Customer Reviews

A Lone Red Apple

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This book did not work for me at all. Perhaps--and I say this sarcastically--- it would make a good lunch-hour filmed children's special with the modern story acting as a kick-off introduction for the retelling of the Greek Myths. The book focuses on a classics professor from Britain and a beautiful artist from Mykonos; they fall in love only because the mischevious Greek Pantheon deems that it must be so. Great. Problem is that between all the falling in love and dialogue between the gods, there is an awful lot of silly nonsense that goes on where the author showcases the places--both historical and modern---and its important personages in a cartoony tutorial where either the professor, the artist or the professor's students get to show off their knowledge of Greece in typified travelogue fashion. ZZZzzz

Anyone interested in reading such a book, already knows such stories, and could repeat them with more panache than the author. We needed more plot and less sidebars.

The star goes to the lovely and whimisical drawings of Mykonos and its unearthly inhabitants.

A LONE RED APPLE is a fizzing potpourri of mythology, travelogue, Greek history, educational techniques, poetry, and a tidy little love story. It is rare that an author can demonstrate this much pleasure while serving to enlighten the reader by reviewing the lives of the Greek gods and thoroughly painting the lovely Grecian islands from both an historical view and a contemporary setting for the story. We are given travel guides in the guise of students and their teacher (and his duplicitious paramours) and it is through their interaction with the heavenly overseeing mythical gods that we find a veritable summer idle. The love story is touching, though a bit too abbreviated, and we are not always clear about the identities of the incompletely fleshed out secondary characters (where was the editor?). At times the dances and the food and the travelguide approach borders on being stiff, but this is a wonderful bit of fluff that in the end has taught us something about a lot of things. Refreshing and a perfect book to take on the airplane to whatever lover's destination you choose!

I bought this book because I was going to the Greek Islands and thought it would be fun to read while I was there. Unfortunately, I found the book to be very poorly written. The characters spoke to each other as if they were reading out of a text book. The author obviously did a lot of research for this book, but wrote it all into the book in a stiltingly awkward way. The characters were all cardboard cutouts, and the plot ridiculously thin. It was written on a very childish level. The author tells you everything, rather than showing you. She assumes the reader has no previous knowledge of anything. I cannot recommend this book at all.

After a recent trip to Greece, I've been enjoying reading books about it. This one was not worth my time. An obvious first novel, it's so poorly written that I could hardly finish it. There are lots of better books about Greece - don't waste money on this one.

This is an ambitious first novel with an engaging cast of characters and insight into local customs in both Greenwich, England, and Myconos, Greece. The dialogue is sometimes stiff, but the story pulls you along and the mixture of modern reality and Greek mythology make for an interesting read. Illustrations by Bill Papas contribute a whimsical touch and add to the sense that this novel is meant to be light reading, not lofty literature.

Appropriately, I started reading this in Mykonos last year. Now I'm on the Q train between Times Sq and 57th st. and just explode in laughter as I reached page 175 (for those of you who have read it - it is where you think you are reading a raunchy paperback from the checkout line at Duane Reade). I started to ask myself if maybe it was just me, or if this book was seriously written so poorly?

I'll give it the benefit of (2) stars because of concept. It was very creative, original, whimsical (sic?), and cute. It fell short in the areas of supporting plot, writing style, and challenge.

In summary, I felt like it was a first attempt of a book by an inexperienced writer. Great concept, had great potential, just fell short. It would have been a great children's book

I've just finished reading "A Lone Red Apple" and thank you, thank you, thank you. It is truly a delicious feast for the imagination! I am looking forward to my trip to Mykonos even more now, if that were possible! It also inspired me to take out my books of poetry by Bilitis and Sapho.

This is a once in a lifetime journey...pilgrimage might be more accurate

What joy to revisit these two wonderful places through a
great story and mythical fun! Having just been to Greece, I could
visualize every nook and cranny in Mykonos! Anyone planning a trip to Mykonos (or Greenwich) should read this book! And anyone who has been there - you will love it! I've read it twice and will probably read it again! And I'll certainly tell all of our fellow travelers to purchase this book! The illustrations are fanciful and fun, too! Just read it! You won't be disappointed!

Aurelia has done an excellent job. I love the Greek islands again and I can feel the sand under my feet. The addition of the gods is a perfect touch! My next trip to Mykonos I'll be looking for a little magic from the gods!

A Lone Red Apple is a delightful read, bringing a a unique and wonderful twist to traditional Greek mythology by melding it into modern day Mykonos.