Harlot's Sauce: A Memoir of Food, Family, Love, Loss, and Greece [Paperback]

Patricia Volonakis Davis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2008

When Patricia, “the naïve American” meets Gregori, “the gorgeous Greek”, her Sicilian-born father takes spectacularly extreme measures to try to stop her from marrying him. This is just one of many wrong reasons why Patricia is all the more determined to do so. She even moves with Gregori to Greece, where he insists he must be in order to be happy. Once there, she discovers that though she might not save her marriage, she just might save herself. With vivid descriptions of life in beautiful, modern-day Greece, this memoir is both a tasty treat and an exhilarating sail on the Hellenic seas through xenophobia, dysfunctional family units, religious ravings, obsessive protocols, political disorder, European football, and fabulous food. As the Italians say, Buon Appetito! (Good Appetite!) As the Greeks say, Kalo Taxidi! (Good Voyage!)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Harlot's Sauce teems with terrific supporting players and the kind of crisp details which make the narrative pop off the page."  --Christian Toto, Donne Tempo

"She became the girlfriend you cheer on, cry with, and just plain enjoy. She's brave, she's very funny, and she's written what is destined to become a best seller." --Patti Heiser, 50fabulous.com

"...Delicious..." --Marin Independent Journal

"Witty, human, readable..." --bitchbuzz.com

From the Back Cover

" An Under the Tuscan Sun meets My Big Fat Greek Wedding!" --- Jo O'Neill

"A compulsively readable, cross-cultural memoir...Patricia V. Davis has written a candid story that is both hilarious and heartbreaking, about a woman who discovers who she is and her true potential." ---Wendy Nelson Tokunaga, author of Love in Translation and Midori by Moonlight

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 282 pages
• Publisher: Harper Davis Publishing (November 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0981915302
• ISBN-13: 978-0981915302
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #193,046 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #46 in Books > Travel > Europe > Greece

More About the Author

"The only thing you should be faking is confidence."

Patricia V. Davis posted that piece of advice along with several others in the hopes that they'd help one of her 20-something readers save the precious time she was wasting by torturing herself needlessly, something too many young women do. That first simple post hit a nerve; within a week it turned into an internet phenomenon ─ reposted by hundreds of other blogs, linked to StumbleUpon and read by thousands. That massive response led to the creation of the inspirational, yet witty and down-to-earth book, "The Diva Doctrine: 16 Universal Principles Every Woman Needs to Know". It's the antidote to youth being "wasted on the young".

Patricia has also written the award-winning, "Harlot's Sauce: A Memoir of Food, Family, Love, Loss, and Greece", which has ranked in the top five of its category on amazon.com. She's the editor-in-chief at the non-partisan HS Radio e-magazine and podcast at www.harlotssauce.com, and also its 'Expert in Failed Relationships' advice columnist. She writes and blogs on a variety of subjects as well, most often political and social satire, to the enjoyment of some, and the irritation of many.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a Wonderful Life, October 16, 2008

By 

grrrace (CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harlot's Sauce: A Memoir of Food, Family, Love, Loss, and Greece (Paperback)

I'm not sure if it's because I (internet)know her so I was slightly biased or if I 100% truly just LOVED the book, but if I didn't have an active 2-year old, I would've read it all in one shot, never putting it down. I don't think it's because I'm biased though, because I've read some friends' (and acquaintances') works and they just weren't as interesting or as good.

There were things that I just couldn't relate to: living in a different country, superstitions, and certain family dynamics that just didn't exist in my home. But there were also so many things that I COULD relate to (originally from NY, second generation American, in a not-so-good relationship) and it just goes to show you that no matter where you're from, how old you are, or what your beliefs, there are commonalities with everyone.

This book is funny and sweet... and even in the parts when things are not looking so good, she has a way of expressing herself so it's not so sad and that you know that the best times are still yet to come. You never feel sad for the heroine. The book is filled with hope, love, humor and hard work.

I also really enjoyed reading about Greece. It's one of the few places in the world that I would love to visit but have not had the chance to yet.

The only actual complaint I have really is that the end felt slightly rushed and I'm sure that it's probably because of book length constraints, but I really could've read more. So, I guess it's less of a complaint and more of request for a sequel.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For every woman who has ever dated a loser...and every woman who hasn't too., September 13, 2010

By 

Ms. Vikki Webb "Vicola" (Britain) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Harlot's Sauce: A Memoir of Food, Family, Love, Loss, and Greece (Paperback)

For any woman who has backed the wrong horse in the romance stakes, this book will remind you that you're not alone. For every woman who hasn't, this book will remind you how lucky you are!

Harlot's Sauce is a portrait of an Italian-American girl who ends up in Greece, married into a traditional Greek family. Often touching,sometimes sad, frequently hilarious and always honest it's a refreshing change from all the relentlessly predictable chick lit that's floating about now. The 'hero' has habits that make you wish you could shake him by the scruff of the neck and the 'heroine' has an unfortunate encounter with Greek liquor. This is one of the most engaging books I've ever read although I did end up shouting at some of the characters which led to my other half giving me a wide berth until I'd finished it...

In short, this book is a must-read so go on, what are you waiting for??

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging tale of one woman's love of Greece & search for happiness, April 8, 2009

By 

C. Quinn (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Harlot's Sauce: A Memoir of Food, Family, Love, Loss, and Greece (Paperback)

This wonderful memoir justifies the expression "don't judge a book by it's cover". Though released through a small press, Davis' book is as professionally written (if not formatted) as any I've ever read. Witty and self-deprecrating, Davis takes us through two decades of life as an Italian-American woman married to a Greek for all the wrong reasons. Though her naivete is sometimes painful, Davis is ruthlessly honest about the mistakes she made and why she made them. Readers will admire her determination to make her marriage work- she did after all move halfway around the world to try to find happiness for her family!

As an Irish-American, I could appreciate many of the facets of growing up a "Hyphen" (especially the Catholic guilt!), and think this memoir will speak to anyone who appreciated My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and plan to pass it along to friends. My only quibble is that the ending felt rushed after all the buildup- I would have liked an additional chapter to cover "where is she now". All in all a highly recommended 4 stars.