Still Life in Crete: A Singular View

Like the other amazon reviewers, I have found this book enjoyable and easy to read, with a slightly abrupt ending.

It is very much set in Western Crete, around Hania, Kolymbari and Kastelli, so nothing about Heraklion or Knossos, for example. It is also a book about the Cretans rather than Crete, which is very pleasant, but don't expect touristic details.

The chapters and paragraphs are short, often no more than little vignettes or anecdotes, making it easy to stop and start. There are some very amusing passages, and the overall tone is quite relaxed.

All in all, a good holiday read if you are travelling to Crete.

Readable story, great pre-read for a holiday in Crete (12/12 people found this helpful)

Enjoyable story, although almost entirely about finding, buying, and building a home in Crete, rather than everyday stories of the author's new life. A few good comic moments.
Definitely a good buy for anyone trying to get a bit more from a trip to Crete.

Good, but... (1/2 people found this helpful)

This book was a good read and an excellent evocation of Crete. It was the first book I've read through from start to finish for quite a long time. However, the ending is really rather strange... The leadup to settling in Crete took forever and then the last couple of chapters skip by so quickly. Maybe a sequel would be a good idea. By the way, no point in the recipes.

From Kent to Crete, the comic route (8/12 people found this helpful)

It's early days yet to bracket Anthony Cox with genially acerbic Bill Bryson, but "Still Life in Crete" is in the same companionable genre as the glib globetrotter: full of sharp observation visually and verbally, with a nice line in cynicism this side of world-weary.

Understandably, neath drear British skies in his unmodern cottage amid cabbage stench, ex-journalist Cox dreamed of escape. Crete, with its siren promise of flower-decked, sea-girt vistas, distinctive culinary delights and £-cowed currency, sounded just the job. The Kent sale proceeds and pension, plus his wife's tele-cottaging, would guarantee comfort with style.

Realising the dream was less easy, but constantly challenging, as he entertainingly reveals with a relish for every facet of the odyssey, from madcap outward journey and the usually warm, sometimes maddening character of his new neighbours near Hania and their coffee, olive oil and grape-fuelled lives, to the vagaries of local building regulations and lawyers' little ways, and the impact of tourism on this history-rich island. Plus the way his two dogs put the "pug" into repugnant.

Nonetheless, the scene-stealer amid the beguiling abundance is Cox himself, not too innocent, too knowing or too pushy and self-righteous. Just the classic, ever-welcome Englishman abroad. Not Hellenic, just differently civilised, happy to share his insights into a richly diverting culture and a life-changing experience.

The book is guaranteed "100% Greek myth-free", but it offers the tasty PS of a handful of recipes.

Next book Cox must let his sketching skill run beyond thumbnail modesty, perhaps illustrating a broader descriptive canvas. How about "A Funny Thing Happened on the way to Athens..."?

Very Readable! (2/2 people found this helpful)

An amusing and informative account of ex-journalist and teacher Anthony Cox's experiences when he, his wife and two dogs took the big leap to sell up in England and settle in a village in Western Crete...Anthony Cox's easy style of relating events makes this book very readable, whilst sharing useful knowledge for the uninitiated. (Extract from review in "Greek-o-File"... issue 2001/2)

Still Life in Crete: A Singular View

Anthony Cox

Reader Reviews:

Very pleasant read (0/0 people found this helpful)

Readable story, great pre-read for a holiday in Crete (12/12 people found this helpful)

Good, but... (1/2 people found this helpful)

From Kent to Crete, the comic route (8/12 people found this helpful)

Very Readable! (2/2 people found this helpful)

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