From the back cover:
"In the summer of 2001 Sofka Zinovieff accompanied her husband on a posting back to Athens. This book is both an account of her enthusiastic, if often balked, attempts to transform herself into a Greek, and a vivid evocation of a city in a chaotic ferment of change. In it slively and often trenchant blend of personal recollection and a depiction of an Athens of rowdy tavernas, resourceful refugees, majestic prostitutes, innumerable theatre companies, ferocious demonstrations and age-old customs affectionately preserved, this is a thoroughly engaging memoir." - Fraser King, Spectator

From the author's website:
"This was Sofka Zinovieff’s first sight of the view from Eurydice Street. It was so irresistible that she and her husband immediately knew that they would make their home there. The author had fallen in love with Greece as a student, but little suspected that years later she would return for good with an expatriate Greek husband and two young daughters. This book is a wonderfully fresh, funny, and inquiring account of her first year as an Athenian.
The whole family have to get to grips with their new life and identities: the children start school and tackle a new language, and Sofka’s husband, Vassilis, comes home after half a lifetime away. Meanwhile, Sofka resolves to get to know her new city and become a Greek citizen, which turns out to be a process of Byzantine complexity.
As the months go by, the author discovers how memories of Athens’ past haunt its present in its music, poetry, and history. She also learns about the difficult art of catching a taxi, the importance of smoking, the unimportance of time-keeping, and how to get your Christmas piglet cooked at the baker’s. "

Reserved for the Global Village Virtual Bookbox organized by Shroffland & ApoloniaX.

On its way to Annimanni. Enjoy!

The book has arrived in Espoo. Thank you, okyrhoe! Can't wait to get reading :)

I really enjoyed the beginning, when the writer focused more on her and her family's personal experiences, but towards the end she sidestepped more and more into historical details etc., which I found a bit boring I'm afraid. All in all an enjoyable read though!

Next off to Chania as part of the Finnish wishlist tag game.

Looks great, can't wait to read it!

Just like Annimanni, I enjoyed more about the family/personal stuff, and found some of the historical parts bit hard to concentrate, but all in all, this was a good and informative book.

Sending to Annelis next!

Thank you for this book for the Alphabetic Challence, Chania. This book really looks worth reading even without the challenge.
I'll read the book and let it continue its travels.

Yes, the personal family history was easier to read and the historical facts demanded more concentration. I think I learnt a lot of those history parts, though. I think I'll offer this book to a friend who is thinking about living in Greece sometime in the future.

This is my # 15 (120) in
"REDUCE MOUNT TBR 2013" Challenge arranged by Dove-i-Libri.

I gave the book to a friend. Happy reading!

This is my # 13 in
"KEEP THEM MOVING 2013" Challenge arranged by Booklady331.