Book Review by Soulla Christodoulou
Welcome to the first blog post of 2023 and Happy New Year! I hope you are all well rested and looking forward to what this new year will bring.
I finished reading the beautiful true story of Marilyn Drawwater, Rethymnon, a British couple’s true story of love and loss on Crete over the Christmas period and it is, without a doubt, one of the most emotional stories I have read in a long time. emotional because I could put myself in her shoes, I could see her trials and pain, the love she had for her husband Robin and the deep love and affection he had for her.
Marilyn and Robin, an ordinary couple from England, decide to move to Crete, for a better life, a better quality of retirement and a new start in their lives. It wasn’t without its trials, the move was blighted with many difficulties and red tape but eventually they moved there, happy. They made friends and became a part of a new community.
But their fairy tale wish for a new life was short lived.
The story was written in an easy to read. conversational tone and made me think about the importance of grabbing happiness at each and every moment and in not worrying about the future. It is the here and now, and the people in our lives, which should matter the most.
A highly recommended read which left me feeling a little melancholic but also grateful for all I have in my life.
Marilyn is a former chartered legal executive who turned to writing when her legal career came to an end. Taking a creative writing course gave her the idea to put her experiences into a book. ‘Rethymnon – a British couple’s true story of love and loss on Crete’ is Marilyn’s first book but she has had many articles published online.
She is now completing a further course for writing children’s books and has many ideas for children’s and adult fiction.
Marilyn still lives in Crete with her dog.
Thank you so much for reading!
With much love, Soulla xxx
