ZORBA THE GREEK

Rating:
Summary: reflexiones importantes
Review: un libro lleno de importantes reflexiones, de una busqueda de la verdad, que debe ensenarnos que dios o lo espiritual no esta solamente en aquellos que buscan la verdad a tarves del ascetismo, sino tambien en gente como zorba, con sus apetitos mundanos y su vision de la tierra y del mundo tan diferente del otro. en realidad ambos son complementos, caras de una misma moneda que es la vida, y ambos demuestran que se puede llegar a la verdad por diferentes caminos. este libro ademas ensena un poco de filosofia budista, voy a ver si encuentro una version en espanol para una amiga budista, que desde que entro ha encontrado paz y tranquilidad la paz de ese minero que aun no ha encontrado a su zorba.... LUIS MENDEZ [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Classic contemporary novel
Review: I came across this book in class thinking it would suck. The Zorba character, although vivacious & funny, was at the same time sexist and machoistic. However, part of the greatness of Nazantzakis' novel is how it threads two very different characters together & unites them in one of the most beautiful portraits of friendship in modern literature. With its slips of exquisite descriptions & its above par characterizations, 'Zorba' is one of the most compelling books I've ever read.

Rating:
Summary: A book overflowing with important life wisdom
Review: I had the great fortune of bringing this with me to Crete (not noing it takes place/was filmed there) and it was a very good setting for enjoying it.

This books overflows with good reasons for living and it helps you understand that you should not postphone really living to later. It's full of wisdom (and not the cheape dime of dussin type either)! If everyone had the life philosophy of Zorbas the world would be a better place. If everyone in the world read this book it would improve this world. It is also a very fine piece of litterature and is therefor on my top 25 list!

Kazanzakis is a very good ambassador for the greek people, but he doesn't paint them all white. He paints them as they are a fantastic people, but three dimensional like all humans are.

I also loved the movie, Anthony Quin was a very good Zorbas.

For those who are depressed it will lift your spirits. For the rest of you it will make you smile and rethink your values and your own life!

Rating:
Summary: A life worth living
Review: Zorba is a wonderful teacher. His lessons revolve around the appreciation of all things basic and good, the pleasures of simplicity, and falling in love with life. Great book to read if you feel that your life is in a rut and you want to reconnect with the world around you.

Rating:
Summary: Exuberance versus Withdrawal
Review: I would like to touch on a different aspect of this prolific book. Sadly we have been bombarded by the film carrying the same name but which fails to carry the struggle to the viewer. Readers focus on this rebelious, should we baptise it as 'Dionysiac' approach, this mysterious dream we call life, however one should proceed a little bit further. What is not mentioned or hinted in the film is the philosophical approach of the Boss (i.e. Kazantzakis), this the point of the enormous struggle of the spirit against the sensual, to honour the great Cavafy, tendencies of the body. "You think too much" Zorba tells him so often, but who can remove the Bhuddhistic poems from the Boss and expect him to carry on breathing? How can one alter the path of self emancipation when the path is already set, how, is an interesting though long question... "It was too late, too late to change my life..." Kazantzakis reflects, but this is where the truth is somewhat relatively shadowed, who would believe that such a brilliance par excellance was struck by the apparition of a Zorba at such late a time, no, no his path was set, this one may see when he refers to the Great Martyr (Nietzsche) in his Report to Greco; how different their opinions but what respect and emotion for the philosopher, why? For they both represent the same flame in some different manifestation. His love, attraction and withdrawal from Zorba (think of his relationship to the Eagle, Sikelianos) is the bond to the opposite edge, the respect and disguised love for the true enemy.

Dedicate time and thoughts to it, as always the Teacher will take you afar...

Rating:
Summary: Few words on the grave of Nikos.
Review: A fighter, who desperately waving against the flow to the stiff fall, finally broke out the paddle and throw it away. and sung.

"Ah, let this song to be my life! I hope for nothing! I fear nothing! I am free!"

Nikos's tomb got last lines of the fable above. what a man he was... who ever you are, may zorba with you.

from a student in Korea, place of morning calm.

Rating:
Summary: Zorba tells us what the life is !
Review: I have just finshed reading Zorba the Greek yesterday. I was just like the boss who always just thinking and asking what the life is. So I could do nothing. But Zorba told me " Do anything ! And then you may find out the answer" I really recommand that you should meet Zorba..

Rating:
Summary: Life - !!
Review: You have to read this book..it will really change your life. It will make you see things on a different way , on the way of zorba . The meaning of life in a small book , of the Greek Genius Nikos Kazantzakis

Rating:
Summary: One of the best pieces of fiction I've ever read!
Review: This book is about life and its extremes. It describes the battle between free-spiritedness and conservatism. It makes any reader analyze the way he/she lives. I suggest that everyone read this book to gain essential insight into the perfect way of life. It is, without a doubt, a secular bible for living.

Rating:
Summary: perhaps the least read, truly great book of our time
Review: perhaps one of the least read and most underrated novels which remains as one of the all time greats in our era. The novel follows the life of Zorba the greek after he meets the author, recalling his life. The writing is superb, the imagery wonderful, and the entire story enchanting and so full of life and spirit, like the main character, that one cannot help reading it over and over again.