The Great Chimera

Holly says: Widely considered a modern Greek classic, this novel follows Marina as she flees her troubled childhood home on the arm of a Greek sea-captain, accompanying him to the Greek island of Syros. She falls in love with her new home but not all is smooth sailing: when tragedy strikes her husband’s shipping business, she must grapple with major losses and changes to her comfortable life. Athenian author Karagatsis was part of the “Generation of the ’30’s,” considered innovators in the Greek arts. This novel is a departure from my usual reading selections, but when I saw it on the English-language shelf of a charming bookstore on the island of Syros—where this novel is set—I had to bring it home with me. I found the story emotional, resonant, and ultimately a satisfying reading experience. Content warnings apply.