The delightfully comic account of a British couple and their imported cats starting over in a new country continues in Bucket to Greece Volume 2. It is now three months since Victor and Marigold moved to the mountain village of Meli, developing new friendships and marking their life-changing move with a traditional house blessing ceremony. Victor integrates into village life and improves his language skills by helping out at the local taverna, after sanitising the place to his exacting hygiene standards.
Barry’s budding romance with Cynthia continues apace, whilst Marigold turns to a spot of matchmaking, arranging a dinner party for Meli’s eligible bachelors and her best friend Geraldine who is over for a visit. Following a late night brawl Guzim goes on the missing list, creating a quandary for Victor as he contemplates the wisdom of bringing the disappearance of an illegal Albanian to the attention of the authorities.
Victor experiences the ups of and downs of everyday Greek life; the up of the novelty of a sea dip in December even though the locals consider such behaviour quite bizarre, and the down of being forced out of bed on a cold windy morning to bake bread for the village in an outside oven. As Victor settles into his new life he is haunted by the spectre of his absconded parent turning up on his doorstep.
If you’re a fan of Greek travel and culture, then the Bucket to Greece series is a must.
Another great feel good read in this #2 in the Bucket to Greece Memoir series. Victor and Marigold have now been in Greece 3 months and are integrating in marvelously ( and with continued hilarity). Victor has been volunteered to help cook chips at the Taverna, they have a house blessing, and a very surprise guest shows up near the end...and several other interesting situations. I really am enjoying this series. I did this book on Audible and the narration by David Vickery was very good. I can hardly wait to continue on with book 3.
I enjoyed this book so much that I read it in a couple of days. The descriptions of people and places really allowed you to picture them in your mind. I will wait with bated breath for the next one
Another feel-good book in the 'Bucket to Greece' saga and the second in the series of tales and exploits for Victor and Marigold Bucket. I've seen there's 15 of these in total, whether 15 is the final number, or these are ever-increasing I'm not so sure. I really enjoyed the villager's characters becoming more developed and loved the interactions with Victor and in particular his playfulness with Nikos. The mutant cat/rabbit/kittens/stripe just made me titter every time! I didn't find this one quite as funny as the first but not sure exactly the reason as to why? It was maybe due to me fearing the topic of his "mother" being discussed in more detail which with each new chapter only increased my apprehension, unfortunately I was justified. That's a personal issue though and thankfully shouldn't put the majority of readers off, I'm just hoping it doesn't continue to be a big feature in future editions. However, one thing that does put people off is grammatical and content errors! I lost count of the number I reported on my kindle; typo's, spelling mistakes, and someone changing their surname mid-chapter only for it to be changed back again next chapter! These are things that really wind me up! I've only actually bought the first four of the series so will read these, before deciding whether to persevere with the remainder or not, after reading the first it was a definite affirmative, after this one, not so much, but only based on the reasons I've given.
Oh dear, I am hooked, once you enter into the world of Victor, Marigold, Barry and all the other characters, centered around life in an idyllic Greek village, there's no escape. And why would you want to escape, just go with it and down load the next book in the series, I have.
The first thing that took me by surprise is how easy he gave into his mother. Sure she had a rough start but to pounce on him in his new home without calling or working up slowly. It was like she come to take over without seeing how he felt, expecting him to forgive her right away. And the way sheared into his home like it was part hers too. Other than that part I did enjoy the book. Even though his wife does get him into stuff without asking him. I know my husband wouldn't deal with it. Even I would not like being volunteer into things without my consent. Still a good book to read and if he does write a book about his mother's life I won't read it.
Another amusing view of ex-pat life in small Greek village
Continuation of Volume 1 picks up with same caste of characters living in rural Greece - a mix of British ex-pats and local Greeks forging friendships amid mildly funny misadventures.
In book 2, Victor helps out at the local taverna while his wife entertains a friend from England. Victoria's biological mother shows up and chaos ensues at a meet the bachelor party. Another fun read in the life of the Buckets in Greece.
Enjoyed both volume 1 and 2, can't wait for 3. Real laugh out loud book. Read them sitting by the pool on holiday, think the other guests think I'm crazy, as keep laughing. Well done.
A bit redundant and referring to the original writing. Colorful characters and many escapades with issues of language and creative living in a new rural country.
After being daunted by the sheer number of books already in this series when I was only just starting it, I finally got stuck in, and loved Volume 1-then dived straight into the second book.
At the start of Book 2, Victor and Marigold have been living in Greece for three months, having moved from Manchester, UK, after retirement. This was a lighthearted, fun read, with plenty of laughs.
I started this series; then had an ARC lined up that I was going to read next....... but I couldn't resist having a little peep in this next installment in Victor and Marigold's adventures.......and was soon flying through it. Easy, light relief from more complex reading projects, e.g. ones where there are things to remember; characters to remember e.g. if a crime novel; keeping little clues in mind. This book is the perfect escape to just read, relax, and enjoy.
These aren't the best books I've ever read-but they certainly appeal, and there's something quite addictive about them; once you start one, you can't wait to get on with the next.
It’s been a while since I read book one in this captivating Bucket to Greece series, but I’m already engrossed again, and I haven’t even finished the first chapter. How would I fare if I were to move to a foreign country where I couldn’t understand or speak the language? I’m sure not as well as Bucket does in the community of Meli. His writing transports readers to a world of entertaining theatrical perfection that lingers even after turning the last page. I’m grateful that this exceptional series offers many books, all brimming with lively and colorful characters.
Victor and Marigold have now been living in Meli for a few months, and are integrating into village life. Loved the idea of Victor helping out in the village taverna, given his distaste for unhygenic kitchens. And I also enjoyed their motely collection of visitors. Victor's prose is very amusing. Short books, so it will not take me long to catch up. On to volume three.
Enjoyed reading Bucket to Greece tremendously. I have just started reading Volume 3 last night and I'm now on Chapter 4. I'm rather intrigued and curious with the progress of each lives developments of all the characters involved. Thank you for providing your readers pleasure and entertainment.
Nice little book like the first one but I am in no hurry to continue the series I found the job in the evening boring in the end so have fell out of love with the story.
This was much better than the first book in the series. Why? Because the story had a really good climax - the arrival of Victor’s long lost mother right in the middle of a well-attended dinner. Talk about drama. After 60 years of asking “why?”, Victor finally finds out the reasons that led to his biological mother to abandon him in a bucket. It seemed brutal, but after learning about the circumstances, you can’t help but pity Violet Burke.
There were also a couple of laugh out loud moments, such as learning about Milton’s erotic novel and Victor thanking the Papas for giving the house diarrhea. I also appreciated the nugget about the Greeks adding a year to someone’s age.
Number of times author mentions his “illustrious career as a public health inspector”: 3