"Zorba the Greek" by Nikos Kazantzakis

I had to get the book after he last time I watched the movie. It's one of our favorite movies and I've seen it several times. There are scenes that I don't understand though. It's like there is information missing, like maybe the director thought it would be understood and just skipped it. So I thought the book would shed some light on those scenes. It didn't. Maybe I'm just not understanding the culture that they are in.

It was still a great book though. I think I may have liked the book more because of the movie. How's that? Usually you read a book and then see the movie and think, "WHAT?!" but to me, the movie was just like book. I'm not sure if it's because I saw the movie first or what. There were no big scenes or themes left out of the movie. There were some omissions, but they didn't change the story. I liked the way the movie ended better than the book. The book goes on after they part ways in Crete and it made me sad.

I didn't understand the story teller's obsession with Buddha. I thought he was a Christian, but he writes a lot about getting through what Buddha wants from him. I loved Zorba's lust for life and wondered if he were entirely sane. The book gives reasons why he comes off that way at times.

There were little lines that I loved, like this one, "God changes his appearance every second. Blessed is the man who can recognize him in all his disguises." and "You understand! and that's why you'll never have any peace. If you didn't understand, you'd be happy! What d'you lack? You're young, you have money, health, you're a good fellow, you lack nothing. Nothing, by thunder! Except just one thing - folly! And when that's missing, boss, well..."