Miss 4th of July, Goodbye: A Novel Based on the Life of Niki (born Xenopoulos) Janus

by Christopher G. Janus

This novel in fictional letter form is based on the experiences of the author's sister, Androniki "Niki" Janus, who immigrated from Greece to the small coal-mining town of Montgomery, West Virginia, in 1917. When she attempts to befriend an older black man, the Ku Klux Klan targets her and her family.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1985

Reviews

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slender, easy to read epistolary novel about a young Greek woman's life in small-town West Virginia, at the start of the 20th century. Janus does an excellent job of capturing the voice of a non-native speaker, 17, precocious, smart, kind, generous, bold- and just a tiny bit self-absorbed. He also lets Niki be a flawed human being, a product of her times in some ways as much as she is ahead of her times in others. Most importantly he presents us with an impression of a world on the brink of transition, and without devolving into preachiness, is able to successfully paint his subjects as complex people living in interesting times, while still challenging us to ask if we've really come all that far since 1918. A unique lens into the early days of the Ku Klux Klan, and the formation of the American identity in the 20th century.

[Karyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Watched the movie as a child. Finally found the book to read and as always I'm surprised how different the two are. I love the letter format and how you see everything through her eyes. Definitely worth reading.