Bitter Lemons of Cyprus

alanka


Joined: 15/09/2007
Posts: 154

Message Posted:
17/03/2009 23:01

I've not read this book, but have ordered it now (due to the two recent holiday articles re NC I read in the Times and Mail).



Just wondered if anyone else had read it?

Dusterbruce


Joined: 03/08/2007
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
17/03/2009 23:06

Have a copy in front of me now.

The way Cyprus used to be, and a country and time I would have like to have known

alanka


Joined: 15/09/2007
Posts: 154

Message Posted:
17/03/2009 23:27

Oh no, do you mean it is gone now - the time and country - so no point in me getting 'romantic' about it then?

Macha


Joined: 18/01/2009
Posts: 650

Message Posted:
17/03/2009 23:40

Long gone. The voices you will here in the Kyrenia bars and cafes featured in the book are all Turkish now, not Greek and Turkish, and the island remains bitterly and illegally partitioned. Mr Kolllis' trees are now flourishing at Bellapaix, although he became a refugee after the Turkish invasion and is now long gone.



When I was new in Cyprus I went for advice about buying a property to Mr Sabri - one of the book's main characters - just like the author Durrell had done 40 years before. I still remember what he said to me as well: "Buy an old Turkish house and do it up, my dear." He was assasinated a couple of years later, but remains one of the legendary characters of post-war Cyprus.

Dusterbruce


Joined: 03/08/2007
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
17/03/2009 23:44

The Cyprus I mourn is the one lost to globalisation and standardisation. You could be anywhere in the Mediteranean, the only thing that differs from one country to the next is the language.

Macha


Joined: 18/01/2009
Posts: 650

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 00:19

Dusterbruce,



An added tragedy is the Turkification of north Cyprus and the erosion of its Greek and Turkish Cypriot culture and heritage.

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 08:20

You mean the culture of genocide against the tc's...what a star you are.

dodger



Joined: 29/07/2007
Posts: 1895

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 10:02

Macha,

Message 1 was like a red rag to a bull to you i bet you couldnt wait to get those fingers going could you.

juliet


Joined: 11/01/2009
Posts: 612

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 10:42

excellent book, have you read it dodger?

Dusterbruce


Joined: 03/08/2007
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 11:01

The Greek Cypriots have only themselves to blame for partition. They should have behaved themselves and treated the Turkish Cypriots as equals and not an ethnic minority to be disposed of.

The-Wicks


Joined: 27/05/2007
Posts: 2279

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 12:25

Not only is the book an great read if you get the chance visit the house. In 2007 the brother of the owner of Bitter Lemons was giving conducted tours of the house, for anyone who has enjoyed the book it is a must. If they are doing it then details are posted outside the house.

P

Macha


Joined: 18/01/2009
Posts: 650

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 12:48

Wicksy,



The house was up for sale at a ridiculous price a few years back. Do you know if it ever sold?

Macha


Joined: 18/01/2009
Posts: 650

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 12:52

dodger msg 8,



I've had the advantage of meeting some of the pre-1976 residents of Bellapaix, as well as those who live there now plus the main real-life character from Bitter Lemons. I was obviously going to contribute to this thread.



How well-read and clued up on Cyprus would you consider yourself?

dodger



Joined: 29/07/2007
Posts: 1895

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 13:29

Pikey,

Not as "well read and clued up" as you matey,

Paul.

The-Wicks


Joined: 27/05/2007
Posts: 2279

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 14:49

Macha- The chap who owned it was in the British Army, he was killed in a freak diving accident, after this his widow did talk about selling it but their children were against it. I did hear on the grapevine she was open to offers, so dust off your cheque book. It is a lovely house.



Paul

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 14:58

Can anyone let me know where I can buy this book, I have tried before but couldnt get it.

The-Wicks


Joined: 27/05/2007
Posts: 2279

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 15:06

Dee - Amazon have it, both new and used. I know postage to NC is not up to much, but would it be possible for someone to bring it out for you?



Jean

x

The-Wicks


Joined: 27/05/2007
Posts: 2279

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 15:08

Dee, Jean beat me to it if you cannot get it before June we will bring you out a copy.

P

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 15:10

Jean and Paul thanks a lot, I will keep you informed and if I cant get it I would appreciate if you would bring me a copy

Dusterbruce


Joined: 03/08/2007
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 15:29

Does the Kyrenia Society library still operate on Saturday mornings?



They will have a copy surely!

Macha


Joined: 18/01/2009
Posts: 650

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 17:51

Wicks,,



I remember reading about the house about 10 years ago and I think the retired colonel was still around then. Maybe dust off the chequebook after all next time I'm over. I can't remember if it had a view, though, and pretty though Bellapaix is I think there are even more beautiful villages on the north coast.

Macha


Joined: 18/01/2009
Posts: 650

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 17:53

dodger @ msg 14,



When I first arrived in Cyprus I hardly knew anything about the place. But I had heard about Denktas because he did the UDI when I was a newspaper-devouring teenager.

The-Wicks


Joined: 27/05/2007
Posts: 2279

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 18:06

Macha, the upper bedroom & second lounge has a little a terrace outside with good views, then there is another roof terrace up another set of stairs/steps, from there the views are spectacular. There is also a very pretty courtyard with a plunge pool. Inside the house retains alot of original features & a writing desk were, if you believe all your told, parts of bitter lemons were written.

P

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 18:14

The-Wicks,

You made me laugh out loud!

I think Macha was saying that he hardly knew anything about CYPRUS, not the Bitter Lemons house (although probably that as well...).

Full marks for trying to be helpfull though!

Keith.

Macha


Joined: 18/01/2009
Posts: 650

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 19:20

Wicks,



Thanks for the info. The bit about the writing desk sounds familiar. I know only too well how copy writers can flam up an advert!



Keith, I think I was simply being given additional info for which I'm grateful.

kavenkoy


Joined: 10/04/2008
Posts: 1787

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 21:05

a very good im half way or more through



the cypriot ,a story of love in 50s to modern time from a GC who from the same village fell for a TC ,the hatred in village life,the enosis story unfolding ,the recruitment of young people to eoka .



very good



kav

dodger



Joined: 29/07/2007
Posts: 1895

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 21:15

Alanka,

I promise that it will be the next book that i read have been meaning to read it for ages,

Paul.

The-Wicks


Joined: 27/05/2007
Posts: 2279

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 21:22

kavenkoy - read "The Cypriot" last summer, whilst on holiday in NC. I felt it was OK as books go, the content was fine, but IMHO I thought the author lacked writing experience. Good read for anyone who has an interest in Cyprus, although not entirely sure about its factual content.



Bitter Lemons is a great book - one of the few I've re-read (more than twice).



Regards



P

alanka


Joined: 15/09/2007
Posts: 154

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 22:04

Thank you for all your replies. I'm picking my copy up from Waterstones tomorrow (had to be ordered) & am looking forward to reading it.

alanka


Joined: 15/09/2007
Posts: 154

Message Posted:
18/03/2009 22:06

Dee, I am coming out early April, can bring the book with me, if you were anywhere near where I am staying and there is a bar/restaurant whatever where I could leave it for you once I have read it? It will need to be in the Bogaz area.

kavenkoy


Joined: 10/04/2008
Posts: 1787

Message Posted:
19/03/2009 09:23

28 the wicks .



ive got bitter lemons for next trip ,so dont tell me lol



thanks



kav

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
19/03/2009 09:48

Dee



how to find the book !



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitter_Lemons



http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bitter-Lemons-Cyprus-Lawrence-Durrell/dp/0571201555



from these links you'll have the ISBN reference and most bookshops can get it for you !



Just like the "missing" mosques in the south - things are easy to find ( and nonsensical "proclamations" avoided ) if you type the words you want in Google;)



So a tip for those of us not up to speed on internet searching .. it isn't such a "black art"..



Say you want "Bitter Lemons of Cyprus" - put inverted commas around the title.. and the search engine will ( normally) place those results HIGHER up .. Sadly, commercial interests means we also get adverts too !

ROBIN HOOD


Joined: 26/05/2008
Posts: 238

Message Posted:
19/03/2009 19:23

second hand from Amazon less than a pound.