Finding Callidora

by Stella Leventoyannis Harvey

A horrific betrayal sets the destiny of the Alevizopoulos family, farmers who dare to choose a side, first in the Great War of 1914-1918, then in the Greco-Turkish war of 1919-1922. Theodore, the patriarch, was given a significant plot of fertile farmland in the Peloponnese for his efforts to fight the Ottomans in the Cretan revolution of 1886-1896. After he dies, it is Callidora, the matriarch, who must protect this legacy, raising her children to ensure the land is passed down from one generation to the next. But will the treacherous schemes of a neighbour ever allow this to happen? Survival might mean leaving what is most precious: home. Finding Callidora unfolds against multiple backdrops?the unforgiving terrain of the Anatolia, the isolated Greek islands of Naxos and Crete, the bustling, chaotic streets of Cairo and later the vast expanse of Canada. Reflecting the headlines of the day, the novel follows four generations of the Alevizopoulos family, starting with Callidora's children, Nikos, Vasilis and Katarina. Each will carry and pass on the scars of the original betrayal and their need to find the place where they belong.

336 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2019

Reviews

[Rebecca Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Callidora is an intergenerational novel that begins in Greece at the tail end of the Great War in 1918, with a terrible betrayal that sets in motion the splintering of Callidora’s family—her children Nikos, Vasilis and Katerina. It’s a story about their search for home, and belonging, and at it’s heart it’s a story about parents and the sacrifices they make for their children, so that they can have a better life. One of the great strengths of the book is seeing how the different siblings and their children are affected by, and how they react in various ways to tumultuous situations (wars, extreme poverty) that are out of their control.

The ‘homeland’ is as fleshed out as one of the characters, and we feel the tremendous pull it has on the families and their descendants, some of whom long to return, others who leave and sacrifice their homeland to ensure the future security and prosperity of their families. Finding Callidora is a complex story of many deftly drawn personalities, a richly described culture and languages, and the deep desire for the continuation of family.

[Debbie Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Within a single book, we meet generations of a family, following them through war and marriage, love and betrayal, connection and disconnection, all of it driven forward by a pervasive longing for home and the need to belong. The book has left me thinking differently about immigration, the complexity of personal history contained within families, and the pull of belonging as marked by a specific piece of land. The novel spans more than 100 years. Each chapter begins with a newspaper headline from the time. The scope is vast, but the reading experience is personal because the story is told through the close-up experience of one family member at a time.

[Sara Leach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic historical fiction book. A great read, it is epic in scope, tracing the history and drama of multiple generations of a Greek family from post-WWI through to modern day. The characters are compelling and I was really drawn into the settings in Greece, Cairo and Canada. Highly recommended!

[Joanna Lilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding Callidora is a family drama taken to the next level with war and politics as a compelling backdrop. I felt I was learning a great deal about history, which I love when I’m reading fiction, all through the eyes of a diverse cast of characters.

[Katherine Fawcett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Callidora is a beautiful, heart-breaking and life-affirming epic tale about upheaval, betrayal and survival. Stella Leventoyannis Harvey is a masterful storyteller.

[Phil Pyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Finding Callidora and found it hard to put down. It blended the personal histories of several generations of Greek families with the history of the wars that affected Greece, the first and second world wars and the Turkish-Greek wars. It was interesting to read about the effects of the wars on a country outside of the principal western powers, and I felt I learned a lot from this different perspective. Another theme in the novel that I found very interesting was the connections of families living outside of their home country of Greece in Egypt or immigrating to the new world in the US or Canada. The author’s description of the geography and cultures of these other parts of the world was excellent and really captured the feeling of living in these areas as an outsider. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a personalized take on history, travel and different cultures.

[Yulia Aleynikova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Callidora story made me travel without leaving my place; learn history without studying; feel time condense across generations and stretch back to infinity of a single heartful family interaction.
My family is across the globe, I often lose that sense of belonging, but not while I was reading Finding Callidora, my childhood experiences flashed against the twist and turns of the Alevizopoulos family journey making me wonder how much we humans and our decisions are influenced by family bonds. In a way, the book is transformative: I realized that my looming move closer to my family is perhaps more than timely.
It was my first experience reading a historical fiction involving a family saga, and it didn’t disappoint. This story is intense, passionate and is urging us to think deeply about our place of origin and relations with relatives and family members as something that perhaps defines and informs our place in the world.

[Pamela Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fascinating story follows a Greek family through their struggles during not just WWI, but the ensuing Greco-Turkish war, and their lives as immigrants in Egypt and later in Canada.
When Callidora is betrayed by a friend during WWI and loses her beloved family home, it sets in motion a quest for belonging that unfurls through the following generations. I especially appreciated the rich detail of politics and Greek culture, and while the story spans a hundred years, it still manages to feel close to the heart of each character. The themes of loss and home and family are well-developed in this tragic family saga, and are familiar to us all.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel has such a diverse cast of distinct yet recognizably related characters. I loved them all, especially Vasilis, and Georgios, and Cali--they were just amazing, as is the sense of family. I've always had a fascination with Greece and I loved the attachment to place all the characters had. I can see what a thrill it would be to find one's history and home...I am in awe of Stella Leventoyannis Harvey's ability to animate a world through so many generations. Thank you!

[Shenul Dhalla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading, Finding Callidora. A heart-warming and inspiring story. Stella Leventoyannis Harvey has masterfully crafted an epic tale of family’s struggle to stay united despite war, diaspora, and separation. Stunning portrayal of family’s perseverance throughout generations, enabling them to return back to their roots and culture.

[Caroline Dahl]

A wonderful novel about finding your roots, where you belong and who you are. Well written, visual and taking place in a number of countries you experience the events in the book: the ravages of war, deception, loss, yearning, joy and belonging. Thoroughly enjoyed the journey!

[Brooke G · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF - Packed with incredibly unlikable characters and next to no dialogue to move the story along. Did not finish after 33%.