Reader reviews and press

'I loved reading about my part of Greece... and learning so much I did not know' - Ann Marie

'Your books are beautiful. Take me back to my own days of island hopping and my love for Rhodes, Symi and the total peace and forgotten beauty of simplicity' - Chris

'What comes across in the book is the diversity of people and landscapes of the islands... The book provides a view of a beautiful world that is a wonderful tonic to lockdown and frustrated dreams of travel' - Alex Economou, Neos Kosmos

Article published in Hellenic News of America:

'... charming book. It captures the tranquillity and spirit of the Borderlands perfectly' - Philip

'It allowed me to travel to wonderful places... your book was proof for me that connections with our history and the natural world can often restore our equilibrium...' - Alexia

'fascinating' - Charles

'kudos to your intrepid spirit and observations' - Andrew

'Wild Abandon is a fantastic book, it transports me to and envelops me in beautiful Greece, even on a wet cold day in Wales' - Mike

'I have so much enjoyed this book. The author takes us on discovery walks we can no longer do... She describes her finds so vividly, we have a sense of being there' - Gillian

'a very good read... brought the islands to life' - hidden europe

'amazed by all the stories... and such turbulent histories' - Deborah

Greek Reporter: The Dodecanese and the Greek War of Independence

'I'm hooked on the book... You look where we might not notice... When I get back to the islands, I promise to have my eyes, ears and mind wide open.' - Tim

The Guardian: Ruins of the Dodecanese

'I ordered your book on Amazon and I must say it was absolutely amazing! I am a Nisyrian living in New York... We live 6,000 miles away and yet Nisyros lives in our hearts and every breath!' - Maria

'I'm loving reading your book. The story of the Italian soldier in Kasos has brought tears to my eyes...' - Stavros

'Just finished your wonderful book. I had to ration my reading otherwise I would have gobbled it up in no time! I felt quite emotional when I reached the end...' - Connie

'Today I finished reading Wild Abandon with tears in my eyes...' - Robert

'Author unveils the rich tapestry of the hidden world of the Dodecanese'
Neos Kosmos, Australia

A fascinating read... you'll see sides of these islands you probably didn't know existed... If you're planning a trip to any of the islands covered in the book, buy a copy of Wild Abandon... If you like reading good travel books about Greece, or about anywhere for that matter, then put Wild Abandon on the shopping list or in your Amazon basket.
Greece Travel Secrets

In an extract from her new book, Jennifer Barclay reveals how forgotten buildings and objects are being reclaimed by nature...
The Daily Telegraph


Not your ordinary travel writer... She and her four-legged friend Lisa dedicated five years of their lives to scouring the Dodecanese in search of hidden treasures... while her protagonists are the authentic islanders who keep memories alive, along with a vanishing way of life... This bizarre and frightening summer... Barclay's solitary wanderings, her constant contact with nature, her teleworking, and her attachment to simplicity and freedom render her book exceptionally timely.
Greece Is / Kathimerini / Rodiaki



...a delightful account... takes the reader on a visit to some of the wildest places that cover a wide expanse. On her many journeys the author inevitably discovers a little gem, giving us information about the lifestyle and culture of the inhabitants that we would never have got otherwise. It is these glimpses into another life that are so personal and make the places come alive. This is very much a journey of love for the author and it feels like travelling with your own personal tour guide. Full of anecdotes, snippets of information and some real characters, I loved this armchair travel.
Julie Ryan
https://allthingsbookie.blogspot.com/2020/06/wild-abandon.html

There is nothing better for me than exploring the Greece, the nature and the history. Your writing transported me to old much loved places and to new as yet untrodden paths for future exploring. You capture the spirit and soul of Greece and its amazing people so well and paint a picture in words of one of the most unique places on the planet. 
Roger

I've read 3/4 of the book "Wild Abandon" so far and don't want it to end... 
Janette
'It rekindled all that I feel about Greece having travelled throughout for 30 plus years...'
Angie
'In the footsteps of Theodore and Mabel'
http://tambent.com/2020/05/18/in-the-footsteps-of-theodore-and-mabel-jennifer-barclay-may-2020/

'wonderful' - Tim

'a mysterious, slow and utterly fascinating story... not wanting to reach the end... a fantastic read' 
Vicki
'part travel memoir, part history book, part ode to a lost way of living. In her poetic style, Jennifer Barclay lovingly shares the stories of these remote islands, some we’ve never heard of, unveiling their almost forgotten history, their rugged beauty... Her poignant prose is at once an education in the history of these islands, but also makes you reconsider how you travel. There’s much to see and do in well-known places, but there’s also something magical, sad, yet delightful, in discovering an almost forgotten, faraway place. One that rescues us—even for a little while—away from the rat race, and into a simpler, more meaningful, unrestricted life. During this time when we can’t travel, Jennifer’s stories are more profound than ever. They not only present a virtual travel opportunity but also evoke a personal exploration into our own ways of life.
Maria Karamitsos, Windy City Greek
https://www.mariakaramitsos.com/2020/05/book-review-wild-abandon-jennifer-barclay/

'Loved the book, especially how islands survive on very little in winter by their resilience and creativity. We could all learn a lesson from them.' - Clare
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