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The Drunken Spelunker's Guide to Plato
Just because we’re all prisoners in the cave doesn’t mean we can’t have fun.
The Drunken Spelunker’s Guide to Plato is based on Plato’s Allegory of the Cave from The Republic. In this novel, the Cave is a dank basement bar in the small Southern town of Waterville, overflowing with cheap beer, good blues, and local oddballs. There’s Vera, the tough but tender owner; Pancho, the philosophical piano tuner; Billy Joe, the former rising star back home after a stop in Memphis; and Commie Tom, the exceedingly generous proprietor of the Hammer and Sickle Bookstore.
The newest bartender is whip-smart tomboy Josie, who hopped a bus from the Appalachian backwoods on a quest to discover who she is and where she belongs. What she finds is the Cave and the love of a charming regular named Danny. Armed with lessons from mythology and Plato’s philosophy, Josie navigates the ups and downs of first love and begins to understand that something much greater is waiting for her just outside the Cave.
With Josie as our brave guide, we are submerged in a rarely explored subculture. Her journey into the Cave and back out is filled with trials and tragedy, but Josie is helped along by her newfound community of large-hearted hard drinkers. The Drunken Spelunker’s Guide to Plato is a love letter to the families we build for ourselves and the unexpected ways life can answer the question, what if?
The Drunken Spelunker’s Guide to Plato is based on Plato’s Allegory of the Cave from The Republic. In this novel, the Cave is a dank basement bar in the small Southern town of Waterville, overflowing with cheap beer, good blues, and local oddballs. There’s Vera, the tough but tender owner; Pancho, the philosophical piano tuner; Billy Joe, the former rising star back home after a stop in Memphis; and Commie Tom, the exceedingly generous proprietor of the Hammer and Sickle Bookstore.
The newest bartender is whip-smart tomboy Josie, who hopped a bus from the Appalachian backwoods on a quest to discover who she is and where she belongs. What she finds is the Cave and the love of a charming regular named Danny. Armed with lessons from mythology and Plato’s philosophy, Josie navigates the ups and downs of first love and begins to understand that something much greater is waiting for her just outside the Cave.
With Josie as our brave guide, we are submerged in a rarely explored subculture. Her journey into the Cave and back out is filled with trials and tragedy, but Josie is helped along by her newfound community of large-hearted hard drinkers. The Drunken Spelunker’s Guide to Plato is a love letter to the families we build for ourselves and the unexpected ways life can answer the question, what if?
240 pages, Hardcover
First published August 19, 2015
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544 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
December 28, 2015
Funny how things happen sometimes. The unique title first drew me towards this book, I read the book jacket and wondered how the author was going to combine elements of Plato, mixed with Greek mythology, in a totally contemporary setting. I was intrigued. In my opinion she succeeded, brilliantly.
Josie, a young woman escapes her Appalachian hill town and by bus finds herself in Waterville, a southern college town. There she finds employment tending bar at a place called, "The Cave." she finds herself part of a hard drinking misfit group of regulars who inhabit the night. Yet, she finds so much more, friends who become her family, love and heartbreak and unconditional acceptance, tragedy and forgiveness.. The characters are so wonderful, from Commie Tom who runs the bookstore, "Hammer and Sickle", to Blossom who owns a small diner and is always there when needed with food and solace. So many more, all amazingly real.
This was the time before internet, cell phones so there are discussions of books, music, ideas, thoughts, politics, refreshingly nostalgic. Josie is our narrator and her words are always proceeded by a reference to a particular story in Greek mythology or an excerpt of "The Cave." it fit in with what was happening seamlessly. Made me see how many of these older ideas and thoughts can still fit in today's world, how they can be applied to personal situations.
These were people I could see myself being friends with, if they were real of course. I will miss everyone of them. And this little book has become one of my favorite reads of this year.
Josie, a young woman escapes her Appalachian hill town and by bus finds herself in Waterville, a southern college town. There she finds employment tending bar at a place called, "The Cave." she finds herself part of a hard drinking misfit group of regulars who inhabit the night. Yet, she finds so much more, friends who become her family, love and heartbreak and unconditional acceptance, tragedy and forgiveness.. The characters are so wonderful, from Commie Tom who runs the bookstore, "Hammer and Sickle", to Blossom who owns a small diner and is always there when needed with food and solace. So many more, all amazingly real.
This was the time before internet, cell phones so there are discussions of books, music, ideas, thoughts, politics, refreshingly nostalgic. Josie is our narrator and her words are always proceeded by a reference to a particular story in Greek mythology or an excerpt of "The Cave." it fit in with what was happening seamlessly. Made me see how many of these older ideas and thoughts can still fit in today's world, how they can be applied to personal situations.
These were people I could see myself being friends with, if they were real of course. I will miss everyone of them. And this little book has become one of my favorite reads of this year.
July 17, 2017
The title caught my eye but the word Plato made me hesitate. I was in no mood for another Sophie's World, even if this story was set in a bar.
This is the second book this year that feels as if it was dug it out of the dustiest corner of a bookstore only to find a wonderful gem of a book. The other book was Amp'd and both were brought to my attention by a trusted Goodreads friend (I truly love this site)
A hodgepodge of quirky and endearing characters wrapped around a little bit of Plato, Socrates and Greek Mythology made for very interesting and at times very funny reading experience.
On the surface, this is a coming of age story told from the viewpoint of Josie, who recently moved away from her tiny town to a slightly bigger tiny town. She gets a job at The Cave, a hole in the wall bar run by a no-nonsense owner, frequented by an oddball group of regulars.
I loved Josie’s voice, she felt authentic, even if at times a bit of a hot mess. And the friends she makes to help her navigate life’s knocks were just as well drawn.
This is a book that is easy to recommend because it was so hard to put down.
This is the second book this year that feels as if it was dug it out of the dustiest corner of a bookstore only to find a wonderful gem of a book. The other book was Amp'd and both were brought to my attention by a trusted Goodreads friend (I truly love this site)
A hodgepodge of quirky and endearing characters wrapped around a little bit of Plato, Socrates and Greek Mythology made for very interesting and at times very funny reading experience.
On the surface, this is a coming of age story told from the viewpoint of Josie, who recently moved away from her tiny town to a slightly bigger tiny town. She gets a job at The Cave, a hole in the wall bar run by a no-nonsense owner, frequented by an oddball group of regulars.
I loved Josie’s voice, she felt authentic, even if at times a bit of a hot mess. And the friends she makes to help her navigate life’s knocks were just as well drawn.
This is a book that is easy to recommend because it was so hard to put down.
February 2, 2016
I don't know what to make of this story, part Cheers, Greek Mythology and Plato's cave allegory just for fun. While I wonder if I missed some some deep messages, I still enjoyed the ride.
February 23, 2017
Attracted by the title. A fun quick read. Nearly got a hangover just from reading it. Liked the characters; became very fond of them.
I've worked in taverns, college bars, cocktail lounges when I was in my 20s.
Some top-of-the head comments the morning after I finished reading:
Couldn't quite believe that she didn't go thru severe alcohol withdrawals when she was snowed it. Her alcohol consumption horrified me; I would think she'd permanently damage her liver or kidneys. She seemed well on the road to becoming a hard-core alcoholic.
Also disappointed with her final encounter with awful Christian woman. Very weak retort.
I've known some "Dannys" and none would have visited parents he didn't even like once a week; what was their hold on him?
Wasn't clear to me why her mother ignored her. Just because she wasn't "girlie," and a bit of a Tom Boy? Just a shallow mother I suppose.
Surprised one college night class would cost $400 30-some years ago. Not saying inaccurate, just surprised.
Spoiler: Sorry that Jay just vanished.
I've worked in taverns, college bars, cocktail lounges when I was in my 20s.
Some top-of-the head comments the morning after I finished reading:
Couldn't quite believe that she didn't go thru severe alcohol withdrawals when she was snowed it. Her alcohol consumption horrified me; I would think she'd permanently damage her liver or kidneys. She seemed well on the road to becoming a hard-core alcoholic.
Also disappointed with her final encounter with awful Christian woman. Very weak retort.
I've known some "Dannys" and none would have visited parents he didn't even like once a week; what was their hold on him?
Wasn't clear to me why her mother ignored her. Just because she wasn't "girlie," and a bit of a Tom Boy? Just a shallow mother I suppose.
Surprised one college night class would cost $400 30-some years ago. Not saying inaccurate, just surprised.
Spoiler: Sorry that Jay just vanished.
March 4, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It some respects it reminded me of a Southern version of 'The Mysteries of Pittsburgh'. I'm not saying it is in any way derivative of Chabon's book, it just evoked the same kind of reaction. It is a story that chronicles a specific period in a person's life, a specific place and a specific time in history. In doing so it manages to avoid being hokey and nostalgic and draw out reactions we can all relate to. For people who live in my neck of the woods, the locations will feel familiar. The characters are all fully formed and engaging. The authors use of Greek legend and Plato's writings throughout is a clever and well-used device. This book would be enjoyable for any reader.
August 24, 2016
A random library choice. Liked the title and the interspersed mythology/philosophy but not enough character growth and a very slow plot
June 14, 2017
Upon hearing that I was mourning the death of Robert Pirsig, the author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, a friend recommended this book: The Drunken Spelunker’s Guide to Plato, as a means to read something similar and somehow re-igniting my memories of a philosophical work that changed my life. While this book is excellent in its own right, it isn’t ZAMM.
I must say that I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would, mainly because Kathy Giuffre, while a very good writer, had a hard time setting the stage for herself. I struggled with the characters as they were introduced. I had a hard time staying interested since the characters did not grip me at the very beginning, and she introduced so many of them at once that I kept sneaking back to figure out which characters she was talking about. But. She more than made up for it as she found her groove about half way through the book. The characters became real to me and as the narrative moved along, I started to empathize with the quirkiness of all the characters,
The structure of the book is ambitious. The author interweaves the story of Josie, the narrator, and her life as a bartender at The Cave, a dark and subterranean watering hole; a contemplation of Plato’s fable of prisoners in a cave; and finally a mixture of Greek mythological tales. At first the whole structure seemed to be a pseudo-intellectual exercise in pomposity. But the tapestry works, mainly because of the author’s sense of humor and her easiness with the language and her way with the story. She easily weaves in and out of the three threads and is able to make the story illustrate the mythology and the philosophical ponderings. I found myself being drawn in to the book as the story became more interesting until I was completely captivated and charmed. In the wrong hands, the easy parallel drawn between Plato’s cave and the bar named the Cave could have been a disaster. A lazy writer would have gone for the facile laughs and false profundity; this author never went for the cheap laugh or the fake gravitas. She worked pretty hard, in her research on philosophy and mythology to give us, the reader, a very happy and satisfying read.
The best compliment I can pay a work of fiction is that I was sad and forlorn when I reached the end of a book because I wanted the story to continue and I wanted to be led by the author through her thoughts.
I was sad and forlorn when I reached the end of this book.
I must say that I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would, mainly because Kathy Giuffre, while a very good writer, had a hard time setting the stage for herself. I struggled with the characters as they were introduced. I had a hard time staying interested since the characters did not grip me at the very beginning, and she introduced so many of them at once that I kept sneaking back to figure out which characters she was talking about. But. She more than made up for it as she found her groove about half way through the book. The characters became real to me and as the narrative moved along, I started to empathize with the quirkiness of all the characters,
The structure of the book is ambitious. The author interweaves the story of Josie, the narrator, and her life as a bartender at The Cave, a dark and subterranean watering hole; a contemplation of Plato’s fable of prisoners in a cave; and finally a mixture of Greek mythological tales. At first the whole structure seemed to be a pseudo-intellectual exercise in pomposity. But the tapestry works, mainly because of the author’s sense of humor and her easiness with the language and her way with the story. She easily weaves in and out of the three threads and is able to make the story illustrate the mythology and the philosophical ponderings. I found myself being drawn in to the book as the story became more interesting until I was completely captivated and charmed. In the wrong hands, the easy parallel drawn between Plato’s cave and the bar named the Cave could have been a disaster. A lazy writer would have gone for the facile laughs and false profundity; this author never went for the cheap laugh or the fake gravitas. She worked pretty hard, in her research on philosophy and mythology to give us, the reader, a very happy and satisfying read.
The best compliment I can pay a work of fiction is that I was sad and forlorn when I reached the end of a book because I wanted the story to continue and I wanted to be led by the author through her thoughts.
I was sad and forlorn when I reached the end of this book.
January 18, 2016
I picked up this book on a whim as I have a fondness for all things cave related. What I discovered was a novel that beautifully applies Plato's Allegory of the Cave to the life of a young woman named Josie. As soon as she is able, Josie hops a bus to the first promising town as a way to escape her family and find her own way. She disembarks in Waterville, a small Southern town, and finds her way to a local underground bar called the Cave. She is quickly befriended and hired to be a bartender. Josie is introduced to all kinds of unusual characters who all make a big impact on her new world. As she learns about life, love, heartache, and loss, Josie grows into herself and starts to find her way. A beautiful exploration of human nature and life's journey, this is one book that kept me up until the wee hours of the night. It will make you think about your own journey and all that life has to offer.
Bettina P. / Marathon County Public Library
Find this book in our library catalog.
January 5, 2016
I picked up this book on a whim as I have a fondness for all things cave related. What I discovered was a novel that beautifully applies Plato's Allegory of the Cave to the life of a young woman named Josie. As soon as she is able, Josie hops a bus to the first promising town as a way to escape her family and find her own way. She disembarks in Waterville, a small Southern town, and finds her way to a local underground bar called the Cave. She is quickly befriended and hired to be a bartender. Josie is introduced to all kinds of unusual characters who all make a big impact on her new world. As she learns about life, love, heartache, and loss, Josie grows into herself and starts to find her way. A beautiful exploration of human nature and life's journey, this is one book that kept me up until the wee hours of the night. It will make you think about your own journey and all that life has to offer.
March 20, 2016
The voice in this novel is lively and distinctive. It's a coming-of-age story that takes place mainly in an underground bar called "The Cave," and the narrative is interwoven with relevant bits of Greek mythology, including, of course, the governing metaphor of Plato's cave. The book celebrates community--one description of the book calls it "a love letter to the families we build for ourselves," which I think is a lovely and apt description of the way the characters in this novel create bonds of mutual support. The writing is full of surprising descriptions and insights. A true pleasure to read. Highly recommended.
February 28, 2016
Each chapter starts with a bit of the Dialogues and then goes into a good yarn of a young woman growing up in the South. Not being a young woman, it is hard for me to identify with the protagonist but the author carries the story well. There are a few loose subplots at the end that could have been worked but a credible first try for an academic whose field is not in the Arts nor Fiction. I liked it and it was a two day read.
March 1, 2016
I was intrigued with the idea of mixing Greek philosophy and a fictional story. I think the author did a nice job of that. And she also created an interesting little world which I enjoyed inhabiting briefly.
August 3, 2016
Great modern retake on the Allegory of the Cave by Plato which I recently listened to for the first time. Giuffre has wonderful pacing and tone to her story, and her characters are as quirky and true as any who might frequent a small town bar.
September 18, 2015
A beautiful, thoughtful, funny read. Knowing the author, it's amazing how quickly the protagonist's voice became her own instead of Kathy's. Speaks of good writing to me!
November 28, 2016
This book was page turner and wonderfully written. It had all the elements I was looking for, comedic relief, philosophy, romance and character development! Not a goodread but a great read!!
October 20, 2021
The novel is based on Plato’s Allegory of The Cave from the Republic. The main character Josie arrived on a bus from the backwoods of Appalachia to start her life. Her new found friends become like family. I especially enjoyed the philosophical start to the chapters educating on Plato while showing through the storytelling that Plato’s ideas are alive and enlightening even today.
January 4, 2026
I liked The Drunken Spelunker’s Guide to Plato, even though I didn’t fully connect with the philosophy parts. I was much more drawn to Josie and her experience leaving home and figuring things out on her own. I appreciated her independence and especially liked that the ending didn’t go in a predictable direction. Overall, an enjoyable read with a character I really liked following.
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June 25, 2019Ancient Greek mythology and philosophers mixed with rural bar life. Wouldn't have thought possible, but it works. Liked how everyone watched out for everyone else. Isn't that how life is supposed to work?
July 24, 2017
I love the use of mythology and of The Allegory of the Cave. I just didn't love the central storyline.
September 25, 2024
Loveable characters, enjoyable & easy read. I also enjoy how the author ties in the Greek Myths, Plato's Symposium, and Plato's Allegory of the Cave.
May 26, 2025
Delightful - reflective, peaceful. A good read.
October 25, 2015
I enjoyed this book. I bought it because I was told the story was based around the people who frequented a basement bar in Chapel Hill. It was neat to be able to pick out a few things that I believe the author was referencing within the story and wonder if Millboro was Pittsboro and if the barbecue place near Millboro is supposed to be Allen and Son's. She used a lot of Socrates and Plato and Greek mythology on life themes to parallel a young woman's journey into her own truth in the early 1990s. I liked how the book showed us that family isn't always blood and isn't always a rubber stamp, there is plenty of unresolved injustice and how fate is really a result of our choices.
February 21, 2016
This is one of those books that is great in theory, but the execution is lacking. I get where the author is coming from, and why, and I support her bringing her philosophy background into her fiction, but the Platonic interludes eventually became a distraction from the main story. I felt like I was being pulled away from Josie's growth and development, which is where I wanted the focus to remain. And it really felt unfinished overall, like some of the characters were brought in for just a few moments, but had no resolution, which is really frustrating. But I wouldn't feel that way if I hadn't grown attached to them, hence the stars.
July 23, 2015
If you were too drunk to remember your post-UNC days hanging out at the Cave back in the 90's....well, this book won't help much. It's a fun read though! Travel back to a simpler and blurrier time in a thinly disguised fictional Chapel Hill.
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September 20, 2015I read this book as a candidate for Great Group Reads. I remember some of the questions it asked: Is it the duty of philosophy to bring us into the light? Why do good girls feel so drawn to bad boys? What causes trouble in couples – usually either too much love or not enough love?
October 12, 2015
Quietly brilliant.
December 10, 2015
Very good story around Plato's cave allegory, I enjoyed how the author wove people's lives around a philosophical understanding of the human condition.
March 3, 2016
holy shit. really? we just discussed plato's allegory of the cave in my philosophy class !!
February 26, 2016
A fun read. I enjoyed the references to my old Chapel Hill days and the surrounding area. Good story that held my interest nicely.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews