Greek to Me

Mary Norris chronicles her lifelong passion for Greek language, literature, and culture in this memoir that bridges ancient and modern Greece. Her journey begins with learning classical Greek during her career as a copy editor at The New Yorker and evolves into travels through the Greek islands. The narrative follows Norris's immersion in Greek studies, from wrestling with complex grammar to exploring Greek mythology and art. Her encounters with Greek people, places, and traditions form the backbone of her cultural education and personal transformation. Between swimming in the Aegean Sea and decoding ancient texts, Norris draws connections between language, identity, and place. The work stands as both a travel narrative and an examination of how classical studies can reshape one's worldview and sense of self.

Readers appreciate Norris's enthusiasm for Greek language, culture and mythology, with many noting her engaging personal stories and self-deprecating humor. Several reviews highlight how she makes complex language concepts accessible while weaving in travelogue elements. Readers praise: - Clear explanations of Greek etymology and alphabet - Balance of memoir and educational content - Conversational writing style - Travel descriptions of Greece Common criticisms: - Meandering narrative structure - Too much personal detail/memoir content for those seeking pure language focus - Some sections on Greek grammar feel too technical - Occasional name-dropping and academic digressions Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (230+ ratings) "A fun romp through language and culture" - Goodreads reviewer "Sometimes loses focus but her passion is infectious" - Amazon reviewer "More memoir than language book - adjust expectations accordingly" - LibraryThing reviewer

Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen by Mary Norris A copy editor's memoir weaves grammar rules with personal stories from decades at The New Yorker.

An Odyssey: A Father, a Son, and an Epic by Daniel Mendelsohn A professor teaches Homer's Odyssey while exploring his relationship with his father through Greek literature and Mediterranean travel.

The Shadow of the Parthenon by Peter Green A historian connects ancient Greek culture to modern life through essays about archaeology, literature, and politics.

A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes The women of the Trojan War tell their stories through interconnected narratives that reimagine Greek mythology.

The Riddle of the Labyrinth by Margalit Fox The story follows three scholars who worked to decode Linear B, an ancient Greek writing system discovered on clay tablets.

🔷 Mary Norris worked at The New Yorker for more than three decades as a copy editor, earning the nickname "Comma Queen" for her meticulous attention to punctuation. 🔷 The author learned Ancient Greek at age 56 and made multiple solo trips to Greece, defying her fear of water stemming from a childhood near-drowning experience. 🔷 The book's title is a play on "It's all Greek to me," a phrase that originated from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, where Casca says, "For mine own part, it was Greek to me." 🔷 Norris draws fascinating parallels between English and Greek words, revealing how many common English terms - from 'phobia' to 'alphabet' - have Greek roots. 🔷 While writing the book, Norris would often swim in pools named after Greek deities at the 23rd Street YMCA in Manhattan, combining her love of Greek mythology with physical exercise.