUGE waste of time to read. I was so excited to read it because I thought it sounded really interesting, but I didn't like the author and a lot of the book was very repetitive. Basically, Jennifer Barclay always enjoyed traveling and lived in a few different countries, but she always loved Greece. She had gone to a few of the Greek islands before she discovered Tilos and she just fell in love with the friendly, small-town atmosphere. After a heart-break she decides to stay on Tilos for a month to relax and recover from her breakup. When she returns home to England she reconnects with an old friend and they discover they each have feelings for each other. Soon they are engaged and going back to visit Tilos together. While they are there her fiancée rashly makes an offer on a house and they decide to live there permanently once his business sells in England. Then a week before they are supposed to fly over to Tilos together he confesses that he never owned the business, never owned the houses, etc. and Jennifer goes alone.
While I do think it's great that Jennifer always wanted to live on Tilos and she made it happen, she made some really poor choices otherwise. She tells her mother she feels like she doesn't know her fiancée well enough to get married quickly, but they're trying to get pregnant - so you know him well enough to have a baby and be linked to him forever, but not to get married?! And one of her Greek friends that she meets on Tilos, Manolis, seems like a jerk and it's not like she doesn't have other friends so I never understood why she spent so much time with him, then complained about it! Basically, I did NOT enjoy her story and would NOT recommend this book. This book was a big waste of my precious reading time.
While I do think it's great that Jennifer always wanted to live on Tilos and she made it happen, she made some really poor choices otherwise. She tells her mother she feels like she doesn't know her fiancée well enough to get married quickly, but they're trying to get pregnant - so you know him well enough to have a baby and be linked to him forever, but not to get married?! And one of her Greek friends that she meets on Tilos, Manolis, seems like a jerk and it's not like she doesn't have other friends so I never understood why she spent so much time with him, then complained about it! Basically, I did NOT enjoy her story and would NOT recommend this book. This book was a big waste of my precious reading time.
February 13, 2022
This wonderful memoir is the best book I've read in such a long time. Highly recommend it!
The concept may be familiar...after a break up, a single woman leaves her workaday world behind to explore a new country, but the writing is anything but. Somehow, Barclay brings the Greek island of Tilos to life in these pages, to the point I was always smiling or moved to tears. Sometimes I had to put it down for a little while, because her words had me yearning for Greece so much. It truly is the best kind of love letter to Greece, and a celebration of being on your own and discovering life on your own terms. Anyone who's ever been to Greece, or dreamed of going, or longed for this kind of adventure, will absolutely love this book.
Barclay doesn't include pages of endless descriptions of verdant hills. There's no lyrical references to Hemingway, or snarky critiques of other women's looks, and this is one of the many reasons I love it. It's perfect. She describes what needs to be described, but always in an interesting way, and always with something happening. There's no pretension, no airs, and none of the snobbery that seems to be rife in travel memoirs. Barclay, who is British, also doesn't endlessly compare the Greek way of life to the British and find it lacking. Her memoirs is missing all of the things that have driven me crazy in this genre.
Falling in Honey is also a page-turner at times, where you stay up reading until six a.m. because you HAVE to know what happens next. (Speaking from experience.)
I can't recommend this book enough, and I thank the writer for bringing it into the world. I found it right when I needed it.
The concept may be familiar...after a break up, a single woman leaves her workaday world behind to explore a new country, but the writing is anything but. Somehow, Barclay brings the Greek island of Tilos to life in these pages, to the point I was always smiling or moved to tears. Sometimes I had to put it down for a little while, because her words had me yearning for Greece so much. It truly is the best kind of love letter to Greece, and a celebration of being on your own and discovering life on your own terms. Anyone who's ever been to Greece, or dreamed of going, or longed for this kind of adventure, will absolutely love this book.
Barclay doesn't include pages of endless descriptions of verdant hills. There's no lyrical references to Hemingway, or snarky critiques of other women's looks, and this is one of the many reasons I love it. It's perfect. She describes what needs to be described, but always in an interesting way, and always with something happening. There's no pretension, no airs, and none of the snobbery that seems to be rife in travel memoirs. Barclay, who is British, also doesn't endlessly compare the Greek way of life to the British and find it lacking. Her memoirs is missing all of the things that have driven me crazy in this genre.
Falling in Honey is also a page-turner at times, where you stay up reading until six a.m. because you HAVE to know what happens next. (Speaking from experience.)
I can't recommend this book enough, and I thank the writer for bringing it into the world. I found it right when I needed it.
March 12, 2013
Having spent a wonderful seven months on the Greek island of Tilos a few years before Jennifer's love affair with this delightful little island began, I was eager to get my hands on this book. And it did not disappoint - I loved every minute of it!
Falling in Honey is the story of a woman's quest to find herself and her place in life, and of her love affair with Greece, and more specifically the tiny island of Tilos. After suffering a couple of traumatic love affairs, the last of which left her betrayed and alone only days before she was about to begin her dream life in Tilos with her dream man, this is a story of healing, of the simple things in life, and of finding one's place in this world.
I was amazed as the bravery of Jennifer in telling her story - it takes some guts to put your deepest feelings and desires in print. But mostly I was swept away with the descriptions of Greece and of Tilos. I was able to clearly picture the island, and was delighted to hear about people and places that I know so well. And it also made me think about where I'm going with my life, about what I really want, and how to find that sort of bravery to take a leap of faith into the unknown.
And I was equally delighted with the ending - I know how the story progresses as I'm an avid follower of Jennifer's blog: http://octopus-in-my-ouzo.blogspot.co... and I was delighted that it was left on a positive note, and with the prospect of another book to follow perhaps - I do hope so, I was left wanting another instalment...
Falling in Honey is the story of a woman's quest to find herself and her place in life, and of her love affair with Greece, and more specifically the tiny island of Tilos. After suffering a couple of traumatic love affairs, the last of which left her betrayed and alone only days before she was about to begin her dream life in Tilos with her dream man, this is a story of healing, of the simple things in life, and of finding one's place in this world.
I was amazed as the bravery of Jennifer in telling her story - it takes some guts to put your deepest feelings and desires in print. But mostly I was swept away with the descriptions of Greece and of Tilos. I was able to clearly picture the island, and was delighted to hear about people and places that I know so well. And it also made me think about where I'm going with my life, about what I really want, and how to find that sort of bravery to take a leap of faith into the unknown.
And I was equally delighted with the ending - I know how the story progresses as I'm an avid follower of Jennifer's blog: http://octopus-in-my-ouzo.blogspot.co... and I was delighted that it was left on a positive note, and with the prospect of another book to follow perhaps - I do hope so, I was left wanting another instalment...
March 19, 2013
Prior to her time on Tilos, Jennifer’s life has followed a familiar, modern day pattern for a young, single woman : study hard, work hard, struggle through relationships, rinse and repeat. All accompanied with a growing sense of dissatisfaction and a frustrating search for that elusive state of happiness.
Jennifer decides to take the helm and change that pattern because “Life is too short not to reach out for what makes you happy”. When her current partner backs out on sharing a new life together in Greece she forges ahead alone and moves to the tiny Greek island of Tilos. Brave, I thought.
Having spent several months at a time in the Greek islands and from my home here in Cyprus, I could really identify with life on Tilos; the energy-sapping heat, the ubiquitous goats and citrus trees plus the heavy scent of herbs and grilling meats which fills the air. The enormous generosity and welcoming nature of the islanders shines through – the Greeks even have a word for it: 'filoxenia'. Jennifer writes of a life I know and love; of what is important. Spend time with and care for other people. Eat, drink, laugh, play. Slow down. 'Siga-siga'.
More than anything, this book is about simplifying: live with few possessions, eat simple foods, respond to the seasons, retain hope and take time to discover what sort of person you are and what makes you happy. I know I would love Tilos – from the unchanging scene on the webcam (yes, it is working…) to Irini’s offering of out-of-date yoghurt (Is OK?)
The text is simple, the words uncomplicated and this style beautifully conveys Jennifer’s gentle integration into island life with her obvious delight at finding joy in simple pleasures such as swimming, walking and enjoying the views from her house. Of course, the path is far from smooth and Jennifer writes candidly of broken hearts, betrayal, self-doubt and her desire to have a child.
This book is an account of Jennifer’s island life experience but holds a message for us all; are you living the life of your choice?
Jennifer decides to take the helm and change that pattern because “Life is too short not to reach out for what makes you happy”. When her current partner backs out on sharing a new life together in Greece she forges ahead alone and moves to the tiny Greek island of Tilos. Brave, I thought.
Having spent several months at a time in the Greek islands and from my home here in Cyprus, I could really identify with life on Tilos; the energy-sapping heat, the ubiquitous goats and citrus trees plus the heavy scent of herbs and grilling meats which fills the air. The enormous generosity and welcoming nature of the islanders shines through – the Greeks even have a word for it: 'filoxenia'. Jennifer writes of a life I know and love; of what is important. Spend time with and care for other people. Eat, drink, laugh, play. Slow down. 'Siga-siga'.
More than anything, this book is about simplifying: live with few possessions, eat simple foods, respond to the seasons, retain hope and take time to discover what sort of person you are and what makes you happy. I know I would love Tilos – from the unchanging scene on the webcam (yes, it is working…) to Irini’s offering of out-of-date yoghurt (Is OK?)
The text is simple, the words uncomplicated and this style beautifully conveys Jennifer’s gentle integration into island life with her obvious delight at finding joy in simple pleasures such as swimming, walking and enjoying the views from her house. Of course, the path is far from smooth and Jennifer writes candidly of broken hearts, betrayal, self-doubt and her desire to have a child.
This book is an account of Jennifer’s island life experience but holds a message for us all; are you living the life of your choice?
June 12, 2017
I generally enjoy expat memoirs—particularly those set in Greece—so despite the predictability and repetition that emerged from this story, I didn't have any trouble finishing it. Greece does have a way of getting under one's skin, and Jennifer conveyed that nicely with her descriptive writing and ease of falling into a relaxed lifestyle whenever she was on Tilos. I did feel like she was a little too focused on men and their intentions, and the whole "I didn't realize I even wanted a baby but now that I'm in my mid-30s I guess maybe I can try and see what happens?" trope was a bit odd and seemed out of place in the story. You have this woman who is working on building up a nice life for herself, creating an increasingly location-independent career and making strides towards moving to Greece, and yet there's this sidebar storyline of her trying to get pregnant by a man she is mildly untrusting of...? She also develops an odd friendship with this Manolis character on Tilos, and despite repeated comments that he rarely seems to be enjoying himself and/or must be low-key romantically interested in her even though she isn't interested in him, she seems to spend an awful lot of time with this guy. The dynamic was weird and was difficult to ignore given how often Manolis came up throughout the book. Finally, the ending was extremely lackluster and abrupt, pointing the reader to a very dated-looking blog, made further amusing by the fact that in her book, Jennifer makes note of how most Greek websites tend to be lacking in the quality department.
I'm not sorry I read the book and it is a mostly enjoyable light read, but I can't say it's one of my favorites.
I'm not sorry I read the book and it is a mostly enjoyable light read, but I can't say it's one of my favorites.
June 2, 2015
London has just suffered from the coldest March since 1962. Fortunately, I bought ‘Falling in Honey’ and curled up in bed, ready to be transported to a dreamy Greek island. Soon I was walking along peaceful roads with chickens and goats, taking walks to hidden beaches and swimming with colourful fish through clear waters. My senses came alive as I stroked an octopus, heard the church bells, tasted Greek food and learned how to dance with abandon. Meanwhile outside in London, the chill winter winds and driving rain rattled at my windows irked that I had also abandoned them.
I finished the book today and we have blue skies and a warm, spring-like temperature. I think that in having spent March in Tilos, I can rephrase a quote from Jennifer Barclay herself and say that buying this book might be the cleverest thing I have ever done.
I finished the book today and we have blue skies and a warm, spring-like temperature. I think that in having spent March in Tilos, I can rephrase a quote from Jennifer Barclay herself and say that buying this book might be the cleverest thing I have ever done.
October 17, 2013
I would have liked it more if she didn't focus on her whining about wanting a baby - for god's sake, she's in GREECE!
June 16, 2014
I loved her description of the Greek Island Tilos but what started out promisingly as a sort of anti-Eat, Pray, Love seemed to conclude as more of a sales-pitch for her blog.
July 15, 2019
I really enjoyed Jennifer Barclay's memoir, FALLING IN HONEY: HOW A TINY GREEK ISLAND STOLE MY HEART. I read it within a few days - loving the vivid descriptions of her travels to and from the tiny Greek Island of Tilos, wondering if and when she would finally leave England to make it her home; interested in how childhood travels to Greece honed her love of both the place and its people; cringing as she moved into a relationship which, after having recently survived an earlier heartbreak, at first seemed perfect. Yet even in its early phases there were whiffs of falsehoods.
Unlike the clear, almost untouched, salty breezes rolling off the ocean surrounding Tilos, her new guy's difficult-t0-pin-down background emits a slightly sour scent, adding a less-than-trustworthy aura to his otherwise upbeat presence. Still, his stories seem logical, most likely true. But then haven't lots of us been there? Relationships are not easy in the best of circumstances. How does one learn to trust again? How many inconsistencies does it take before they become the wild winds that destroy the relationship? I kept turning pages, wanting to know what happens... when and if Jennifer actually moves to her beloved Tilos, will this guy accompany her? Or will she once again return to the place that healed her, unattached and seeking its solace?
While this memoir is also about the writer's relationship(s), for me it was particularly focused on the beauty and calming effects of a tiny island where: one has to expect that the ferry service schedule to it may be occasionally less than reliable but, once there, the people are always friendly, the wildlife, vegetation, and ocean views are spectacular, and there are even a few ancient ruins to visit. In season, there are festivals to enjoy and walks to take all over the island, fish-filled waters in which to swim/scuba, wild herbs and gorgeous blossoms along the roads, curious goats and donkeys wandering the roads, awesome Greek foods in quaint neighborhood restaurants and taverns. And there's very little of the garish, tourist-focused folderol, along with very few automobiles. It sounds like the perfect, restful place to vacation. A part of me would love to visit, if only I weren't such a lousy traveler. If only I had the money to travel. (Note: I have never even applied for a passport!)
It turns out that Jennifer Barclay has a blog, noted at the end of the book - so I went to it and listed it amongst my computer's Favorites to return to eventually. Discovered on the blog that there's also another memoir by her: AN OCTOPUS IN MY OUZO. I might read that one too - but not until after I've met all the 2019 challenges re my "Around the Year in 52 Books" group on Goodreads. Which brings me to noting that FALLING IN HONEY: HOW A TINY GREEK ISLAND STOLE MY HEART by Jennifer Barclay meets #15 of the 2019 challenges, "A book by an author from a Mediterranean country." Rated it 4-stars because it's well-written and it held my interest throughout - terrific insights into life on one of the smallest of Greek islands (within sight of Turkey's shores!), as well as a fine story of one woman's love of all things Greek (but especially on Tilos).
P.S. There are a few simple Greek recipes at the end of the book, which I intend to photocopy and add to my recipe collection. Not that I don't have more than enough cookbooks (over 200)/recipes!
Unlike the clear, almost untouched, salty breezes rolling off the ocean surrounding Tilos, her new guy's difficult-t0-pin-down background emits a slightly sour scent, adding a less-than-trustworthy aura to his otherwise upbeat presence. Still, his stories seem logical, most likely true. But then haven't lots of us been there? Relationships are not easy in the best of circumstances. How does one learn to trust again? How many inconsistencies does it take before they become the wild winds that destroy the relationship? I kept turning pages, wanting to know what happens... when and if Jennifer actually moves to her beloved Tilos, will this guy accompany her? Or will she once again return to the place that healed her, unattached and seeking its solace?
While this memoir is also about the writer's relationship(s), for me it was particularly focused on the beauty and calming effects of a tiny island where: one has to expect that the ferry service schedule to it may be occasionally less than reliable but, once there, the people are always friendly, the wildlife, vegetation, and ocean views are spectacular, and there are even a few ancient ruins to visit. In season, there are festivals to enjoy and walks to take all over the island, fish-filled waters in which to swim/scuba, wild herbs and gorgeous blossoms along the roads, curious goats and donkeys wandering the roads, awesome Greek foods in quaint neighborhood restaurants and taverns. And there's very little of the garish, tourist-focused folderol, along with very few automobiles. It sounds like the perfect, restful place to vacation. A part of me would love to visit, if only I weren't such a lousy traveler. If only I had the money to travel. (Note: I have never even applied for a passport!)
It turns out that Jennifer Barclay has a blog, noted at the end of the book - so I went to it and listed it amongst my computer's Favorites to return to eventually. Discovered on the blog that there's also another memoir by her: AN OCTOPUS IN MY OUZO. I might read that one too - but not until after I've met all the 2019 challenges re my "Around the Year in 52 Books" group on Goodreads. Which brings me to noting that FALLING IN HONEY: HOW A TINY GREEK ISLAND STOLE MY HEART by Jennifer Barclay meets #15 of the 2019 challenges, "A book by an author from a Mediterranean country." Rated it 4-stars because it's well-written and it held my interest throughout - terrific insights into life on one of the smallest of Greek islands (within sight of Turkey's shores!), as well as a fine story of one woman's love of all things Greek (but especially on Tilos).
P.S. There are a few simple Greek recipes at the end of the book, which I intend to photocopy and add to my recipe collection. Not that I don't have more than enough cookbooks (over 200)/recipes!
November 5, 2022
Авторката разказва как е заобичала гръцката култура и красивият остров Тилос, в който хората живеят спокоен живот и отглеждат зеленчуци и животни. Книгата е написана хем като роман, хем като пътепис. Баркли се влюбила в острова по време на своите пътешествия из Гърция, харесала е лежерното спокойствие на Тилос. В сравнение с по-известните туристически дестинации, островът е приятен и тих. Хората, живеещи там, са настроени приятелски, а животът се върти около площада, гръцките танци и фестивали, вкусното хапване с пресни продукти. Гмуркането е другата страст на авторката и описва своите срещи с рибите и октоподите. Тилос е красив и има много диви плажове с бистра вода. Хората са приятелски настроени и в един момент авторката решава да заживее там, особено след като се разочарова отново от любовта. Накрая в книгата има рецепти за лесни гръцки ястия.
Колкото и да е приятно да четеш за морето, гръцко синьото, вкусната храна и лежерните следобеди, това в ��дин момент доскучава. Авторката някъде размишлява доста подробно за своите провали, желания, мечти и срещи с други хора, което ми идваше твърде много.
Колкото и да е приятно да четеш за морето, гръцко синьото, вкусната храна и лежерните следобеди, това в ��дин момент доскучава. Авторката някъде размишлява доста подробно за своите провали, желания, мечти и срещи с други хора, което ми идваше твърде много.
September 15, 2022
I read this as fast as I could do it would just be over. It’s basically a diary of this woman’s life as she visits a small Greek island, and since it is so small her days look very much the same. My dislike of the book was also fueled by the author, which I found to be very annoying. She seems to think she is so brave by escaping her life and problems by moving to a tiny island.
Some moments were entertaining, but overall it was a monotonous travelogue.
Some moments were entertaining, but overall it was a monotonous travelogue.
April 20, 2019
3.5 stars
Don’t expect too much from this light, enjoyable holiday read.
Don’t expect too much from this light, enjoyable holiday read.
May 30, 2016
4.5 Stars
The entire time I was reading Falling in Honey, I have had a voice in my head telling me I need to book a holiday and get on a plane. The feelings of being in Tilos, Greece were so strong, from the writing, that I was tempted to book a flight instantly (well a flight, hotel in Rhodes and then a ferry!).
Falling in Honey is the story of two romances, one with a couple of men which are interesting stories, and provide a necessary backdrop to the story, The other romance is the love affair that Jennifer clearly has with Greece and later with the island of Tilos.
From the early chapters where we learn just how this love affair with the Greek language and Greece itself came about, you are transported to Southern Europe and feel as though you are alongside Jennifer with every step of the journey.
I have read many books over the years about people moving to a foreign country, but this one feels and is different for many reasons. The writing is fabulous, there is a great sense of humour and I felt as though I really got to know the author, and her friends and family. Unlike other books of this type, we get to see the whole decision process as to whether to move to Greece, and the reasoning behind it.
I loved seeing Jennifer's first trips to the island, and how she gradually grew to be completely enamoured by its wildlife, the food, the locals and the way of life on the island. I enjoyed seeing all the customs and festivals of the island, and just how great a slower pace of life could be.
I think I have fallen a bit in love with the island myself, and will definitely be reading the sequel when I get a spare moment. This book has re-awakened my love of travel writing, and for that I can only thank Jennifer Barclay.
The entire time I was reading Falling in Honey, I have had a voice in my head telling me I need to book a holiday and get on a plane. The feelings of being in Tilos, Greece were so strong, from the writing, that I was tempted to book a flight instantly (well a flight, hotel in Rhodes and then a ferry!).
Falling in Honey is the story of two romances, one with a couple of men which are interesting stories, and provide a necessary backdrop to the story, The other romance is the love affair that Jennifer clearly has with Greece and later with the island of Tilos.
From the early chapters where we learn just how this love affair with the Greek language and Greece itself came about, you are transported to Southern Europe and feel as though you are alongside Jennifer with every step of the journey.
I have read many books over the years about people moving to a foreign country, but this one feels and is different for many reasons. The writing is fabulous, there is a great sense of humour and I felt as though I really got to know the author, and her friends and family. Unlike other books of this type, we get to see the whole decision process as to whether to move to Greece, and the reasoning behind it.
I loved seeing Jennifer's first trips to the island, and how she gradually grew to be completely enamoured by its wildlife, the food, the locals and the way of life on the island. I enjoyed seeing all the customs and festivals of the island, and just how great a slower pace of life could be.
I think I have fallen a bit in love with the island myself, and will definitely be reading the sequel when I get a spare moment. This book has re-awakened my love of travel writing, and for that I can only thank Jennifer Barclay.
September 1, 2015
Call it a love affair turned serious: Barclay knew she had a thing for Greece, but after vacationing on the island of Tilos, something called her back...and back again.
In some ways it's your bog-standard expat memoir—the quirks of village life, local flavour, relationships complicated by location. There are some surprises in store for the reader, though; clues dropped throughout the narrative left me with a sense that something might be amiss without wondering what, and when the truth came out I managed to both be surprised and have seen it coming (a rather satisfying combination!).
For whatever reason the tone of this one seems to me particularly British—something about the way the story just sallies forth, regardless of what parts of Barclay's life are imploding at the time. It's also quite satisfying that the book avoids one of the big narrative traps of expat memoirs—Barclay knew Greece, and Greek, before she set about moving there; she's more or less prepared for her experience and doesn't spend endless pages in angst about language difficulties and culture shock. (There's a place for that, sure...but there's also a big place for genuine affection for a new home.)
Doesn't really make me want to uproot and run off to Greece...but does put to mind the value of following one's dreams.
In some ways it's your bog-standard expat memoir—the quirks of village life, local flavour, relationships complicated by location. There are some surprises in store for the reader, though; clues dropped throughout the narrative left me with a sense that something might be amiss without wondering what, and when the truth came out I managed to both be surprised and have seen it coming (a rather satisfying combination!).
For whatever reason the tone of this one seems to me particularly British—something about the way the story just sallies forth, regardless of what parts of Barclay's life are imploding at the time. It's also quite satisfying that the book avoids one of the big narrative traps of expat memoirs—Barclay knew Greece, and Greek, before she set about moving there; she's more or less prepared for her experience and doesn't spend endless pages in angst about language difficulties and culture shock. (There's a place for that, sure...but there's also a big place for genuine affection for a new home.)
Doesn't really make me want to uproot and run off to Greece...but does put to mind the value of following one's dreams.
March 25, 2014
Jennifer Barclay has a great blog – full of little informative snippets, sneak peeks into her life and chock-a-block with photos. I really enjoy reading her posts, feeling her enthusiasm for the island and people she loves. To a certain extent I got this too from her book FALLING IN HONEY but instead of everyday snapshots there is more depth, more personal feelings and a lot less pictures! What Jenny brings us is the bearing of her soul, along with a name change or two to protect the innocent – or not so innocent. The readers also get to be immersed into Tilos – its people, its customs, its history and even its recipes! Jennifer is a very evocative writer you can almost smell the honey, the salty sea, the goats. Along with the evocative smells the reader get a warts and all summary of some disastrous relationships that drives her to the very edge – and each time it is Greece in general and Tilos in particular that brings her back and heals her mental wounds.
With thanks to Sourcebooks and the author via Netgalley for my copy to read and review
With thanks to Sourcebooks and the author via Netgalley for my copy to read and review
June 3, 2017
This review is for both books, which I read as they were left behind in a lodge. Both are nearly identical. Author does very little but brag about men buying her drinks, look for men to buy her drinks, makes brief mention of the beauty of the island she lives on, then wonders why men buy her drinks and what that could possibly mean? Do they like her? Should she like them? People are impressed she speaks Greek! A man ________ !!! (made her dinner/invited her to his home/gave her something). This is a study in vanity; shallow observations poorly linked together like bland journal entries in a very poor echo of better works. I felt like I spent several hours with an uncomfortably self-obsessed individual. Judging from the reviews here, these two volumes appeal to middle aged English women hoping to come to Greece and escape. Darlings, just go, and read a better class of memoir when you get here.
October 16, 2014
This is part biography and part travel book.
Jen Barclay has always had a think about Greece, and in particular a thing about a small island called Tilos. Even though she has travelled all over the world, she always comes back to Greece to be completely relaxed.
All through the book you get some feeling for her passion for the island, and the walks, the food and the people, and the ways that it gives her a decent work life balance. She has obviously had a pretty torrid time with relationships, and the main part in the book is about Matt, who may possibly be the right man. Earlier chapters are about first trip to Greece, and another relationship.
All that is important, but this is mostly about her living in Tilos, and making the best of all that life has thrown at her. I haven't been to Greece, but reading this makes me want to go.
Jen Barclay has always had a think about Greece, and in particular a thing about a small island called Tilos. Even though she has travelled all over the world, she always comes back to Greece to be completely relaxed.
All through the book you get some feeling for her passion for the island, and the walks, the food and the people, and the ways that it gives her a decent work life balance. She has obviously had a pretty torrid time with relationships, and the main part in the book is about Matt, who may possibly be the right man. Earlier chapters are about first trip to Greece, and another relationship.
All that is important, but this is mostly about her living in Tilos, and making the best of all that life has thrown at her. I haven't been to Greece, but reading this makes me want to go.
July 9, 2013
This book made me very homesick for Crete. The smell of the wild herbs; the feel of the sun on my back; the warm water lapping over me and those lovely, lovely kind and generous people who appear with eggs or oil or honey or vegetables, all produced from their own land - I entirely recognise this from the wonderful years i have spent in Greece - so I thank her for bringing me that, and wish her well on the beautiful island of Tilos.
However, her love life is seriously DULL. If she erased the word 'desperate' which is clearly tattooed across her forehead, she might just meet the right one, but till then ....!
However, her love life is seriously DULL. If she erased the word 'desperate' which is clearly tattooed across her forehead, she might just meet the right one, but till then ....!
August 11, 2014
Не си мислете, че това е поредния чиклит, в който главната героиня след като бива зарязана, предприема ново начинание, което я среща с нова любов и накрая всички заживяват щастливо. Всъщност Дженифър разказва собствения си опит в преследването и осъществяването на една мечта. О да, има и любов, има и резки обрати, някои дори бихте си помислили, че са като измислица, но понякога най-чудатите неща, които можете да си представите се случват в реалния живот.
Цялото ревю тук: http://bookcompass.wordpress.com/2014...
Цялото ревю тук: http://bookcompass.wordpress.com/2014...
May 29, 2017
Lasot šo grāmatu, nepamet sajūta, ka autore bez literārām dotībām tikai fiksē visu ko redz, ko domā, ko ēd un cik, kas maksā. Sižets šaudās pa dažādiem laikiem, vairākas reizes nevietā tiek pieminēti vieni un tie paši vēsturiski notikumi, kuriem atrast saikni ar sižetu diezgan pagrūti. Grāmatā ir grūti atrast kādu rindkopu, ko var izlasīt bez nepatīkamām izjūtām par izteiksmes veidu, kaut gan šad tad tādas parādās. Vienu brīdi nodomāju, ka tās rindkopas varētu būt koriģētas vai cita autora uzrakstītas. Neiesaku.
March 5, 2018
No literārā viedokļa ne visai baudāmi, bet Grieķijas ainavu un ikdienas sīkumus atmiņā atsauc ideāli.
July 1, 2018
Such a fab book of falling in love with a greek island and trying to decide what you want in life. Truly felt like i was following in Jennifer's footsteps. loved every page x
May 16, 2020
Memoir about how an author and literary agent wound up on a tiny island in the Aegean, her paradise.
September 21, 2017
So glad I picked this book up from the library. Last year, I visited Greece for the first time. Although I went to the popular island of Mykonos, my favorite times were spent on the island of Milos. The story made me feel I was there again and I look forward to going back again in the future. Although I really liked this story, at times the writing seemed choppy. Some parts didnt seem to be complete. Sometimes the author gave very specific details and in the next paragraph was very vague. I also didn't really understand the ending. There was a link to the author's blog. I wasn't sure if that meant there was more of the story. Well I didn't find a continuation of the book there, but I did find more information about the author
January 23, 2022
Litterärt är detta på väldigt låg nivå, det kunde lika gärna varit en skoluppsats eller egna dagboksanteckningar: först hände det, sedan hände det och så hände det, staplat på varandra på ett enkelt språk (vilket i sig inte behöver vara ett fel).
Lite irriterande också att huvudpersonen bestämmer sig för att hålla sig undan män och romantik efter ett kraschar förhållande och sedan tycks hon ändå bara umgås med män. Ett tag undrar jag om det överhuvudtaget finns några kvinnor på den grekiska ön Tilos.
Det enda som förmår mig att ge två istället för ett i betyg är att jag faktiskt får lite känsla för Tilos. Helt klart en ö för mig!
Lite irriterande också att huvudpersonen bestämmer sig för att hålla sig undan män och romantik efter ett kraschar förhållande och sedan tycks hon ändå bara umgås med män. Ett tag undrar jag om det överhuvudtaget finns några kvinnor på den grekiska ön Tilos.
Det enda som förmår mig att ge två istället för ett i betyg är att jag faktiskt får lite känsla för Tilos. Helt klart en ö för mig!
May 2, 2023
This book does a wonderful job of evoking life on a small Greek Island. It’s very pleasant to spend time there and that’s when the book is at its best. We get tours of the island including the beaches, the waters and the views; we meet the locals, and we get descriptions of the food. (Trigger warning for vegetarians - there is lots of deliciousness in the baby goats and octopi! She loves eating them but also playing with them…) Like the author, I was less enthralled by her time in the UK. I know a book like this can’t be written without the memoir aspect but I felt a disconnect when she was writing about her love-life even though it ended up being integral to the arc of the story.
July 8, 2017
I loved this book. If you are battling with British summer weather here is your fix of sunshine, well during the Greek summer time, during Jennifer's winter time on Tilos you might feel cosiest cocooned in your British central heating. Jennifer's understanding of nature, weather, light, humanity is descriptive writing at its best. What on the face of it is just one ex-patriot's experience of life on a tiny remote Greek island colourful characters certainly add to the narrative and one in particular adding an extraordinary twist to the 'plot'.
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