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Соловей не дасть тобі заснути
Еліас Трифанніс, який пройшов пекло війни в Афганістані, прибуває на Кіпр для реабілітації. Виснажений кошмарами, він шукає забуття в обіймах турецької журналістки Ейлюль. Та романтична прогулянка коханців закінчується трагічним інцидентом. Трифанніс тікає до Вароші, колись популярного греко-кіпрського курортного містечка, покинутого після турецького вторгнення у 1974 році.
Там він приєднується до загубленої у зарослих руїнах громади вигнанців, де нарешті міг би знайти спокій і зцілення, але дехто не може змиритися з цією ідилією посеред руїн…
Захопливий роман про приховані секрети, наслідки війни та пошуки кохання.
Там він приєднується до загубленої у зарослих руїнах громади вигнанців, де нарешті міг би знайти спокій і зцілення, але дехто не може змиритися з цією ідилією посеред руїн…
Захопливий роман про приховані секрети, наслідки війни та пошуки кохання.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
18 people are currently reading
455 people want to read
About the author
Steven Heighton
39 books74 followersSteven Heighton (born August 14, 1961) is a Canadian novelist, short story writer and poet. He is the author of ten books, including two short story collections, three novels, and five poetry collections.[1] His most recent novel, Every Lost Country, was published in 2010.
Heighton was born in Toronto, Ontario, and earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degree, at Queens University.[2]
Heighton's most recent books are the novel Every Lost Country (May 2010) [3] and the poetry collection Patient Frame (April 2010).[4]
Heighton is also the author of the novel Afterlands (2006),which appeared in six countries.[5] The book has recently been optioned for film. Steven Heighton's debut novel, The Shadow Boxer (2001), a story about a young poet-boxer and his struggles growing up, also appeared in five countries.[6]
His work has been translated into ten languages and widely anthologised.[7] His books have been nominated for the Governor General’s Award, the Trillium Award, the Journey Prize, a Pushcart Prize, and Britain’s W.H. Smith Award (best book of the year).[8] He has received the Gerald Lampert Award, gold medals for fiction and for poetry in the National Magazine Awards, the Air Canada Award, and the 2002 Petra Kenney Prize. Flight Paths of the Emperor has been listed at Amazon.ca as one of the ten best Canadian short story collections.[9]
Heighton has been the writer-in-residence at McArthur College, Queen's University and The University of Ottawa.[10] He has also participated in several workshops including the Summer Literary Seminars, poetry work shop, in St. Petersburg, Russia (2007), and the Writing with Style, short fiction workshop, in Banff, Alberta (2007).[11]
Heighton currently lives in Kingston, Ontario with his family.[12]
Heighton was born in Toronto, Ontario, and earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degree, at Queens University.[2]
Heighton's most recent books are the novel Every Lost Country (May 2010) [3] and the poetry collection Patient Frame (April 2010).[4]
Heighton is also the author of the novel Afterlands (2006),which appeared in six countries.[5] The book has recently been optioned for film. Steven Heighton's debut novel, The Shadow Boxer (2001), a story about a young poet-boxer and his struggles growing up, also appeared in five countries.[6]
His work has been translated into ten languages and widely anthologised.[7] His books have been nominated for the Governor General’s Award, the Trillium Award, the Journey Prize, a Pushcart Prize, and Britain’s W.H. Smith Award (best book of the year).[8] He has received the Gerald Lampert Award, gold medals for fiction and for poetry in the National Magazine Awards, the Air Canada Award, and the 2002 Petra Kenney Prize. Flight Paths of the Emperor has been listed at Amazon.ca as one of the ten best Canadian short story collections.[9]
Heighton has been the writer-in-residence at McArthur College, Queen's University and The University of Ottawa.[10] He has also participated in several workshops including the Summer Literary Seminars, poetry work shop, in St. Petersburg, Russia (2007), and the Writing with Style, short fiction workshop, in Banff, Alberta (2007).[11]
Heighton currently lives in Kingston, Ontario with his family.[12]
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
May 28, 2022
PEARL RULED @ 10%
The author died last month of cancer. He was sixty.
This story opens with consensual (or as consensual as heterosex ever can be) sex turning into a shooting and a melodramatic follow-up crime committed by crazed-by-hate Turkish Muslim men in divided Cyprus.
I quit caring fairly quickly. This kind of crime isn't immediately interesting to me because it's using violence against a woman as an excuse to cause trouble for a man. And to be extremely clear, the violence isn't the sex. Which, yes, it was icky but it wasn't coerced or compelled. The violence was some Muslim men taking umbrage that a white guy was going to have sex with a Turkish secular woman.
Great. What the world needs now. However it was going to end, the beginning was pretty crappy by my lights and I don't need this. So Vale Author Heighton, we will not meet again.
The author died last month of cancer. He was sixty.
This story opens with consensual (or as consensual as heterosex ever can be) sex turning into a shooting and a melodramatic follow-up crime committed by crazed-by-hate Turkish Muslim men in divided Cyprus.
I quit caring fairly quickly. This kind of crime isn't immediately interesting to me because it's using violence against a woman as an excuse to cause trouble for a man. And to be extremely clear, the violence isn't the sex. Which, yes, it was icky but it wasn't coerced or compelled. The violence was some Muslim men taking umbrage that a white guy was going to have sex with a Turkish secular woman.
Great. What the world needs now. However it was going to end, the beginning was pretty crappy by my lights and I don't need this. So Vale Author Heighton, we will not meet again.
February 27, 2017
Five big big stars! Be prepared for my superlatives- lots of them. Expect me to gush. Believe me when I tell you that "The Nightingale Won't Let You Sleep" by Steven Heighton is a novel that I will remember as being one of the Best of 2017.
I was simply blown away by this book, a win from Penguin Canada and a Goodreads Giveaway, which I knew nothing about except its short summary. Wow - such a win, indeed!
A majestic story, one creased by the living history of ancient and modern invasions of the Republic of Cypress for the small Greek faction who refuse to accept the injuries done by the Turks which divided the island in 1974. They illegally live off the grid, behind the barbed wire of the abandoned, decaying village of Varosh. Into their midst is thrust Elias Trifannis, a Canadian soldier on medical leave caused by a nightmarish Afghanistan attack gone wrong, which has crippled him with PTSD. As he walks on the beach after drinks with the beautiful, uncompromising Turkish journalist Eylul, they are attacked by brutal Turkish soldiers, and he escapes with his life, but into a cover up that deems him dead and Elyul comatose in hospital.
Elias is injured when he jumps the fence, and the village group foster him, although he is a reluctant patient. Gradually he learns the stories of the people, begins to heal and discovers the unusual reciprocal relationship that they share with Colonel Kaya, the Turkish military assigned to the now abandoned Mediterranean resort area. Life has been peaceful for all of them for many years in their seclusion, but the Turkish military continue to be uneasy about Elias's disappearance and the political scandal that could result if he is actually alive. Life in Varosh suddenly becomes very complicated, for them all.
Urgency and suspense hang over the narrative, the story's pacing a marvel as it shifts from Elias, struggling with his inner demons and finding attachments in the eccentric group, to Kaya and his servant Ali, living in a luscious if faded splendour and the encroaching doom of power hungry politicos, armed soldiers and assassins. I could not put this book down, once I began to read. How would it all end? I had to find out.
Love among the ruins. A wonderful twist or two that I didn't anticipate. Characters who were immensely likeable, all tragic to a degree but purposeful survivors. A gorgeous setting, elegantly described. Sounds, scents...and food! Homemade cheese, yogurt, fresh figs, sumptuous stews - a rustic, simple droolingly aromatic menu of Greek food! Guns. Tennis. And best of all, in the end, optimism.
The Nightingale Won't Let You Sleep will be available on March 14, 2017. Highly recommended. Five stars...more if I could.
I was simply blown away by this book, a win from Penguin Canada and a Goodreads Giveaway, which I knew nothing about except its short summary. Wow - such a win, indeed!
A majestic story, one creased by the living history of ancient and modern invasions of the Republic of Cypress for the small Greek faction who refuse to accept the injuries done by the Turks which divided the island in 1974. They illegally live off the grid, behind the barbed wire of the abandoned, decaying village of Varosh. Into their midst is thrust Elias Trifannis, a Canadian soldier on medical leave caused by a nightmarish Afghanistan attack gone wrong, which has crippled him with PTSD. As he walks on the beach after drinks with the beautiful, uncompromising Turkish journalist Eylul, they are attacked by brutal Turkish soldiers, and he escapes with his life, but into a cover up that deems him dead and Elyul comatose in hospital.
Elias is injured when he jumps the fence, and the village group foster him, although he is a reluctant patient. Gradually he learns the stories of the people, begins to heal and discovers the unusual reciprocal relationship that they share with Colonel Kaya, the Turkish military assigned to the now abandoned Mediterranean resort area. Life has been peaceful for all of them for many years in their seclusion, but the Turkish military continue to be uneasy about Elias's disappearance and the political scandal that could result if he is actually alive. Life in Varosh suddenly becomes very complicated, for them all.
Urgency and suspense hang over the narrative, the story's pacing a marvel as it shifts from Elias, struggling with his inner demons and finding attachments in the eccentric group, to Kaya and his servant Ali, living in a luscious if faded splendour and the encroaching doom of power hungry politicos, armed soldiers and assassins. I could not put this book down, once I began to read. How would it all end? I had to find out.
Love among the ruins. A wonderful twist or two that I didn't anticipate. Characters who were immensely likeable, all tragic to a degree but purposeful survivors. A gorgeous setting, elegantly described. Sounds, scents...and food! Homemade cheese, yogurt, fresh figs, sumptuous stews - a rustic, simple droolingly aromatic menu of Greek food! Guns. Tennis. And best of all, in the end, optimism.
The Nightingale Won't Let You Sleep will be available on March 14, 2017. Highly recommended. Five stars...more if I could.
April 25, 2017
"PLEASE
I LEFT MY SOUL IN THERE
OPEN UP"
The message, found on a scrap of paper among the overgrown ruins of an abandoned town, reflects not only the emotions of Steven Heighton's protagonists but those of many who are forced to abandon their homes, physical and spiritual. And, not surprising to those who are familiar with Heighton's earlier novels, he captures the personal aspiration, dreams and traumas beautifully and explores them in borderline places... and in this novel the aftermath of war...
The Nightingale Won't Let You Sleep is a multi-layered story of love and resilience, of loss, recovery and healing. Set in the "dead zone"of Varosha, an abandoned part of Famagusta, near the Green Line that divides the Greek and the Turkish parts of Cyprus, the place and its political precariousness play a central role in the novel. Yet the novel reaches far beyond the historical context. Heighton loves to explore lesser known historical facts of a place and enriches these and more by spinning a dramatic and probable narrative around actual and imagined characters. Here, the individuals, having returned secretly or having found refuge among the dilapidated buildings, have been building a survivors'community. They created something like a temporary haven or, in the imagination of some, a small patch of paradise, and they will do almost anything to defend it if threatened by outsiders.
Heighton evokes the landscape, the lush surroundings, the delicious wild foods that are found in season with the intimacy of a connaisseur and lover. The reader is easily pulled into the celebrations of the villagers. The central characters are convincingly developed, their back stories answering questions why they ended up in this place. Building a community of such a motley group takes patience and talent. And still, challenges remain... just think of communicating with limited knowledge of any common language other than their own! A Greek-Canadian, a German, Turkish colonels, a few Cypriots (Greek), etc. Misunderstandings are likely. Heighton integrates this aspect into the dialogs with ease.
There is much more I could say about this, for me totally absorbing novel.
I LEFT MY SOUL IN THERE
OPEN UP"
The message, found on a scrap of paper among the overgrown ruins of an abandoned town, reflects not only the emotions of Steven Heighton's protagonists but those of many who are forced to abandon their homes, physical and spiritual. And, not surprising to those who are familiar with Heighton's earlier novels, he captures the personal aspiration, dreams and traumas beautifully and explores them in borderline places... and in this novel the aftermath of war...
The Nightingale Won't Let You Sleep is a multi-layered story of love and resilience, of loss, recovery and healing. Set in the "dead zone"of Varosha, an abandoned part of Famagusta, near the Green Line that divides the Greek and the Turkish parts of Cyprus, the place and its political precariousness play a central role in the novel. Yet the novel reaches far beyond the historical context. Heighton loves to explore lesser known historical facts of a place and enriches these and more by spinning a dramatic and probable narrative around actual and imagined characters. Here, the individuals, having returned secretly or having found refuge among the dilapidated buildings, have been building a survivors'community. They created something like a temporary haven or, in the imagination of some, a small patch of paradise, and they will do almost anything to defend it if threatened by outsiders.
Heighton evokes the landscape, the lush surroundings, the delicious wild foods that are found in season with the intimacy of a connaisseur and lover. The reader is easily pulled into the celebrations of the villagers. The central characters are convincingly developed, their back stories answering questions why they ended up in this place. Building a community of such a motley group takes patience and talent. And still, challenges remain... just think of communicating with limited knowledge of any common language other than their own! A Greek-Canadian, a German, Turkish colonels, a few Cypriots (Greek), etc. Misunderstandings are likely. Heighton integrates this aspect into the dialogs with ease.
There is much more I could say about this, for me totally absorbing novel.
April 22, 2022
Woohoo! I won The Nightingale Won't Let You Sleep from a Goodreads Giveaway! It's been years since I've won anything from Goodreads!
March 20, 2017
See my full review on my blog here: https://bookidote.com/2017/03/18/the-...
Bewitchingly touching, this book is about humanity in all of its forms. When I first read the blurb, I expected a political and historical novel but it is so much more. What we have here is a protagonist, an ex-soldier, struggling with the traumas of war in Afghanistan and is sent to Cyprus to “recover”. But he spiraled down a path of no return: a brutal event happens to him and he ends up in an abandoned town populated by a group of exiles and refugees.
“RATIONALIZATIONS ARE DAYTIME CREATURES, LESS PLAUSIBLE BY NIGHT”
The focus of the novel is of course the evolution of Elias, and, oh my, the character development was on point. What’s really special is that as a starting point, Elias is already introduced to us as a broken man with his PTSD moments from Afghanistan. But it doesn’t stop there. He will undergo even more unfortunate events obliging him to fight his own demons while dealing with new encounters.
When arriving in Varosha, he wouldn’t understand the town at first. Because of its abandonment, it feels like a town frozen in time. The people wouldn’t know either what to make of him so he is treated like a prisoner at first. The dynamic between the two parties will transform into something else entirely: love and companionship, learning to trust and loyalty. Everyone in the group has their own peculiarity and with time, I learn you can make the best of everything even if you live in ruins.
Even if the psychological process of the characters is a major tour de force in this novel, the real magic resides in Steven Heighton’s prose. For the first time in a really long time, I read a book where I can precisely imagine every element of the historical period, moment and place. For example, when Elias has flashbacks from his traumas, the sound and the movements are so vivid. The gravity and suspense of the actions are what makes the reading experience even better.
The only reason why it’s not a 5 stars novel is because of the pace and the heavy content sometimes. Heavy political-wise content. It’s a novel that requires all of your attention. I’m usually really good at multitasking and I like reading in a coffee shop with a background noise. However, this book made me sit in a quiet room because if I happen to miss one or two words then I was completely lost.
Trang Tran
Book Blogger and Book Reviewer
http://bookidote.com
Bewitchingly touching, this book is about humanity in all of its forms. When I first read the blurb, I expected a political and historical novel but it is so much more. What we have here is a protagonist, an ex-soldier, struggling with the traumas of war in Afghanistan and is sent to Cyprus to “recover”. But he spiraled down a path of no return: a brutal event happens to him and he ends up in an abandoned town populated by a group of exiles and refugees.
“RATIONALIZATIONS ARE DAYTIME CREATURES, LESS PLAUSIBLE BY NIGHT”
The focus of the novel is of course the evolution of Elias, and, oh my, the character development was on point. What’s really special is that as a starting point, Elias is already introduced to us as a broken man with his PTSD moments from Afghanistan. But it doesn’t stop there. He will undergo even more unfortunate events obliging him to fight his own demons while dealing with new encounters.
When arriving in Varosha, he wouldn’t understand the town at first. Because of its abandonment, it feels like a town frozen in time. The people wouldn’t know either what to make of him so he is treated like a prisoner at first. The dynamic between the two parties will transform into something else entirely: love and companionship, learning to trust and loyalty. Everyone in the group has their own peculiarity and with time, I learn you can make the best of everything even if you live in ruins.
Even if the psychological process of the characters is a major tour de force in this novel, the real magic resides in Steven Heighton’s prose. For the first time in a really long time, I read a book where I can precisely imagine every element of the historical period, moment and place. For example, when Elias has flashbacks from his traumas, the sound and the movements are so vivid. The gravity and suspense of the actions are what makes the reading experience even better.
The only reason why it’s not a 5 stars novel is because of the pace and the heavy content sometimes. Heavy political-wise content. It’s a novel that requires all of your attention. I’m usually really good at multitasking and I like reading in a coffee shop with a background noise. However, this book made me sit in a quiet room because if I happen to miss one or two words then I was completely lost.
Trang Tran
Book Blogger and Book Reviewer
http://bookidote.com
April 21, 2018
After reading Afterlands I had to read another Heighton book to ensure this guy is the real deal. He is. My newest favourite author. I especially like the settings he chooses and the people he places in them. He can juggle two or three protagonists and pull it off. To say any more would encroach on the spoiler territory. Thrilling and suspenseful, conflicting and introspective.
March 4, 2017
This was an absolutely beautiful story about grief, healing, and finding family among strangers. When I first started reading I was a bit worried that it would be very depressing as it deals with heavy topics like PTSD and politics in Cyprus. It starts with violence and murder but develops into something entirely different. The quirky group of people that take refuge in the abandoned city are a bunch of real characters. There is a lot of humour and tons of heart. It really was extremely touching and I admit that I cried during the end.
The setting was so realistically portrayed that I feel like I was in Cyprus along with the characters. The sights, the scents, the sounds were so vivid and clear. I'm pretty sure that I could find my way around Varosha just from the descriptions! And the food! OMG! I can taste the roasted chicken with lemons and the fresh figs just picked off the tree. For a bunch of refugees hiding in the ruins they sure eat well!
The writing was beautiful, the story was engaging and emotional. I highly recommend taking this trip to Cyprus along with me. I'll meet you on the beach! :)
I received this book for free through a Goodreads Firstreads giveaway but this has not influenced my review in any way.
The setting was so realistically portrayed that I feel like I was in Cyprus along with the characters. The sights, the scents, the sounds were so vivid and clear. I'm pretty sure that I could find my way around Varosha just from the descriptions! And the food! OMG! I can taste the roasted chicken with lemons and the fresh figs just picked off the tree. For a bunch of refugees hiding in the ruins they sure eat well!
The writing was beautiful, the story was engaging and emotional. I highly recommend taking this trip to Cyprus along with me. I'll meet you on the beach! :)
I received this book for free through a Goodreads Firstreads giveaway but this has not influenced my review in any way.
March 19, 2017
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange from an honest review.
I jumped into the story from the start, but had difficulty to keep up. In the end, I devoured the last 50-60 pages with my heart pounding, tore apart between finishing the book or stopping, just because I didn't want to know (but I really did) what was going to happen.
This is a beautiful story of love, redemption, and courage.
I jumped into the story from the start, but had difficulty to keep up. In the end, I devoured the last 50-60 pages with my heart pounding, tore apart between finishing the book or stopping, just because I didn't want to know (but I really did) what was going to happen.
This is a beautiful story of love, redemption, and courage.
September 25, 2024
It’s worth revisiting the cliché *all style and no substance.* It refers to an overstated buildup that proves to be unwarranted. Steven Heighton’s fourth novel is anything but. The Nightingale Won’t Let You Sleep builds organically, to a multi-faceted and authentic climax.
Heighton is a Governor General Award-winning poet, a word master par excellence, yet his prose doesn’t eclipse the storyline. On the contrary, it serves it.
The setting is exotic – an abandoned no-man’s land in contemporary Cyprus – without being distant in space and time. The storyline is compelling and deeply satisfying. Elias, a Greek-Canadian soldier suffering from PTSD after a tour in Afghanistan, appears to have found a home in a ruined demilitarized zone, a locale frozen in time since 1974. The DMZ is not empty. It hosts a band of outliers as fascinating as any found in CanLit, including The English Patient or A Discovery of Strangers.
The DMZ is a fecund setting, pregnant with promise yet also loss - in a sense, a Garden of Eden. Dislocation and the threat of eviction coexist with human warmth and beautifully simple food. Despite the temptations, the garden does not hold Elias. Or, rather, circumstances do not allow him to be held. He must depart. His gift – and the reader’s boon – is what transpires between his arrival and departure. At novel’s end, he is a changed man, occasionally conflicted, but able to move forward.
Heighton is a Governor General Award-winning poet, a word master par excellence, yet his prose doesn’t eclipse the storyline. On the contrary, it serves it.
The setting is exotic – an abandoned no-man’s land in contemporary Cyprus – without being distant in space and time. The storyline is compelling and deeply satisfying. Elias, a Greek-Canadian soldier suffering from PTSD after a tour in Afghanistan, appears to have found a home in a ruined demilitarized zone, a locale frozen in time since 1974. The DMZ is not empty. It hosts a band of outliers as fascinating as any found in CanLit, including The English Patient or A Discovery of Strangers.
The DMZ is a fecund setting, pregnant with promise yet also loss - in a sense, a Garden of Eden. Dislocation and the threat of eviction coexist with human warmth and beautifully simple food. Despite the temptations, the garden does not hold Elias. Or, rather, circumstances do not allow him to be held. He must depart. His gift – and the reader’s boon – is what transpires between his arrival and departure. At novel’s end, he is a changed man, occasionally conflicted, but able to move forward.
August 20, 2017
Fantastic, poetic tale of a small lost Greek community in an abandoned, closed town in Turkish Cyprus. Some of my favourite characters ever, a gentle tale with love and sadness in equal measure.
May 8, 2018
This book had potential, but I really could not get into it. Something is missing in the telling of the story.
October 13, 2018
Elias Trifannis is a Canadian soldier, sent to Cyprus to be treated for stress, as his past haunts his nightmares. Steven Heighton's writing style has the action and pace of the novel coinciding with Elias's emotions and physical health. A chance sexual encounter with a Turkish journalist results in Elias hiding in Varosha, an abandoned Greek-Cypriot resort town.
Like flotsam on the ocean, Elias encounters a cast of diversified characters, that will affect his outlook on life. The descriptive prose of the surroundings and events creates a connection with the reader. Our mood changes based on what we read is reflective of the emotional mood of the main character.
Like flotsam on the ocean, Elias encounters a cast of diversified characters, that will affect his outlook on life. The descriptive prose of the surroundings and events creates a connection with the reader. Our mood changes based on what we read is reflective of the emotional mood of the main character.
January 17, 2019
There is usually magic in the language when a poet writes a novel. This is definitely the case with this one. Even when the content is war, aggression, or boorishness Mr. Heighton expresses it beautifully. The characters in this story are described so vividly it is as if you are right there with them. This story is set in the present yet when I was reading it I felt I was in some distant past. A very creative piece about second and even third chances in life to find where and with who you ultimately feel you belong.
May 31, 2019
Чудова книжка, в якій є все: пригоди, кохання, факти і головне - цікава історія!
November 20, 2017
review in process
May 20, 2017
This is a beautiful look at consequences of seemingly simple actions, set primarily in a no-man land between Turkish and Greek territories.
June 21, 2017
I received an ARC of Steven Heighton's "The Nightingale Won't Let You Sleep" compliments of Goodreads Firstreads Giveaway and appreciated the opportunity.
I will start by saying that I was truly looking forward to this book, more specifically it piqued my interest in learning more about Varosha and the long standing controversy and intrigue the abandoned city brings. The idea of a village of people living communally in Varosha is not far out of reach and it holds such an alluring suggestion. This fictional story is a side effect of the Cyprus dispute of 1974 with the Turkish invasion and their war with Greece. The fallout held an everlasting impact on both nations respective Cypriots and is a morose tale.
Fast forward to modern day and the story introduces the main character Elias Trifannis, a Canadian soldier (with post war trauma from his time in Afghanistan) who finds himself in Varosha through a series of complicated events. The book highlights the concept of survival through multiple characters, across several nations and with heartfelt emotions. There are unique love stories and complex relationships, all exuding passion and despair.
Some of the writing reads like poetry with a WOW factor that is deep and haunting. And yet some of it was a confusing and tangled mess of languages. I felt the story was on the cusp of brilliance and yet something about it felt dragged out and confusing. Perhaps the writing exceeds my appreciation and intelligence, I'm left unsettled. It took me several attempts to finish the book around the mid-mark, but am glad I persevered as the last third of the book was of a faster pace and more engaging. I did want to know how it all ends and am glad I kept with it for as long as I did.
I give it 3 stars, not blown away but also not disappointed.
I will start by saying that I was truly looking forward to this book, more specifically it piqued my interest in learning more about Varosha and the long standing controversy and intrigue the abandoned city brings. The idea of a village of people living communally in Varosha is not far out of reach and it holds such an alluring suggestion. This fictional story is a side effect of the Cyprus dispute of 1974 with the Turkish invasion and their war with Greece. The fallout held an everlasting impact on both nations respective Cypriots and is a morose tale.
Fast forward to modern day and the story introduces the main character Elias Trifannis, a Canadian soldier (with post war trauma from his time in Afghanistan) who finds himself in Varosha through a series of complicated events. The book highlights the concept of survival through multiple characters, across several nations and with heartfelt emotions. There are unique love stories and complex relationships, all exuding passion and despair.
Some of the writing reads like poetry with a WOW factor that is deep and haunting. And yet some of it was a confusing and tangled mess of languages. I felt the story was on the cusp of brilliance and yet something about it felt dragged out and confusing. Perhaps the writing exceeds my appreciation and intelligence, I'm left unsettled. It took me several attempts to finish the book around the mid-mark, but am glad I persevered as the last third of the book was of a faster pace and more engaging. I did want to know how it all ends and am glad I kept with it for as long as I did.
I give it 3 stars, not blown away but also not disappointed.
October 1, 2019
СОЛОВЕЙ НЕ ДОСТЬ ТОБІ ЗАСНУТИ
«Думка летить, а слова крокують» (Олександр Грін).
Я пам’ятаю як вперше торкнулась сторінок цієї книжки, як вона пестила мені очі своєю чарівною обкладинкою, як її сюжет захоплював мене сторінка за сторінкою. І от.... Фінал. Я перегорнула останню сторінку. І відчула бажання прочитати мемуари Роланда, бажання пограти з близнятами, відсвяткувати Великдень з мешканцями села, скупавшись в морі, сходити з Кеті на завжди безкоштовний шопінг по закинутих магазинах, бажання погуляти проспектом Кенеді і уявити яким він був красивим до .... війни та руїни, бажання відчути гостинність Кая і оцінити майстерність його кухаря та вірність старого Алі.
Після цієї книги в мені прокинулось бажання відчути ЖИВЕ ЖИТТЯ. Без метушні, постійних турбот, штучної ввічливості, думок про гроші і навіть без телефону (без якого я відчуваю себе як без рук)
Не все в такому житті є безтурботним. Бо там в Забороненій зоні немає лікарів, немає поліції. Постійно існує небезпека військових патрулів з боку Туреччині, а отже, можливість опинитися по той бік закону і бути розстріляним на місті як порушник. І судячи з ситуації описаній на прикладі Ейлюль, Турецька армія вміє приховувати свої вчинки всіма засобами.
Але не зважаючи на всі геополітичні тонкощі зображені і книзі, вони тануть в морі і зелені Вароша. І дуже хочеться сподіватися, що в цьому місці колись знову завирує життя
«Думка летить, а слова крокують» (Олександр Грін).
Я пам’ятаю як вперше торкнулась сторінок цієї книжки, як вона пестила мені очі своєю чарівною обкладинкою, як її сюжет захоплював мене сторінка за сторінкою. І от.... Фінал. Я перегорнула останню сторінку. І відчула бажання прочитати мемуари Роланда, бажання пограти з близнятами, відсвяткувати Великдень з мешканцями села, скупавшись в морі, сходити з Кеті на завжди безкоштовний шопінг по закинутих магазинах, бажання погуляти проспектом Кенеді і уявити яким він був красивим до .... війни та руїни, бажання відчути гостинність Кая і оцінити майстерність його кухаря та вірність старого Алі.
Після цієї книги в мені прокинулось бажання відчути ЖИВЕ ЖИТТЯ. Без метушні, постійних турбот, штучної ввічливості, думок про гроші і навіть без телефону (без якого я відчуваю себе як без рук)
Не все в такому житті є безтурботним. Бо там в Забороненій зоні немає лікарів, немає поліції. Постійно існує небезпека військових патрулів з боку Туреччині, а отже, можливість опинитися по той бік закону і бути розстріляним на місті як порушник. І судячи з ситуації описаній на прикладі Ейлюль, Турецька армія вміє приховувати свої вчинки всіма засобами.
Але не зважаючи на всі геополітичні тонкощі зображені і книзі, вони тануть в морі і зелені Вароша. І дуже хочеться сподіватися, що в цьому місці колись знову завирує життя
February 12, 2018
as good a book as i've read in a long time, until the ending. and yes, the ending is satisfying, but because it's told (sort of) from multiple points of view, the ending is missing the check-in with one of those people. that's it. that's the sum total of my complaint.
this isn't the kind of book i'd normally read, but did so on a recommendation from the smartest english professor i know. and i like to read a good canadian writer when given the chance.
ok.
so the story is about war stuff, turkey/greece stuff, love and healing, ptsd, and a little community lost in time (1974). that last part is the fascinating part. i read the rest of the book just so i could read the lost-town parts. and the food descriptions are lovely, too. lots of lemons and figs :)
this book has a 'higher' level of language than a lots of best sellers, so it's a bit of a slog in places. but i loved it. like i said, right up to the end. and even then, i still will be thinking of these characters as time goes by.
this isn't the kind of book i'd normally read, but did so on a recommendation from the smartest english professor i know. and i like to read a good canadian writer when given the chance.
ok.
so the story is about war stuff, turkey/greece stuff, love and healing, ptsd, and a little community lost in time (1974). that last part is the fascinating part. i read the rest of the book just so i could read the lost-town parts. and the food descriptions are lovely, too. lots of lemons and figs :)
this book has a 'higher' level of language than a lots of best sellers, so it's a bit of a slog in places. but i loved it. like i said, right up to the end. and even then, i still will be thinking of these characters as time goes by.
October 12, 2020
I found this an intriguing novel, full of interesting characters and marked by an intricate plot. It’s not a typical thriller but the suspense builds even as the interaction of the Turkish and Greek characters plays out unexpectedly in a supposedly deserted area, Varosha, in Cyprus.
Elias Trifannis is the Greek Canadian soldier recovering from fighting in Afghanistan who sets the action off when he escapes into the enclave after Turkish soldiers attack him and the Turkish woman he is with, Eylul. On the other side it seems at first is Colonel Kaya, though he ultimately becomes the protector of those who have sought refuge in the enclave.
This is an antiwar book but also a love story. Above all it is a vivid character study set in an unusual place. The personalities run from a bitter Greek soldier to a German UN forces exile to a hardline Turkish soldier seeking heroic status to several finely defined women refugees — as well as Kaya and Elias.
A fine book with many unexpected twists and excellent writing. I enjoyed it very much.
Elias Trifannis is the Greek Canadian soldier recovering from fighting in Afghanistan who sets the action off when he escapes into the enclave after Turkish soldiers attack him and the Turkish woman he is with, Eylul. On the other side it seems at first is Colonel Kaya, though he ultimately becomes the protector of those who have sought refuge in the enclave.
This is an antiwar book but also a love story. Above all it is a vivid character study set in an unusual place. The personalities run from a bitter Greek soldier to a German UN forces exile to a hardline Turkish soldier seeking heroic status to several finely defined women refugees — as well as Kaya and Elias.
A fine book with many unexpected twists and excellent writing. I enjoyed it very much.
September 3, 2018
Cyprus, eastern coast, current day. Village of exiles, living in deserted resort city of Varosha. About 20,000 people left the city when Turks took over. Story..how the new "villagers" came to be here. how they survive. To me, the main character is the setting. I googled and read and pored over maps. Lush, dense, eerie. Deserted tall hotels on white sandy beaches, now decaying, nature taking over.
September 2, 2024
This book was an accidental purchase. When I read last year about the death of Canadian poet and writer Steven Heighton, including a few moving elegies about his impact on CanLit, I ordered two books of his poetry. Or so I thought. This book is a novel, and I found the premise intriguing. Plus, I often love novels by poets for their lyrical, evocative, and spare prose. While I enjoyed this novel a lot, it was neither lyrical nor spare, but definitely evocative, engaging, and captured my attention entirely.
The novel brings together several contemporary backgrounds and locations. The main character, Elias, is a Canadian with Greek heritage, a soldier in Afghanistan in 2017. During a routine sortie, there is some miscommunication with catastrophic results, and he is demobbed to Cyprus where he stays with some relatives and gets treatment for his trauma. After another violent episode on a beach near the Turkish border, Elias finds himself marooned in Varosha, a former resort town abandoned and in limbo since 1974. But not entirely abandoned, for there is a small group of refugees living in the ruins, in what they call the village. In this desolate space, where time has both stood still – with the things left behind when it was evacuated – and moved on – as the buildings crumble around them – Elias finds a short-lived measure of peace with this unlikely family.
The book is described as a thriller, but it is too slow-paced for that, and there is little mystery about how it will end, only about when. The villains are clear, and the situations so tenuous that the greater mystery is how they have lasted as long as they have. But, there is still an element of suspense as we keep expecting the worst and it keeps getting delayed. When the end finally comes, it is well crafted and pleasant. Along the way, we meet several complex and believable characters; even the villain is somewhat sympathetic and understandable.
The division of Cyprus in 1974, following the Turkish invasion of the northern part of the island, is a little known but long-standing separation that has no end in sight. The Green Zone, a UN buffer zone, is the DMZ between north and south. At the Eastern end of this line is the decaying Varosha; previously off-limits to visitors, it was opened to civilians in 2017 (I’m guessing that’s when Heighton would have learned of it). It’s a desolate setting for a story about someone finding peace and hope, but it works well as the fleeting refuge for Elias to get past his nightmares.
I really enjoyed this book, and so will check out more of Heighton’s writing, poetry and novels included.
The novel brings together several contemporary backgrounds and locations. The main character, Elias, is a Canadian with Greek heritage, a soldier in Afghanistan in 2017. During a routine sortie, there is some miscommunication with catastrophic results, and he is demobbed to Cyprus where he stays with some relatives and gets treatment for his trauma. After another violent episode on a beach near the Turkish border, Elias finds himself marooned in Varosha, a former resort town abandoned and in limbo since 1974. But not entirely abandoned, for there is a small group of refugees living in the ruins, in what they call the village. In this desolate space, where time has both stood still – with the things left behind when it was evacuated – and moved on – as the buildings crumble around them – Elias finds a short-lived measure of peace with this unlikely family.
The book is described as a thriller, but it is too slow-paced for that, and there is little mystery about how it will end, only about when. The villains are clear, and the situations so tenuous that the greater mystery is how they have lasted as long as they have. But, there is still an element of suspense as we keep expecting the worst and it keeps getting delayed. When the end finally comes, it is well crafted and pleasant. Along the way, we meet several complex and believable characters; even the villain is somewhat sympathetic and understandable.
The division of Cyprus in 1974, following the Turkish invasion of the northern part of the island, is a little known but long-standing separation that has no end in sight. The Green Zone, a UN buffer zone, is the DMZ between north and south. At the Eastern end of this line is the decaying Varosha; previously off-limits to visitors, it was opened to civilians in 2017 (I’m guessing that’s when Heighton would have learned of it). It’s a desolate setting for a story about someone finding peace and hope, but it works well as the fleeting refuge for Elias to get past his nightmares.
I really enjoyed this book, and so will check out more of Heighton’s writing, poetry and novels included.
March 14, 2017
Elias Trifannis joined the military to make his father happy. The irony is that it didn’t do that. He is sent to Cyprus to recover after an incident in Afghanistan that causes PTSD. He meets a Turkish journalist and finds temporary comfort only to have her ripped away from him by an act of violence. He escapes into Verosha, a city that was invaded in 1974 and then abandoned. He discovers a small group of refugees living in this city that seems frozen in time. The citizens of this city are protected by Colonel Kaya, who protects their secret. Elias finds love and companionship there and is finally able to feel “at home”. However, plans are in motion to endanger their community.
I have recently read quite a few historical novels. This one is very different from anything I have read. I did enjoy it. I think the idea of an abandoned city that is just left as a snapshot of 1974 is an intriguing concept. My issue with this story, was that it took a long time for it to develop and an equally long time for me to start “bonding” with the characters. In addition, there were a few pieces of the story that I felt were unnecessary and didn’t really add anything to the book. About 70% of the way through, I was finally able to get into a rhythm and finish the novel.
I found the basis for the story very intriguing. I read that this is Heighton’s fourth book and I’m interested in looking at some of his previous novels. I would give this one a 3 out of 5 stars. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I have recently read quite a few historical novels. This one is very different from anything I have read. I did enjoy it. I think the idea of an abandoned city that is just left as a snapshot of 1974 is an intriguing concept. My issue with this story, was that it took a long time for it to develop and an equally long time for me to start “bonding” with the characters. In addition, there were a few pieces of the story that I felt were unnecessary and didn’t really add anything to the book. About 70% of the way through, I was finally able to get into a rhythm and finish the novel.
I found the basis for the story very intriguing. I read that this is Heighton’s fourth book and I’m interested in looking at some of his previous novels. I would give this one a 3 out of 5 stars. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2022
"Я залишив тут свою душу, впустіть мене! Легко було забути, що колись двадцять тисяч людей жили, працювали й кохалися тут, у руїнах (...) Так само легко було забути, що дедалі менша їх кількість і досі мріють повернутися сюди, аби відремонтувати свої будинки й поновити бізнес. Здебільшого ці вигнанці висловлюються колективно, безособово, на жаргоні юридичних позовів та дипломатичних заяв через своїх адвокатів, через державні установи або структури Європейського Союзу. Але прості слова цього послання пронизали Каю, наче бажання, виказане на смертному одрі"
Романтизована історія про таємне поселення греків-кіпріотів в окупованій турками з 1974 року місті Вароші, що на Кіпрі. Розбомблене місто-привид, в якому мешкають кілька поколінь, деякі й народжені тут і ніколи не були за його межами. Їхній побут налагоджений і навіть мирний завдяки поблажливому закриттю очей на них з боку турецького полковника - очільника окупаційної влади. Але наприкінці стає зрозуміло, що насправді вони усвідомлено жили усі ці десятки років на діжці з порохом. Коли на вулицях міста раптом лунають постріли - у мешканців поселення вже облаштоване й забезпечене їжею, водою і теплими ковдрами укриття в церковних катакомбах. Водночас на непевність і хиткість позиції загарбників весь час мимоволі натякає турецький полковник, який намагається вживати правильні терміни для опису стану справ, тільки чомусь замість звільнена Вароша йому хочеться казати окупована Вароша. Цікаво, як кіпріотам читається ця книга з героєм - очільником окупаційної військової адміністрації, якого автор зобразив хорошим турком-рятівником.
Романтизована історія про таємне поселення греків-кіпріотів в окупованій турками з 1974 року місті Вароші, що на Кіпрі. Розбомблене місто-привид, в якому мешкають кілька поколінь, деякі й народжені тут і ніколи не були за його межами. Їхній побут налагоджений і навіть мирний завдяки поблажливому закриттю очей на них з боку турецького полковника - очільника окупаційної влади. Але наприкінці стає зрозуміло, що насправді вони усвідомлено жили усі ці десятки років на діжці з порохом. Коли на вулицях міста раптом лунають постріли - у мешканців поселення вже облаштоване й забезпечене їжею, водою і теплими ковдрами укриття в церковних катакомбах. Водночас на непевність і хиткість позиції загарбників весь час мимоволі натякає турецький полковник, який намагається вживати правильні терміни для опису стану справ, тільки чомусь замість звільнена Вароша йому хочеться казати окупована Вароша. Цікаво, як кіпріотам читається ця книга з героєм - очільником окупаційної військової адміністрації, якого автор зобразив хорошим турком-рятівником.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2018
The plot was interesting and so much happened, but I didn't care for the book. It took me ages to get through and I couldn't seem to feel any connection to the characters except for a few of them right at the very, very end.
If I described the plot, you would probably think 'Oh wow, sounds exciting'. I didn't find the task of reading it exciting at all. It was exactly that: a task. I just wanted to get to the end and find out what happened without reading the long prose. I don't need to know the exact break down of a tennis match between Polat and Kaya, thank you very much. And yet, over three pages (on my ebook copy) of tennis.
Honestly, I would have gone to look for a full story description to find out the end and not bothered finishing with the book, if it weren't this month's pick in my book club. At least, I'll have plenty to talk about at our meeting, I guess.
I would have given it fewer stars, but I thought the story line was actually interesting. I just didn't like the way it was written.
If I described the plot, you would probably think 'Oh wow, sounds exciting'. I didn't find the task of reading it exciting at all. It was exactly that: a task. I just wanted to get to the end and find out what happened without reading the long prose. I don't need to know the exact break down of a tennis match between Polat and Kaya, thank you very much. And yet, over three pages (on my ebook copy) of tennis.
Honestly, I would have gone to look for a full story description to find out the end and not bothered finishing with the book, if it weren't this month's pick in my book club. At least, I'll have plenty to talk about at our meeting, I guess.
I would have given it fewer stars, but I thought the story line was actually interesting. I just didn't like the way it was written.
August 11, 2018
I want to give this five stars; because it is a superbly written book. When I closed the back cover, I felt satisfied.
Except, there were parts that bothered me. I had no sense of place or person. People with foreign names came and went, they slept in buildings I couldn't picture, and I could not feel these forces of conflict. Why did Trif have to run? I have no idea; he just did. Twice. Why did Kaya have to protect them all? No idea. He just did. Why would a Colonel be an adjutant to another colonel? No idea, but maybe it's the way Turks do things. People with foreign names came and went, somebody named Paris was mentioned for reasons I cannot fathom, and the world hummed along.
Still, the author sure can write. The story didn't pull me along very hard, but the ending did. In the end, all loose ends somehow disappeared. This story will sit with me for some time.
Except, there were parts that bothered me. I had no sense of place or person. People with foreign names came and went, they slept in buildings I couldn't picture, and I could not feel these forces of conflict. Why did Trif have to run? I have no idea; he just did. Twice. Why did Kaya have to protect them all? No idea. He just did. Why would a Colonel be an adjutant to another colonel? No idea, but maybe it's the way Turks do things. People with foreign names came and went, somebody named Paris was mentioned for reasons I cannot fathom, and the world hummed along.
Still, the author sure can write. The story didn't pull me along very hard, but the ending did. In the end, all loose ends somehow disappeared. This story will sit with me for some time.
August 30, 2019
3.5 really as I am waffling between 3 and 4.
I enjoyed the book.
The characters were interesting and their emotional journey was well written and captivating. However I found a couple to be less realistically developed-Polat in particular want as rounded as i thought he could have been, and Kaya was a bit too smooth and his life in Cyprus a bit too easy. However, Elias and the villagers were beautifully written and so utterly believable and conflicted.
The themes of war and conflict, both personal and between countries, were explored throughout in a satisfying way. The pacing was fairly good, although the first half did wander rather than walk briskly for me. That being said, I enjoyed Heighton's lyrical use of language.
I loved the descriptions of Cyprus as well as the food. Made me hungry while I was reading!
I enjoyed the book.
The characters were interesting and their emotional journey was well written and captivating. However I found a couple to be less realistically developed-Polat in particular want as rounded as i thought he could have been, and Kaya was a bit too smooth and his life in Cyprus a bit too easy. However, Elias and the villagers were beautifully written and so utterly believable and conflicted.
The themes of war and conflict, both personal and between countries, were explored throughout in a satisfying way. The pacing was fairly good, although the first half did wander rather than walk briskly for me. That being said, I enjoyed Heighton's lyrical use of language.
I loved the descriptions of Cyprus as well as the food. Made me hungry while I was reading!
November 15, 2018
Lu en français, chez Mémoire d’encrier, dans une traduction impeccable de Caroline Lavoie. Un gros roman de guerre et de fuite et de stress post-traumatique plein de testostérone. La prémisse est captivante: un ancien soldat se retrouve au cœur d’une petite communauté d’exilés et de fugitifs cachée dans les ruines de Varosha, ce quartier d’une ville chypriote abandonné depuis le conflit gréco-turc de 1974. Néanmoins, la prose virile et trop autocontemplative de Heighton empêche les différents éléments de la trame narrative de bien s’arrimer les uns aux autres. On finit par se lasser de ses allées et venues dans la tête de ces hommes en mal d’héroïsme.
August 24, 2021
This isn't really a book I would've normally chosen to read, but I was stuck in a hospital and desperate for something to do. I'm glad I read it, because it gave me a lot to think about. I liked the characters a lot and thought they were all very unique and well-written. I had a hard time with the setting, though, and wasn't really sure when things were supposed to be taking place or if the story was based on a true story or what. I feel like I probably missed some things (I wasn't really sure what the point of Paris's character was, for example) but I'm still glad I finished the book and it's probably one that will stick with me for a long while.
May 30, 2017
Elias, a Greek man living in the US, is desperate to belong. To make his father happy he joined the army but as a soldier he was traumatized when orders were given to kill civilians in Greece and he cannot sleep without horrible nightmares.
While on medical leave in Greece he meets a young Turkish journalist and they are abducted by Freek soldiers. Elias escapes to a "dead zone" abandoned in 1974 and the young woman is claimed to be dead. He is rescued by men living in the dead zone and he begins to be less traumatized.
Great novel about travesties of love and war
While on medical leave in Greece he meets a young Turkish journalist and they are abducted by Freek soldiers. Elias escapes to a "dead zone" abandoned in 1974 and the young woman is claimed to be dead. He is rescued by men living in the dead zone and he begins to be less traumatized.
Great novel about travesties of love and war
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews