In the Shade of the Monkey Puzzle Tree

Greek Village/Greek Island #6

by Sara Alexi

In the Shade of the Monkey Puzzle Tree is the sixth book in the Greek Village Collection from INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING AUTHOR Sara Alexi.

From an idyllic Greek village steeped in tradition to the smoke and noise of 1970s Athens, In the Shade of the Monkey Puzzle Tree is a tale of a belated coming of age for one man whose dreams take him beyond the comfort of the only way of life he’s ever known.

Dissatisfied with life in a tiny village where nothing much happens, Theo, in his forties, makes a decision to move away from an uninspiring future running the village café, and from his controlling father who he feels will forever see him as a child.

Determined to make his mark and stand on his own, Theo travels to Athens to make a new life amongst the unpredictable, unfamiliar hustle and bustle of the city. But things do not turn out as expected, and time and again Theo finds his morals and honesty being tested, as urban life challenges all that he holds dear.

As Theo finds himself making bad choices and slowly becoming somebody he doesn’t like in order to survive, he is torn between sticking it out and returning home; that is if returning home is even an option after how he left things with his father.

As he discovers his humble needs are to earn his keep and find a woman to love and marry, will the unpredictable ways of life in the big city prove to be everything Theo wanted, or will the village really hold his heart?

If you enjoyed The Art of Becoming Homeless you'll love book seven in the series, A Handful of Pebbles. Find it on Amazon now!

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Greece, Amazon, Novels

378 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 30, 2013

About the author

Best selling author Sara Alexi was born in Oxford, England. After travelling widely she now splits her time between England and a tiny rural village in the Peloponnese, in Greece, where she has renovated a stone farmhouse, whilst observing the Greek way of life and absorbing the culture.

As a qualified psychotherapist, Sara ran her own practice for years. Her artistic nature was, during that time, confined to painting and she exhibited widely. Her move to Greece was the catalyst that began her writing.

Her 'Greek Village Series' has been very well received and provides a keenly observed, compassionate insight into the Greek people and culture, and the human condition in general.

If you would like a complementary copy of the first in "The Greek Village" Series please follow the links on her web site.

www.Saraalexi.com

She would also love you to friend her on;

https://www.facebook.com/authorsaraalexi

You can also read a recent interview with Sara here: https://saraalexi.com/2016/03/19/unde...

Reviews

[RJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another terrific read in the Greek island set. This book could stand alone. Yet it is so much more enjoyable knowing all the other characters stories.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this 3.5 years ago, back when I just discovered daily deal emails and snatched up everything free that looked remotely interesting. But it wasn't as bad as expected. It's one of those books that are okay to read, but that won't make a lasting impression or remain in your thoughts for long. One thing that bugged me though was the very obvious 'village good city bad' distinction. Everything in the village was described as beautiful and positive, everything in the city as grey and concrete and negative. All the people in the village, or people in Athens who grew up in a village, were kind, friendly, honest and helpful. All true Athenians were liars, thieves, unfriendly, unhelpful. Even the MC turned from a decent man into a depressed, thieving drunk within a few days of leaving the village. Hm, maybe I should deduct half a star for that.

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Throughout this book, I felt removed from the one-dimensional characters. I see in other reviews that it's part of a series. While I won't likely read any of the others, maybe that context would improve it.

[Adri · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book did not manage to pull me in and I found it a chore to read it.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was so so good, I actually read it in one sitting. I thought the story was going in a different direction and so kept me hooked in all the way through. Great storytelling - again

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all this series of books and enjoyed every one of them - all for different reasons. Ms Alexi appears to have the ability to make all the books fit into the series but yet retain their own very different individuality.
In this book again, a relatively minor character from the previous books gets promoted to main and we learn more about what makes them tick and how they fit in to the whole world that has been created. The characterisation as always is excellent I really did care/like/hate them.
This book again takes us out of the village and into the big city and it is interesting to see the differences both in terms of landscape and attitude.
It's a relatively easy book to read and I got through it quite quickly but, do not be deceived, like the others in the series, there can be much more substance under the story if you choose to look...

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning and poignant

The village life is so normal and comfortable that I want to live there myself. Reading this series makes me feel as if I am visiting friends and family. Do not miss the trip home.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This for me was the best in the series so far. It kept my attention throughout and flowed extremely well. This author has such a descriptive writing talent that one feels in the middle of each scene.

[Tilly Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books are just so peaceful when you need a break from everything else, I will say that, but I don’t know how I feel about that ending.

Absolutely adore Stella right and I’m so glad she found happiness after everything she went through but marrying Mitsos?? What about Marina??? Did we just forget that there was an entire book of them pining over eachother?? What happened???
I’ve always seen Stella and Mitsos as just really good friends and I’ve always adored that friendship, them getting married just happened completely out of the blue, not to mention Mitsos being the same age as Theo and the village being as small as it is, he most likely knew Stella as a child while he was in his 40s which is strange.
Especially considering the fourth book was all about Stella getting out of an abusive marriage and starting out as an independent woman who had her own business and again the third book was all about Mitsos trying to repair his relationship with Marina and how he had been in love with her for literal DECADES.

Anyway enough about that rant, this book was about Theo, actually love him he’s so sassy for what actually makes me laugh.
The dog was ultimately the best character though js

3⭐️

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Put yourself in the shoes of the main character Theo. You have lived your whole life in a small village. You have never traveled anywhere. And then one day you decide there must be more. Think of that first moment when you see the "big city."
This book made you feel you were experiencing all those moments, new places, new people, new customs all over again. Wonderful!
Can't say enough on how this author can transport you on a wonderful vacation through her writing.

[Suzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover is what attracted me first, the story kept me there. Theo has been under his father's thumb for forty years and he has reached his breaking point. After taking money from the till , Theo disappears into the night without a word to anyone. He lands in the big city of Athens where he proceeds to discover his real self, dreams, desires, and love. It did drag in paces but I enjoyed the escape to Greece through Alexis vivid descriptions. I will read more in this series.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually read this and the first story in the series "The Illegal Gardener", as they are pretty short books & I had them on my Kindle. The books are pretty short, too, but long enough that I`m on the fence about whether to call them novellas. Lol. Anyway, they are about a village in Greece & each one has that as the backdrop, but with different characters. They are very sweet & sometimes sad, but in a poignant way. I really enjoyed them & would like to read others in the series!

[Linda O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the greek village series. Her characters are always interesting. They live simple lives, on Greek islands, with not a lot of money, but are rich in so many other ways. Can never wait to read the next one.

[Liz Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leisure read

While the action is not exciting, most of the personal evolutions are rapt reading. The powerful day-to-day development of goals into achievable visions helps me see the value of water, coffee, and patience.

[John Gerrard · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a reader I find myself thinking ahead as to where the story is going. In this case Ms Alexi thwarted my guesses. Sara Alexi paints a picture that is unmistakable for anyone who has travelled the Greek villages and Athens itself.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book

You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favorite of this outstanding series. I didn't feel the daydream sequences added to the story. I did love Bob! The writing is always a pleasure.

[Shawna Kemper · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the books so far In the series . However I had such a difficult time getting in to this one :(

[Carol Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in 2019. I like the authors writing style and interweaves characters

[Carrie Lahain · Rating 4 out of 5]

As of this writing, I haven't read any of Sara Alexi's earlier Greek Village novels. So, I can't speak to how this may compare to the others or fits in to the collection as a whole.

IN THE SHADE OF THE MONKEY PUZZLE TREE takes place in the early 1970s. Theo is in his forties and works in his elderly father's cafe in a small Greek town several hours away from Athens. Though it's normal in Greek culture for an unmarried man to remain living with his parents, even into middle age, Theo is dissatisfied with his situation and the future that has been set out for him. He and his father butt heads often. Theo feels that the old man will forever see him as a child, and he yearns to make his mark somewhere outside his small town...in America or, at least, Athens. Finally unable to stand another achingly familiar day in his stifling little world, Theo pockets some of the cafe's takings and hops a bus to Athens, where he quickly learns that the Adriatic isn't any bluer on the other side of the Isle.

I won't give away too many details about Theo's belated coming of age, but the people and situations he comes up against provide much of the charm of the novel. Time and again his honesty and sense of fair play is tested, and he toys with the idea of throwing away scruples and morality and becoming part of the jaded world he's chosen to inhabit. But once a man knows the right way to make a cup of Greek coffee--slowly, with care and deliberation--there's no way to un-know it. Theo is what Theo is. The question becomes can the person he is thrive in the big city or should he head back home? Is going home even an option after the way he's treated his father and the disillusionment he's suffered in Athens?

Theo is a compelling character. For all that he spouts about not falling into his father's rut, his own aspirations are quite modest and traditional. He wants to make a living and get married. This contradiction in what he does (run away seeking excitement and glamour) and what he wants (a quiet life) might make Theo ridiculous. What saves him is his own realization that his rebellion is not only a failure...but pointless. He's ridiculous to himself. This combined with his genuine goodness is what makes him salvageable.

I did have a problem with the romance in the book. Theo falls hard and early, but the girl is easily forgotten until he happens to remember her. To be fair, the author makes him suffer for his neglect of the poor girl. It turns out that he very well might have taken on more than he expected with this particular love interest. The resolution--of the romance and of Theo's mid-life crisis--is creative and satisfying.

IN THE SHADE OF THE MONKEY PUZZLE TREE is a warm, rich read. I plan to seek out other novels in the The Greek Village Collection.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this as a freeby on Amazon, I didn't know the author or the book series, so I went in with an open mind and without any expectations. I was pleasantly surprised. Actual rating four and a half stars.

I'm not Greek, but I have been living in Greece for many years and I can tell that the book describes life in Greece perfectly into the details. It was fun to recognize so many things, behaviors, situations, the atmosphere etc. The book is pleasantly written and it's definitely an easy and quick read. I don't know how people that are not Greek or have no knowledge about Greece will experience it, but I definitely recommend them to give it a try.

Theo, a simple man from a small village, decides that he needs his freedom, a wife and try his luck in the big city before it is too late. Athens is not as he expected it to be, but only too fast he adjusts himself and turns into someone he doesn't really like. When he finally decides to return to his village he is confrontated with a big dilemma that will determine his future. The end is not a huge surprise, but also not exactly what you expect it to be and definitely not something that is very common in Greece, but it put a smile on my face.

This is Book 6 in The Greek Village Collection, but stands completely on its own. I'm going to check out the other books in this series too.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I look forward to reading each of Sara Alexi’s books and feel as if I have been on the journey with her since the beginning, with the first book in the series, The Illegal Gardener.’ I never thought at the time that it would develop into such a successful series and I love the way that a minor character in one book can become the protagonist in another.
I devoured this book not wanting to put it down. Sara’s style of writing is deceptive, however, as although the books are quite short and the reader doesn’t want the story to end, the characters continue to play on your mind long after you finish the book.
I particularly enjoy the depiction of Greece in this series and I always gain inspiration from her novels. ‘In the shade of the monkey puzzle tree’ is no exception. Theo’s story is interesting as he has a kind of mid-life crisis and I loved the way his life flitted between Athens and the village. I feel as if I have actually been inside the kafeneion, so descriptive is this book.
Once again I am looking forward to the next in the series. Sara Alexi never disappoints!

[Suki Korp · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with Sara Alexi's other books, I was totally drawn in to the lives of the characters in this book. She has a very special and unique way of describing and illustrating the personalities and actual character of the people (characters) in her books. The books appear to begin very slowly, but before I knew it, I was pulled into the stories and didn't want them to end. In The Shade of The Monkey Puzzle Tree was no different in these aspects of involving the reader. Yet, somehow, the author manages to create a very unique story with each book. I feel as if I am learning about the inhabitants of the village (and other towns) one-by-one, the way we get to know our neighbors when we move to a new neighborhood. Well done!

[Kathy DeShong · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Shade Of The Monkey Puzzle Tree was a lovely novel, that gave me the feeling of being there, living it with Theo as he experienced his mid life crisis.. It was a time when children felt responsible for their family and the family business. Theo had lived the devoted son life but felt there was something better out there for him. I was disappointed when he left his parents and the coffee shop like a thief in the night, but it all came around to make him realize his importance to his family and the village. It was a lovely read; no suspense, no sex, no deviance, just emotional involvement and decision making.

[Babs Cullan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reading all of Sara's books through a second time. I am in the middle of the second reading of this book and enjoying it just as much as the fist time I read it.
Like all of Sara's books, it has a few life lessons along the way.

Theo is searching for a better life in Athens, leaving his village life behind, but there are many obstacles to overcome. We learn a bit about the city life, as apposed to village life, with Sara's brilliant descriptions. I was totally engrossed in the last part of the book and found myself willing Theo to return to the village. The ending had a little twist, that I thought was nice.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this coming-of-age in midlife novel. It was an interesting journey with the main character from his life as a 40 year-old unsophisticated barista in his father's coffee bar in a small Greek village, to a slightly older and increasingly cynical bar tender in Athens, then back to the small Greek village after he becomes wiser and realizes what is important in life. I enjoyed the setting--Greece--and the author's ability to create that sense of place. I look forward to reading more in this series.

[MissG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner

Once again I loved the storyline & putting another piece of the Series (puzzle) together. Theo contemplating the weight of past & future choices and facing moralistic issues was heartwarming. I found myself cheering for him to make the decent choice, the "good" choice because his character was a good man; I experienced a broad range of emotions with this book. I adore how one book blends into the next & I feel the author has done an excellent job of letting the reader get to know the characters & become vested in the series. I know I am.

[Amy Shelton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. It wasn't an attention grabber and didn't keep me glued to my kindle. I had to somewhat force myself to read this one. Once finished, I was happy with the story. However, I would have been happier with the story had it kept my attention. I would recommend to read it, but not over some of the first ones in the series.

[Remy G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Good Greek Village Book

In the sixth installment of author Sara Alexi's Greek Village series, Greek villager Theo experiences life as a relatively new quadragenarian. Aside from the occasional untranslated Greek term, this entry was on par with its predecessors, which is a good thing.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully readable series. All the books give a feel for a small village or island in Greece. The people, the food, the way the society functions. All this interwoven with stories that relate to other tales in the series. Start with the first, settle in, and enjoy. These alone make kindle unlimited worth the price.