Talking to Zeus
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Product Description
Product Description
Jane Shaw was working as a volunteer in Chelsea's famous Physic Garden when she earned a placement to work for a year on a very special organic garden in Greece. But this was to be no easy-going break in the Mediterranean. The five-acre plot, which Jane swiftly named 'Alcatraz', was devoid of creature comforts, perched on a steep, remote hillside that was blindingly hot in summer and freezing in winter, and overseen by a 74-year-old, passionate, mercurial eccentric English lady called Joy. On arrival, Jane is immediately drawn into the intrigue of village life, such as the ongoing feud with the nouveau riche ex-pat neighbour with a sports car, whom Joy suspects has dug an illegal bore hole to water his terraced lawns. But most of all she is beguiled by the vibrant energy of the landscape, the folklore, the food and the numerous engaging characters who flock to Joy as the wise matriarch of the locale. The story arcs through a year of seasons in the garden as Jane learns to love its wild beauty and to relish the hard work and care it needs. This is a charming, wildly entertaining and joyful portrait of a very special place, and will appeal to anyone who loves gardening, or who has enjoyed books such as Driving Over Lemons.
About the Author
Jane Shaw left school to work in a number of jobs, including darkroom assistant and a brief stint in The Royal Navy. She graduated as a graphic designer and worked as a runner/driver on a TV set before enjoying employment as a bookseller on Charing Cross Road. At the weekends she volunteered with BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) and, hooked by the horticultural bug, enrolled on a gardening course. She volunteered at Chelsea Physic Garden, worked in Hyde Park and completed a three-month internship at Kew before jetting off to Greece and experiencing the unique gardening internship chronicled in Talking to Zeus. She is in her early thirties and continues to work as a gardener.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
The author - in search of some stability in her life - applied for a job as a gardener in Greece on a hillside garden. She felt she had never really stuck at anything for very long and this job - limited to a year - would be a good test of her ability to see something through to a conclusion and acquire some gardening experience as well.
If you want a travelogue of Greece then this book is not for you. But if you want a book which details everyday troubles and triumphs in cultivating a garden with next to no water then you will enjoy `Talking to Zeus'. The author nearly turns tail and flees when she sees her living accommodation - nicknamed Alcatraz - and occupied by a stuffed lion called Zeus. But she forces herself to day and eventually is glad she did. Joy - her `employer' - seems eccentric and a tyrant at first but she soon grows on the reader as she did on the author.
The book is full of characters - the neighbours Charles and Rachel and Pavlos not to speak of the Neanderthal immediately next door who is strongly suspected of drilling an illegal bore hole for water and thus damaging the garden. The house in which Joy lives is full of treasures as well as animals - Winston, a small dog with attitude; and Titan a large dog who likes having his tummy tickled; Wizard - a macaw who is allowed a free run of the house; and lastly Orwell the cat who takes up residence with the author.
This is a book about life and gardening and how the author found peace and stability and realised that certain things are important - the volcano sunrise, a plant flowering for the first time, spring after snow in winter; as well as simple enjoyment with friends of good food and drink - most notably ouzo. I enjoyed this book even though I am not a gardener as it says just as much about life as it does about gardening.
If you want a travelogue of Greece then this book is not for you. But if you want a book which details everyday troubles and triumphs in cultivating a garden with next to no water then you will enjoy `Talking to Zeus'. The author nearly turns tail and flees when she sees her living accommodation - nicknamed Alcatraz - and occupied by a stuffed lion called Zeus. But she forces herself to day and eventually is glad she did. Joy - her `employer' - seems eccentric and a tyrant at first but she soon grows on the reader as she did on the author.
The book is full of characters - the neighbours Charles and Rachel and Pavlos not to speak of the Neanderthal immediately next door who is strongly suspected of drilling an illegal bore hole for water and thus damaging the garden. The house in which Joy lives is full of treasures as well as animals - Winston, a small dog with attitude; and Titan a large dog who likes having his tummy tickled; Wizard - a macaw who is allowed a free run of the house; and lastly Orwell the cat who takes up residence with the author.
This is a book about life and gardening and how the author found peace and stability and realised that certain things are important - the volcano sunrise, a plant flowering for the first time, spring after snow in winter; as well as simple enjoyment with friends of good food and drink - most notably ouzo. I enjoyed this book even though I am not a gardener as it says just as much about life as it does about gardening.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A very well written book which will appeal to those who enjoy travel literature, horticulture or just a good read. I haven't been able to put this book down and feel I can envisage the garden and the characters, such is the descriptivness.
As a grecophile and a keen gardener I am delighted by the horticultural content and the portrayal of the Greek ambience combined with good old ex pat eccentricity.
As a grecophile and a keen gardener I am delighted by the horticultural content and the portrayal of the Greek ambience combined with good old ex pat eccentricity.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Right from page one I was drawn into the world of Jane Shaw. She brings the characters and scenery to life, making you feel that you are there beside her, feeling her anguish, discomfort, happiness and joy. A cracking read and a book that is well worth the money. If Jane finds she doesn't have a future in horticulture, she will certainly have a future as a writer.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Simply Delightful...
I love Greece, but hate gardening so I thought I might struggle a little with this book. However, within a few pages I was there with these characters, sometimes laughing,... Read more
Published 12 months ago by The Moo
greece and gardening
greece and gardening my 2 favourite things. this book gives me the best of both worlds. would have loved to have had the experience for real. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mr. C. J. Mcgowan
Not quite Olympian
I was encouraged by other reviews to give this book a go, however I didn't quite see why they were all raving about it. Read more
Published 15 months ago by votedwithourforks
A Greek gardening adventure
I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in gardening, travel or life experiences. Jane Shaw is a trainee gardener who travels to Greece to spend a year working in the... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Deb
Well written, great story
I'm glad this book is getting such good reviews because it deserves it. I have read so many of these travel-type books in the last year, some of them deserved their high rating on... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Peg Phillips
Pass the ouzo!
From page 1, I was sucked into the madcap world of greek gardening along with Jane. A very evocative story, you can picture all the characters from Joy to Winston, become immersed... Read more
Published on 2 Jun 2010 by Lesanco
Jemima Mobile says...
This is a fabulous read! I am going to write a theme tune for the film on my glockenspiel.
Published on 1 Jun 2010 by Jemima Mobile
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