Reviews

Lettre au Greco by Nikos Kazantzakis, Nikos Kazantzakis

vihren's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

antreach's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

kidasquared's review against another edition

not bad, but just not in the mood at this time. maybe I’ll read his novels first

tsenteme's review against another edition

5.0

Το πρώτο μυθιστόρημα Καζαντζάκη που διαβάζω! Δεν περίμενα σε καμία περίπτωση να φτάνει στο επίπεδο των κορυφαίων της παγκόσμιας λογοτεχνίας. Το αξιοσημείωτο είναι ότι δεν έχει συγγραφικές επιρροές, ο τρόπος γραφής του είναι εξολοκλήρου δικός του. Φυσικά έχει φιλοσοφικές επιρροές και φαίνεται πως είναι πολύ διαβασμένος.

pericles_zacharis's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

roxanamalinachirila's review against another edition

4.0

While I love Kazantzakis, this book felt like he wasn't quite done editing it (it was probably the case; I think he died before managing to fix it to his standards). But still, it was lovely.

pennyy__'s review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

maya_irl's review against another edition

5.0

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Made too many notes to choose a favorite one, so here's the famous quote:

"... either I would grow accustomed to this happiness, whereupon it would lose its intensity and all its glory, or I would not grow accustomed to it and would always consider it as great as before, in which case I would be lost completely. I saw a bee drowned in its honey once, and learned my lesson."

drakakis's review against another edition

5.0

I have read this twice, and it's time for a third read. The most powerful autobiography I have ever read. The personal and spiritual revelations contained within stretch the limits of one's intellectual and emotional capacity. There will be no spoilers, because it's not kind of book. There really is no plot, unless a human life can be reduced to one, but there is wonder and excitement and grief and anxiety ... and love. Kazantzakis was the best philosopher of the 20th century who never called himself a philosopher. He wove the personal, the historical, and the spiritual all together. He was both a champion and and a critic of mankind's spiritual progress. And he was a realist, almost an existentialist -- but not quite. He believed that morality was not a human invention, that it was inherent in the universe and in us.

cateboccia's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5