Journal Entry 1 by AnglersRest from Teignmouth, Devon United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Synopsis from Amazon.

This blackly comic story of a Greek Cypriot family living on a council estate in 1980s Nottingham is told through the eyes of Anna, a first generation teenager who works in the family fish and chip shop. Anna feels frustrated and isolated, and is struggling to break with tradition and escape a life behind the counter but her formidable, extremely protective yet hilarious mother Tina thinks that education is wasted on a girl - all Anna needs to do is to cook well, wear terrible frilly blouses and keep out of trouble so that she attracts a nice, suitable Greek-Cypriot husband. The only person who really seems to understand Anna is her extraordinary, wise grandmother, Yiaya, who reads coffee cups and practices rudimentary magic, much to Tina's disapproval. Through Yiaya's storytelling, Anna learns about the turbulent history of her ancestral island, her grandfather who went missing in the war of 1974 and finally discovers the secrets that have shaped her family. There are moments of joy (wonderful feasts where the table heaves with Greek delicacies) and sadness (the family have to cope with the cruel bigotry of those around them). But is not until tragedy strikes that Anna begins to take control of her own destiny instead of complying with her loveable but domineering mother, who is all too willing to map out her daughter's life for her.
 

Journal Entry 2 by AnglersRest from Teignmouth, Devon United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 31, 2006

I was the last person on a ray for another copy of this book. Sadly, that copy did not arrive, lost somewhere between the US & the UK.

A couple of days after I made the journal entry about the lost copy, I received a delightful email from the author, Eve Makis offering me a copy of the book to replace the missing copy.

This, is that copy that arrived complete with inscription. Thank you, Eve!

The author's web site is HERE

 

Journal Entry 3 by AnglersRest from Teignmouth, Devon United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Journal Entry 4 by AnglersRest from Teignmouth, Devon United Kingdom on Sunday, February 11, 2007

In the post to scotsbookie. Hope you enjoy it. 

Journal Entry 5 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, February 22, 2007

Arrived safely with me this morning, thank you AngersRest & for the lovely postcard, #3 on Mount TBR. Will get to it as soon as I can 

Journal Entry 6 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, March 10, 2007

This was a times, funny, poignant & uplifting, a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Thank you AnglersRest & Eve Makis.

Already have YowlYY's details, so this will be on its way on Monday. 

Journal Entry 7 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, March 12, 2007

Popped in the post to YowlYY this morning. Happy Reading! 

Journal Entry 8 by YowlYY from Nottingham, not specified not specified on Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Just arrived, in sweet company of a handful of chocolates, which have been passed on to my OH who loves them ;-) Thanks so much Audrey, I will be starting this one today as I am rings and rays free...yay!!! 

Journal Entry 9 by YowlYY from Nottingham, not specified not specified on Monday, March 19, 2007

This was a lovely read, and left me wanting to read more! I felt immediately at home in the narration of the events of this expat Greek Cypriots in the East Midlands, and loved the author's style, or shall I say Anna's? The description of the reality in the run down council estate where the fish&chips shop is located had me in stitches - but it wasn't just hilarious moments in the book, there were also the ugly sides of life in a mixed community, where racism is still a reality. The family, however, manages to fit in well and come to terms with all aspects of life in a alien environment, and with their charme and straight-forwardness manages to win over many people of the local community.
There are so many episodes in the book worth mentioning, but I shall leave this to the next readers!
Thanks to AnglersRest for sharing - the book is now in the mail heading to Birmingham :) 

Journal Entry 10 by birmingham-rose from Lichfield, Staffordshire United Kingdom on Friday, March 23, 2007

Arrived safely in Birmingham. I am looking forward to this so I am going to begin this right away as my rings and rays pile has gone down considerably!!! 

Journal Entry 11 by birmingham-rose from Lichfield, Staffordshire United Kingdom on Thursday, March 29, 2007

I have been reading this on the bus to and from work. I found myself bursting into laughter and getting many scowls from other passengers on the bus!
This was such a well written story, it was so believable, filled with information about Greek Cypriot traditions and foods. I loved Tina, she was so funny, she reminds me so much of an old friend, never afraid to say what was on her mind, and speaking with her own adaptations of English words. She made me laugh calling the customers names in Greek, that translated into things like 'big belly' and 'donkey'. I would love to see this made into a movie, I really think it would be a box office hit!!!

I will be sending it onto Angellica very soon.

I'm now off to start my other Eve Makis book - The mother-in-law, which I will turn into a ring when I have finished (if anyone is interested in joining it, please PM me) 

Journal Entry 12 by angellica from Worksop, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Oh Wow! I thought I'd already journalled this one when it arrived (sorry :()

I loved this book! The people felt real and it was thoroughly enjoyable. I'll be looking out for other Eve Makis books.

Thanks for sharing.

Off to PM veganknitter for her address and get this moving again ASAP

 

Journal Entry 13 by angellica from Worksop, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Thursday, July 05, 2007

Posted to veganknitter

Safe Journey! 

Journal Entry 14 by veganknitter from Bolton, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Received yesterday and only just got round to journalling it due to going to the pub with the Manchester Bookcrossers.

This looks great - thanks everyone! 

Journal Entry 15 by veganknitter from Bolton, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 24, 2007

A good quick and enjoyable read. You'd love this book if you liked Anita and Me by Meera Syal and the film "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (and if you didn't, what's wrong with you?)

I really enjoyed the antics of the Cypriot family and particularly mum Tina's inventive use of English.

In fact, I found the Cypriot family much more believable than the rather caricatured British people in the book - we're not all either snobs or yobs, you know!

I also learnt a bit more about appalling violence in Cypress around the time of the Turkish invasion although the historical bits didn't sit too well with the generally cheerful tone of the rest of the book.

I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would - thanks everyone and particularly AnglersRest!

Off to lucyc58 next

 

Journal Entry 16 by fushmush from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Saturday, November 10, 2007

Received today. Next in line on the TBR pile. 

Journal Entry 17 by fushmush from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Not at all what I was expecting, but an enjoyable read nonetheless. Wonderful characters :D I also liked how it wasn't a "happily ever after" ending.

Will have to go and read a little more about Cypriot history. Truly, I am clueless :D

Will PM next in line.

Update: This has been posted to the next on the ray. 

Journal Entry 18 by LindyLouMac from Viterbo, Lazio Italy on Friday, November 23, 2007

Arrived in the post yesterday with thanks to all those concerned for enabling this book to continue travelling. I will be starting it as soon as I finish my current read. 

Journal Entry 19 by LindyLouMac from Viterbo, Lazio Italy on Monday, November 26, 2007

Oh dear it seems like I am in the minority with regards to this book!

I just did not enjoy this much, neither finding it heartwarming or funny as suggested on the cover. Cover review also mentioned that it was tragic and uplifting, well I found it tragic and boring. The only parts I found of real interest were the insights into Cypriot culture.
Anna the protagonist is the daughter of Greek- Cypriot immigrants who own a fish and chip shop in Nottingham. Anna feels held back by her mother’s plans for her life and she dreams of escaping and continuing her education.
I think that maybe I would have enjoyed this more if it had more depth to the story. I did like the authors characterisations though, all of which I felt I could visualise, especially Tina and Yiayia. In my opinion it did not even feel like there was a plot just a series of ramblings about how difficult life was for this family. I actually think for me this would have worked better had it been autobiographical.
 

Journal Entry 20 by LindyLouMac at by mail in To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, November 29, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (11/30/2007 UTC) at by mail in To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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En route to Aubriel in the UK 

Journal Entry 21 by aubriel from Sheffield, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Monday, December 31, 2007

Please accept my apologies, but this arrived in the midst of a family death and I was busy trying to juggle help arrange a funeral and get ready for Xmas and I forgot to journal, it was only after I finished reading that I realised.

I did enjoy this - thanks for sharing, but I have to confess not much is sticking in my brain right now to give an adequate response.

 

Journal Entry 22 by Amber-moon on Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Received in the post a couple of days ago ( sorry,first chance to make a journal entry )There are some interesting comments that have already been journalled.I`ll read this next. 

Journal Entry 23 by Amber-moon on Sunday, February 10, 2008

I read this quite quickly but that may also be due to the fact that i found myself skipping through some parts of it due to boredom!Fortunatly the whole book wasn`t boring and i did enjoy the recipes and really fell in love with the granny type figure.What a wonderful character!
PMing the next on the list. 

Journal Entry 24 by Amber-moon on Friday, February 22, 2008

Well.nuttymum303 didn`t get back to me but meanwhile my bessie mate,jazz-ee2, expressed an interest in this book.After clearing it with Anglers rest i`m now going to pass this on to jazz-ee2 tomorrow.Cheers folks xxx 

Journal Entry 25 by Amber-moon at passed to a friend in Mansfield, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Friday, February 22, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (2/23/2008 UTC) at passed to a friend in Mansfield, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

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To be given to jazz-ee2 when we meet up at the Round Britain Rally prize giving dinner. 

Journal Entry 26 by jazz-ee2 from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Thursday, March 20, 2008

Passed on to me by the lovely Amber-moon. Sorry it has taken so long to journal as I am not able to get online much at present. I will read the book and pass it on as soon as possible. 

Journal Entry 27 by jazz-ee2 from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Friday, June 27, 2008

I have finally gotten around to finishing this book, sorry it has taken me so long.
I did quite enjoy the gentle observation of Greek Cypriot family life, it reminded me a bit of how Roddy Doyle writes about seemingly ordinary lives such as in Paddy Clark Ha Ha Ha, although this can seem a little slow-moving at times. I loved the characters of Yiayia and Tina, I so know each of them!
Thanks for sharing AnglersRest!
To pass on now to caligula03. 

Journal Entry 28 by caligula03 from Hayward, California USA on Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Book has arrived. Thanks. 

Journal Entry 29 by caligula03 from Hayward, California USA on Friday, September 05, 2008

It's not quite what I was expecting, but still a very enjoyable read. 

Journal Entry 30 by caligula03 at AnglersRest in n/a, n/a -- Controlled Releases on Friday, September 05, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (9/16/2008 UTC) at AnglersRest in n/a, n/a -- Controlled Releases

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Mailing the book home to AnglersRest. 

Journal Entry 31 by AnglersRest from Teignmouth, Devon United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Thanks to everyone who took part in the book ring, which has successfully made its way home.

Now going into permanent collection.