Greeking Out: A Celebration of All Things Greece

The Winter Olympics are upon us, and we’re highlighting the country where it all began over two thousand years ago: Greece! Often referred to as “the cradle of Western civilization,” Greece is located in Southern Europe on the Balkan Peninsula and is known for being a premiere vacation destination with amazing food, famous historical sites, and rich culture. So, in honor of the country that brought us the Olympics (as well as the alphabet, democracy, and gyros…), here is a list of fiction and non-fiction reads related to all things Greece. Opa!

FOR KIDS

• Ancient Greece by Anne Pearson – DK Kids brings ancient Greek civilization to life with photos, maps, facts, and artifacts. There are multiple editions, with the most recent being from 2023.

• The Ancient Olympics by S.J. King – This series follows the Timekeepers, a secret organization of kids who keep history on track via various adventures. In this volume, the Timekeepers must stop a time pirate who is determined to thwart the First Olympics. Second book in the Timekeepers series.

• Athena the Brain by Joan Holub (also available on Hoopla) – Athena leaves her earth-bound junior high school for Mount Olympus Academy. Will she fit in with the other gods and goddesses or will she encounter the same hardships she did back at her old school? First of the Goddess Girls series.

• Greece by Ann Heinrichs – This non-fiction volume from the Enchantment of the World series focuses on Greece, both its past and present-day history. In addition to facts and photos, this book also includes recipes!

• The Stray and the Strangers by Steven Heighton (also available on Hoopla) – Kanella, a stray dog, befriends a young boy while they are both living in a refugee camp on a Greek island. What will happen when the boy’s family reunites with their son and the refugee camp is dismantled? Based on a true story.

FOR TEENS

• Bull by David Elliott (also available on Hoopla) – This story is a modern retelling of Theseus and the Minotaur written in verse.

• Lion's Legacy by L.C. Rosen – Fresh from a breakup with his boyfriend, seventeen-year-old Tennessee is invited to an archaeological dig in Greece with his father. His dad is a famous reality show archaeologist looking for the Rings of the Sacred Band of Thebes.

• Medusa by Jessie Burton – In this mythological retelling, the gods ban Medusa to an island—with only the snakes on her head to keep her company—until the handsome Perseus arrives.

• Threads that Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou – Io Ora, a private eye who is also a descendant of one of the Greek Fates, teams up with a mob boss’s right-hand man. Together they attempt to figure out who is kidnapping women, mutilating their life threads (which tie a person to all the things in their life), and sending their spirits out to murder people. First of a duology.

• Zeus: King of the Gods by George O’Connor – First of the Olympians series, fans of Percy Jackson will love this graphic novel series which tells the story of each of the gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus. Zeus, the king of all the gods, is the first God of the series.

FOR ADULTS

• Circe by Madeline Miller – The daughter of the sun god Helios, Circe discovers that she is not a god or a nymph, but a powerful witch. Finding her powers to be a threat, Zeus banishes Circe to an island where she lives and develops her witchcraft while also having interactions with some of the most well-known figures of Greek mythology.

• Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernières – Set in the early days of World War II, Italian soldiers land on the Greek island of Cephalonia and are led by Captain Antonio Corelli, who soon starts a love affair with the local doctor’s daughter.

• My Big Fat Greek Wedding (DVD) – Toula Portokalos has worked in her family’s Greek restaurant all her life, but she decides to go to college and change her life’s plans after she develops a crush on a man who dines in her restaurant.

• Mythos: Greek Myths Reimagined by Stephen Fry (also available on Hoopla) – A book of Greek myths retold by writer/actor Stephen Fry. His versions add new layers of humor, intelligence, and emotion to the classic stories. The first of Stephen Fry’s Great Mythology series.

• Zorba the Greek: The Saint’s Life of Alexis Zorba by Nikos Kazantzakis – The story’s narrator tells the tale of his friendship with Zorba, a larger-than-life Greek man who works with him in the mines of Crete. They form a friendship and the narrator comes to admire Zorba for his zest for life, despite its vicissitudes. Yes, this book is the inspiration for the movie of the same name starring Anthony Quinn.

ADULT NON-FICTION

• It's All Greek to Me: Transform Your Health the Mediterranean Way with My Family's Century-Old Recipes by Debbie Matenopoulos – In this cookbook, Henrico native Debbie Matenopoulos shares over 100 family recipes that were part of her traditional Greek upbringing. Featuring vivid photos as well as anecdotes and stories, these recipes also have suggestions and tweaks that help make the dishes healthier or adapt to dietary needs.

• Lonely Planet: Greece by Alexis Averbuck – Need a guide that gives cultural information, maps, and good advice for spots to visit all over Greece? Lonely Planet is the guide for you.

• Rick Steves: Greece by Rick Steves – America’s premiere travel writer and expert on European travel has his own guide to exploring Greece. This is also one of the most up-to-date handbooks in the library system. There is a “cousin” to this guide available as well: Rick Steves: Athens & the Peloponnese.

• Yiayia: Time-Perfected Recipes from Greece's Grandmothers by Anastasia Miari – Another Greek cookbook, but this one focuses on recipes from the kitchens of Greek grandmothers (“yiayias”) located all over Greece. Recipes are paired with photos of the regions they're sourced from as well as the grandmothers' kitchen interiors. They’re also accompanied by yiayia interviews that not only tease out additional information but will also give readers that 'feed'-good feeling Greek grandmothers are known for!