Play Book Tag discussion

The culture theme for June is...

Greece, nominated by Olivermagnus and Amy!

This thread will be used for a couple of purposes:
• Announcing the culture (done!)
• Planning and discussing what books you would like to read (let the planning commence!)
• Reviewing your books starting June 1 . Books read and reviewed before that will not count.

Finally, if you want to read a book for the culture challenge in June, but it does NOT fit Greece, that is totally fine too! You can still review it here for one participation point. Books that DO fit the Greece culture will receive two participation points.

Will everyone please put at the top of their review the culture they are reading for, whether it is Greece or another culture just to help me with scoring and to serve as a guide for others who are reading your review. Thanks!

Previous months culture themes
January - Iraq
February - Portugal
March - South Korea
April - Italy
May - Brazil
June - Greece

Clarification of Reporting Guidelines

The goal of the Expanding Your PBT Horizons Challenge is to read 12 books from other cultures throughout the year, which means you can read one a month or all 12 in January or any conceivable combination between the two. However, there are monthly culture themes added to the mix which makes for some unique reporting conflicts that the admins did not think of when posting the challenge. Thank you to Nancy for pointing it out!

The admins spoke and we tried to make this as fair and as simple as possible, so here are the three easy points to follow:

1) Each month there is a culture theme. If you choose to read for the theme—which is not mandatory—then you must read your book that fits that theme and post the review within the assigned month. You will receive 2 participation points per review and you can read more than 1 book, but each book counts toward your ultimate cap of 12 books for the year. *you can read more than 12 books if you like, but you only get points for this challenge for up to 12*

2) For books you read for the Culture Challenge that do not fit the monthly culture theme, you can do one of two things:

2a) You can post the books each month as you read them and simply label them as not fitting the monthly culture theme and stating what culture they fit. However, there are no "take backs" and once you report a book this way for 1 participation point, it counts to your total of 12 books.

2b) Alternatively, if you want to try to maximize your reads for the monthly culture theme, you can read other cultures throughout the year and wait to report them until late in December for 1 participation point each. An important point to this though is that even if you read a book in April and have been holding off on reporting it until the end of the year and then it happens to fit the December culture, you still only get 1 participation point for it because you did not read it in December.

Also, this only applies for the Culture Challenge. You should still write a review and post it in the monthly tag or nonmonthly tag folder in the month that you read it for regular PBT participation points.

I love Greece! I'm going to read either Apartment in Athens by Glenway Wescott or The Last of the Wine by Mary Renault.

Olivermagnus wrote: "I love Greece! I'm going to read either Apartment in Athens by Glenway Wescott or The Last of the Wine by Mary Renault."

I have no idea what The Last of the Wine is about but I am off to check it out! lol

I am reading Helen of Troy as it also fits the monthly tag!

If someone wants something a little lighter, I absolutely adored The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series and, in the first book, one of the friends, Lena, spends her summer in Greece.

A retelling of Greek mythology might fit. I really enjoyed Circe and Song of Achilles. Was Troy located in Greece? If not, I;m not sure Silence of the Girls (women?) will fit.

I really should look for something more modern and authentic about the culture, Or something about classic Athens, philosophy the library, or the original Olympics. I just saw something about Alexander(?)

I'm also open to a retelling of Cupid and Psyche if it's set in Greece (not up in the clouds).

NancyJ wrote: "A retelling of Greek mythology might fit. I really enjoyed Circe and Song of Achilles. Was Troy located in Greece? If not, I;m not sure Silence of the Girls (women?) will fit.

I really should loo..."

Not sure where Troy was located, was it an actual place? But it is firmly in the realm of Greek mythology which I think for sure counts.

I have The House by the River by Lena Manta, which was an Amazon Read the World book last year. I also have Song of Achilles which is a retelling.

Wouldn't you know that I just finished reading The Song of Achilles!

I am looking at

Corelli's Mandolin
My Family and Other Animals(The PBS show The Durrell"s comes from this book)
The Girl Under the Olive Tree

And Nicole-here is your shirtless(well shirt open, but still Abb-lecious) book for the month

Booknblues wrote: "I have The House by the River by Lena Manta, which was an Amazon Read the World book last year. I also have Song of Achilles which is a retelling."

I think I have the kindle of that one. I'll pull it up to read the first chapter. I liked Song of Achilles, and I liked Circe even more.

Olivermagnus wrote: "I love Greece! I'm going to read either Apartment in Athens by Glenway Wescott or The Last of the Wine by Mary Renault."

... Wine includes Socrates so that sounds like a possibility for me. I was looking at some other Mary Renault books last night too.

This is going to be easy peasy! I have so many print and ebooks in my TBR set in Greece or about Greece in some way -- from Helen MacInnes to Mary Stewart to Margaret Atwood and Madeleine Miller, with Mary Renault along the way. Plus all the translations of Homer, Euripedes, Plato, et al. I own. No problemo. Some even fit retelling!

I always feel a bit guilty reading a historical book for the horizon - but if Nicole says it's alright it must be kosher :)

I can tell you what I will not read - Zorba the Greek. I tried last year, but it's just not for me.

My Family and Other Animals on the other hand is one of my all time favourites. maybe I will read one of his other books. I have the The Corfu Trilogy on my shelf

There's The Magus, which is set in a Greek island. I read and liked, but not loved.

But together with retelling, the focus this month will be on Greek mythology...

The Penelopiad is good (and short)

I do have Fire from Heaven by Mary Renault at home.(Could go for double, but is it a retelling? It's about Alexander the great so maybe more history?)

Ransom by David Malouf is another option - it's a retelling of the story of "Achilles's slaughter and desecration of Hector, and Priam's attempt to ransom his son's body" by an Australian author I always wanted to check out

or The Song of Achilles which I own as an audio book

Idit, you should definitely do what you like! I did a version of this challenge last year and restricted myself to nonfiction and it was a massive failure! Lol.

So, I am broadening it a bit more this year. Lol. If you can’t meet your goals, just lower your expectations, right?!

Nicole R wrote: "Idit, you should definitely do what you like! I did a version of this challenge last year and restricted myself to nonfiction and it was a massive failure! Lol.

So, I am broadening it a bit more ..."

I like your approach!

Ok, this is funny. I so rarely read series books so close together. I just read "The Seven Sisters" for Brazil, and book 2 in the series, The Storm Sister, is apparently set in Greece!

Of the few books on my tbr, I feel like this one will fit the best (though I do have a mythology/Rick Riordan on there, I feel like for the culture, this one will be better, so that's what I'll aim for!).

The other options are:
- The Last Olympian / Rick Riordan
- Nights of Rain and Stars / Maeve Binchy

I think I'm going to read My Family and Other Animals as it's on my TBR.

I am going with the always reliable (for me) Maeve Binchey: "Nights of Rain and Stars".

That used to be on my TV are and I’m not sure why it came off. Probably because I’ve been busy trying to be the mad/her. But I might read nights of rain and stars as well. But only if I’ve gone through enough of the TBR to justify it! But I’m with in with you Ellen!

Perfect timing .... I have Patricia Highsmith's The Two Faces of January already checked out of the library. Was hoping to get to it this month, but I don't think I'll make it.

I also have on my tbr ... The Island by Victoria Hislop as well as Durrell's My Family and Other Animals

For those considering options, I second (or third) previously mentioned:
Corelli's Mandolin
The Penelopiad

Also recommend:
Decision at Delphi by Helen MacInnes

Ellen wrote: "I am going with the always reliable (for me) Maeve Binchey: "Nights of Rain and Stars"."

Oh, great suggestion!

LibraryCin wrote: "Ok, this is funny. I so rarely read series books so close together. I just read "The Seven Sisters" for Brazil, and book 2 in the series, The Storm Sister, is apparently set in Gree..."

I was looking at doing that exact thing too!! I also have Circe and An odyssey : A Father, a Son, and an Epic on my list. We'll see what comes in from the library first.

I am leaning towards The Island by Victoria Hislop.

I'll be reading My Family and Other Animals

I am planning to read Beauty's Daughter: The Story of Hermione and Helen of Troy by Carolyn Meyer.

Barbara wrote: "Wouldn't you know that I just finished reading The Song of Achilles!"

Me, too!

I have wanted to read Lysistrata for a while, so I think I will go with it.

Critterbee❇ wrote: "I have wanted to read Lysistrata for a while, so I think I will go with it."

Now there's a thought! I want to read something set in 20th or 21st century Greece for this challenge, but maybe I'll get to this as well.

If anyone elects to read Zorba the Greek or any other work by Nikos Kazantzakis, you want to find a good translation...one by Peter Bien if available. Bien's translations are from the original Greek, and often the only ones from the original Greek. I kid you not! While looking for a translation of Zorba to read, I stumbled across articles and essays about Bien's translations and how other English translations were based on a poor French translation which had also been heavily censored!

BTW I loved Zorba and would definitely read more Kazantakis who is considered one of Greece's greatest modern authors.

Theresa, I’m glad you mentioned Zorba in a positive way. I was sure this book would appear in the thread much more - being one of the most famous Greek modern writer.
I (as I’ve said) really didn’t manage to survive the book. But it is highly praised (as are the author’s other books)

Idit - I too was surprised not to see Zorba or Kazantzakis mentioned, especially since he is a giant of modern Greek literature, was nominated for a Nobel Prize 9 times, major movies have been made of his works, and there was some anniversary recently.

Zorba was not necessarily an easy read, and the world depicted was a grim one for women. There was nothing 'politically correct'. In fact it felt quite primitive at times. But it was a brilliant read, and Zorba an absolutely incredible unforgetable complex character.

Zorba was really bitey, and packed full of the beauty and brutality of life - from a reserved male point of view. Zorba was a fascinating character, just really extra. Being around him would be exhausting.

Ellen wrote: "I am going with the always reliable (for me) Maeve Binchey: "Nights of Rain and Stars"."

Oh, I think I might still have a copy of that! I really enjoyed the book. I used to read Binchy all the time. She mentioned one of the characters from the Greek trip in one of her later books, but by then I had forgotten the details.

The greek+retelling combo is too perfect to resist, with an abundance of good choices. Rather than focus on one or two mythical characters at a time, I decided to start with Stephen Fry's Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold ("informative and entertaining"). It's strange though that I can't find an ebook or audio version. (Audible only has a German version.) My library system has the book, so I'm in luck (as long as the font size isn't too small.) I also requested Till We Have Faces, and The Penelopiad just in case.

Otherwise I would have tried to find a modern book by a Greek author, since I've already read a few travel related novels.

Ann is awesome! Love that you are (cautiously) jumping in!

Idit wrote: "I always feel a bit guilty reading a historical book for the horizon - but if Nicole says it's alright it must be kosher :)

... maybe I will read one of his other books. I have the The Corfu Trilogy on my shelf...."

Thank you for reminding me about The Corfu Trilogy!!!

I picked this up for my kindle a bit ago because Gerald Durrell wrote a naturalist book that I was an obsessed with all through my childhood... The Amateur Naturalist... I got it for either my birthday or Christmas and was obsessed with it as a kid. I've kept it and still have it. I then got obsessed with the Masterpiece show The Durrells in Corfu not even realizing that the kid in the show was the same guy that wrote my book until my mom told me. This is the perfect catalyst to continue my obsession and read the books that the show is based on!! YAY!!!!

Charlotte wrote: "Idit wrote: "I always feel a bit guilty reading a historical book for the horizon - but if Nicole says it's alright it must be kosher :)

... maybe I will read one of his other books. I have the Th..."

I think I am going to read this too-I love the Masterpiece show!

Joanne wrote: "I am looking at

Corelli's Mandolin
My Family and Other Animals(The PBS show The Durrell"s comes from this book)
The Girl Under the Olive Tree...

I've got Corelli's Mandolin on my list too.

For some reason I'm having a really hard time finding something for this Greece tag.
These have peaked my interest, but there is nothing really clicking for me yet:
A Separation
The Magus

Maybe go full chick lit with Truly, Madly, Greekly?
Or a travel memoir like Falling in Honey: How a Tiny Greek Island Stole My Heart?

Just not sure. Looking for something set from modern time (nothing ancient, no mythology).Considering something WW2, but I'm a little burnt out on that era right now.

Charlotte, what’s the amateur naturalist? Is that a reading book or more of an encyclopaedia? Gerald Durrell is so lovely I’d love to share him with my kids

Here’s my chance to finally get My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrelloff my TBR. Set in Corfu. I love Gerald Durrell.

Barbara wrote: "Joanne wrote: "I am looking at

Corelli's Mandolin
My Family and Other Animals(The PBS show The Durrell"s comes from this book)
[book:The Girl Under the Olive Tree|1716902..."

I ordered it from my Library and it just same in-going over to get this afternoon

I'm so glad to see so much interest in My Family and Other Animals! I loved this as a kid and would read it over and over, laughing my ass off every time.

For a kid's story set in Greece, he also wrote The Donkey Rustlers.

You know I wish I had realized earlier that Lucinda Riley, her book the Olive tree is set in Cyprus. Even though I already have two or three QuickBooks planned I already did ordered it at the library. Will probably end up reading it. Just to knock another one off, since next year she’s probably gonna be my author of the year.

June: Greece
Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy
3 stars

As the tourists gathered at Andreas' taverna looked on in disbelief, a large excursion boat off the coast of Aghia Anna, Greece, burst into flames. It was obvious there would be a large loss of life and the small village would see deep sorrow for a long time to come. The tragedy also served to unite the tourists: Elsa, a journalist from Germany, Fiona, a nurse from Ireland who is traveling with Shane, a man she deeply loves but who is definitely not what dreams are made of; Thomas, a professor from California; and David, an Englishman who has fled a family business that he detests but is expected to helm. The four become fast friends and their stories are doled out in short passages throughout the book. All four have run away from something in their lives and their stay in the beautiful Greek village will help them find their way, whether it is back home or further away. They are aided in their quests by many characters in town. The kindly Andreas has his own heartache with an absent son who left after an argument years ago. Vonni, an Irish woman who left her home to follow a man who would ultimately break her heart. She can readily tell other people exactly how to run their lives but knows that she has destroyed her own. All of these people share the stories of their lives in the quaint village.

I admire Binchy's books and I liked this one as well. My problem with it is that the main characters stories were told in such short bits that it all became rather choppy sometimes. I really liked the people and the setting sounds amazing. It's a feel good read.

Joi wrote: "For some reason I'm having a really hard time finding something for this Greece tag.
These have peaked my interest, but there is nothing really clicking for me yet:
A Separation
[b..."

A few of these look good.

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/gre...

I still haven't read Middlesex.

The list includes the play Shirley Valentine, about a middle aged British woman who travels to Greece. I loved the "feel-good" movie. It may not teach you much about the culture though.

This one looks interesting too
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Ellen, I am reading it now! Or actually listening, which you guys know is totally not my style. But for this I think it works well enough. I am still convinced I hate audio. Nicely done review. Loved the way you characterized Shane.

Thanks, Nancy J. Turns out the library/book aailiblity greatly narrowed things down for me.

I have both A Separation and Falling in Honey: How a Tiny Greek Island Stole My Heart out from the library, so I'll be deciding between those two. Hopefully starting before midmonth.

Ellen wrote: "June: Greece
Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy
3 stars..."

This is an alternate choice for me. I'd like to get to "The Storm Sister" by Lucinda Riley, but I'm a ways down the hold list for it. I'm not sure if this one will come much sooner for me, though.

June: Greece
The King Must Die by Mary Renault - 4 stars
And it fits the June tag of "retellings"!

A retelling of the story of Theseus, from Greek mythology. Her interpretation of the Minotaur was very interesting, as it tries to tell a human story of events that have historical evidence, which could have been exaggerated until it became the fantastic myth that we are familiar with. Very similar in vein to Mary Stewart, who did the same thing for Arthur.

Renault is a compelling writer - there is an air of listening to a saga told by a bard as we hear Theseus's voice narrating his own story. I found it difficult to put down, and the characters are all very human and relatable, yet still so far away in time and very much steeped in their beliefs of the old religion of the Greek gods.