The Illegal Gardener

The Greek Village Series, Volume 1

By: Sara Alexi

Narrated by: Suzanne Heathcote

Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

A delightful glimpse into the lives of two very different people who became friends and were both better for it. A rare friendship that changed their lives and may change yours a bit too.

©2012 Sara Alexi (P)2014 Sara Alexi

A charming listen, great narration.

Sat on the beach & listened. Fit the bill, not heavy and not a mindless bodice-ripping romance.

Enjoyable, gentle read.

Though it took me a few chapters to get into this book, ultimately I enjoyed it very much. Nice story on so many levels. Narration nicely done.

mountain reader

This book was wonderful. It was funny, sad, inspirational and heartwarming. The characters were so believable, you feel their emotions right along with them. I would highly recommend this book to everyone.

No Need for a Notepad

I found this to be a pleasant, light listen, where I didn't need a notepad to keep track of dates or a cast of characters. I got a glimpse of life in a Greek village and the illegal immigrant situation in Greece. I very much enjoyed the friendship that developed between Juliet and Aaman and seeing how each helped the other to stop running and to be open to friendship and love.

Heartwarming

I listen to many different genres of books but most often they are thrillers, sci-fi or murder mysteries. Every so often I tire of these and long to just listen to a good story. And this book is a good story. I loved it. It held my interest from start to finish - the places, the hardships, the joys. Bravo Sara Alexi.

Fantastic

This story is so beautiful and authentic. Just wonderful. Great narration too. You will not be disappointed.

an enjoyable story

interesting story which tells lightly of how it is for immigrants and some of the struggles they have just trying to make a little money to better their lives.

Good book

Loved the gentleness of voice and the flow of the writing. Not the most exciting plot out there but good none the less...wholesome.

Easy Listen - Nice Escape to Greece

Listening to the Illegal Gardener by Sara Alexi was like a quick trip to Greece. I loved listening to how the village celebrated Easter; as a Greek Orthodox American, it brings up fond memories of my family's celebrations. I just wished that Sara Alexi had included more of the native language. Suzanne Heathcote does an excellent job with the various accents and male and female voices. The story has a certain lightness, despite including themes of childhood trauma, grief, prejudice, immigration, and racism. However, it's also a story about perseverance and independence. A great beach read or listen about two people better off having met one another.
I am looking forward to reading more of the series.

Enjoyable Listen, Sweet, Maybe Too Sweet...

I did enjoy this novel and the audio performance was flawless. The story was a bit simplistic and although the author does explore the hardships which are faced by the illegal immigrants in Greece (and elsewhere in this world); the tragedy of these lives could have been better developed. The story centers around the life of a middle-age woman who has moved to Greece to start a new life for herself. She develops a friendship with her "illegal gardener" and, from there, the reader is given a glimpse both into the woman's pursuit to build a new life and of the life of the gardener whose life is vastly more difficult and impoverished. It was fun to hear about the Greek countryside and people. There is a lightness to the book which is enjoyable while at the same time it borders on trite. I would have enjoyed deeper character development. Ms. Alexi is an excellent writer in terms of prose and grammar. If you are looking for a "light" read which has a little cultural exploration in it, this might just be the book for you.