What a pleasure it is to be invited along on the Blog Tour for the latest book by Victoria Hislop which I have read and loved and am delighted to share my thoughts and hope you go on to read and enjoy this lovely new summer title.
My Review
Renowned author Victoria Hislop returns to early to mid 20th century Greece to introduce us to the life of heroine Themis, who begins the story as a young woman and as her life story opens up we follow her into her future as Greece struggles with the occupation of her country by Germans.
Greece is split in two by politics and war and I wondered if the historic political details may make this book a touch a little heavy going for a summer read as often political details can be complex and confusing.
However, I found it superbly easy to engage with such a likeable and believable protagonist as Themis and I slid into her life like slipping into a bath of warm olive oil. I was quickly drawn into her world, redolent with the aromas and arguments of Greek family life and swept along by the barrage of events occurring in what begins as a simple life and builds into one of remarkable heroism, determination and selfless compassion.
At the start of Themis' story, she lives in a crumbling old mansion owned by her somewhat flaky Mothers family, but tragedy forces the family to decamp and live in her paternal grandmothers' apartment on the outskirts of Athens. Sibling rivalry is strong in this family and her older sister never misses the chance to tease and taunt her little sister and her two older brothers can never see eye to eye, Themis’ family are divided, by beliefs and politics and there is bickering and sniping at every family meal which eventually turns into bitterness and recrimination. But Themis is a young woman able to make her own mind up and as she decides her path she makes a few brave and one or two rash decisions (Don’t we all at some point?) Her life choices are set to have repercussions which reverberate across the decades.
When this intelligent but rather lonely schoolgirl finds a new school friend Fotini, the 2 girls become inseparable, despite different backgrounds until again tragedy intervenes and fate begins to show its hand to Themis.
It’s a story of friendship and atonement, of war and politics and abiding love which transcends class barriers. For anyone who, like me, enjoys holidays in the warmth and conviviality of Greece today it comes as a bit of a shock to read in detail, about the dreadful events in the near distant past, which although I was aware of, hadn’t considered the impact on everyday families trying to get on with their lives.
The Author does a sterling job of combining a gripping beach read with a deeply political statement and historical facts. I mean no disrespect when I say this is the thinking-womans chick-lit.
A wonderfully engaging summer read drenched in Meditteranean sunshone, redolent of Greek coffee, in an era blighted by dreadful deeds, war and dire poverty.
The Blurb
Those Who Are Loved is set against the backdrop of the German occupation of
Greece in World War II, the subsequent civil war and a military dictatorship, all of
which left deep scars.
Athens 1941. After decades of political uncertainty, Greece is polarised between
Right- and Left-wing views when the Germans invade. Fifteen-year-old Themis comes
from a family divided by these political differences. The Nazi occupation deepens
the fault-lines between those she loves just as it reduces Greece to destitution. She
watches friends die in the ensuing famine and is moved to commit acts of resistance.
In the civil war that follows the end of the occupation, Themis joins the Communist
army, where she experiences the extremes of love and hatred and the paradoxes
presented by a war in which Greek fights Greek.
Eventually imprisoned on the infamous islands of exile, Makronisos and then
Trikeri, Themis encounters another prisoner whose life will entwine with her own
in ways neither can foresee. And finds she must weigh her principles against her
desire to escape and live. As she looks back on her life, Themis realises how tightly
the personal and political can become entangled. While some wounds heal, others
deepen.
This powerful new novel from Number One bestseller Victoria Hislop sheds light
on the complexity and trauma of Greece’s past and weaves it into the epic tale of an
ordinary woman compelled to live an extraordinary life.
The Author
Victoria Hislop
Inspired by a visit to Spinalonga, the abandoned Greek leprosy colony, Victoria Hislop wrote The Island in 2005. It became an international bestseller and a 26-part Greek TV series. She was named Newcomer of the Year at the British Book Awards and is now an ambassador for Lepra. The Island has sold over 1.2million copies in the UK and more than 5 million worldwide.
Her affection for the Mediterranean then took her to Spain, which inspired her second bestseller The Return, and she returned to Greece to tell the turbulent tale of Thessaloniki in The Thread, shortlisted for a British Book Award and confirming her reputation as an inspirational storyteller. It was followed by her much-admired Greece-set short story collection, The Last Dance and Other Stories. The Sunrise, a Sunday Times Number One
bestseller about the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, was published to widespread acclaim in 2014. Victoria’s most recent book, Cartes Postales from Greece was a Sunday Times Number One bestseller and one of the Top Ten biggest selling paperbacks of 2017. Her novels have sold 10 million copies worldwide.
Connect with the author
Twitter: @VicHislop • www.facebook.com/OfficialVictoriaHislop • www.victoriahislop.com
My thanks go to the publishers Headline for including me on the Blog Tour and Randomthingstours for organising it.
Book link https://www.amazon.co.uk/Those-Who-Loved-Victoria-Hislop/dp/1472223241/
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