Escape to the sunlight and colour
of a wild island in the South Aegean
How can a single woman of 42, with a career and a desire for a family, fit into a rural Greek island with a population of 500? Is there room for one more? She finds that no man is an island – that belonging to the community is the way to fit in. It isn’t going to be a quiet life, but a good one.
Bursting with Mediterranean flavour, An Octopus in my Ouzo takes you from winter storms to drinks on the beach, dancing, walking and swimming your way around the island with an exuberant fisherman and an adorable canine. A funny, sad and inspiring journey to find that happiness lies in living small and thinking big.
'Romantic, sun-drenched and mouth-watering... a true feast for the senses' - Emma Woolf
'A seductive evocation of Greek island life and an honest exploration of what it means to try to live differently... about diving into the unknown and staying afloat' - Lizzie Enfield
'Poetic, touching, enlightening' - Anne Zouroudi
'I *loved* An Octopus in my Ouzo. It was so vivid and moving' - Andrea
'It was a real pleasure to read... I enjoyed it immensely' - Gordon
'I found myself laughing and then crying. It was truly inspiring.' - Alli
'vibrant, humorous, honest and fascinating... If, like us, you're drawn to the rugged natural beauty of the Greek islands and the unique charm of the folk living there, then this memoir will be a pure joy... an unforgettable gem' - Isabelle Broom, author of My Map of You, in heat magazine
'I just read your two books about life in Greece. I can't tell you how much I loved them. It made me feel like I was on holiday...' - Heather
'beautifully written' - Bea
'Your descriptions are so detailed I can actually smell the herbs and flowers' - Desiree, NZ
'an honest and brave book. Its light touch makes you think you're going to get the usual travel/memoir fare, but it goes further and deeper and is full of surprises' - Robert
'your books bring a lot of joy' - Esme
'Just reading the fab Octopus in my Ouzo... spent the afternoon losing myself on a Greek island. My only anxiety is what I will do once I've finished it!' - Deborah
'Food for the soul... well written and beautifully descriptive' - Amanda
'I've just finished reading An Octopus in my Ouzo and could not put it down. Totally dreaming of a visit to Greece...' - Jenny, New Zealand
'I have much enjoyed sharing your time on Tilos, being led gently through Greek island life and its ways. More specifically we have just enjoyed your prawn saganaki recipe...' - Andrew
'Absolutely loving your book, transported me back to my favourite place on earth... thank you!' - Lynne, UK
'I was so smitten by Falling in Honey that I ordered your 2nd book An Octopus in my Ouzo. I LOVED them both!' - Sandy, USA
'The books are adventurous and romantic, chock full of interesting tales about the residents and landscape on the exquisite island of Tilos. Jen's grit and determination was exactly what I needed to get inspired for my next project.' - Mona
'Inspiration - Jennifer Barclay, the freelance editor and writer living a simple but wonderful life' - Rania Margari
'her writing is beautiful... it inspires me to feel positive'
- Ashley Wood, Canada
'I adore both books' - Helen
'I enjoyed this book immensely! Jennifer Barclay has an incredible talent for describing her experience on Tilos in such a sensory way that you feel you were actually there. Swimming, hiking, fishing and cooking today's catch, smelling the herbs on the mountainside... Just a wonderfully engaging, seemingly real life glimpse into "Loving Life on a Greek Island"!' - Margaret
Chosen by The Displaced Nation as one of the top 24 non-fiction books of 2016!
'After reading your books last summer, I was inspired to get a job so I can work online wherever I am as I want to travel. So thank you for the inspiration' - Bryony, UK
'I absolutely adore your books and can't wait for the next one' - Victoria, UK
'Just finished your two books on Tilos, a really great read, you have captured the spirit of the Greek islands perfectly - we loved them... We look forward to more tales.' - Karen and Graham, Australia
'Your books are a joy' - Melanie, UK
'I bought your book at Athens airport... You are living my dream!!! I love, love, love your books...' - Samantha, Australia
'An Octopus in my Ouzo is not just any travel memoir, one where life is romanticised... That's not to say you won't often find yourself being transported from your couch to the Aegean, fantasising about trading your lifestyle in for morning swims, fresh air and living off the land. But what is most noteworthy about Barclay as a storyteller is not just her choice of words and use of adjectives, but her commitment to honesty... She writes candidly and openly about her desires as a woman, and more importantly, as a human being.'
Neos Kosmos, Australia
HOLIDAYS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE:
American Express Travel
'I laughed a fair bit and shed a few tears. Fabulous book' - Sharon
'It sent me to Tilos with a regretful return ticket because it ended too soon... And she shows more. Meaningful things' - Gabi
'Absolutely loved Octopus in my Ouzo...' - Vicki
'Love this book - brilliant, brave, beautiful' - Genevieve
'A great summer read!' - Alasdair
'I loved it, and hard time putting it down throughout! Your words remind me of how much I long to return to Greece, and how blessed I am to have all that I have in life. Thank you for making my June!!! Wonderful book!' - Debbie
'At 50 pages in, despite the rain outside here, I feel like I'm in Tilos. Brilliant writing' - Lindsay
'wonderful book... Love the complicated and uncomplicated island life' - Marja
'One of the best books I've ever read' - Clare
'All of life's rich experiences seem to touch Barclay... Jennifer paints a beautiful picture of her island too... This book does what any good travel book should do' - Paul
'If you love Greek islands you will love this book. Great read - Jen you are so inspiring' - Mavis
'absolutely loving your latest book' - Benjamin
'I absolutely loved 'An Octopus in my Ouzo' - gave me such Greece cravings' @cathqueenwrites
'Jennifer Barclay has a unique gift in experiencing love and beauty and sharing it with the world. She certainly touched me through the pages. An unforgettable read! I also think she's a bit of a superwoman... The delicious recipes... were an extra bonus' - Effrosyni Writes
'I devoured this book in two days and now wish I could read it again for the first time. So much of Jennifer's story resonates with me... This story will delight, enchant and fill you with joy and sadness... Brilliant' - Julie Ryan, blogger
'brilliantly written... funny and honest... There are some wonderful characters in this book, and the author has a real gift for bringing them to life... She creates an incredible sense of place... A gorgeous read' - Anne Cater, blogger
'a beautiful and uplifting book... inspirational'
- Richard Clark, author of The Greek Islands: A Notebook
'With its lyrical and poetic prose, An Octopus in my Ouzo swept me away... a wonderful, heartfelt and oftentimes humorous journey to the magical and small Greek island of Tilos. This book is meant to be savored one page at a time'
- Samantha Verant, author of Seven Letters from Paris
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