Zorba the Greek (original 1946; edition 1996)

Zorba really is quite a character. Have a sense of awe at life, and never be afraid to dance. ( )

I reveled in delirious, greedy joy over every paragraph of Zorba the Greek. Yet with each page I read, my fear of finishing the novel grew all the more tangible.

Kazantzakis' classic novel is not without its flaws. But somehow, these faults don't seem to matter so much. Unsettling, beautiful, sensuous, Zorba the Greek is a book that has the power to change your life. It will teach you how to dance.

My full review is, as usual, on my reading (and time travel) blog, Book to the Future. Come and say hello:

http://booktothefuture.com.au/?p=2054

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I understand why Zorba's character lives on in literary fame more than half a century. It also makes sense that there was a movie made from the book, and of course I have to watch it now. The book read like poetry in some places,and like a Classical fable/play in others. There was a different cadence and flow to the language, and it transported me as I read it. Whenever I get to Greece, this book will be a must to read from while on the shores or hillsides. ( )

A tale of mankind's eternal struggle between flesh and spirit from both ends of the spectrum. Zorba is a character to remember. ( )

I will be the first to admit it wholeheartedly. I did not enjoy Zorba the Greek. There, I said it. I am beginning to feel I have a built in prejudice against translated stories because this is not the first time I have said this. Something gets lost in the translation. I am sure of it. Not only that, but this time I was bored. ( )