Daughter of Odysseus: Ithaka Calling

by Vasiliki Mazis

Daughter of Ithaka Calling is the first in the Daughter of Odysseus trilogy.
Teenage Christine stands at the threshold of adulthood. A first-generation Australian of Greek descent, Christine has always been indifferent to her Greek school is a bore; her father’s patriotism is uninspiring; and the people around her deride Greeks as subhuman.
Then Christine is betrayed by those closest to her, and she plunges into deep depression. From the abyss of despair and nihilism, something stirs within a deep desire to reclaim her heritage and find meaning and fulfilment through the tradition and spirituality of her ancestors.
Paralleling the great Odysseus’ journey home, Daughter of Odysseus is not merely a story of homecoming; it is a story of hope over despair, of adventure and love, of needing to belong and a yearning to escape from mundanity; of deep spiritual yearning in a post-Christian world.
Christine learns and grows with every step in her journey. And she can’t help but Is it the destination or journey that truly matters in life?

284 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 11, 2017

Reviews

[Michaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written story about Christine, a Greek girl in Australia and her journey to herself.

She´s neither content with her family´s patriotism nor with her friends´ style and superficial behaviour. When her friends bully her, she falls into depression which is imo not very well described, but then set in the late 80s there was perhaps not much chance to get good therapy.

Besides avoiding her family and friends she´s not able to find an appropriate job or education. She drops out of her job at the boutique, then studies Literature and History to find to Theology, even refreshes her Greek to find back to her roots.

When she goes to Greece she´s not content either with what she finds there. She feels estranged at both places, so we´re looking forward to the continuation of the story.

I was a bit disappointed to find the book was neither historical fiction nor finished. The journey though is very well described, you feel yourself immersed into Christine´s story which is also enhanced by excerpts of her diary. Looking ahead to read more of her way to her own life, which could be better connected to Odysseus, as the story says.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Joana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read, the book was very well paced and organized, which made the reading easy and very enjoyable, and the moving from place to place made the story move faster and faster, and keep the readers on their toes when it came to dynamics and relationships.

It'a also very much a contemplative read, so I would definitely recommend to any fans if "Eat, Pray, Love", because it felt like that book, but in a smaller scale, that same way it was also very entertaining to explore different places in Greece (Patras, Athens, Sparta, Thessaloniki), allowing to see different cultures, customs and realities.

But that was not really what I expected, that was more of a historical fiction book, more of a exploration of Greek mythology... the mentions were still always very poignant, and I really like how Christine saw her self in that world. Besides this, another problem I had with the book was the way it talked about women and sexuality, while it does seem to fit Christine and it's coherent through the story, the pitting of women against each other and the views of sex as something bad bothered me a bit, and that's the reason I wouldn't recommend it to a pre-teen still figuring out these topics.

So while this book was not ideal for me, I definitely recommend if you're a fan of books about exploring one self and especially if you would like to travel to Greece.

I received this book for free in exchange of a honest review

[Bookish Trina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book with good characterizations. I really enjoyed the modern take as well as the atmospheric writing prose of this book.

I received a review copy of this book from the author through Booktasters for my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Synopsis from Author/Publisher via goodreads.com
Daughter of Odysseus: Ithaka Calling is the first in the Daughter of Odysseus trilogy.
Teenage Christine stands at the threshold of adulthood. A first-generation Australian of Greek descent, Christine has always been indifferent to her heritage: Greek school is a bore; her father’s patriotism is uninspiring; and the people around her deride Greeks as subhuman. Then Christine is betrayed by those closest to her, and she plunges into deep depression. From the abyss of despair and nihilism, something stirs within her: a deep desire to reclaim her heritage and find meaning and fulfilment through the tradition and spirituality of her ancestors. Paralleling the great Odysseus’ journey home, Daughter of Odysseus is not merely a story of homecoming; it is a story of hope over despair, of adventure and love, of needing to belong and a yearning to escape from mundanity; of deep spiritual yearning in a post-Christian world. Christine learns and grows with every step in her journey. And she can’t help but wonder: Is it the destination or journey that truly matters in life?

[Chris Maddix · Rating 4 out of 5]

I confess, I selected this book with very cursory motivations. Having taught ancient history, I was quite familiar with the story of the Trojan war, the Greeks launching a "thousand ships" in pursuit of Helen, wife of Menelaus, bequeathed by goddess Aphrodite to Trojan prince Paris. Although this book has well defined connections to the ancient Greek Homeric epic, it is rather a modern day version.

Ithaka Calling is the story of Christine, a young lady who finds herself out of place in Adelaide, Australia. Shunned by "friends", mismatched in a job at a boutique, Christine decides to study Greek, attend a Greek church, and affiliate with a group called Friends of the Poor, all with the intent to relocate to her ancestral homeland near Athens. Her difficulties in Australia vaguely mirror those of Odysseus as he encounters a variety of monsters while making it home to wife Penelope on the island of Ithaca. Surviving the more-than-daylong transit from Australia to Greece, Christine finds herself temporarily suspended in a modern version of the island of Calypso, the goddess who held Odysseus captive. Christine's Uncle Giannis and Aunt Sophia are hostile, her Uncle Angelo reminds her of Brando's Godfather, her room smells horrible and lacks privacy, and the gifts she brings are stolen by family. Christine meets Aunt Dimitra, who offers a visit with her daughter, appropriately named Helen, to gain an appreciation for the ancient Greek culture and architecture, an invitation that Christine accepts.

Author Vasiliki does a fine job of depicting a woman out of place in her environment. Indeed, I tended to share Christine's appalled reactions to both Australia and to her newfound Greek family, and I'm tempted to continue Christine's odyssey in the next book of this series.

[Rose Blossom · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author sheds light on the fact that something that seems to be insignificant to someone can cause a great effect on someone else, like hoe her family thought that the betrayal of Christine's friends were not that important but for Christien, it had pushed her into a spiral of depression and anxiety. The author explains the meaning of depression articulately, showing that its not just being sad or pessimistic 24/7, but being optimistic one day, expecting great things to happen, but in the end be cruelly disappointed, like when Christine journeyed to Greece, she was sure it was going to be the turning point of her life but was cruelly disappointed when she was forced to stay in her mother's village of Giannopolous. The author also showcased the anxiety and the unhealthy and the extreme lengths people go to just to feel happy and confident. I feel that may people will figure out themselves when reading this book, figure out what they want and where they want to be, search for their Ithaka taking inspiration and strength from Christine. I would love and look forward to reading the next book, and follow Chrisitine in her journey to find Ithaka, while simultaneously finding mine.

[Kez Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and Book Tasters for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Christine sets out on a journey of self discovery in an adventure that has parallels to the journey Odysseus takes on his way home from the Trojan War. Feeling out of place and trying to find yourself is a relatable theme that most readers can identify with. The book itself was well written with a likeable and relatable protagonist. The descriptions of the journey itself are really good. The inclusion of parts of Christine's diary give the book more depth and draws in readers to understand her and become invested in her story. The book is relatively well paced and the constant movements of the journey keep the story moving. Overall a good book that needs a sequel.

[Molebatsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

DAUGHTER OF ODYSSEUS – ITHACA CALLING
This beautifully written book is about the coming of age of Catherine, a Greek who has a bad fall out with her high school friends.
The fall out gets to her badly and throws her into deep depression. She has to fight her way out of depression and find her mission to pursue. It is not an easy journey out of the slump of her life. There are a lot misses during her bout of depression, like her involvement with Stavros who treats her like a trophy.
Catherine tries about everything to anchor her life – learning Japanese, teaching English, going to university and eventually going to Greece where a new dawn is supposed to come to her. All these endevours end in bucketsful of tears.
Catharine’s heart-rending story compares with that of Odysseus, who fought in the Trojan and spent a weary eternity trying to make his way back home. After overcoming many challenges, Odysseus makes his way home.
Catherine too has to embark on her own journey and defeat her demons. In the end she is sent to her mother’s village to find her bearings. She stays with her uncle Giani whose house is a display of glaring poverty and miserliness. Misunderstandings abound between her and her uncles and aunts at the village. She is seen as throwing airs of superiority around, and coming to them to flaunt her wealth.
She doesn’t like it at the village and wants out as soon as possible. She leaves the village that she sees exile from her exile.
The story ends too, to be continued in book two and three of the trilogy.
An all-round captivating story and beautifully written. The preponderance of Greek mythology and culture doesn’t detract from the captivating story. If anything, it adds colour and attraction to it.
I didn’t only enjoy the story of Catherine and it’s twists and turns, I learned and came to appreciate Greek mythology and history too.
This being the first in a trilogy, a look forward to book two and three. I am salivating at the prospects of book two that is already on my bedside table, waiting to be devoured.
I do not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone who likes a good and well-written story.

[Manisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of Christine as she embarks on a journey of the self is a good read. Though it started slowly for me, it was exciting after a point. The author built up anticipation of something momentous happening very well. Unfortunately nothing really happened. Thats when I realised its actually a trilogy. I suspect the real action starts in the sequel.
There is quite a clear depiction of the cultures where Christine is at - in both Australia and Greece. I also like the portrayals of the family interactions, the jealousies and the relationships. It is a good read. And I am waiting for the next part now.
Thanks to Booktasters who gave me the opportunity to discover a new author.

[Zahira Uddin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a well written book and a story and main character to identify with. Christine is a person who is trying to find her own identity and purpose in life. She finds the cultural restrictions too narrow for her - a coming traditional background is too much for her, and she sets out on an odyssey to find herself. An enjoyable read.

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received in exchange for an honest review.

I have had a soft spot for Greek mythology and epic tales for years, so it was the title that chose me and not I who chose this book. There was a lot to unpack in these pages, because, there is more to this than the description led me to believe. Vasiliki Mazis' book starts with a naive teenager. Christine, like youth, often does, takes her heritage for granted. In the late 80's she glides through her teenage years with few concerns. Her families heritage and customs don't mean that much to her. Likewise, it's meaningless to the outside world. Disrespect and offensive words were thrown at Greeks and other cultures regularly. Anything that wasn't Western European had its place in a spot that Australian's were comfortable with, and, those were never lovely places. When all of her friends turn against her Christine is sucked into a deep depression. At the time depression was not something that society understood or often, chose to acknowledge. It didn't help in any way what so ever that the young woman's own family wouldn't try to understand her or what was happening in her life. Adults and families treating children that way has always bothered me. It's blatantly wrong. No one wins if we chose to handle the younger versions of ourselves like this. What her family was worried about was her education, if she was working, and if she was ever going to marry a nice Greek man. Through a gross boss, Christine finds herself in a horrible relationship that her parents don't approve of. When she finally gets her life together, has a job that she loves, and is passionate about the Orthodox church; Christine's family seems content. Its when she goes to Greece with good intentions and bright-eyed plans that nothing is what it looks like. Mostly because; not everyone is a decent human being. Moreover, for some jealousy is a rather delicious meal.

I feel like I had a lot in common with Christine. Depression is a huge deal, no matter what stage you're in, it is not a joke. Vasiliki Mazis painted a very accurate picture. Sometimes people try to describe dark moments or days, and they don't quite get it right. The attempts fall flat on paper, making the characters or situations they're in look one dimensional or pompous. I was thrilled with her progress mostly away from self-doubt and dark clouds. However, I would have liked to see her progress more into self-awareness. In my opinion, this main character was strong enough to react to some of the people she met in Greece better. Overall, I liked this. The way that Mazis described Greek families in different social atmospheres was an excellent window into that cultures family dynamics that ushered in a little more curiosity. I'm not Greek, but the history of other cultures interest me. In every area of life culture is a significant influencer. If you're looking for clean fiction, there are minor areas of cursing. The harsh language does fit into the narrative and context of the story. I didn't think that it was overbearing or an unnecessary distraction. There is also some animal abuse. It's not at all graphic, but it is there. Some minor proofreading wouldn't hurt, just like with any piece of literature. I recommend this to fans of family-themed stories and personal discoveries.
I hope this review was useful. Have a great day.











**** SPOILERALERT *** SPOILER ALERT*** SPOILER ALERT *** SPOILER ALERT ***



Almost all of the characters significantly effect Christine's life. Here are a few that made an impression on me. Demi is Christine's older sister. To Christine, Demi had her life together; all figured out. It was clear to me that Christine wanted Demi to understand her, put in some real effort. I mean the young woman told her older sister more than she would tell anyone else at the time. I very much did not enjoy Demi and Christine's mother's actions in the last part of the story. If I were Christine, I would have taken it personally. Like I would have called to find out why my mother thought it was okay. To make changes to someones established plans behind their back is one thing. Doing it to a young woman who is venturing outside of her element, to a foreign country, without giving her a heads up is horrible. Why wouldn't this mother of two prepare her daughter for backstabbing and thieves? A bigger question, what was so awful about the other uncle that she would hand her daughter off to this one and his horrid wife?

The family that lives in a small town in Greece is a hot mess, a culture shock for her, and a little nest of conniving backstabbers all rolled into one. Depending on what stage of my life I had to deal with that, I may or may not have had an emotional breakdown.
In the future installment(s) of this series, I would love to see more of Carlos. After what happened to Christine in the first part of 'Daughter Of Odysseus' she wasn't ready for the sweet young man that was interested in her. Her, behavior towards Carlos, was wrong, but, I would like to see them reconnect. I think he deserved a lot better than that. After everything that she has gone through, especially in Greece, Christine deserves a second chance even if they can only be friends.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christine's journey is about her self-discovery. After certain events in her life, she decides to return to her roots hoping to determine her life's path. Her self-discovery leads her to return to Greece where her family originates. It's an interesting take on the genre and a good book.

[Leah M · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through BookTasters, and I am voluntarily providing a review.

Trigger Warning: This book frequently mentions depression and animal abuse. There is a callous remark about Muslims and buildings while a plane is delayed, and uses a derogatory term for people with intellectual disabilities as an insult. There are situations involving sexual harassment, and inappropriate sexual behavior (verbally and visually) by male family members.

The story was broken up into three parts, each of which opened with a different quote from Homer’s story The Odyssey that corresponded with Christine’s journey of self-discovery.

I liked the fact that the book initially combined use of a third person narration as well as diary entries from Christine’s point of view, although part 2 contained no journal entries, and part 3 only contained a single journal entry, which I found disappointing. I enjoyed reading her journal entries, and felt like it gave me a little more insight into Christine’s thought process, which I often had difficulty figuring out from reading the narration alone.

There were several aspects of the book that I struggled with. First, I was much more sympathetic to Christine’s plight when she was 17 and feeling sorry for herself, then when she was 32, and still at the same maturity level. While she showed a little personal growth throughout the book, I didn’t really see her change all that much. She still expected things to be handed to her, and wondered why her life hadn’t improved. I didn’t really find her to be a very likable character as the book went on. Depression is a serious mental health concern, and this book had the power to address it as such, but it just treated it like the elephant in the room. It gave the message that depression can go away if it is just ignored, and Christine kept vacillating between hiding in her room and pushing everyone away, and throwing herself into new pursuits.

“Perhaps her attempts at starting again, of triumphing over the depression that had tried to devour her – perhaps all of this was in vain.”

I got the sense that Christine had never bothered to actually try getting any treatment, although maybe she had and the author just didn’t bother mentioning it; kind of like a mystery condition that only popped up towards the very end of the book, along with the treatment that she had been getting for a while.

She wants to be treated like an adult, while avoiding anything that would define her as an adult. She doesn’t hold a job long-term, doesn’t live independently, and isn’t capable of making simple plans. She brews resentment and frustration silently until she is ready to run away from everything. When she decides to leave Australia to go to Greece and learn about her heritage, she plans to teach English. Rather than setting up a job and making plans to find housing, she lets her mother set up living arrangements with family members she’s never met.

In the beginning, I did like Christine as a character. But as I got further into the book, I sympathized with her less. It’s easy to remember being 17, frustrated with everything, and feeling like life was never going to get better. But as adults, people start gaining more of a sense of control over our emotions and our lives, and having more responsibilities. I just felt as though Christine stayed stuck in that 17 year-old mindset, and I found it harder to relate to her. I think this book had the potential to be really good, but fell short.

[s ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was kindly gifted this book by the author through booktasters in exchange for an honest review.

“Her heart sank heavily, a hollow organ reeling from betrayal.”
This is the story of Christine’s, a young Greek girl living in Australia, battle with depression and her journey on self reflection & finding what her purpose in life is. She is betrayed by her friends on one christmas night, which makes her question herself and changes the course of her life. After that night, Christine falls into the hole of depression. This book is very well written in sense of explaining Christine’s battle with depression. How she feels is described perfectly with strong words and you could understand everything that was happening in her mind. Both the mental and physical effects of depression was represented. Christine travels to a different city then to Greece, to go back to her roots, to find her purpose in life and pursue her studies. Christine holds on to religion to get out of the darkness she was stuck in and even studies theology to a great extent. The book also has excerpts from Christine’s diary which makes the reader understand Christine even more.

There were couple of islamophobic and racist remarks made by either a stranger on the plane or by Christine’s very annoying extended family back in Greece. These comments added nothing to the story and was uncomfortable to read. I don’t think they were written with a bad intention as it wasn’t Christine saying them but it was still unnecessary.

This was the first book of the trilogy but I still felt like it ended without a proper conclusion. It ended just when Christine’s journey finally looked like it had a destination. Overall it wasn’t exactly my cup of tea (because i don’t prefer to read nonfiction/fiction without romance) but it was an interesting read. It was very well written with rich vocabulary and it represented depression and the journey of discovering oneself very good. There were great and impactful quotes in the book too. There was no romance which personally I didn’t liked but since it was more about Christine’s journey to finding the light it was understandable. Christine first had to discover who she truly was so perhaps she’ll find someone who’ll love her as she is in the next books of the trilogy.

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daughter of Odysseus is
Definitely an interesting different book than what i expected. First off I absolutely loved the inner dialogue and Christine’s diary it was beautifully written and it captured the rough reality of depression and depressed people and it was refreshing to see something so raw and beautiful. The pace of the book was a bit confusing to me sometimes I wouldn’t be able to catch up but at the same time I liked that it was fast . It was also very interesting to see Christine try to find herself and go on different paths and try again I really liked that she had to really try different things and challenge herself . I really liked the greek references and I enjoyed traveling to Greece with these pages it was so beautiful and as someone who is a huge fan of Greece and the greek culture this was definitely a treat for me . There are some stuff that I wasn’t a huge fan of like the dialogue between the characters , it felt a bit forced and alien; I didn’t feel like people talk like that in real life. Moreover, the part where it was most interesting to me is when Christine is battling her mind against the misogynistic mindset of the church it was a bit irritating because it was true so it very interesting to me to see her wanting to be more than just what the church wants from her and at the same time still feel this spiritual connection that she feels to the church , it was interesting point and I really enjoyed how it played out . Overall this book is nice relaxing treat for you to enjoy and roam through a mind of a very fascinating character like Christine.

[Amelia Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before twitter I had not heard of this book, or its author. I liked the sound of the title, so I chose to read it, and then to write this honest review.
Throughout the story we follow a teenager transitioning into adulthood, whilst losing her friends from her childhood. As she grows older, she discovers the need to go back to her homeland, her heritage. The book is divided into three sections, and each opens with an extract from Homer’s The Odyssey. As well as providing an easy to follow structure, this brings ties back to the book’s title, and what the author is trying to establish in each section.
Mostly written in third person, the book also contains diary entries, which enable the reader to gain a deeper insight to the protagonist’s thoughts and feelings. However, there are no entries in the second part of the book, and only one entry in the third section. I think in some areas, because the story revolves around one person and her journey, that it should all be in first person.
The protagonist, Christine, is often drowned in depression and insecurities, but Vasiliki explores many opportunities to get oneself out of this treacherous pool: religion, learning, socialising and travelling. Christine’s journey to Greece is surprising, and her time there is a trying one. This is a story of personal development and homecoming, and I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading family-related stories.

[Maria do Socorro Baptista · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting search for identity connected to the myth of Odysseus. Although living in a totally different time, and in a different country, Christine feels herself like Odysseus looking for Ithaca. I just loved that she decides to go to the land of her ancestors, in Greece. I can totally relate to her in her feelings of estrangement and loneliness in her uncle's house. She had in mind a mythological Greece, not the real country, with its real people and real problems. In the village, she feels as if she is in Calypso's island, a prisoner like Odysseus once was. Very interesting connection to the myth. I really liked it.

All I know about Australia and Greece I have read in books, so I don't know much. But I feel connected to the way Christine feels, as someone who does not belong. This feeling is universal, migrants usually have this kind of feeling, this idea of being in a strange place, of being alone. She goes through a process of missing a Greece she doesn't really know, to miss Australia when she is finally in Odysseus' land. It is a very good narrative, full of mythological references. I just love reading about myths, and this book is certainly worth reading.

[Sofie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a confused and restless woman, Christine, who is desperately trying to find a home in herself and her surroundings. She struggles with mental illnesses, the pressure of having to grow up and find yourself, being an outsider in her own home and not being able to identify the missing piece of her soul.
Christine is an interesting and relatable protagonist, trying to find out what her purpose is and who she truly is.
This was an enjoyable read for me, although the story seemed a bit slow sometimes and rushed at other times. Nevertheless, it was interesting and fresh and easy to follow!

[Lynda Castro Cordero · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked reading this text, it felt loose and naturally fluid (instead real academic texts and sorts) but I feel like this book could use more filler of Greek mythology. I understand that it is written with a modern taste but strongly believe that this book deserves a second, a world Christine is more developed as a human and has endured life's hardships. Where she can truly know more about western culture and life itself.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a compelling and deeply moving read. There was a lot of darkness in the novel that seemed to circulate around a loss of identity/ personal crisis, but I found that the representation of Christine’s depression was authentically and sensitively displayed. It didn’t seem to be placed in for placements sake, it was really beautifully done, especially when the eventual break from the storm comes, and Christine is offered her ray of light. The prose was beautifully written, and I deeply look forward to reading the rest of the author’s works.

[Abby Tilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an individual who is deeply interested in the classics, I was initially skeptical and at the same time excited to read this book. I had a similar experience when I first read CS Lewis's "Till We Have Faces" as it was a myth retold. But I am happy to announce that I had a more pleasant outcome. I did not initially like "Till We Have Faces" as it was dull at the start and only got good in the last few pages, but "Daughter of Odysseus: Ithaka Calling" brought the reader into the story with a tighter hook and a more interesting beginning. I will say that the end was a little anti-climatic, but it is part of a trilogy so I am sure it resolves to a more fulfilling conclusion. I will not compare or contrast the works of Lewis to that of Mazis any further as they are in different genres in my mind, but it was a good comparison as they are both, in a way, a myth retold.
Like the great stories of old, Mazis calls upon the muse's to guide the story, quoting "The Odyssey" at the start to really bring one into what she is trying to do. So as not to spoil, this book is about a girl of Greek descent who goes on a journey that parallels that of Odysseus in the epic of old. This book succeeded in telling the story of a relatable heroine who goes on a journey of self-discovery, filled with the modern-day monsters we all face, though they appear in ways that one would not expect when comparing it to "The Odyssey".
Overall I enjoyed this book. It brought me back to reading the adventure stories I used to devour as a child, and it fulfilled that deep love of the classics that I have developed as an adult. I would give this book a read but I would also read the remainder of the books in the series for that feeling of content that comes with finishing a good book.

[Jai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected a more whimsical approach to Christine's exploration of her Greek heritage, but I surprisingly enjoyed the parallelism to Odysseus' adventures. Sometimes, monsters don't exist as otherworldly beings; they manifest as intangible entities ready to devour us into oblivion. Our mundane struggles may not be as grandiose and epic as our forefathers but the impact on our emotional and mental capacity is just as crippling. 

For the most part, I found myself commiserating with Christine over her internal struggles. Her self-confidence was hinged upon her tight friendship so when it fell apart, she found herself lost and aimless adrift the ocean of self-doubt and hatred. She struggled with her purpose, was consumed by depression, and yet she always managed to push herself and try to get out of her paralyzing abysmal state.  

Perhaps because this is the first book of the trilogy, there wasn't as much eventful happenings as I had hoped for but I think the groundwork for Christine's character development was laid out smoothly. Overall, I found this a refreshing, creative take on depicting Odysseus' story as a relevant parallel reality in the contemporary world.

[Asmaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about finding roots and looking for a place to belong, is definitely a story to read!
Tackling the problem of depression in the 80s era at a time when no one understood it really is where is the story starts to grab attention!
The book was slow-paced at the beginning until Christine started to find her way, Christine is not someone you want to be like, in her hesitation and lack of confidence, but her adventure is something you’d like to experience.
I liked the Greek family, so well described in detail, I also liked the description of the conditions of under-developed Greece which is more likely the same in most under-developed countries.
Part one is just the start of the adventure, I feel like the daughter of Odysseus is about to be reborn in part 2.
The book is passionately written, modelling immigrants, their life, their sense of belonging, and a great feeling of home-sickness.

[Nayab Khan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is very well written but a few things made it a bit of a hard read for me.
1. The fashion related stuff was harder for me to imagine because it felt as if it was a description of 70's or 80's era, well before I was born.
2. The character of Christine seemed mostly paranoid, with good reason too, but there seemed to be a lot of negativity revolving around her.
3. The existential crisis - we all have it sometimes in our lives, so it was relatable, but a sour reminder nevertheless.

The good thing was that at the end, Christine changed her environment - don't know for how long- but I think that it might just be the step she needed to take to become a better and more balanced version of herself.

I would definitely recommend this book for people who love melodrama and don't take negative effects to their hearts and minds, and to the realists also.

[Rockin' Rita Mishkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay but i never got around to finishing it... Hopefully one of these days I'll pick it back up and read it in full.