4 Books Set In Greece That Are Perfectly Paired With Greek Lightning
Greece is one of the most magical places in the Mediterranean. It remains nearly untouched by man, as most of the locals hold a significant revery for the unbroken nature around them. That’s why the little fishing villages that pepper the islands, and the vast, stunning mountainsides all keep to themselves. It’s one of the few places in Europe that you can seek a nearly tropical vacation that can feel totally isolated from the rest of the world. In fact, it’s rather easy while in Greece to avoid crowds and decide to delve into the natural wonder of the place, with electric blue oceans, stunning sea life and amazing foliage. Alternatively, you can throw yourself into the population centers that are bursting with life, history and an amazingly well-structured culture that’s welcoming and friendly in a way you simply can’t imagine.
If you’re one of the many people who admire Greece but just don’t have the budget to get there this year, you’re not alone. And while Greek Lightning offers the vibrancy of Greece in a bottle, sometimes, it’s not enough to just taste the beauty and wonder of Greece, sometimes, you need a little help imagining it too. Luckily, we live in a vast world of literature that can trap places and feelings on a page for you to experience almost like you’re there. That’s why we’ve collected a series of books that pair perfectly with our liquor: Greek Lightning that, together, can make you start to feel the Greek sun on your face as you dive into a world of imagination and stunning beauty powered by literature and the delicious taste of high-quality honey liqueur.
Pascali’s Island By Barry Unsworth
Greece is a land seasoned and enhanced upon by its history. For it’s a land that was the cradle of democracy and Western philosophy, thus, it has much in the way of historical relevance in both ancient and modern history to ensnare and delight a reader. This novel captures the early 20th century Greece and all the color it was so well known for even back then. It’s set in 1908 on a small Greek island that’s a distant outpost for what remains of the Ottoman Empire.
The novel becomes a darker study of paranoia, weakness and romantic pining set against a backdrop of stunning landscapes and the quiet, calming culture of the farther removed Greek Islands. You’ll delight in making yourself a Greek Lightning cocktail to sip in the sun while you read a novel that explores the depths of the human mind and the beauty of historical Greece.
Eleni By Nicholas Gage
You may, or may not, have known that after WWII, Greece was caught in a bloody Cold War that threatened the tranquility of the islands and beauty of the people’s culture. This novel centers around the Greek experience during that time by focusing on a woman by the name of Eleni. The story actually describes the trials the author’s mother faced during the conflict in 1948. It explores some of the main attributes of modern Greek culture: emigration and loss which produces the serene quality of the culture and the people of the islands as well as how they have grown to cope with the tragedy dotted history of their country.
It’s a novel that Greeks and Greek-Americans alike regard as a must-read for anyone who is interested in Greece or can trace their roots back there. It’s a hard book to read as only war books written by actual survivors can be, so you’ll need the sweet, enticing taste of Greek Lightning to get you through your day on the beach with this literary masterpiece.
Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold by Stephen Fry
If you’re looking for something a bit on the lighter side, nothing can beat the entertainment value of Stephen Fry’s retelling of the classic Greek myths. For anyone that’s already visited Greece, you’ll know that the country, and especially specific places in the country, really do feel like places where magic could happen and Gods have roamed. The extreme beauty of all their natural areas, perhaps, helps the imagination flow in that direction.
Either way, if you’re looking to picture the towering peaks of the blue-tinted Greek mountains and taste the flavors of Greece in your glass of Greek Lightning, there’s no better accompaniment than this book. You’re sure to enjoy the entertaining talents of Stephen Fry’s storytelling ability and his easy humor as well as his intelligent commentary on how the Greek myths shaped Western culture and enhanced our understanding of the human condition.
The Magus By John Fowles
If you’re seeking a book that describes the Greek landscape and culture in stunning detail while providing a mind-bending story, you’ve found it in “The Magus.” It’s considered John Fowles’, a renowned writer, masterpiece and it really does deserve that title. The story describes a young Englishman by the name of Nicholas Urge who accepts a job in the Greek Islands at a private school on a distant island to escape his meaningless life in London and a failed love affair. What it becomes, however, is a story that explores the importance of mystery for the human mind, the ability for a person to change and the wonder of fiction itself. It explores romance and human connection all while exploring a stunning island, marked by beautiful sunsets, fine white sand, dense green foliage and the blue seas known to surround the islands of Greece.
It depicts Nicholas diving into a unique experience that’s meant to toy with his sense of reality and, consequently, toys with the reader’s sense of reality too. All while catching the fascinating way that different cultures throughout Europe have coped with no longer being an empire or the center of Western civilization. It’s a surprisingly fun and deceivingly deep and thoughtful story that manages to make you feel like you are, in fact, on the island with the cast of characters. It’s a perfect escape for any time of year. Plus, every time they mention sipping some exquisite Mediterranean liquor in the book, you too can sip your own slice of bottled Greek flavors and culture.
Try Greek Lightning Now
Make your next read that much better by enhancing your time with a good, Greek novel and good Greek honey liqueur. Find Greek Lightning near you to start your next sun-soaked adventure punctuated with Greek mystery and Greek flavors today.
Wondering where you can find Greek Lightning near you? Reach out to us here to find out where it’s available and to add Greek Lighting to your bar’s menu now.