Land of the Golden Apple

by Eve Makis

Life had lost its sweetness. Socrates felt as if he had eaten an accursed apple and was, like Adam, suddenly prone to emotions he had never before experienced - fear, loneliness and shame.

For Socrates, growing up in a small, Cypriot village isn't idyllic so much as frustrating. Summer is on the horizon and yet his parents, his teachers and his interfering neighbours seem intent on preventing Socrates and his friends from having any fun. But times are changing and the jasmine-scented breezes mingle with the threat of danger. Behind the facade of respectable island life lurk dark and menacing presences.

Land of the Golden Apple is a bewitching coming-of-age novel about the lives and loves, joys and despairs of a diverse yet tightly-knit community and about how those same ties that bind us can also constrict us...

Genres: Fiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published May 13, 2008

About the author

Eve Makis studied at Leicester University and worked as a journalist and radio presenter in the UK and Cyprus before becoming a novelist. She is the author of four novels. Her first book Eat, Drink and be Married was published in five languages and awarded the Young Booksellers International Book of the Year Award. A screen adaptation of her third book, Land of the Golden Apple, is being filmed in June 2015. Eve is a part time tutor in creative writing at Nottingham University.The Spice Box Letters is currently available in English and Greek and has been long listed for the Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Prize 2015.

Reviews

[Linda FK]

I almost abandoned this book because it was a little slow at first and seemed like young adult fiction. However, and this is a big however, it turned out to be a very interesting tale, in which the author addresses some dark realities amid the charming backdrop of Cypriot village life. Ultimately, I found it to be a worthwhile read and I recommend it.

[Jane E]

Not very good but not altogether bad either. Interesting because of the information around every day Greek Cypriot life but certainly not high art. Easy to swallow in a day but not particularly believable. (Purchased at University of the Pacific, Suva, Fiji Islands)

[Shelby Duckworth]

Only read about 1/3 of the book. I got bored. Too much background descriptions perhaps and too many characters. Not sure exactly what it was for me but just couldn't finish this one.

[Motaz Thiab]

The book had a good start and a nice setting and interesting characters, but the events weren't relatable and fell short to drive the story and make me connect with the book.

[Inge (Inge1990)]

3.5 Stars. I liked it but sometimes it was dragging on.

[Susan]

Enchanting- well written and believeable characters.

[Chana]

It is hard to say overall how I felt about this book. It was sweet in some ways and twisted in an ugly way in others. I guess it is supposed to be a slice of life in a Cypriot village. Socrates is a 12 year old boy who gets into a lot of trouble with his friends by blowing things up, breaking into houses and illegally riding a moped. His brother is the village lothario. Both boys are actually nice people. There is taxi driver who is a terrible person and another man who molests young boys of about Socrates age. There is a man who is not very high IQ although he has some nice talents with plants and animals. There are a bunch of nasty gossiping old women. There is an arcade owner who isn't so happy but things get better for him. There is the puppet master who is kind of strange, tells futures. There is an idiotic bully of a cop. There is a lecherous old man. And my favorite character is Koko the magpie.
The story is related in a nice way I suppose, culturally rich (I think, I'm not Greek so a Greek person would have to tell me for sure if this story is culturally rich or not, it seemed so to me).
I don't know who chose the cover but I really didn't like it. The kid on the cover, who I assume is supposed to be the representative of Socrates, looks neither Greek nor 12 years old. Poor cover choice in my opinion.

[Ephie]

This is easily the best book I have read in a long time! Good story (set in Cyprus and an accurate depiction of life here - pleasure, worts and all), really well-written, moves at a good pace... Loved it!

Am really looking forward to getting my hands on the other books by Eve Makis - am pleased a 4th was recently added to her published works!

[Holly]

This book started off slow, but got really good at the end. The more characters that are introduced, the more it flows and the more interesting it becomes, although the ending could be quite predictable. One for the Mums, I think.

[Rachel Kotsapas]

Eve makis totally nailed the Cypriot culture in this book
I'm not saying every village has an idiot a wife beater and a pervert ..just that she captured the way of life
I have enjoyed all Eve's books so far

[Belebe]

An interesting read - childhood of a little boy named Socrates... the secrets and mysteries discovered revolving around his closely-knitted community.

[Nimanthika Hettiarachchi]

Depicts society accurately and was a good read but wish there was more explanation reagarding the greek dishes.

[Jemma]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11665402

[Ekaterina Botziou]

Absolutely wonderful book by Eve Makis - visually stunning and beautifully written - really brings the characters to life. Now being adapted into a film!

[Teresa D]

Ah that was nice

[Mrsk Stephen]

A delightful story of village life on one of the islands of Cyprus. The author captures the idiosyncrasies of a wide cast of characters and weaves their stories together in a realistic and joyful telling. Sunny!