Repacking for Greece: A Mediterranean Odyssey by Sally Jane Smith

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Being a beta reader for Sally Jane Smith is an absolute delight. This sequel to her first book, Unpacking for Greece, is every bit as lyrical and beautifully written and I feel privileged to have read both an early and later draft. After an incident in her South African youth derails a planned trip to Canada, Sally takes us with her on a solo trip through Greece to compensate for her disappointment. Seeking out the ancient monuments that pepper the countryside and giving us her special insights into their history and context, we travel with her largely on buses and on foot seeing the country as the locals do. It feels like a wonderfully authentic experience, every step of which I enjoyed.

Greece has so many treasures, many of which go unnoticed, but with her relish for walking rural tracks others would baulk at, Sally finds these gems of antiquity in incredible places. I love the way she pairs the books she reads on her journey with the areas and towns she visits; I also love her sensitive descriptions and thoughtful contemplation on the issues of tourism and its impact on this iconic land. Add to that the search for the places her mother visited revealed in snippets from an old diary that accompanies Sally on her travels, and this is a beautiful book and a must read for those who love and, like me, would love to visit Greece.



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