Papalazarou

Part journal, part diary, part philosophical and/or political polemic, part travel, part creative fiction writing, what Papalazarou's The Lavender Way reminds me of most is a more modern day version of Laurence Sterne's Tristram Shandy and knowing that Papalaz is a huge fan of Sterne I don't think it is any accident. This is almost like the whole shebang, kitchen sink etal and all set on the beautiful Greek isle of Crete.

2 British born ex-pats (if I remember he hates being described as an ex-pat) Papalaz and girlfriend Gill have along with their two beloved pups Bridey and Molly left the rat race behind to live out their dream in an idyllic setting while at the same time enthusiastically embracing not only this Greek Island they live on but the people who live there as well. There are many who daydream about doing the same thing themselves but very very few who actually even make an attempt to bring it off. So hat's off to them. So into and out of town they go--constantly fixing cars and/or trucks, scavenging for building material, brainstorming with contractors and when at home, diverting springs, building decks, farming (olives and apricots)--Gill of the green thumb growing lavender where it doesn't belong, nurturing and working constantly at it--and Papalaz himself and his doppelgangers Shem, Shaun and Farmboy doing the heavy lifting, the climbing, the battening of hatches when the Sahara storms cross over the Mediterranean. And best of all having fun, eating and drinking and entertaining friends and visiting family, and enjoying life.

Anyway all of this is recounted for the reader in diary form (586 pages) covering a period between September 5, 2004 til August 26, 2005 which is just a little over one week shy of a year--which makes the fanatic in me wonder why not finish the year but I guess close enough counts in horseshoes.

In any case it is a fun book to read--gives excellent perspectives on the people and places of Crete, their own laid back non-conformist take it as it comes and make the best of it approach to life.

As well may as well mention the fictional experimentation he does from time to time with special nods to Perec and Robbe-Grillet. There's a lot in here and even if you don't always agree with the political perspectives (mostly I find that I do agree) you can't say that he doesn't argue passionately or that he's hiding what he thinks and overall this book is well worth reading.… (més)