Escape Plans

by Teri Vlassopoulos

My father drowned in the Aegean Sea, fifty nautical miles northeast of the port of Piraeus. When it happened, my mother and I were at home in Toronto. It was early evening in Greece, afternoon for us, and I was at school when she found out.

Niko Kiriakos, tentative heir to the ailing Calypso Shipping fleet, always suspected he was cursed. Following his sudden disappearance, his wife, Anna, and daughter, Zoe, are left adrift. Unmoored, they begin to test the boundaries of their lives, struggling with issues of loyalty, identity and what it means to be a family. Spanning years and tracing a route from Niagara Falls to Greece, Escape Plans is an unblinking look at the ties that bind us together and the things that pull us apart.

Genres: Fiction

247 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2015

About the author

Teri Vlassopoulos is the author of the award-nominated short story collection, "Bats or Swallows" (2010), and a new novel, "Escape Plans" (2015). Her fiction has appeared in Room Magazine, Joyland, Little Fiction, and various other North American journals. She is the cookbook columnist for Bookslut, and has had non-fiction published at The Toast, The Millions and the Rumpus. She lives in Toronto.

Reviews

[Jeff Dupuis · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is rare to discover such mastery of the form in a first novel. Escape Plans is the kind of book that both inspires young writers to attempt writing a novel and intimidates them, causing them to question whether they could hope to create such a sincere and moving work that will have a lasting impact on readers. Vlassopoulos perfectly crafts three distinct narrative voices that compliment each other and the story, resulting in a rich, page-turner that lingers in the mind long after you set it down.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reads like poetry
in fact, the poems woven into the text
read seamlessly.
A book of moments
and memories
(lost in time)
and of currents, somehow visible,
that run through generations.

I wore a slip to bed, which was kind of like a dress, not really lingerie, just something pretty I'd also purchased the day before. It reminded me of sea foam, airy and light. When I'd put it on, Peter's eyes had bugged out for a second. He touched my bare thighs first and kissed my shoulders.

becomes

"I bought this


in sea foam"

[J. Moufawad-Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elegantly written, tightly controlled multiple perspective narrative. Left me feeling melancholic, but in a good way. Looking forward to reading future work by Vlassopoulos.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Escape Plans on my vacation. I thought the structure was perfect for the stories the writer weaved together. And it is remarkable how she made me identify strongly with each of the characters and made me eagerly anticipate the next chapter. I'm looking forward to her next book - whatever and whenever that might be.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick Thoughts:

One of the most refreshing books I've read in a long time. Teri just knows how to piece together an amazing story. I felt invested in all three characters, and find it hard to pick which one of their stories I enjoy the most. People need to read this book, they won't regret it.

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this story at Word on the Street this year. It's an interesting narrative of three people: husband, wife and grown daughter. Their lives are separate but mirror each other so closely as they search for love and a place in the world.

[Leesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quiet, beautiful novel by one of my favorite writers. "Everything made me cry in Paris." llu, Teri.

[August Bourré · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

5 stars for the cover

[Kerry Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! Watch for a review on my blog this week!

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute beauty. Enthralling & truly moving - I just couldn't put the book down.