What do you think?
Rate this book
Greek Village/Greek Island #19
A Self Effacing Man
If it is in your nature to put others before yourself, what do you do when someone makes a play for the person you have secretly loved for years? Maria is illiterate, and Cosmo, the village postman, is obliged to read the love letters he delivers to her. He stammers over the words and blushes at the feelings he cannot bring himself to voice. However life is not always predictable and a sudden twist in events throws him in the role of village hero. But will this change be enough to enable him to overcome his shyness and declare his feelings to the woman he has loved all his life, and will she even be interested after all these years?
298 pages, Paperback
Published October 6, 2016
About the author
Sara Alexi
37 books317 followersBest selling author Sara Alexi was born in Oxford, England. After travelling widely she now splits her time between England and a tiny rural village in the Peloponnese, in Greece, where she has renovated a stone farmhouse, whilst observing the Greek way of life and absorbing the culture.
As a qualified psychotherapist, Sara ran her own practice for years. Her artistic nature was, during that time, confined to painting and she exhibited widely. Her move to Greece was the catalyst that began her writing.
Her 'Greek Village Series' has been very well received and provides a keenly observed, compassionate insight into the Greek people and culture, and the human condition in general.
If you would like a complementary copy of the first in "The Greek Village" Series please follow the links on her web site.
www.Saraalexi.com
She would also love you to friend her on;
https://www.facebook.com/authorsaraalexi
You can also read a recent interview with Sara here: https://saraalexi.com/2016/03/19/unde...
As a qualified psychotherapist, Sara ran her own practice for years. Her artistic nature was, during that time, confined to painting and she exhibited widely. Her move to Greece was the catalyst that began her writing.
Her 'Greek Village Series' has been very well received and provides a keenly observed, compassionate insight into the Greek people and culture, and the human condition in general.
If you would like a complementary copy of the first in "The Greek Village" Series please follow the links on her web site.
www.Saraalexi.com
She would also love you to friend her on;
https://www.facebook.com/authorsaraalexi
You can also read a recent interview with Sara here: https://saraalexi.com/2016/03/19/unde...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 13, 2016
I absolutely loved this book! Sara has created a village where we are all friends and we share each others lives. This book was about an old friend with a new chapter in his life. I am amazed at all of their stories and how Sara keeps each one so believe able and so entertaining with each new experience. I love the Greek village and wish that I could live there!
October 9, 2016
Another delightful visit to the Greek Village.
Now it's hard to pick my favorite. More characters developed, stories told. I tried to read slowly but I still finished too soon. It was lovely. Cosmos is right up there with Yanni on my favorite men list. Read it. Make Sara write more.
Now it's hard to pick my favorite. More characters developed, stories told. I tried to read slowly but I still finished too soon. It was lovely. Cosmos is right up there with Yanni on my favorite men list. Read it. Make Sara write more.
November 28, 2016
A feel good book!
Another great read from Sara! I love it when I don't want to put the book down and when I finish it I have this warm good feeling! It also makes me sad when it's the last book and I have to wait for her to finish her next one!
Another great read from Sara! I love it when I don't want to put the book down and when I finish it I have this warm good feeling! It also makes me sad when it's the last book and I have to wait for her to finish her next one!
November 5, 2016
Yay cosmos#
Lovely. Truly. We always wondered what happened to cosmos, now we know! Good job. Well done. Loved it. Yay!!!!! $$$
Lovely. Truly. We always wondered what happened to cosmos, now we know! Good job. Well done. Loved it. Yay!!!!! $$$
August 5, 2021
I read this book for the ATY 2021 Reading Challenge Week 40: a book with flowers or greenery on the cover.
Until his mother died, he saw himself as slow, lazy, and, yes, worthless. She let him know about these things. So did the men in the kafenio. After all, he was only a postman. He didn't deserve new shoes, she said the old ones would do. New shirts, why? She would mend the collar so the fraying would not show. So he carried the mail. He read to the illiterate. He wrote their letters. He did some errands for those on his route. He served others, but he couldn't marry, he was too slow. She never trusted him with the oranges. He had to depend on the others' knowledge when he was forced to take on this task. He learned. He couldn't court Maria, because someone else loved her. He felt so happy when they had tea and she shared a freshly baked cookie with him, but happiness was something he could never have because he was slow, lazy, and worthless.
Until his mother died, he saw himself as slow, lazy, and, yes, worthless. She let him know about these things. So did the men in the kafenio. After all, he was only a postman. He didn't deserve new shoes, she said the old ones would do. New shirts, why? She would mend the collar so the fraying would not show. So he carried the mail. He read to the illiterate. He wrote their letters. He did some errands for those on his route. He served others, but he couldn't marry, he was too slow. She never trusted him with the oranges. He had to depend on the others' knowledge when he was forced to take on this task. He learned. He couldn't court Maria, because someone else loved her. He felt so happy when they had tea and she shared a freshly baked cookie with him, but happiness was something he could never have because he was slow, lazy, and worthless.
July 3, 2017
Perfection in print
Sara Alexi continues to breathe life into her Greek Village series and the postman is a wonderful addition to get to know. All the citizens in the village are worth knowing and each book feels like a visit to the Kafenio to catch up with lots of laughter, ouzo and stories from old friends. I cannot wait for my next trip.
Sara Alexi continues to see the whole person she writes about. Not just superficially but on a level that brings out the readers empathy for the characters. Her gifts and skill in writing are so refreshing, uplifting and raw unglamorous lives are elevated so gracefully.
Sara Alexi continues to breathe life into her Greek Village series and the postman is a wonderful addition to get to know. All the citizens in the village are worth knowing and each book feels like a visit to the Kafenio to catch up with lots of laughter, ouzo and stories from old friends. I cannot wait for my next trip.
Sara Alexi continues to see the whole person she writes about. Not just superficially but on a level that brings out the readers empathy for the characters. Her gifts and skill in writing are so refreshing, uplifting and raw unglamorous lives are elevated so gracefully.
August 3, 2019
The Greek Village Series
I have just completed the Greek Village Series. I had not read anything from Sara Alexi prior to this. But I can assure you I will read all of her books from this day forward. Sara writes the stories in a way that draws you in from the very first page. You just can't put the book down. The characters are so real, you feel you've know them your entire life.
I would highly recommend any book, by Sara Alexi, to anyone who enjoys good clean enjoyable reading. It is hard to find authors whose books are not filled with sex or profanity; so I am thankful to Amazon for introducing Sara's series to me.
I have just completed the Greek Village Series. I had not read anything from Sara Alexi prior to this. But I can assure you I will read all of her books from this day forward. Sara writes the stories in a way that draws you in from the very first page. You just can't put the book down. The characters are so real, you feel you've know them your entire life.
I would highly recommend any book, by Sara Alexi, to anyone who enjoys good clean enjoyable reading. It is hard to find authors whose books are not filled with sex or profanity; so I am thankful to Amazon for introducing Sara's series to me.
December 5, 2016
I have read all Sara’s books and they are consistently good. This is another little Greek Village gem. She writes so beautifully and gives us characters that we can care about and sympathise with or even get annoyed at. I feel it’s like reading about old friends. This time it’s the turn of Cosmo the postman to be the main character and despite him being ‘a self effacing man’ he does eventually get his girl. He now gets the chance of happiness he deserves. Well done Sara. Highly recommended.
March 23, 2017
I've been a fan of Sara Alexi since stumbling across her first book 'The illegal gardener'. She blends her knowledge of Greece with an insight into the Greek psyche. Beneath the apparent simplistic style lies a deeper layer that the reader can relate to on a personal level, revealing as it does human nature with all its foibles. As well as telling a darned good story there is inevitably a dilemma involved which will reveal the true mettle of the protagonist. I particularly enjoyed the story of Maria and Cosmo and look forward to the next book in the series.
November 1, 2017
A gentle book, in the style of the author that is understated yet so beautifully told.
It was so lovely to watch the character grow throughout the book and for him to discover his real life.
Just lovely.
It was so lovely to watch the character grow throughout the book and for him to discover his real life.
Just lovely.
January 25, 2017
Another great story by Sara. Could not put it down and finished in a day. Don't know how I will cope when I teach the last book in this fabulous series.
May 4, 2017
What a wonderful story! I love finding out what makes each character in the Greek Village Collection unique! And now we know more about sweet Cosmos.... Thank you Sara for another delicious story!
May 17, 2017
I really enjoyed seeing Cosmo in a new light and watching him become the man he could be, once out from under the thumb of his overbearing mama!
August 23, 2017
Bravo!
Wonderful heart warming story. Sara knows how to quietly tell a story that transports you to Greece and inserts you into the story. Love me some Sara Alexi magic.
Wonderful heart warming story. Sara knows how to quietly tell a story that transports you to Greece and inserts you into the story. Love me some Sara Alexi magic.
November 27, 2016
Another fabulous story from Sara Alexi : A few more characters from the Greek Village are explored. I went from laughing out loud at the description of a hung-over Cosmo driving his scooter to Soros to tears of sadness and then tears of joy. You won't be disappointed if you love the Greek Village Series. Can't wait for the colouring book and next story, due out soon.
October 18, 2016
Wonderful!
Comos and his village family feel as if they are my neighbors. Sara's characters come to life with the stroke of her pen. Good story telling!
Comos and his village family feel as if they are my neighbors. Sara's characters come to life with the stroke of her pen. Good story telling!
April 13, 2017
Smooth read
Thoroughly whisked away again to a second home I can almost smell, this sweet love story left me smiling. Thank you
Thoroughly whisked away again to a second home I can almost smell, this sweet love story left me smiling. Thank you
April 14, 2017
How wonderful to read a lovely story about a lovely village and a lovely gentleman. Ms. Alexi builds this village one character at a time which makes you want to keep coming back for more.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews