My Greek Books
Welcome back! This month’s reads are poetry collections. We’ll delve into the souls of three contemporary Greek poets in their latest works. Let’s go!
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Whispers of the Soul by Despoina Kemeridou
Kemeridou.com (December 1, 2023)
About the author
Born in Thessaloniki, Despoina Kemeridou began writing in 2009. She is the author of two romances stories and two poetry collections. Her first novel, Fated to Meet You, came out in 2018 and her second, Mark of a Demon, was published in 2020. Also in 2020, she published her first poetry collection, Of Darkness and Light: A Dark Poetry Collection. In addition to writing, she studied Midwifery at the International University of Greece. She’s also an avid landscape photographer and likes to sketch and paint.
About the book
In the book’s description, Despoina writes: “Ever fallen so deep that you couldn’t find your way out? Ever loved someone so much that you thought only death would tear you apart? Ever felt pain, despair, or longing? Then, this poetry collection might be for you.” Despoina and I connected on Twitter, and she offered me the opportunity to review her book in advance of its release.
My Greek Books review
Whispers of the Soul is a journey into the depths of human emotions. Despoina Kemeridou delves deep, sharing raw and powerful emotions on a roller coaster ride from hurt and despair, to grasping for hope and finding light in the darkness. I’m looking forward to reading more of her work.
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Lost Spring: A Poetic Odyssey by Xanthi Hondrou-Hill
Independently published (July 20, 2022)
About the author
Xanthi Hondrou-Hill began writing poetry as a teenager. Today, she’s an award-winning poet whose work has been published in many international prestigious media and anthologies around the world and translated into more than 10 languages. She’s the recipient of the 2022 Gandhian Global Harmony Association Award, plus numerous awards in China, Ecuador, Phillipines, and Ukraine. She is cultural ambassador for Namaste magazine in India, OXYGEN PEN in Sri Lanka, editor for poetry columns at www.faretra.info in Greece and Humanity in Russia, and co-editor for an international poetry magazine in China. She previously worked as public relations manager for the Greek Consulate in Stuttgart, translates poetry in several languages, and is an educator.
About the book
Lost Spring is Xanthi’s first published poetry collection. The book descriptions reads: “She shares her poetic odyssey from her homeland to abroad and back again. She collected situations, experiences and feelings during this journey of exploration and growth and put them together as a testament to the beauty and sorrow of going out into the world.”
My Greek Books review
Xanthi Hondrou-Hill’s experiences reflect our collective human condition. In her words we see our own lives that spring from the page. Lost Spring is a quick, enjoyable read. Add it to your list.
The Silver Sphinx by Nicos Alexiou
Melani Press Greece (2019)
About the author
Nicholas Alexiou, PhD was born in Volos, Greece. There he studied economics, then earned an MA Sociology from Queens College, CUNY; and a Ph.D. from the Graduate Center, CUNY. He has taught in the Department of Sociology at Queens College since 1990. His fields of interest are social and political sociology and ethnic studies. He is a recipient of the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Nicos is the founder and director of the Hellenic American Project, which strives to “document the Hellenic American presence in the United States from the first wave of mass immigration in 1900 to the present.” It operates as an archive, research facility, museum, and Greek-American library. He is a member of the Greek American Writers Guild Association (NY) and the Greek Authors Association (Greece). Nicholas’ poems have been published in Greek and American journals and anthologies. He has published six books of poetry.
About the book
The Silver Sphinx / Η ΑΣΗΜΕΝΙΑ ΣΦΙΓΓΑ is a bilingual collection of 20+ poems, grouped by themes: oikos, eros, and kairos. I met Nicholas during the summer of 2023, and he gifted me with a copy of his book, which is only available for sale in Greece. The book opens with the poems in Greek, and the English versions are at the end.
My Greek Books review
In The Silver Sphinx, Nikos Alexiou’s evocative imagery paints a glorious picture. This bilingual collection is accessible for the reader who isn’t fluent in Greek, though both versions provide an equally vivid portrait. Legend has it that under the statue of the Sphinx there is a maze that leads to secret chambers, of which researchers still argue. And through the poems in The Silver Sphinx, the poet offers us a glimpse into the secrets of his own heart, mind, and soul.
My Greek Books—November 2023 Edition
That’s it for this month. Hope you’ve enjoyed this dive into the work of some contemporary Greek poets. See you next month for more My Greek Books. Keep reading!
Read more:
My Greek Books—November 2022 Reads
My Greek Books—November 2021 Reads
