What is it about Greece that so inspires writers, always has? With Homerâs Iliad and Odyssey, itâs where the very idea of literature in the western world began. The Histories by Herodotus came, relatively speaking, not long after and in the centuries since then, this muse has infected countless others. Some like Cavafy and Kazantzakis were of Greek heritage, others became so enamoured with what theyâd encountered on their travels that they had no choice, really, but to put pen to paper.
Iâm one of those. On my first visit a dozen or so years ago, the island of Sifnos took a firm hold on my heart and the result is my two books, The Sifnos Chronicles: tales from a greek isle and Sifnos Chronicles 2: more greek island tales, as well as this blog. Up until then, Iâd never ever considered myself a book author. Now I am one. What Iâd never expected is how many wonderful, interesting, passionate people from all corners of the globe my writings about Sifnos would bring into my life. Ekaterina Botziou from the UK is one. Sheâs a go-getter, an eclectic sort and when she posted a video recently on her Youtube channel. âWhatâs on My Greek Bookshelfâ and included my two books on it, well, I was thrilled. âA beautifully written travel memoir,â she called The Chronicles. âNicely paced,â she went on. âFunny and quirky,â all of which, of course, made my writerâs heart soar. Chronicles 2, she said, âcarries on in the same vein, with so much more fun.â
Ekaterinaâs video got me to thinking about my own collection of books about Greece and when I went to my shelves and tallied them up, it was many more than I imagined. There were the guidebooks that started me off on this grand adventure, among them Frommerâs Greek Islands and a well-thumbed copy of The Cyclades: Discovering the Greek Islands of the Aegean. A Greek phrasebook/dictionary, Learn Greek Without a Teacher, plus Instant Greek and the more realistic Learn Greek in 25 Years. A copy of Captain Corelliâs Mandolin whose movie version convinced from its first scenes that this country needed to be in my future. Sailing the Wine Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter by Thomas Cahill, a title that springs to mind every time the ferry Iâm on is on is sailing in or out of Piraeus. A new book in 2019, Eye, by Marianne Micros, a collection of short stories exploring the mythology, folklore, Greek customs and old-world customs that have fascinated her all her life. This book was shortlisted for the Governor Generalâs Literary Award for Fiction, one of Canadaâs top book prizes and, as she lives near me and her writing and mine have brought us together in person several times, I was extra thrilled.
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Post by Sharon Blomfield in The Sifnos Chronicler