The Summer of My Greek Taverna: A Memoir
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The Summer of My Greek Taverna has ratings and 45 reviews. Poorly written memoir of the author's attempt to co-run a taverna on an isolcated Greek. The Summer of My Greek Taverna: A Memoir and millions of other books are . In this memoir, he colorfully recollects his life there, particularly one summer.
Tom Stone went to Greece one summer to write a novel -- and stayed twenty-two years. On Patmos, the tiny island where St. John received the apocalyptic visions recorded in the Book of Revelations, he fell in love with Danielle, a beautiful French painter.
The Summer of My Greek Taverna
His novel completed and sold, he decided to stay a little longer. Seven idyllic years later, after the birth of their second child, they left Patmos for Crete, where Stone taught English to civil servants and Danielle painted icons for tourists. Back on Patmos, Stone quickly discovered that he was no longer a friend or a patron but a competitor.
He learned hard lessons about the Greeks' skill at bargaining, and about how truly effective the curse of the Evil Eye can be. There was no longer time to leisurely sip Greek coffee in the morning or linger over oregano-scented lunches with friends. And there were still the many joys of being back in Patmos: His illusions shattered, Stone turned to his wife and children, who had been there all the time, offering their support. Tom Stone was a Broadway stage manager and assistant director for ten years before he moved to Greece, after twenty-two years of paradise and heartache he moved to London and finally California.
Liked the descriptions of the Greek countryside and seaside. Sep 02, Cathy rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: Everyone, especially someone traveling to the Greek islands.
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I loved this book. It's a great story of an expat who has lived on the Greek islands for quite a long time.
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- The Summer of My Greek Taverna by Tom Stone.
One summer, he decides to get involved in a partnership with a Greek tavern owner. He trusts this Greek friend who he has known for years; during his time on the island, he has often frequented The Beautiful Helen, which he calls the tavern. We get the backstory of his friendship with this tavern owner, the wonderful memories he has tied up in this place, the romance with his French wife, I loved this book. We get the backstory of his friendship with this tavern owner, the wonderful memories he has tied up in this place, the romance with his French wife, and finally the tough summer running the tavern, which turns out to be a fiasco in many ways.
I love people that don't gloss over stories, who tell it like it is, and Tom Stone does this perfectly. He pokes fun at himself and the characters he encounters as he tries to understand their culture. I highly recommend it! Jul 24, Lbaker rated it did not like it Shelves: Set on the Patmos island, Greece. Did not like the writing - author seemed to be saying that like Washington and the cherry tree - Americans do not lie, however, all Greeks do. The American had a huge ego, of course the only way he could fail is if someone else was cheating.
Further, he believed he was being cheated, but did not bother to check the finances of the business he became partner in, that is closer to stupid than naive. Last, the recipes do not seem very appetizing, not really worth tryi Set on the Patmos island, Greece. Last, the recipes do not seem very appetizing, not really worth trying. Feb 21, Stubble rated it really liked it.
This is the type of book that I really enjoy - a true story of an adventurer who doesn't have everything turn out the way he imagined. The setting of the Greek isles introduces us to various characters, both good and bad. Zorba could have fit in very easily. The author goes through some interesting changes and it keeps your interest as he narrates his thoughts and emotions. It seems that in today's American culture, it is unusual to find these wanderers.
I am trying out the recipes and hope they This is the type of book that I really enjoy - a true story of an adventurer who doesn't have everything turn out the way he imagined. I am trying out the recipes and hope they taste as good as they seem. Oct 20, Lynn rated it did not like it. As indicated by my star rating, I really didn't like this book.
It's a cautionary tale: The thing that annoyed me so much is that the protagonist, despite warnings from many sides, goes blindly along towards failure. Read this book if you're considering going into the restaurant trade and have very little experience behind the counter.
John received the apocalyptic vision recorded in the Book of Revelations and Tom Stone wrote his first novel. Meanwhile, Tom has fashioned a stand-alone companion volume out of the large amount of material the publishers asked him to remove from the original edition because it far exceeded the contractual limit. While the descriptions of life on the island and various insights into Greek culture, for the most part the book is predictable and not terribly engaging. Zorba could have fit in very easily. I do plan to make some of the recipes though! True Crime Children's Books. I have a friend whose father is Greek and started a Greek restaurant; I'd hoped to send this with her when she arrives next week.
View all 3 comments. Apr 07, Nicole rated it it was ok.
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Poorly written memoir of the author's attempt to co-run a taverna on an isolcated Greek island, despite the many warnings of his various Greek friends. While the descriptions of life on the island and various insights into Greek culture, for the most part the book is predictable and not terribly engaging. It runs its course to a very much anticipated ending which mercifully came rather quickly. Jul 21, Russell rated it liked it. Account of the author's several years on the Greek island of Patmos, culminating in one summer where he rents a beachside restaurant from the larcenous owner.
Entertaining, but I'd probably have liked it more had it been set in a town with more local characters. Jul 24, Rebecca rated it it was ok. It served its purpose well. I enjoyed Tom Stone's book In fact my visit to the islands a one day trip on the tourist boat was a big disappointment. What did I expect? I did enjoy my visit to Greece and this was just the kind of light read to pack in my luggage.
Aug 07, Marianne Wallace added it Shelves: Hopeful, blissful time spent on a Greek island as naive expectations are dashed by the Greek mentality and behavior of the taverna owner. Still, although a cautionary tale of entering into a business arrangement with a Greek living on a Greek island, the setting as vacation spot was very attractive. Jul 25, Deb Readerbuzz Nance rated it liked it Shelves: I have a friend whose father is Greek and started a Greek restaurant; I'd hoped to send this with her when she arrives next week.
But the book is too bleak about Greeks. A very thin tale. Feb 14, Charlene rated it liked it.
The Summer of My Greek Taverna : A Memoir
Having spent some time in Greece long years ago I was attracted to the notion of re-entering some of the glorious life there—glorious and chaotic! I did enjoy the sensation of the warm sun, the extraordinary geography, the fun loving people and their rather slippery business dealings. I was disappointed by the last third of the book which seemed weak.
Jul 19, K rated it it was ok Shelves: I really wanted to like this book, but I found it tried to be too many things travel memoir, culinary memoir, cookbook, etc. Also, a bit too much doom-and-gloom foreshadowing for my taste. Feb 02, Beth Harper rated it liked it Shelves: A memoir of American expatriate running a beachside taverna on a Greek island one summer.
Filled with memorable characters and observations of local and tourist life on the island of Patmos. I listened to the audio version of this book, and the experience was heightened by listening to it walking to and from work in January and February. Mar 22, Jo added it. Food in Greece what could be better. Made me long to go back. I have been to Patmos and the food is great!
The book brought me back to a place that is so dear to my heat. I do not think picking up and moving to another country is as easy as Stone makes it sound. At least, not with two children. Otherwise, I think we would do it.
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May 28, Ryann rated it liked it. A bit poorly written, not much plot, and the author is annoying. It's interesting to get his point of view, and it was fun to read while on a Greek island. It's pretty light, but i think there are better books about Greece and better memoirs involving Greek islands. I thought the insights into the Greek culture were very interesting, and loved the recipes at the back of the book!