Rating: 4/5
I’m not a big fan of historical novels but this book about the tragic Greek city Thessaloniki and the racism and hatred that ripped families and friends apart had me riveted.
The story starts in 2007 when young Dimitri tries to persuade his grandparents to move overseas closer to their family. They start explaining why they could never leave – and paint a vivid picture of all they’ve been through together, from when they were young children and why they’ve bonded so intensely with the city.
Theirs is a harrowing but often happy tale, from the period of World War 1 right through to 2007.
It gave me an understanding of the turmoil the region has been through, the perpetual animosity between the Greeks and Turks and the huge gap between rich and poor. I fell in love with the characters and was quite sorry when I finished the novel.
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