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nikikalyvides's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
ljm57's review against another edition
4.0
This memoir is a wonderfully evocative read detailing Durrell’s time spent in Cyprus from 1953-56. He arrives with the intention of buying a house in a village & living not as a British expat but as one of the community. He works as a teacher & subsequently as a press advisor. The writing is brilliant, describing the landscape, as well as his experiences & relationships with a whole myriad of characters who live & visit the island.
notthatcosta's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.25
I went into this book skeptical and expecting the usual tired Orientalism that comes with British accounts of Cyprus. How could this possibly compare to the self-aware and scrupulous work of Sweet and Bitter Island by Tabitha Morgan? As a massive fan of the aforementioned, this book was surprisingly good as a companion piece.
Although, yes, there was certainly British colonial hubris and Orientalism (i.e. plenty of derogatory comments about Cypriot women), it's clear that Lawrence Durrell had a lot of reverence for the island and its people (he even spoke Greek!).
There were a lot of Easter eggs and insights into day-to-day life in the mid 20th century; featuring day-in-the-life interactions that are both resonant for today but also some that feel distinctly lost in time. Despite the book veering into self-indulgence and naturally being difficult for me to read towards the end as the troubles take hold, it was better than expected.
Although, yes, there was certainly British colonial hubris and Orientalism (i.e. plenty of derogatory comments about Cypriot women), it's clear that Lawrence Durrell had a lot of reverence for the island and its people (he even spoke Greek!).
There were a lot of Easter eggs and insights into day-to-day life in the mid 20th century; featuring day-in-the-life interactions that are both resonant for today but also some that feel distinctly lost in time. Despite the book veering into self-indulgence and naturally being difficult for me to read towards the end as the troubles take hold, it was better than expected.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Murder, Colonisation, and War
karinlib's review against another edition
4.0
This was a slow moving book ( until the end), about life on Cyprus in the mid 1950s, during the struggle for independence. The book is almost diary like of Durrell's stay on Cyprus. I enjoyed his writing, and the descriptions of Cyprus, but I actually wish that he had discussed what happened in Cyprus after he left.
hannah_margaret's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.75
Way to slow, ended up skim reading the end because I couldn't get into it
kah's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
4.5