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The Greek Tapestry
During their childhood in Sydney, Maria and her older sister, Nicki, were friends with Dimity, the girl who lived across the street. They grew up together, spending many joyous afternoons in each other’s company. They loved creating art, and Dimity and Nicki, with a little help from Maria, came first in an art project at school with a tapestry they made by hand, which depicted island life in Greece. They always believed nothing would separate them — but would sadly find that nothing was a tall order. When Nicki and Maria’s parents uproot them to move to Greece, leaving Dimity behind, they discover that even the strongest friendships can disintegrate.
Now, almost twenty years later, each of them has their own life. Dimity lives in a designer house with her sexy husband, an industrial designer named Malcolm, and their two daughters. She loves Malcolm, but struggles to get along with his mother, and is tired of playing the accommodating wife. In need of change and inspiration, she sets off to Greece to see where an unplanned journey may take her.
Maria has both the career and the family, but still feels the need to prove herself to her mother. After her mother hides invitations to her cousin’s wedding in Greece from her, Maria is spurred into action. She is sick of her mother’s interference and heads to Greece in search of answers.
Nicki also has a successful career, but she and her husband, Marco, are unable to have what they really want — a child. This fills Nicki with constant sadness, and puts a lot of pressure on her relationship with Marco. Needing a change in life, she follows her sister to Greece, and stays in a peaceful, historic village outside the small city of Ioannina.
Will Greece fill Nicki’s heart with light and hope again?
As Maria, Nicki, and Dimity each try to untangle their complex lives, will they find their way home and weave their own beautiful reality?
The Greek Tapestry (Julie & Friends, Book 2) can be read as a standalone or as part of a series, following on from the delightful Eventually Julie (Julie & Friends, Book 1). In this latest book, it’s Maria’s turn to take centre stage. Joining her are many exciting new characters, as well as some familiar and popular faces from Book 1.
Fasten your seatbelts and get ready to join the fun in magical Greece!
Now, almost twenty years later, each of them has their own life. Dimity lives in a designer house with her sexy husband, an industrial designer named Malcolm, and their two daughters. She loves Malcolm, but struggles to get along with his mother, and is tired of playing the accommodating wife. In need of change and inspiration, she sets off to Greece to see where an unplanned journey may take her.
Maria has both the career and the family, but still feels the need to prove herself to her mother. After her mother hides invitations to her cousin’s wedding in Greece from her, Maria is spurred into action. She is sick of her mother’s interference and heads to Greece in search of answers.
Nicki also has a successful career, but she and her husband, Marco, are unable to have what they really want — a child. This fills Nicki with constant sadness, and puts a lot of pressure on her relationship with Marco. Needing a change in life, she follows her sister to Greece, and stays in a peaceful, historic village outside the small city of Ioannina.
Will Greece fill Nicki’s heart with light and hope again?
As Maria, Nicki, and Dimity each try to untangle their complex lives, will they find their way home and weave their own beautiful reality?
The Greek Tapestry (Julie & Friends, Book 2) can be read as a standalone or as part of a series, following on from the delightful Eventually Julie (Julie & Friends, Book 1). In this latest book, it’s Maria’s turn to take centre stage. Joining her are many exciting new characters, as well as some familiar and popular faces from Book 1.
Fasten your seatbelts and get ready to join the fun in magical Greece!
353 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 2, 2018
2 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Anthea Syrokou
5 books108 followersAnthea Syrokou is an author who grew up and resides in Sydney, Australia. Her love for writing was planted at a young age when she studied Greek mythology. Anthea's love for literature continued well into her teenage years when she enjoyed reading novels by many of the great English writers.
As a young adult, she immersed herself in reading women’s contemporary fiction and classic literature, and writing about topics that many could relate to, in a witty, light-hearted way, which became a passion — one that she takes very seriously.
Anthea has a BA degree, majoring in psychology and industrial relations, and a diploma in counselling. She also studied Greek literature at university and has worked in direct marketing, and insurance and investments.
Anthea is currently working on her new novel in the literary fiction genre which will be released in early 2026.
When she isn’t writing or reading, Anthea enjoys travelling, yoga, spending time with her family, and escaping to the vineyards. A quiet house with some jazz playing in the background, surrounded by a few lit scented candles is her idea of relaxation. Even though Anthea dreams about hosting the “perfect” dinner party, she is more likely to be found at a cosy, candlelit restaurant. She lives with her husband and their two sons, and often jokes that she may be the only writer who doesn't own a cat.
As a young adult, she immersed herself in reading women’s contemporary fiction and classic literature, and writing about topics that many could relate to, in a witty, light-hearted way, which became a passion — one that she takes very seriously.
Anthea has a BA degree, majoring in psychology and industrial relations, and a diploma in counselling. She also studied Greek literature at university and has worked in direct marketing, and insurance and investments.
Anthea is currently working on her new novel in the literary fiction genre which will be released in early 2026.
When she isn’t writing or reading, Anthea enjoys travelling, yoga, spending time with her family, and escaping to the vineyards. A quiet house with some jazz playing in the background, surrounded by a few lit scented candles is her idea of relaxation. Even though Anthea dreams about hosting the “perfect” dinner party, she is more likely to be found at a cosy, candlelit restaurant. She lives with her husband and their two sons, and often jokes that she may be the only writer who doesn't own a cat.
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August 25, 2018
Normally when I read in a genre outside my normal wheelhouse, if the writer is good — as this one is — I can find enough enjoyment in the read that I can relegate the target audience to the very back of mind while reading. With the first entry in this quasi-series, Eventually Julie, I was able to do this, because I liked Julie, and found many aspects to the more intimately focused story in that one refreshing for the genre. The Greek Tapestry is more ambitious, however, switching back and forth between people who, in the first book, were supporting characters. I concluded early on that, due to the nature of this story, and how I reacted to the characters this time around, it was best to constantly keep the target audience front and center as I read.
There is a lot to like here, to be sure, especially the Greek locations, and the changes it brings about for the struggling couples. Those struggles however, seemed to be of their own making, which is part of what led to my irritation at times. I’ve seen books in this genre with similar plots, however, and not half as well done, be loved by many. I’m rating this high because my adverse reactions to some of the characters’ actions in the story will be considered strengths by its target audience, who read in this genre much more often than I do.
First I’ll talk about the good stuff. The idea of several couples who are friends being pulled toward Greece for varying reasons, and having it play a part in helping them move forward in a positive way is a nice concept. It is executed fairly well, I believe, which is a compliment. Often times when a writer switches back and forth in the narrative as Anthea Syrokou did, it can become tedious for the reader, even annoying. I recently had problems with a book I chose not to review for that very reason. Here, however, all the participants are tied together as friends from childhood, so in a way, it was one story with several tentacles, making the alternating narrative jumps much easier to swallow. They were also engaging, so that was a big plus.
The situations and problems the couples were experiencing seemed true-to-life most of the time — though perhaps a tad exaggerated for fiction purposes. Another plus for the reader. Also the way it came about that each couple ended up in Greece had a kind of kismet aspect to it, as if events were drawing them there so things could be worked out. The story had nice aspects to it, and the author made the most of the colorful locations and history of the places, which were worked into the story in a natural way. I think most women will identify with the various issues, and probably the reactions of the characters. There is a nice ending, and some coincidence feels more like kismet again rather than just a device. It leaves the reader with a good feeling. There is one caveat that I’ll share in this portion, because I do feel that in this case, it wasn’t just me not being the target audience. I did feel this went on for much too long, and could have been wrapped up quite a bit earlier. I can imagine the target audience being split down the middle on that; some enjoying the length, others, like me wishing for a bit quicker resolution to the couples’ dragged out and over-detailed problems.
As you can tell, there is a lot to like here, thus the high marks. As a male in my fifties, however, — most definitely not the target audience — these characters annoyed me no end by their childish actions. One of the things I found interesting here was, at least to me, that though this was written by a woman, it was two males, Antonio and Marco, who actually came off best, and the most grounded. They were by far, in my opinion, the voices of reason to all the drama queen reactions of women who just needed to grow up.
Nicki and Marco have been attempting to have a baby for ages, and it isn’t working. Nicki has become so unbalanced over it that it leads to some maddeningly histrionic moments as Marco, who loves her and realizes it isn’t the end of the world, tries to reason with her. It doesn’t work, and to the shock of all their friends, leads to a split initiated by her.
Maria is that woman every man of a certain age will recognize. She’s the woman who suddenly becomes fifteen again every time her helicoptering “mommy” calls. This was another irritation for me as a reader. These were supposedly “grown” women acting like teenagers when it came to telling parents or in-laws to blow it out their ear. If the parent won’t cut the cord, find a knife and do it yourself. You’re a big girl, grow up. There is in fact much overbearing parenting and mother-in-lawing here, and not just with Maria. Even when the parent or in-law has a point, such as Maria’s mother’s disappointment that her daughter and Antonio had chosen a shack-up job over marriage until after the baby came along, they needed to stop constantly calling their children. Speak your mind once, let it go. There is a slight — much too slight, in my opinion — mystery concerning Maria’s mother and some wedding invitations from Greece that prompts Maria to travel to Greece.
There is some minor stuff with Cassandra and Connor, but certainly the most weighty narrative was that of Dimity and Malcolm. Minor but not earth-shattering spoilers may follow. In Eventually Julie the author captured more favorably Sydney and its lifestyle to some degree. I’m not certain if it was intentional or not, but here in Dimity’s and Malcom’s narrative you could really feel the pretentious undercurrent of places like Sydney and Melbourne, that superficial-cosmopolitan lifestyle of the upscale in the city, where all the things that will mean zippity-do-da come time to chisel something on your tombstone are made to seem important; drinking the right wines, having the right careers, wearing the right clothes and jewelry, eating the right healthy foods, supporting the right (usually PC) causes, eating at the trendiest coffee shops and restaurants. Having lived in Sydney for a time — didn’t care for it — and now living in regional Australia — love it — the author’s rendition through the lives of these friends, especially Dimity and Malcolm, is spot-on. It hardly surprised me when it was a “come-down” for someone to stay at a three-star accommodation, or to receive jewelry designed by some “exclusive” Danish guy, I think it was.
Though this may seem nit-picky, I’m pointing this out because to me, it was very much at the heart of who Dimity and Malcolm were as a couple, and why they were having issues. Malcolm is a very successful industrial designer who is well known, sort of semi-famous in certain circles. He’s the cock-of-the-walk so to speak, yet can’t be bothered to defend his wife Dimity from his “mommy’s” scathing criticism. As a reader, you’re just, Dude, once you’re married, your wife takes precedence over your mommy. Perhaps because he’s so wrapped up in being the cock-of-the-walk that his mother and his wife believe him to be, he can’t see beyond that — the world revolves around him.
Dimity is an interior designer, or at least she was going to be until she deferred to Malcolm and settled into being a wife and mother instead. Mostly she did this on her own, and now after they have growing children, she feels restless, resentful, and wants to “find” herself. It seemed obvious to me that the person she was most frustrated with was herself, and having a husband more in touch with himself than his wife hadn’t helped. In this relationship particularly, husband and wife talk “at” each other, but never “to” each other, until it’s nearly too late. Too late because Dimity runs off like a petulant teenager rather than a grown woman with children and responsibilities. And, like a spoiled teenager, she refuses to tell her husband where she’s at while she finds herself. With a guy like her husband, who has most things revolving around him, that behavior could push him right into the arms of Julie, who is only a peripheral character in the second book.
But the real kicker for me was Dimity’s flirtation with artist Stavros. Her behavior, her reactions to his attention, leads to near disaster. But when it does, everyone falls all over themselves to absolve her, assure her it’s just her kind nature that brought on what occurred, or almost occurred. Really? She gave this Greek guy more signals than a third-base coach waving a guy home all the way from second. Nope, nope, and nope. Not buying it. Not ever.
As I said earlier, I discovered early on that I’m not the target audience for this one by a wide margin. However, I believe those who read a lot in this genre will most likely enjoy the same elements that as a male in my fifties I found irritating. It’s actually a plus that it was so irritating; being an indication of how well done the narrative is for me to feel this way about what was happening. I just wanted, like the Eagles, to tell them all to Get Over It. No more so than when an event from childhood recalled in the book, seems to still cast a shadow over the life of these supposedly grown women. They’re all of an age to have children, to know how real-life works, yet this rather normal event that almost every child on the planet can relate to, is still a big deal. Really?
Those who read in this genre will most likely enjoy the atmosphere of Greece, the deft juggling of story-lines which eventually converge, and the nice ending where there’s some personal growth. It’s to those readers I recommend this, with a minor caveat regarding what I felt was its unnecessary length. This writer does have talent, and it will be interesting to see if she remains with this genre, or stretches and moves sideways at some point.
There is a lot to like here, to be sure, especially the Greek locations, and the changes it brings about for the struggling couples. Those struggles however, seemed to be of their own making, which is part of what led to my irritation at times. I’ve seen books in this genre with similar plots, however, and not half as well done, be loved by many. I’m rating this high because my adverse reactions to some of the characters’ actions in the story will be considered strengths by its target audience, who read in this genre much more often than I do.
First I’ll talk about the good stuff. The idea of several couples who are friends being pulled toward Greece for varying reasons, and having it play a part in helping them move forward in a positive way is a nice concept. It is executed fairly well, I believe, which is a compliment. Often times when a writer switches back and forth in the narrative as Anthea Syrokou did, it can become tedious for the reader, even annoying. I recently had problems with a book I chose not to review for that very reason. Here, however, all the participants are tied together as friends from childhood, so in a way, it was one story with several tentacles, making the alternating narrative jumps much easier to swallow. They were also engaging, so that was a big plus.
The situations and problems the couples were experiencing seemed true-to-life most of the time — though perhaps a tad exaggerated for fiction purposes. Another plus for the reader. Also the way it came about that each couple ended up in Greece had a kind of kismet aspect to it, as if events were drawing them there so things could be worked out. The story had nice aspects to it, and the author made the most of the colorful locations and history of the places, which were worked into the story in a natural way. I think most women will identify with the various issues, and probably the reactions of the characters. There is a nice ending, and some coincidence feels more like kismet again rather than just a device. It leaves the reader with a good feeling. There is one caveat that I’ll share in this portion, because I do feel that in this case, it wasn’t just me not being the target audience. I did feel this went on for much too long, and could have been wrapped up quite a bit earlier. I can imagine the target audience being split down the middle on that; some enjoying the length, others, like me wishing for a bit quicker resolution to the couples’ dragged out and over-detailed problems.
As you can tell, there is a lot to like here, thus the high marks. As a male in my fifties, however, — most definitely not the target audience — these characters annoyed me no end by their childish actions. One of the things I found interesting here was, at least to me, that though this was written by a woman, it was two males, Antonio and Marco, who actually came off best, and the most grounded. They were by far, in my opinion, the voices of reason to all the drama queen reactions of women who just needed to grow up.
Nicki and Marco have been attempting to have a baby for ages, and it isn’t working. Nicki has become so unbalanced over it that it leads to some maddeningly histrionic moments as Marco, who loves her and realizes it isn’t the end of the world, tries to reason with her. It doesn’t work, and to the shock of all their friends, leads to a split initiated by her.
Maria is that woman every man of a certain age will recognize. She’s the woman who suddenly becomes fifteen again every time her helicoptering “mommy” calls. This was another irritation for me as a reader. These were supposedly “grown” women acting like teenagers when it came to telling parents or in-laws to blow it out their ear. If the parent won’t cut the cord, find a knife and do it yourself. You’re a big girl, grow up. There is in fact much overbearing parenting and mother-in-lawing here, and not just with Maria. Even when the parent or in-law has a point, such as Maria’s mother’s disappointment that her daughter and Antonio had chosen a shack-up job over marriage until after the baby came along, they needed to stop constantly calling their children. Speak your mind once, let it go. There is a slight — much too slight, in my opinion — mystery concerning Maria’s mother and some wedding invitations from Greece that prompts Maria to travel to Greece.
There is some minor stuff with Cassandra and Connor, but certainly the most weighty narrative was that of Dimity and Malcolm. Minor but not earth-shattering spoilers may follow. In Eventually Julie the author captured more favorably Sydney and its lifestyle to some degree. I’m not certain if it was intentional or not, but here in Dimity’s and Malcom’s narrative you could really feel the pretentious undercurrent of places like Sydney and Melbourne, that superficial-cosmopolitan lifestyle of the upscale in the city, where all the things that will mean zippity-do-da come time to chisel something on your tombstone are made to seem important; drinking the right wines, having the right careers, wearing the right clothes and jewelry, eating the right healthy foods, supporting the right (usually PC) causes, eating at the trendiest coffee shops and restaurants. Having lived in Sydney for a time — didn’t care for it — and now living in regional Australia — love it — the author’s rendition through the lives of these friends, especially Dimity and Malcolm, is spot-on. It hardly surprised me when it was a “come-down” for someone to stay at a three-star accommodation, or to receive jewelry designed by some “exclusive” Danish guy, I think it was.
Though this may seem nit-picky, I’m pointing this out because to me, it was very much at the heart of who Dimity and Malcolm were as a couple, and why they were having issues. Malcolm is a very successful industrial designer who is well known, sort of semi-famous in certain circles. He’s the cock-of-the-walk so to speak, yet can’t be bothered to defend his wife Dimity from his “mommy’s” scathing criticism. As a reader, you’re just, Dude, once you’re married, your wife takes precedence over your mommy. Perhaps because he’s so wrapped up in being the cock-of-the-walk that his mother and his wife believe him to be, he can’t see beyond that — the world revolves around him.
Dimity is an interior designer, or at least she was going to be until she deferred to Malcolm and settled into being a wife and mother instead. Mostly she did this on her own, and now after they have growing children, she feels restless, resentful, and wants to “find” herself. It seemed obvious to me that the person she was most frustrated with was herself, and having a husband more in touch with himself than his wife hadn’t helped. In this relationship particularly, husband and wife talk “at” each other, but never “to” each other, until it’s nearly too late. Too late because Dimity runs off like a petulant teenager rather than a grown woman with children and responsibilities. And, like a spoiled teenager, she refuses to tell her husband where she’s at while she finds herself. With a guy like her husband, who has most things revolving around him, that behavior could push him right into the arms of Julie, who is only a peripheral character in the second book.
But the real kicker for me was Dimity’s flirtation with artist Stavros. Her behavior, her reactions to his attention, leads to near disaster. But when it does, everyone falls all over themselves to absolve her, assure her it’s just her kind nature that brought on what occurred, or almost occurred. Really? She gave this Greek guy more signals than a third-base coach waving a guy home all the way from second. Nope, nope, and nope. Not buying it. Not ever.
As I said earlier, I discovered early on that I’m not the target audience for this one by a wide margin. However, I believe those who read a lot in this genre will most likely enjoy the same elements that as a male in my fifties I found irritating. It’s actually a plus that it was so irritating; being an indication of how well done the narrative is for me to feel this way about what was happening. I just wanted, like the Eagles, to tell them all to Get Over It. No more so than when an event from childhood recalled in the book, seems to still cast a shadow over the life of these supposedly grown women. They’re all of an age to have children, to know how real-life works, yet this rather normal event that almost every child on the planet can relate to, is still a big deal. Really?
Those who read in this genre will most likely enjoy the atmosphere of Greece, the deft juggling of story-lines which eventually converge, and the nice ending where there’s some personal growth. It’s to those readers I recommend this, with a minor caveat regarding what I felt was its unnecessary length. This writer does have talent, and it will be interesting to see if she remains with this genre, or stretches and moves sideways at some point.
July 24, 2018
A melange of emotions stirred within me as I wrote and read this novel. Themes of friendship, love and relationships, loss, self-actualisation, and finding a way to balance family and career life were explored. Culture, ethnicity, and individualism — the conflict between one’s background and what makes that person an individual were also highlighted. At times the emotions overwhelmed me, and at times, they surprised and enthused me. These emotions were felt as I examined each character’s needs. I could feel each character’s anguish, their despair, their jubilation. Nicki, Maria, and Dimity are the protagonists. Each woman is unique and has her own story to tell, but their lives also intertwine, as children and as adults. They share many memories as childhood friends, and a tapestry they made together by hand at school, binds them together forever.
I cried with Nicki as she became consumed with feelings of regret and deep sadness for what she couldn’t have but wanted so much. I became enraged when Maria became enraged with her mother’s interference, but I also laughed with her and felt her need to find out why her mother was so relentless when it came to her doing everything the “Greek” way. I felt Dimity’s strong yearning to have a “turn in the sun” and to be more than the person who is always behind the scenes, making sure that everyone else prospers, at the expense of her own dreams.
I also felt the Greek sun on my skin as I typed and as I read. The bittersweet taste of chilled frappe in a Greek taverna enticed me; the syrupy Greek sweets seduced my taste buds as I read. My sandals touched the cobblestoned, maze-like streets. I explored who I was as a person as I marvelled at the ancient architecture, and many breathtaking parts of Greece with Dimity, Maria, and Nicki. I also looked back at my own childhood in Sydney, as nostalgia brought back memories of lost friendships, and afternoons drinking milkshakes at the local milk bar after school, and I felt a deeper appreciation for things I took for granted as a child.
Different perspectives were also examined provoking deep insightful thinking, as Malcolm, one of the leading men, is left feeling confused with his wife’s antics. I saw things through his eyes, as well as from his wife’s eyes. It made me take a step back, and see things more clearly — how miscommunication occurs in relationships and how hidden feelings can lead to words becoming tangled between two people — two people who really care so much about each other, and for that reason, feel an urgent need to overcome any self-sabotage that could lead them to resent each other in the long-term. Love can be so deep that people end up hurting each other to the core; as they fear they may lose what is dear to them. They let fear rule their thinking and thus their actions, and their emotions can be so overwhelming that they don’t see clearly and realise that they are letting the fear take over.
I also enjoyed seeing characters from the first book of the Julie & Friends series. I felt like I was running into old friends and seeing what they are doing with their lives. It was interesting to see how Julie evolved, and to see how another woman may see her as opposed to seeing the world through her eyes, as was the case in Eventually Julie where she is the protagonist.
These were the thoughts and feelings I experienced as I wrote The Greek Tapestry — a book I enjoyed writing so much. I give my work 5 stars because as a reader and a writer, I was taken on a journey with the characters; one of heartache, love, joy, and self-discovery, and I felt a wonderful ray of light in my heart as I finished reading the last sentence. I am very proud of the novel and I hope it brings a sense of hope and joy, and ignites passion and a sense of adventure within anyone who reads it.
I cried with Nicki as she became consumed with feelings of regret and deep sadness for what she couldn’t have but wanted so much. I became enraged when Maria became enraged with her mother’s interference, but I also laughed with her and felt her need to find out why her mother was so relentless when it came to her doing everything the “Greek” way. I felt Dimity’s strong yearning to have a “turn in the sun” and to be more than the person who is always behind the scenes, making sure that everyone else prospers, at the expense of her own dreams.
I also felt the Greek sun on my skin as I typed and as I read. The bittersweet taste of chilled frappe in a Greek taverna enticed me; the syrupy Greek sweets seduced my taste buds as I read. My sandals touched the cobblestoned, maze-like streets. I explored who I was as a person as I marvelled at the ancient architecture, and many breathtaking parts of Greece with Dimity, Maria, and Nicki. I also looked back at my own childhood in Sydney, as nostalgia brought back memories of lost friendships, and afternoons drinking milkshakes at the local milk bar after school, and I felt a deeper appreciation for things I took for granted as a child.
Different perspectives were also examined provoking deep insightful thinking, as Malcolm, one of the leading men, is left feeling confused with his wife’s antics. I saw things through his eyes, as well as from his wife’s eyes. It made me take a step back, and see things more clearly — how miscommunication occurs in relationships and how hidden feelings can lead to words becoming tangled between two people — two people who really care so much about each other, and for that reason, feel an urgent need to overcome any self-sabotage that could lead them to resent each other in the long-term. Love can be so deep that people end up hurting each other to the core; as they fear they may lose what is dear to them. They let fear rule their thinking and thus their actions, and their emotions can be so overwhelming that they don’t see clearly and realise that they are letting the fear take over.
I also enjoyed seeing characters from the first book of the Julie & Friends series. I felt like I was running into old friends and seeing what they are doing with their lives. It was interesting to see how Julie evolved, and to see how another woman may see her as opposed to seeing the world through her eyes, as was the case in Eventually Julie where she is the protagonist.
These were the thoughts and feelings I experienced as I wrote The Greek Tapestry — a book I enjoyed writing so much. I give my work 5 stars because as a reader and a writer, I was taken on a journey with the characters; one of heartache, love, joy, and self-discovery, and I felt a wonderful ray of light in my heart as I finished reading the last sentence. I am very proud of the novel and I hope it brings a sense of hope and joy, and ignites passion and a sense of adventure within anyone who reads it.
July 9, 2018
Having just finished Anthea Syrokou's Eventually Julie, I wanted to see how the story progresses in the second story, "The Greek Tapestry" . First and foremost you can read this book without reading the first installment but you are missing out on things that tell more about these women. In the first book, Julie is the main heroine with her friends having smaller stories attached. In the second book, Julie plays a much smaller role and her friend Maria from the first book takes part in story with three female heroines. Maria is joined by her older sister Nicki and her friend, Dimity.
Even though this book is completely different it reminds me in sentiment of Elizabeth von Arnim's The Enchanted April which focuses on females looking for something more in life and finding it away on a vacation of sorts. In Arnim's story the women are together in a villa but in Syrokou's novel the women are seeking individual paths to obtain this. What gives life a purpose and how we arrive where we want to be is the focus in both stories.
My favorite character in the first book was Julie and I must admit Maria was my favorite in the second. When reading I think more of the person's actions and feelings which makes them appear in my mind and looks mentioned are trivial to me compared to their inner selves. For me I came to see Julie and Maria that way but it took longer for me to find Dimity and Nicki but when it came I saw their spirit of themselves. All women were beautiful but it seemed that it was focused too much on the outer beauty in the second book which I think that is why it took me awhile. The Bronte's sisters, I heard discussed beauty in female leads and that Charlotte's Jane Erye would not sell because she was so plain. I love to read about beautiful and plain characters but I just wanted to comment on this since it came to my mind. That being said I truly found this story romantic, enjoyable and certain turns I had not expected. I was addicted from the very start and could not wait to find out how these women's lives turned out.
The Greek atmosphere had me wishing I was there experiencing it all. The relationship of family, spouses, friends, mothers and sisters had such a heart warming feel and searching for the meaning in life, made the reader wondering too. If you are looking for a feel good modern romance with an ancient spin, this book will give you a warm feeling throughout and even up to you read the last paragraph.💕💕💕
Even though this book is completely different it reminds me in sentiment of Elizabeth von Arnim's The Enchanted April which focuses on females looking for something more in life and finding it away on a vacation of sorts. In Arnim's story the women are together in a villa but in Syrokou's novel the women are seeking individual paths to obtain this. What gives life a purpose and how we arrive where we want to be is the focus in both stories.
My favorite character in the first book was Julie and I must admit Maria was my favorite in the second. When reading I think more of the person's actions and feelings which makes them appear in my mind and looks mentioned are trivial to me compared to their inner selves. For me I came to see Julie and Maria that way but it took longer for me to find Dimity and Nicki but when it came I saw their spirit of themselves. All women were beautiful but it seemed that it was focused too much on the outer beauty in the second book which I think that is why it took me awhile. The Bronte's sisters, I heard discussed beauty in female leads and that Charlotte's Jane Erye would not sell because she was so plain. I love to read about beautiful and plain characters but I just wanted to comment on this since it came to my mind. That being said I truly found this story romantic, enjoyable and certain turns I had not expected. I was addicted from the very start and could not wait to find out how these women's lives turned out.
The Greek atmosphere had me wishing I was there experiencing it all. The relationship of family, spouses, friends, mothers and sisters had such a heart warming feel and searching for the meaning in life, made the reader wondering too. If you are looking for a feel good modern romance with an ancient spin, this book will give you a warm feeling throughout and even up to you read the last paragraph.💕💕💕
July 30, 2018
2.5 I read Eventually Julie, it wasn't for me. I heard this one was much better so I decided to give her work another try. This is a tale of friendship, family, cultural demands and obligations, it's about love, marriage, betrayals and trust. The emotional ride was like a rollercoaster. Each character has an emotional journey to travel. The descriptions of Greek culture and the country were beautiful.
The story, didn't work for me. It was to long again. The pages were filled with so many details I just found myself looking away from the book. I thought it was a little immature with some of the lines the characters had. I tried, this author is not for me.
The story, didn't work for me. It was to long again. The pages were filled with so many details I just found myself looking away from the book. I thought it was a little immature with some of the lines the characters had. I tried, this author is not for me.
May 11, 2018
To begin with, I should point out that I haven’t read any Contemporary Women’s Fiction or a similar genre before reading “The Greek Tapestry”, and apart from various non-fiction, I usually read Crime/Mystery and Sci-Fi/Fantasy, or anything interesting that comes my way. I’m very glad that “The Greek Tapestry” came my way because I felt drawn into it – immersed, in fact – to the point of feeling that I was part of the story, and that the characters were people I knew intimately. This, to me, is always a sure sign of a talented and skilled author!
From the beginning, I found the Anthea Syrokou’s writing style engaging and a pleasure to read. The narration and descriptions are detailed but not overbearing or heavy, painting a beautiful, well-balanced picture (or should I say a tapestry?!) of each character, place and interaction between people. Likewise, the dialogue reveals the many layers and depths of each character until at the end of the book, the reader is a bit sad to say good-bye to these newfound best friends!
Most poignantly, for me personally, are the personal journeys each character must undertake to recapture happiness, and I admire the author’s skill in leading the reader along several separate paths with ease and confidence. The three women in the spotlight were childhood friends, and are now married and at different stages of career or family life, but find themselves at a critical juncture. One woman lost her inner balance when she sacrificed her career for family, one feels incomplete without children and the other is plagued by an overbearing mother. Each have sensitive issues with parents and in-laws as well, and readers will be able to relate to many of the situations described in “The Greek Tapestry.”
Needless to say, this realistic portrayal of women’s struggle to find happiness and balance between career and family, as well as building and sustaining honest, open and strong relationships with their partners, is a rewarding reading experience. I’m sure that most readers will see themselves in at least one of the characters, eagerly watching how they overcome their obstacles and find happiness again. Will following her successful husband on a business trip to Amsterdam fix things? Will a visit with relatives in Greece shed light on why a mother has been particularly overbearing with one of her daughters? And can a trip to Greece also help the childless woman regain perspective and value everything she has, rather than what she doesn’t have at this time?
The author’s storytelling skill reaches its pinnacle when all three soul-searching journeys converge as the childhood friends meet again after fifteen years in a lovely Greek village. I have never been to Greece, but reading “The Greek Tapestry” has given me the feeling that I’ve been there in some way. I thank the author for this insightful and delightful two-fold journey: the inner soul-searching and the outer travel adventure, which I highly recommend to all kinds of readers.
From the beginning, I found the Anthea Syrokou’s writing style engaging and a pleasure to read. The narration and descriptions are detailed but not overbearing or heavy, painting a beautiful, well-balanced picture (or should I say a tapestry?!) of each character, place and interaction between people. Likewise, the dialogue reveals the many layers and depths of each character until at the end of the book, the reader is a bit sad to say good-bye to these newfound best friends!
Most poignantly, for me personally, are the personal journeys each character must undertake to recapture happiness, and I admire the author’s skill in leading the reader along several separate paths with ease and confidence. The three women in the spotlight were childhood friends, and are now married and at different stages of career or family life, but find themselves at a critical juncture. One woman lost her inner balance when she sacrificed her career for family, one feels incomplete without children and the other is plagued by an overbearing mother. Each have sensitive issues with parents and in-laws as well, and readers will be able to relate to many of the situations described in “The Greek Tapestry.”
Needless to say, this realistic portrayal of women’s struggle to find happiness and balance between career and family, as well as building and sustaining honest, open and strong relationships with their partners, is a rewarding reading experience. I’m sure that most readers will see themselves in at least one of the characters, eagerly watching how they overcome their obstacles and find happiness again. Will following her successful husband on a business trip to Amsterdam fix things? Will a visit with relatives in Greece shed light on why a mother has been particularly overbearing with one of her daughters? And can a trip to Greece also help the childless woman regain perspective and value everything she has, rather than what she doesn’t have at this time?
The author’s storytelling skill reaches its pinnacle when all three soul-searching journeys converge as the childhood friends meet again after fifteen years in a lovely Greek village. I have never been to Greece, but reading “The Greek Tapestry” has given me the feeling that I’ve been there in some way. I thank the author for this insightful and delightful two-fold journey: the inner soul-searching and the outer travel adventure, which I highly recommend to all kinds of readers.
October 7, 2019
I knew from the first Julie and Friends book that Anthea Syrokou is a master of relationships and what makes the heart tick. She has the ability to really dive below the actions and thoughts of characters to reveal what goes on in our minds and hearts. And she always handles relationships with a mature grace that I love and admire.
Like the first book, The Greek Tapestry covers a part of life in which we need to shift and change. A big difference in this book is that Syrokou guides us through three related, but independent story lines. And we get to go to Greece! Woo-hoo!
Free spirited Maria, joined by her husband and young son, is weighed down by her mother's criticisms and negativity. Her husband tries to buffer the two women, but Maria is in desperate need of a break to not only realign her heart, but also get a glimpse of who her mother is and why she does what she does.
Nicki, her sister, is struggling with infertility and the weight it has on her relationship with her husband, Marco. The struggle to conceive a child, which occupies a large part of her heart, has brought them both to a place where they are not enjoying life or each other. Nicki reaches a boiling point, and steps away to center herself.
Dimity gave up a promising career to support her now famous husband's career, and her two daughters. Invisibly, she's been holding everything together while her husband has spent more and more time away and her mother in law has increased heaping servings of disdain on her choices. When her attempt to reconnect with her husband is left shattered, Dimity decides that maybe the ship of life will keep going on while she steps away to find herself again.
I deeply enjoyed this book, and it brought me to tears more than once. While I adored the first Julie and Friends, this second book hit me harder because I'm closer to this kind of life change than the one in my twenties. As women, we often put ourselves last in life, and it's a very real struggle to balance caring for others and caring for ourselves.
This book nails life on the head, and I'm grateful for it being written.
Like the first book, The Greek Tapestry covers a part of life in which we need to shift and change. A big difference in this book is that Syrokou guides us through three related, but independent story lines. And we get to go to Greece! Woo-hoo!
Free spirited Maria, joined by her husband and young son, is weighed down by her mother's criticisms and negativity. Her husband tries to buffer the two women, but Maria is in desperate need of a break to not only realign her heart, but also get a glimpse of who her mother is and why she does what she does.
Nicki, her sister, is struggling with infertility and the weight it has on her relationship with her husband, Marco. The struggle to conceive a child, which occupies a large part of her heart, has brought them both to a place where they are not enjoying life or each other. Nicki reaches a boiling point, and steps away to center herself.
Dimity gave up a promising career to support her now famous husband's career, and her two daughters. Invisibly, she's been holding everything together while her husband has spent more and more time away and her mother in law has increased heaping servings of disdain on her choices. When her attempt to reconnect with her husband is left shattered, Dimity decides that maybe the ship of life will keep going on while she steps away to find herself again.
I deeply enjoyed this book, and it brought me to tears more than once. While I adored the first Julie and Friends, this second book hit me harder because I'm closer to this kind of life change than the one in my twenties. As women, we often put ourselves last in life, and it's a very real struggle to balance caring for others and caring for ourselves.
This book nails life on the head, and I'm grateful for it being written.
April 6, 2018
The Greek Tapestry is a second installment, but can be a stand-alone novel. I read the first book, Eventually Julie, and I really liked it, but this one blows it out of the water! And I'll be honest, I don't read much ChicLit.
Anthea's writing is very visual; very detailed. But at no time does it seem wordy. In fact, it is very poetic. There is a lot of romantic suspense sprinkled with friendship, dunked into the main "find yourself" theme. The book touches home so close it's scary.
The characters come to life, and the story flows well. The last few chapters were too mushy for my taste, but like I said, I don't read much ChicLit because I don't do sappy. Overall it was written very well and I highly recommend the book.
I want to travel to another country and find myself now. The author portrays Greece in a beautiful light. Anthea's new novel reads like you're watching a very well made chick-flick movie! (....someone make a movie out of this, please.) ;-)
#arc #readbooks #ramblingboho
Anthea's writing is very visual; very detailed. But at no time does it seem wordy. In fact, it is very poetic. There is a lot of romantic suspense sprinkled with friendship, dunked into the main "find yourself" theme. The book touches home so close it's scary.
The characters come to life, and the story flows well. The last few chapters were too mushy for my taste, but like I said, I don't read much ChicLit because I don't do sappy. Overall it was written very well and I highly recommend the book.
I want to travel to another country and find myself now. The author portrays Greece in a beautiful light. Anthea's new novel reads like you're watching a very well made chick-flick movie! (....someone make a movie out of this, please.) ;-)
#arc #readbooks #ramblingboho
April 6, 2018
The story flowed smoothly, taking the reader deep into the lives of the characters, their desires, hurts, and dreams. With dialogue and deep emotions, the reader sees the "real" persons. It's a book, I read slowly, savoring each scene.
I found myself wanting to know these people better, to find out what made them "tick."
Nicki's emotions run deep and come alive within the book. Emotions that Marco couldn't understand. Emotions that separate them.
Dimity and Malcolm Stewart live in a beautiful house. The description put me right inside the home and the outside garden. -so vivid. Yet, with her husband gone much of the time, Dimity is lonely, even though her children, Samantha and Olivia, were with her. Dimity's explosion of emotions took center stage. -Wow.
Maria owns a shop, Eventually You. Antonio is a graphic designer. They have a one-year-old baby. With unanswered questions, Maria and Antonio go to Greece for answers.
Setting: Athens & Amsterdam - What a place and what great descriptions. I agree with one reviewer: The Greek tourist board should hire the author. Anthea did a wonderful task of putting the reader into the beautiful scenes. I can not say enough about that.
The tapestry of life, the analogy used to describe the complexity of life. That would sum up this book. Relationships that travel through deep valleys find the mountain tops.
The read is like a breath of fresh sunshine air after breathing in smog. I loved it.
I found myself wanting to know these people better, to find out what made them "tick."
Nicki's emotions run deep and come alive within the book. Emotions that Marco couldn't understand. Emotions that separate them.
Dimity and Malcolm Stewart live in a beautiful house. The description put me right inside the home and the outside garden. -so vivid. Yet, with her husband gone much of the time, Dimity is lonely, even though her children, Samantha and Olivia, were with her. Dimity's explosion of emotions took center stage. -Wow.
Maria owns a shop, Eventually You. Antonio is a graphic designer. They have a one-year-old baby. With unanswered questions, Maria and Antonio go to Greece for answers.
Setting: Athens & Amsterdam - What a place and what great descriptions. I agree with one reviewer: The Greek tourist board should hire the author. Anthea did a wonderful task of putting the reader into the beautiful scenes. I can not say enough about that.
The tapestry of life, the analogy used to describe the complexity of life. That would sum up this book. Relationships that travel through deep valleys find the mountain tops.
The read is like a breath of fresh sunshine air after breathing in smog. I loved it.
November 6, 2018
The Blurb :
During their childhood in Sydney, Maria and her older sister, Nicki, were friends with Dimity, the girl who lived across the street. They grew up together, spending many joyous afternoons in each other’s company. They loved creating art, and Dimity and Nicki, with a little help from Maria, came first in an art project at school with a tapestry they made by hand, which depicted island life in Greece. They always believed nothing would separate them — but would sadly find that nothing was a tall order. When Nicki and Maria’s parents uproot them to move to Greece, leaving Dimity behind, they discover that even the strongest friendships can disintegrate.
Now, almost twenty years later, each of them has their own life. Dimity lives in a designer house with her sexy husband, an industrial designer named Malcolm, and their two daughters. She loves Malcolm, but struggles to get along with his mother, and is tired of playing the accommodating wife. In need of change and inspiration, she sets off to Greece to see where an unplanned journey may take her.
Maria has both the career and the family, but still feels the need to prove herself to her mother. After her mother hides invitations to her cousin’s wedding in Greece from her, Maria is spurred into action. She is sick of her mother’s interference and heads to Greece in search of answers.
Nicki also has a successful career, but she and her husband, Marco, are unable to have what they really want — a child. This fills Nicki with constant sadness, and puts a lot of pressure on her relationship with Marco. Needing a change in life, she follows her sister to Greece, and stays in a peaceful, historic village outside the small city of Ioannina.
My Thoughts :
I really enjoyed the first book in this series Eventually Julie so I was pleased that we were back with the girls and this time focusing on Dimity, Maria and Nicki.
These girls to me are like friends and as I started reading I knew I was in for another treat and felt I was already connected from the first page.
Dimity is marrried to Malcolm with two daughters, she is always struggling to please Malcolms mother and feels she is at times left behind and has to raise her girls and put her career as a designer on hold whille Malcolm goes and makes a name for himself. She goes to surprise him whille he is on a works trip and things dont quiet go to plan leaving her running back to the airport and jumping on a plane to Greece.
Maria and Nicki are sisters and while Maria has life sorted with husband Antonio and their son, Nicki is trying for a child with Marco but it isnt happening.
Maria and Antonio go to Greece looking for some answers when Maria finds her mum has hidden invitations to her Greek families wedding and christenings. Nicki takes some time out from things with Maco and goes to stay with Maria, but as Maria flys off to Greece will her sister be far behind?!.
While these three friends sadly lost touch as youngsters their life paths now bring them back together.
This is a very detailed journey of love, friendship, emotions and strong women who fight for what they want.
With beautiful vivid descriptions of Greece you feel like you are right there sitting in the thick of the action.
Once again Anthea Syrokou delivers a beautiful story and one that will stay with me for a long time to come.
** This has been reviewed for Whispering Stories blog, thank you for the copy **
During their childhood in Sydney, Maria and her older sister, Nicki, were friends with Dimity, the girl who lived across the street. They grew up together, spending many joyous afternoons in each other’s company. They loved creating art, and Dimity and Nicki, with a little help from Maria, came first in an art project at school with a tapestry they made by hand, which depicted island life in Greece. They always believed nothing would separate them — but would sadly find that nothing was a tall order. When Nicki and Maria’s parents uproot them to move to Greece, leaving Dimity behind, they discover that even the strongest friendships can disintegrate.
Now, almost twenty years later, each of them has their own life. Dimity lives in a designer house with her sexy husband, an industrial designer named Malcolm, and their two daughters. She loves Malcolm, but struggles to get along with his mother, and is tired of playing the accommodating wife. In need of change and inspiration, she sets off to Greece to see where an unplanned journey may take her.
Maria has both the career and the family, but still feels the need to prove herself to her mother. After her mother hides invitations to her cousin’s wedding in Greece from her, Maria is spurred into action. She is sick of her mother’s interference and heads to Greece in search of answers.
Nicki also has a successful career, but she and her husband, Marco, are unable to have what they really want — a child. This fills Nicki with constant sadness, and puts a lot of pressure on her relationship with Marco. Needing a change in life, she follows her sister to Greece, and stays in a peaceful, historic village outside the small city of Ioannina.
My Thoughts :
I really enjoyed the first book in this series Eventually Julie so I was pleased that we were back with the girls and this time focusing on Dimity, Maria and Nicki.
These girls to me are like friends and as I started reading I knew I was in for another treat and felt I was already connected from the first page.
Dimity is marrried to Malcolm with two daughters, she is always struggling to please Malcolms mother and feels she is at times left behind and has to raise her girls and put her career as a designer on hold whille Malcolm goes and makes a name for himself. She goes to surprise him whille he is on a works trip and things dont quiet go to plan leaving her running back to the airport and jumping on a plane to Greece.
Maria and Nicki are sisters and while Maria has life sorted with husband Antonio and their son, Nicki is trying for a child with Marco but it isnt happening.
Maria and Antonio go to Greece looking for some answers when Maria finds her mum has hidden invitations to her Greek families wedding and christenings. Nicki takes some time out from things with Maco and goes to stay with Maria, but as Maria flys off to Greece will her sister be far behind?!.
While these three friends sadly lost touch as youngsters their life paths now bring them back together.
This is a very detailed journey of love, friendship, emotions and strong women who fight for what they want.
With beautiful vivid descriptions of Greece you feel like you are right there sitting in the thick of the action.
Once again Anthea Syrokou delivers a beautiful story and one that will stay with me for a long time to come.
** This has been reviewed for Whispering Stories blog, thank you for the copy **
April 5, 2018
The Greek Tourism Board should hire the author. From the sun and heat, to the ancient treasures, the art, the food, dancing, people, all the enticements of Greece are beautifully described. She created such a lovely and captivating vision of Greece, that I almost put the book down and bought my flight to Athens!
But, I’m glad I didn’t put the book down, because I enjoyed catching up with the familiar and new friends in the second book of the Julie and Friends series. (Please do read book 1 in the series, wonderful read, but if you haven’t read it, you will have no problem starting with book 2.)
The title of the book focuses on a tapestry and while there is a real tapestry in the book, the other meaning of tapestry, “an intricate or complex combination of things or sequence of events”, also holds true for this story. And one of the character’s names, Dimity, also relates to fabric. The book is well written- with a delightful group of characters, although at times it became a bit too complex of a tapestry for me to follow. But as she did in the first book, the author is able to blend her knowledge of human nature into a meaningful story.
The plot focuses on three young women, who are trying to find out who they are. They each have a particular concern, whether with their marriage, their mother, their desires, that makes each one yearn “to be the woman she loved being.” Each one on their own feels a call to visit Greece. As one character put it, it would enable her to put her life on pause. What will each discover during their odyssey?
Readers, put your own life on pause for a few hours so you can enjoy this pleasant read and discover the wonders of Greece and be inspired by the three women in this book. Recommend.
But, I’m glad I didn’t put the book down, because I enjoyed catching up with the familiar and new friends in the second book of the Julie and Friends series. (Please do read book 1 in the series, wonderful read, but if you haven’t read it, you will have no problem starting with book 2.)
The title of the book focuses on a tapestry and while there is a real tapestry in the book, the other meaning of tapestry, “an intricate or complex combination of things or sequence of events”, also holds true for this story. And one of the character’s names, Dimity, also relates to fabric. The book is well written- with a delightful group of characters, although at times it became a bit too complex of a tapestry for me to follow. But as she did in the first book, the author is able to blend her knowledge of human nature into a meaningful story.
The plot focuses on three young women, who are trying to find out who they are. They each have a particular concern, whether with their marriage, their mother, their desires, that makes each one yearn “to be the woman she loved being.” Each one on their own feels a call to visit Greece. As one character put it, it would enable her to put her life on pause. What will each discover during their odyssey?
Readers, put your own life on pause for a few hours so you can enjoy this pleasant read and discover the wonders of Greece and be inspired by the three women in this book. Recommend.
June 15, 2018
4,5 stars
The story follows three women, who all have different worries/problems in their life. Each woman goes on a journey to find answers/to find themselves and their paths cross in beautiful Greece.
It’s the second book in the series, but can be read as a standalone, however I’m glad I had read the first book as well. It’s another wonderfully written novel. I enjoyed reading about the journey these women went on and how vividly Greece was portrayed, I really felt like I was there exploring Ioannina and Greece in general. All in all it’s a beautiful book that I’d definitely recommend.
The story follows three women, who all have different worries/problems in their life. Each woman goes on a journey to find answers/to find themselves and their paths cross in beautiful Greece.
It’s the second book in the series, but can be read as a standalone, however I’m glad I had read the first book as well. It’s another wonderfully written novel. I enjoyed reading about the journey these women went on and how vividly Greece was portrayed, I really felt like I was there exploring Ioannina and Greece in general. All in all it’s a beautiful book that I’d definitely recommend.
July 22, 2018
This book was so beautiful and amazing. I couldn't put the book down once I was introduced to all the lovely and strong characters. The three main characters, Nicki, Maria, and Dimity were all childhood friends, growing up in the same street together in Sydney, until life gets in the way and separates the two sisters, Maria and Nicki, from their friend, Dimity. They are, however, always tied with each other by a tapestry they made together depicting island life in Greece. Many years later, they all find themselves at a pivotal moment in their lives - each woman has to make some serious decisions to steer her life in another direction - one that offers what each has been searching for. Each woman, thus, for her own reason, sets off for Greece to find answers.
What a spectacular adventure this was as I read each page. The author, Anthea Syrokou, describes the scenes so vividly that I felt like I was there. There were so many beautiful places that I hadn't heard about, as the novel wasn't just set in the Greek islands. The author successfully tied all three stories masterfully. However, as a reader, it seemed like it was such a natural progression, the way the stories were interwoven. I was amazed at how it all worked out.
There were also a lot of twists I never anticipated. It was a book that had everything: romance, passion, travel, beautiful descriptions, complex relationships between family members, and between each woman and her love interest. I also loved the humour that was sprinkled in it, especially between Maria and her mother, and Dimity and her mother-in-law.
The scenes in Sydney and Amsterdam were also very entertaining and enjoyable to read about. Many descriptions had a lot of meaningful and lovely metaphors and symbolisms - some, I think, were more implicit than others. The different point of views from the female characters, and even one of the male characters, was cleverly done and I felt that as a reader I cared about all the characters equally. In fact, I'm sad to say goodbye to them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was a refreshing, heartfelt, and captivating read, and I agree with one of the other reviewers, I too can really see this as a film.
What a spectacular adventure this was as I read each page. The author, Anthea Syrokou, describes the scenes so vividly that I felt like I was there. There were so many beautiful places that I hadn't heard about, as the novel wasn't just set in the Greek islands. The author successfully tied all three stories masterfully. However, as a reader, it seemed like it was such a natural progression, the way the stories were interwoven. I was amazed at how it all worked out.
There were also a lot of twists I never anticipated. It was a book that had everything: romance, passion, travel, beautiful descriptions, complex relationships between family members, and between each woman and her love interest. I also loved the humour that was sprinkled in it, especially between Maria and her mother, and Dimity and her mother-in-law.
The scenes in Sydney and Amsterdam were also very entertaining and enjoyable to read about. Many descriptions had a lot of meaningful and lovely metaphors and symbolisms - some, I think, were more implicit than others. The different point of views from the female characters, and even one of the male characters, was cleverly done and I felt that as a reader I cared about all the characters equally. In fact, I'm sad to say goodbye to them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was a refreshing, heartfelt, and captivating read, and I agree with one of the other reviewers, I too can really see this as a film.
December 28, 2020
I love Syrokou’s novels and writing.
“The Greek Tapestry” by Anthea Syrokou is a refreshing and beautifully woven novel about relationships and specifically, the relationship of families. Ms. Syrokou approaches relationships from the vantage point of culture and family ancestry. In “The Greek Tapestry”, the author deftly discusses the loss of self and finding one’s true self thru the narrative and story of the different entwined characters, families, ancestry and locale. She has done a brilliant job with this!
The author’s descriptions of geography are intimate without being voyeuristic; the reader senses they are part of the terrain and not looking from afar at the descriptions. The message of this book is about the emotional wounds and burdens one can carry, and how these wounds or deep hurt ricochet into those that are closest to us. More importantly, Ms. Syrokou’s novel demonstrates that as we are liberated from old emotional pain then we can help others be released from their pain, as well.
This novel was just delicious to read! Anthea Syrokou’s writing is reminiscent of Bronte and Austen, yet the book is set in a modern-day backdrop. The author is clearly intimately familiar with Greece and did such a beautiful job through her writing to describe the locale in all its lushness, sensuality and ruggedness. She conveys her love of all that is Greek with such beauty that you may just have to visit Greece! That is the way I feel. I can’t wait to read more of her books.
“The Greek Tapestry” by Anthea Syrokou is a refreshing and beautifully woven novel about relationships and specifically, the relationship of families. Ms. Syrokou approaches relationships from the vantage point of culture and family ancestry. In “The Greek Tapestry”, the author deftly discusses the loss of self and finding one’s true self thru the narrative and story of the different entwined characters, families, ancestry and locale. She has done a brilliant job with this!
The author’s descriptions of geography are intimate without being voyeuristic; the reader senses they are part of the terrain and not looking from afar at the descriptions. The message of this book is about the emotional wounds and burdens one can carry, and how these wounds or deep hurt ricochet into those that are closest to us. More importantly, Ms. Syrokou’s novel demonstrates that as we are liberated from old emotional pain then we can help others be released from their pain, as well.
This novel was just delicious to read! Anthea Syrokou’s writing is reminiscent of Bronte and Austen, yet the book is set in a modern-day backdrop. The author is clearly intimately familiar with Greece and did such a beautiful job through her writing to describe the locale in all its lushness, sensuality and ruggedness. She conveys her love of all that is Greek with such beauty that you may just have to visit Greece! That is the way I feel. I can’t wait to read more of her books.
July 5, 2018
Can I just say that I did not like the first five chapters of this book.
Wait, before you get ahead of yourself, let me just say that the kind of negativity that was introduced in the first chapters really made me angry. I know, wouldn't you be angry if your mom constantly critiqued how you looked in public, or if everyone looked at you with pity because you couldn't bear children, or if everyone took you for granted?
I could delve into the challenges these women faced about individualism, family matters, love, loss, work-life balance, anguish, health, lifestyle, choices and so on, but we've all been held back at some point by something in life. That's what makes this story quite a thrill to read.
I got an eARC from NetGalley.
PS: I love the cover.
Wait, before you get ahead of yourself, let me just say that the kind of negativity that was introduced in the first chapters really made me angry. I know, wouldn't you be angry if your mom constantly critiqued how you looked in public, or if everyone looked at you with pity because you couldn't bear children, or if everyone took you for granted?
Then, towards the end of chapter five, these three strong and beautiful women: Nicki, Maria and Dimity, decide to take charge of their lives and after that, this book was too good to put down!
I could delve into the challenges these women faced about individualism, family matters, love, loss, work-life balance, anguish, health, lifestyle, choices and so on, but we've all been held back at some point by something in life. That's what makes this story quite a thrill to read.
I got an eARC from NetGalley.
PS: I love the cover.
July 10, 2018
This was an entertaining, well-written book. Maria and her sister, Nicki, were childhood friends with Dimity and they loved to create art together, including a tapestry of life in Greece. They thought nothing would ever separate them - until Maria's and Nicki's parents move their family away. As adults, they are each living their own lives, but each finds themselves at a crossroads and in need of inspiration. I found myself caring about the characters in this book and what they were going through. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to others.
October 2, 2022
This book was exceptional! It had it all: love, romance, family woes, and Greece! I couldn't get enough of the scenes from islands like Santorini, Mykonos, and cities like Athens, but I also got to discover other parts of Greece such as Ioannina. The beauty of Greece is captured through the beautiful poetic descriptions. I really felt like I was there with all the characters. I was also so impressed at how cleverly all the threads of the story were tied together.
I also loved the scenes in Sydney and Amsterdam. The career aspects of the book also added an interesting and glamorous element to the book. These careers were well researched and the passion of the characters for their careers and finding beauty in life was written exceptionally well.
The romance was written in such a lovely and mature way. The author has an ability to bring out many complex layers in her male and female characters, and she looks at the issues through all perspectives. That's what I love about this series: relationships are really explored in great depth, and it is obvious that the author knows a lot about human emotions and the fragility of the human spirit when obstacles are presented in life. I also love that the characters are all well-rounded and real characters that evolve.
There were also many delectable scenes with delicious food and wine. Maria's mother is hilarious as she is so obsessed with her daughter's life. I loved the mention of the cakes throughout and also the local wine.
The descriptions of the mountains in the village and the lake in the town of Ioannina were so detailed and well-written with incredibly lovely prose. I feel that the author's writing is of the highest standard and something you don't usually see in this genre. The book was so rich and the plot was intriguing, fun, and very touching as well. I'm sure many will relate to, if not all of the female characters, at least one of them. The ability to balance career and family, and to also have one's own identity instead of the identity someone else imposes on you, are all topics that are elaborately explored. A delightful, insightful, and very well-written book. I loved every minute of it, as I loved the previous book in the series!
I also loved the scenes in Sydney and Amsterdam. The career aspects of the book also added an interesting and glamorous element to the book. These careers were well researched and the passion of the characters for their careers and finding beauty in life was written exceptionally well.
The romance was written in such a lovely and mature way. The author has an ability to bring out many complex layers in her male and female characters, and she looks at the issues through all perspectives. That's what I love about this series: relationships are really explored in great depth, and it is obvious that the author knows a lot about human emotions and the fragility of the human spirit when obstacles are presented in life. I also love that the characters are all well-rounded and real characters that evolve.
There were also many delectable scenes with delicious food and wine. Maria's mother is hilarious as she is so obsessed with her daughter's life. I loved the mention of the cakes throughout and also the local wine.
The descriptions of the mountains in the village and the lake in the town of Ioannina were so detailed and well-written with incredibly lovely prose. I feel that the author's writing is of the highest standard and something you don't usually see in this genre. The book was so rich and the plot was intriguing, fun, and very touching as well. I'm sure many will relate to, if not all of the female characters, at least one of them. The ability to balance career and family, and to also have one's own identity instead of the identity someone else imposes on you, are all topics that are elaborately explored. A delightful, insightful, and very well-written book. I loved every minute of it, as I loved the previous book in the series!
August 8, 2020
I don't like writing harsh reviews, but this book was so horrible, I fear it leaves me no choice.
Let's start with the writing. I'm not a writer (at least not in english), but i must say, I think I could have done a better job at 14 years old. It was childish, monotonous and there were so many repetitions of the words 'cool', 'sexy' and 'stylish', it seriously hurt my eyes.
The main plot of the story: three women having a mid-life-crisis despite leading the most wonderful lives with enough money, so they could afford all the 'sexy' fashion, 'stylish' jewelry and 'cool' vacations. Everyone of them had a gorgeous, handsome husband of course and went to up-and-coming coffee shops three times a day. BUT they all had a problem and of course the solution would be to leave all responsibilities and family behind and go alone to Greece for three weeks or longer to find themselves.
The characters thought lifes (which were elaborated on every other page) were so shallow and repetitive, I had to skip over a few in the end, because I simply couldn't take it any longer.
The obvious values of the story are being a successful human being, meaning making a name for yourself in your career, having a gorgeous husband, buying fashionable, expensive stuff, going to 'cool' coffee shops whenever possible and just being really beautiful (meaning wearing beautiful clothes and having a toned body).
I thank Netgalley and Kobo Writing Life for a free copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Let's start with the writing. I'm not a writer (at least not in english), but i must say, I think I could have done a better job at 14 years old. It was childish, monotonous and there were so many repetitions of the words 'cool', 'sexy' and 'stylish', it seriously hurt my eyes.
The main plot of the story: three women having a mid-life-crisis despite leading the most wonderful lives with enough money, so they could afford all the 'sexy' fashion, 'stylish' jewelry and 'cool' vacations. Everyone of them had a gorgeous, handsome husband of course and went to up-and-coming coffee shops three times a day. BUT they all had a problem and of course the solution would be to leave all responsibilities and family behind and go alone to Greece for three weeks or longer to find themselves.
The characters thought lifes (which were elaborated on every other page) were so shallow and repetitive, I had to skip over a few in the end, because I simply couldn't take it any longer.
The obvious values of the story are being a successful human being, meaning making a name for yourself in your career, having a gorgeous husband, buying fashionable, expensive stuff, going to 'cool' coffee shops whenever possible and just being really beautiful (meaning wearing beautiful clothes and having a toned body).
I thank Netgalley and Kobo Writing Life for a free copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2019
I just finished reading this book and it was a really enjoyable read. I really love this author's writing style, which is poetic at times. The characters were all very well- fleshed-out, and I cared about all three women. I couldn't wait to find out what happens to them, and the descriptions of Greece were so vivid and enticing. I was introduced to many new places that are hardly mentioned in other books that are also set in Greece. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. A very well-written book!
July 15, 2018
I rarely do this but, I give up. I tried! I made it to page 141 but it’s too awful to continue. I had hope that it would be better than book 1 of the Julie and Friends series. I was wrong. The writing is too sophomoric and the story is all over the place. Sorry Syrakou, this is not for me. Time is too precious to spend on a book you don’t like.
August 27, 2018
This was the second book that I read from this author. I really didn't care for the first book, Eventually Julie, but this second book definitely improved from the first. It was a good book, based in Greece, and after reading the book, I definitely would love to travel there and see for myself this beautiful country. A solid chick lit read.
#thegreektapestry #NetGalley
#thegreektapestry #NetGalley
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