My Greek Books
It’s My Greek Books time! The weather is turning colder, which is perfect for a hot beverage and a good book!
This month, come along with me to the Wild West; Ancient Greece; and Camden, NJ in the 1980s. All of this month’s book are written by Greek authors. So, without further ado…
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Dendrites by Kallia Papadaki, translated by Karen Emmerich
World Editions (September 3, 2024)
About the author
Born in Didymoteicho, Greece and raised in Thessaloniki, Kallia Papadaki is an acclaimed author and screenwriter. She studied economics at Bard College and Brandeis University in the US. Upon her return to Greece, she studied film at the Stavrakos Film School in Athens.
Her debut novel, Dendrites, originally published in Modern Greek in 2015, won the EU Prize for Literature and the 2016 Young Author’s Award from the literary journal Clepsidra. It has since been translated into several languages. Her short story collection, The Back-Lot Sound (Polis Publishers, 2009), won the New Writers Award from the Greek literary journal Diavazo. A poetry collection, Lavender in December (Polis Publishers), came out in 2011. Her short stories and poems have been published in international anthologies and literary journals.
September, her first feature script premiered at the 48th Karlovy-Vary International Film Festival. In 2010, it won the International Balkan Fund script development award, and received the Nipkow Scholarship in Berlin. Her second script, Forty Days, is currently in development.
About the translator
Karen Emmerich has translated works by Greek authors Amanda Michalopoulou, Sophia Nikolaidou, and Christos Ikonomou, among others. She’s is an associate professor of Comparative Literature at Princeton. Karen speaks Greek, English, and Turkish. She’s also the recipient of the 2014 PEN Award for Poetry, for her translation of “Diaries of Exile” by Yannis Ritsos.
About the book
Set in troubled 1980s Camden, NJ, we follow the Campanis family in multiple generations. From Antonios’ immigration and storied early days in America that leave their mark on his son Basil, to years later, when Basil and his ex-hippie wife Susan take in a young orphan named Minnie, much to the chagrin of their daughter Leto, who is dealing with her own teenage crises.
My Greek Books review
It is evident that Kallia Papadaki spent much time researching this story—and that she actually lived the Greek-American experience. As always, Karen Emmerich does a skillful job at translation from the Modern Greek. The story follows three generations and all their ups and downs. Dendrites is a story about the quest for meaning amid life’s challenges and lost second chances. Don’t miss it.
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I Ain’t Afraid: The World of Lulu Bell Parr, Wild West Cowgirl by Diane Helentjaris
Alkira Publishing (August 16, 2024)
About the author
Born in Dayton, OH, Greek-American Author Diane Helentjaris earned a BA cum laude in Interdisciplinary Humanities from Michigan State University. She studied science in Montreal at McGill University before returning to Michigan to earn her MD. Diane also holds a Master’s in Public Health with an emphasis on health policy and administration from University of Michigan.
A physician, she’s held leadership positions in various medical organizations. As a health advocate, she has testified to the FDA and represented her groups at White House and Congressional hearings. For a time, she served as a public health administrator for the Virginia Department of Health.
Diane has published short stories and poems in anthologies and published many nonfiction articles. She was a finalist in the 2020 Icelandic Writers Retreat Alumni Award. Her poetry collection, Diaspora (independently published), came out in 2021. Her historical novel, The Indenture of Ivy O’Neill (Alkira Publishing, 2022), won the 2024 Maryland Writers’ Association Novel Competition in the historical/romance category. Her book, A Medley of Short Stories (independently published), came out in 2023.
About the book
Though Lulu Bell Parr was a celebrity in her day, most don’t know about her. The Wild West queen of the cowgirls gets her due in this new biography. Learn about Lulu’s early years, her work in Pawnee Bill and Buffalo Bill’s shows, her life and loves, and more.
My Greek Books review
Though I knew of Annie Oakley, I’d never heard of Lulu Bell Parr. She was a pioneer, as many women didn’t (or weren’t allowed) to do what she did. She drew countless spectators to the Wild West shows and paved the way for women entertainers in her field. As Diane and I are both members of Hellenic Writers Group of Washington DC, I had the privilege to read the book as she wrote it. In her skillful hands, Lulu’s story came to life. We all fell in love with Lulu and she became an honorary member of the group. We couldn’t wait to read more. I enjoyed it so much that I was sad when the story ended. Pick up a copy. You’ll fall in love with Lulu, too.
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Young Conquerors: A Novel of Hephaestion and Alexandros by Christopher Cosmos
Peninsula (September 10, 2024)
About the author
Raised in the Midwest, Christopher Cosmos attended the University of Michigan where he studied Screenwriting, Film, and English. After, he moved to Los Angeles to begin a career in the entertainment business. As a screenwriter and producer, he’s known for AMERICAN REBEL, RED SONJA, and DOUBLE AGENT. His work has been featured in the Black List of best Hollywood screenplays of the year.
His debut historical novel, Once We Were Here (Arcade, 2020) set in WII Greece, was a bestseller. Christopher now splits his time between Michigan and Greece.
About the book
Set in Pella, Greece in 341 BC, Young Conquerors follows a young man named Alexandros–we know him as Alexander the Great–and his dearest companion, Hephaestion. But what of the boy who was never meant to be king and what made him become “Great”? The novel explores Alexander’s formative years, and how he became “the greatest conqueror and visionary the world had ever seen, all told through the eyes of the one he loved, and who knew him best.”
My Greek Books review
Young Conquerors* is the fascinating story of Alexander the Great’s younger years and what shaped him. Christopher Cosmos adeptly combines his passion for history and myth to bring this story to life. Taking us back to Ancient Greece with a cast of characters the likes of Philip of Macedon, Aristotle, Demosthenes, and more; this epic novel is a cinematic tale ripe for the big screen. Add it to your list.
*I read an advance review copy
My Greek Books—October 2024 Edition
Well, that’s it for this month. Now you have three more great reads to add to your list. Check back next month for more My Greek Books!
Read more:
My Greek Books—October 2023 Reads
My Greek Books—October 2022 Reads
