Homer's Where The Heart Is: Two journalists, one crazy dog and a love affair with Greece (The Peloponnese Series) Paperback – May 1, 2015

In this sequel to the brilliant Things Can Only Get Feta: Two Journalists and Their Crazy Dog Living Through the Greek Crisis, Marjory McGinn shares more of her experiences living in rural Messinia. Along with her partner, Jim Bruce, and their sidekick Wallace – a Jack Russell terrier, who, with equal parts mischief and mayhem, steals the show on multiple occasions – she spent time in Megali Mantineia, then on to Paleohora, before returning to the UK after some 3-1/2 years. The book is part travelogue, part commentary on Greece, and ode to her spiritual home.In Homer, we follow Margarita—as she was christened by the villagers—on adventures traveling the countryside, communing with the villagers, learning the language, partaking in local customs and celebrations, and continually seeking ways to extend her stay (crisis or not).Juxtaposed with stories of her first time in Greece during the early 1970s, McGinn brings to the forefront startling comparisons of two very difficult times in Modern Greek history. We also learn that despite the great challenges for a foreigner living in Greece during the Junta, and the horrible incident that sparked her return to England, her love for her adopted country took root and has flourished.McGinn is frequently asked why she wants to be in Greece, especially during such challenging times. Through her stories, sentiments, and humor, we see and feel her love for Greece—and why she will keep going back. If you haven’t previously experienced an extended stay in Greece, you will want to sign up for your own such adventure, so you can feel it too. She’s working on the third book of this series, and I can’t wait. Put this at the top of your summer reading list.~ Maria A. Karamitsos - Founder & Editor, WindyCity Greek

The prequel "Things can only get Feta" was my favourite book of 2014, so being on holiday on a Greek island and finding out that the second instalment had been published sent me jumping for my Kindle and downloading. The only problem was that I finished it in 2 days and trying to find a next read that would be even half as entertaining. Many of the much loved characters from Feta were still there, along with new ones, and of course Wallace the Parson Russell Terrier once again steals the show. On a serious note this book will give you an understanding of the average rural Greek people and the difficulties they face in the current crisis and the way they endure with a smile and ever generous spirit. It also gives an insight into Greece under the rule of the military dictatorship during the early 1970s, when the author worked in Athens as a teenager. My 84 year old mother read the first book and so of course I had to order Homer's where the heart is for her. She has just finished it and is asking when the next instalment will be coming published? So a big thumbs up all round. P.S. I now look out for newspaper articles from Ms McGinn, there was an especially good one recently in the Daily Telegraph.

"Homer's Where the Heart Is” is the second book in a series by a talented author who adds humor to her descriptions of their years in Greece. I read the first book by McGinn, "Things Can Only Get Feta", where she describes their first two years in Greece, when she and her husband rented a house in a small village in southern Greece. They chose to become friends with the Greek people and not so much with other expats. "Homer's Where the Heart Is" has a great chapter on Patrick Leigh Fermor (one of the world's great adventure writers who lived near their village for 40 years until his death at about 90) and another chapter on a young Greek Orthodox priest they got to know plus plenty of funny antics by their Jack Russell terrier, and great and not so great times bonding with their Greek friends and improving their Greek. Their friend Foteini is in both books, as she leads an eccentric old fashioned life with her donkey and goats and cheese making. McGinn ranges back and forth from her first time living in Greece in the turbulent 1970s under martial law there, and living there during the current economic tribulations. The Greeks cope with the financial disasters and continue to celebrate life.

Another wonderful book by Marjory McGinn! I finished reading this one while I was sitting in a café in Greece. The ending tugged at my heart so much that I had to conjure up enough self-control not to cry. McGinn does a beautiful job of portraying small village life in Greece and it does not matter one bit where that village is. The characters are endearing and so recognizable. In particular, there is one character—an old goat herder named Foteini—who encapsulates the old Greek world trying to deal with the new. There is a very humorous scene when McGinn takes Foteini into the new supermarket and Foteini comes across baguettes and Ferrero Rocher chocolates.In addition to McGinn’s life in her adopted homeland of the Peloponnese, she also poignantly captures different political climates in Greece. My favorite chapters were those that flashed back to the 1970s when McGinn was a 20-something-year-old in Athens during the dictatorship. However, the general spirit of the Greek people—that which McGinn calls the “national sport of living in the minute,”—is relevant throughout the book, regardless of the location, the time period or the government in power. This book is a must-read to anyone who has any kind of connection to Greece or for anyone who is interested in trying to understand the “Greek spirit.”

Having read Marjory's first book, and loved it, I was eager to follow her Greek and adventures with Jim and the adorable Wallace. We find them having moved to a bigger house, not too far away from their original village. Keeping in touch with old neighbours and friends, the delightful Fonteini, it is lovely to see their friendships blossom and strengthen. Marjory intersperses her story with her time in Athens back in the 70s, as a young woman setting out in life, where she was an Au Pair to a Greek family.The Greek economy is in dire trouble at this time, with job losses, pension, and wages cuts and in some instances, not being paid at all. Marjory portrays the deepening crisis and its impact on her friends and neighbours in a sympathetic and caring way, they all pull together in times of need.There are plenty of laugh-aloud moments, along with sad heart pulling times, all interspersed with historical facts. I had to laugh at some of Wallace's antics, the Zina escape, the beach incident, and his time on the island, covered in ticks and trying to sneak him back into the apartment hoping the owner will not notice the spotty dog, fortunately, all ended well.There is also sadness as Wallace falls ill, baffling everyone as his tests all come back as normal. Finally, after further extensive tests, treatments, and X-rays, diagnosed with ulcers they have to attend the Animal clinic in Athens. He is such a loveable little fellow and has a wonderful presence filled with the love of life and adventure, as long as there are no loud noises of course. Unfortunately, due to family illness, they had to cut their stay short and say a very sad goodbye to their friends and return to the UK, promising Fonteini that they would return.Marjory writes with a deep passion and you can feel their love of Greece, this resonates throughout the book. I can highly recommend this and am looking forward to following their journey in book 3.

Having just read Things Can Only Get Feta by Marjory McGinn and absolutely loving it I must confess that this second book in the series seriously tugged at my heartstrings! This book finds Marjory, Jim and the lovable pooch Wallace having moved to a larger house not far from their first home in a rural Greek village. This time we learn about the author’s time living in Athens during the Military Junta as well as her marvellous descriptions of their present life in Greece. It was lovely to see that the friendship with the villagers developed and grew. It was good to see Foteini and others still feature! There’s plenty to make you smile, or even laugh aloud. I’m thinking of the beach escapade with Wallace and Foteini at the supermarket as a couple of examples. Sadly, the Greek economy at this time was in trouble and Marjory describes the deepening crisis and the impact it has on her Greek friends with a great deal of sympathy and admiration for their stoical outlook on life. I love the historical information and throughout her love of Greece and its people are evident. Unfortunately, family problems mean they have to leave Greece and return to the UK. I have to confess the poignant chapter describing their departure brought a tear to my eye. Wonderful writing and I’m so happy to discover there’s another book in the series.

"Homer's Where The Heart Is" is my first Marjory McGinn memoir. Although it is the second book in a series, it reads well as a standalone.Marjory interweaves her Greek Odysseys from the 1970's when she acted as an au pair to a Greek family in Athens, with time spent in rural Greece during the recent economic crisis.There are many heartwarming moments throughout of Marjory, Jim and their Jack Russell Wallace's adventures.However, I felt incredibly sad for the Greek people who managed to survive working in jobs where there were little or no funds available to pay their salary!

This is a beautifully written book for anyone who loves Greece and the culture of the country. I had already read 'Things can only get Feta' which I enjoyed; but I loved this even more and had a job to put it down. The continuing story of Marjory, her husband and their little dog living in the Mani alongside their Greek neighbours and friends really does sum up accurately all that is wonderful about the Greek way of life. Marjory shares her experiences of happy days, comical situations and some less easy times as in some parts the book reflects the difficulties imposed upon the people by the current economic constraints and how in earlier years there were similar problems. Reading this whilst hearing the wind blow during an English autumn; lit a little flame in my heart and made me feel as though I was back in Greece too. I believe that there will be another book next year [2016] and I look forward to it with eager anticipation!

Another delightful read about two journalists and a dog and their time spent living on the Mani Peninsula of the Peloponnesus of Greece. This time it covers the developments of the Greek “crisis” as well as looking back to the authors time in Athens in the early 70s when it was under “Military Junter” rule. It was sad they had to leave Greece and I was sad to come to the end of the book as I’d forgotten there was a third in the series ... which I’m now going to read!