Good Year - Libroj.org

Lingvo: English

Eldonita je 21-a de oktobro 2022 de Fairlight Books.

ISBN:: 978-1-914148-05-7

(1 recenzo)

Rural Cyprus, 1925. Despo is recently married, heavily pregnant and deeply afraid. The twelve days of Christmas are beginning – the time when, according to local folklore, creatures known as kalikantzari come up from Hell to wreak havoc. Meanwhile, her husband Loukas has troubles of his own. Struggling with dreams and desires he doesn’t understand, he finds himself irresistibly drawn to an Englishman, a newcomer to the island.

In a village wreathed in superstition, Despo and Loukas must protect themselves and their unborn child from ominous forces at play.

Polis Loizou's new novella, A Good Year, is an enchanting read steeped in Cypriot folklore and traditional superstition. I would say that it is almost a folk tale in its own right. The story takes place over the twelve days from Christmas Eve to Epiphany in a year not long after British rule had replaced Turkish rule over the island of …

Rural Cyprus, 1925. Despo is recently married, heavily pregnant and deeply afraid. The twelve days of Christmas are beginning – the time when, according to local folklore, creatures known as kalikantzari come up from Hell to wreak havoc. Meanwhile, her husband Loukas has troubles of his own. Struggling with dreams and desires he doesn’t understand, he finds himself irresistibly drawn to an Englishman, a newcomer to the island.

In a village wreathed in superstition, Despo and Loukas must protect themselves and their unborn child from ominous forces at play.

Polis Loizou's new novella, A Good Year, is an enchanting read steeped in Cypriot folklore and traditional superstition. I would say that it is almost a folk tale in its own right. The story takes place over the twelve days from Christmas Eve to Epiphany in a year not long after British rule had replaced Turkish rule over the island of Cyprus, yet in the timeless village location this change in power makes little real difference to the people's lives.

1 eldono

Stephanie Jane recenzis Good Year de Polis Loizou

An enchanting read

5 steloj

Polis Loizou's new novella, A Good Year, is an enchanting read steeped in Cypriot folklore and traditional superstition. I would say that it is almost a folk tale in its own right. The story takes place over the twelve days from Christmas Eve to Epiphany in a year not long after British rule had replaced Turkish rule over the island of Cyprus, yet in the timeless village location this change in power makes little real difference to the people's lives.

I loved the myriad details Loizou incorporates in describing day-to-day village life, especially their particular Christmas rituals. Each of the twelve chapters takes place over one of the twelve days of Christmas so I can imagine that this would be a lovely book to actually read in real time next Christmas. Traditional foods are important, particularly to Despo, so they feature strongly and frequently had me feeling peckish. Having snacks …

Polis Loizou's new novella, A Good Year, is an enchanting read steeped in Cypriot folklore and traditional superstition. I would say that it is almost a folk tale in its own right. The story takes place over the twelve days from Christmas Eve to Epiphany in a year not long after British rule had replaced Turkish rule over the island of Cyprus, yet in the timeless village location this change in power makes little real difference to the people's lives.

I loved the myriad details Loizou incorporates in describing day-to-day village life, especially their particular Christmas rituals. Each of the twelve chapters takes place over one of the twelve days of Christmas so I can imagine that this would be a lovely book to actually read in real time next Christmas. Traditional foods are important, particularly to Despo, so they feature strongly and frequently had me feeling peckish. Having snacks to hand is advisable and I would love to have been able to sample some of the dishes the characters make. There are also myths about creatures known as the kalikantzari, hairy forest-dwelling demons who can be enslaved by people using the proper rituals. As A Good Year progresses, Loizou entwines these myths with the narrative of Despo and Loukas' failing marriage cleverly using similar language in describing the kalikantzari and in Loukas' own thoughts about himself.

A Good Year depicts a brief snapshot in time, one in which a man's enforced beliefs about himself threaten to wreck the home and marriage he chose to undertake. I felt very sorry for both Despo and Loukas as both find themselves in an intolerable situation purely as a result of repressive cultural norms. As Loukas comes to realise, he is surrounded by symbolism that does not vilify his sexuality and, in the case of the archaeological treasures being discovered nearby, even celebrates it, yet within his village at least, he must hide such an important facet of his life even from himself. Naive Despo, blaming herself for her husband's withdrawn preoccupation, has no inkling of the truth and it is heartbreaking to watch the two circling each other in increasing confusion when a simple conversation could ease both their minds. In this time and place however, such a conversation is forbidden leaving the pair stranded.

Temoj

English literature