The Night The Owl Cried: A Taste of Cyprus

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean and possesses a rich blend of European and Eastern influence, as it stands facing east and west, with its history shaped by the Roman, Greek and Turkish Empires. Androulla Christou-Layton was born on the island in 1965 – it is her home and where her heart truly lies. In a place with a resident population of less than one million people, families are inextricably linked to each other, and whatever the distance between them those bonds remain strong. This book tells the story of Andry’s life in Cyprus between 1965 and 1983, beginning with the creation of the Christou family, and then moving on to the generations that followed. It reveals a very personal insight into the world of a child growing up in difficult circumstances during years which included the dramatic events of a coup and invasion in 1974, plus a host of tragedies which touched her life, in some form or another. Above all else though it is a tale of hope and happiness as new births, christenings and weddings add to the family. If you like history, culture, customs, and food mixed in with a real-life story, and the odd ‘fairy tale’, told in a simple fashion then this is a book for you. It’s a must-read for people looking to holiday on the island who want to experience and feel what life is really like behind the sun and the beaches. It will also appeal to historians and those with an interest in other people’s way of life. You will certainly know much more about the real Cyprus by the end of it.