jw

I've rec'd so many wonderful book suggestions by eavesdropping on the posts of others, perhaps you can suggest a couple of wonderful novels or travel memoires that I can give someone who dreams about visiting the Greek islands. He is very well read, so I'm not looking for The Moonspinners (which I confess to adoring when I was in highschool). But maybe there's something newer Kazantzakis? Thanks in advance. J.

Sheila

They've been mentioned on here before, but Dinner with persephone is about an Australian girl spendinga year in Greece to find her eroots, and is very good.<BR><BR>The Olive Grove, is also excellent.<BR><BR>There are a couple about Cyrus worth looking at if you're not being too purist.

Marilyn

Lawrence Durrell - Bitter Lemons

Sheila

Bitter Lemons is one of the Cyprus books I referred toobliquely. Others would include Journey into Cyprus and Hitchens's Cyprus

Maggie

"My Family and Other Animals" by Gerald Durrell.<BR>An evocative look at the Corfu of the mid thirties - not modern - but a wonderful read with some fascinating characters.<BR>Can't recommend it highly enough.<BR>Enjoy Greece<BR>Regards<BR>Maggie

Maira

If your friend is well read then he probably already read "The Magus" by John Fowles. If not, be forewarned this is kind of a strange story about a young Englishman who takes on a teaching assignment on a remote Greek island and befriends a wealthy local, who turns out to be a very disturbing type. The book would make a great Stanley Kubrick's movie.

flygirl

I cannot believe no one mentioned Captain Corelli's Mandolin??

Sue

The Collosus of Maroussi by Henry Miller, The King Must Die by Mary Renault

Sue

I sure fractured the spelling of Colossus.

tripster

Captain Corelli's Mandolin is one. But why not try a Greek classic?? Some of the ancient stuff would certainly be a fulfilling change than a novel...

mimi taylor

May I cast you a few films?<BR>Zorba, the greek, and Never on Sunday.<BR><BR>Maira, the Magus was made into a film, I can't remember if it starred Anthony Quinn. You can check with Facets.com

jw

Thanks all.

jw

I've decided to make it a theme present: Can you recommend the best cd of traditional Greek music? Or the best book of Greek recipes? Thanks again. J.

Peter

There are 3 books about Symi called Island in Greece, Bus Stop Symi and Interval on Symi. All three describe liver of Brits on the tiny Greek island before it became the summer residence of English vacationers.

Leslie

To add another "makes-you-want-to-go-to-Greece" film...there is "Shirley Valentine."

jw

I loved that movie! And I'm still trying to track down the Symi books, maybe my library will have them as Amazon says out of print. <BR><BR>No ideas for cds? That's probably a difficult one unless you are Greek. I'm not interested in top 40 or good-grief not Yanni, more traditional melodies. <BR><BR>I'm enthused about putting together this wish-we-were-in-Greece b'day present. I've got a lead on where to buy products locally. Care to share opinions re<BR>manouri, kaseri, or kefalograviera cheeses? or wines--Athiri or Agiorgitiko or Assyrtiko? Found these names on the web, but no opinions. J.

Peter

JW, You can find the Symi books on Alibris.com. They specialize in out of print books and have a huge dealer network if they don't have them in stock.

Sheila

For information on traditional music see www.explorecrete.com.<BR><BR>Does nothing for me, but they write about it a lot there

Matt

<BR>Maggie already mentioned Gerald Durrell's "My Faily and other Animals" and I also completely recommend his follow-up called " Birds, Beasts and Relatives " as well as "Fillets of Plaice", all of which recount the map-cap adventures of his wonderfully eccentric family and their friends in 1930's Corfu. I first read them in my early teens while living in Africa, and dreamt of rushing to Greece after that.

Rita

JW,<BR><BR>for music you might want to see if you can find a CD by either Yannis Parios or Harris Alexiou (I'm translating into english so the spelling might be a bit off). Both are well known greek singers. You might want to try a greek grocery store for the music.<BR><BR>A book that always makes me want to head to Greece is called . . . One Room In a Castle, by Karen Connelly. It is a mixture of short stories, poetry and letters from her stay on Lesbos. Her style of writing gives a good insite into the greek way of life.<BR><BR>If you're going for the whole "greek" package be sure to include a small bottle of ouzo and some greek honey!