Macedonia to America and Back : A Biographical History of Dimitri Nasos [Paperback]

Thomay Nestor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1996

Historical biography of Dimitri Nasos, a Macedonian

Editorial Reviews

Review

Macedonia in Northern Greece is closer than one thinks to the strife in Yugoslavia. With the influx of refugees from Kosovo, Macedonians are doing what they have always done--reaching out their hands to help those in need. The author helps one understand the background of this troubled area of Europe. The Macedonians themselves struggled for years with the Bulgarians and the Turks. Because of the murder of his father by the Bulgarians, sixteen-year-old Dimitri, the eldest son, had to flee for his life. While his mother held the family together in Macedonia, in America this immigrant boy moved from dishwasher to restauranteur to movie entrepreneur. He moved among the nobility of the screen world, from Charlie Chaplin to Al Jolson. However, he returned to his beloved Macedonia, always remembering his mother's words: Accept whatever fate brings you; there's nothing we can do about it. The essence of history, culture, and family pervades this book. -- The Author

About the Author

Thomay Nestor is a resident of Bradenton, Florida. Her life in Macedonia, Greece, centered around her beloved father, Dimitri Nasos. After his death and after her marriage, she too immigrated to America.

Product Details

• Paperback: 335 pages
• Publisher: Red Apple Publishing; 1st edition (July 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880222256
• ISBN-13: 978-1880222256
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,485,005 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn about Macedonia and its people of Northern Greece., April 9, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Gig Harbor, Washington, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Macedonia to America and Back : A Biographical History of Dimitri Nasos (Paperback)

Macedonia is in the news today because of the refugees crossing the border from Kosovo. Read about Macedonia and its history from a personal viewpoint. It will help to understand the problems in that part of Europe. Macedonians have struggled for years with the Bulgarians and Turks. Now they have an insurge of people needing help. Read about the Macedonian people and learn of their culture and their ways. It will help one understand the struggle going on in that part of the world. It is not a new one but an ongoing one. The Macedonians of Thomay Nestor's book are a kind and gentle people. It has been said that this book is better than ANGELA'S ASHES.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Certainly not an "Angela's Ashes", September 18, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Macedonia to America and Back : A Biographical History of Dimitri Nasos (Paperback)

This is not a good book, in fact, it is a dreadful book. The problem is not so much the subject matter (D. Nasos), rather, it is the way it is written. The author unfortunately does an injustice to the life of her father by the inclusion of pan-Hellenic nonsense throughout much of the book. References to Greek gods, heroes and morality is fine, but in this case it was grossly over-done and verging on the ridiculous. The total disregard to the Macedonian-speaking population in northern Greece is tragic. Perhaps she did not have enough information to write a comprehensive account of her father's life. This is a pity as I was quite seduced by small framents of his life, especially in America. His early years in the "new world" when he was struggling to earn a few dollars were most moving and I feel much, much more could have been said. This book appears to be nothing more than a Greek ethnocentric view of life written by a person who should have left the writing to someone who has something interesting to say. To the reviewer who claimed that this book is better than ANGELA'S ASHES - you have got to be joking!

5.0 out of 5 stars Greek Biography, February 12, 2008

By 

Avid reader (USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Macedonia to America and Back : A Biographical History of Dimitri Nasos (Paperback)

The subtitle of this book, "A Biographical History of Dimitri Nasos", is a very telling statement of the contents. Mr. Nestor has taken the story of his father and placed it within a fictional context. Most likely this was done because it is difficult to tell the life of one who is no longer alive and able to add to what one has been told. Too many other reviews of this book get into the politics of a region of the world where blood has been shed over and over again for national politics. The beauty of this story is the description of the life and character of Dimitri Nasos who displays the best of teachings of an Orthodox Christian who emigrated to America and embraced the great opportunities offered here. It tells a story of the early Greek American who has not often found a voice. Dimitri Nasos is mirrored in other Greeks who arrived here before 1920, worked hard, helped their extended families in Greece and friends in America. Dimitri Nasos in speaking to his child tells her, " I've done everything I could to help our people here, from the first day I came back from America. It didn't matter who they were or what they believed. If they needed help--money, jobs,a good word--I gave it to them. It is not right to talk about the good things one does, but I am telling you this so you'll understand what I stand for and how I feel." This sentence explains why the author wrote this book and what it makes it a very good read.