The first novel by acclaimed Greek writer Lena Manta to appear in English translation, The House by the River is an intimate, emotionally powerful saga following five young women as they realize that no matter the men they choose, the careers they pursue, or the children they raise, the only constant is home.
Theodora knows she can’t keep her five beautiful daughters at home forever – they’re too curious, too free spirited, too like their late father. And so, before each girl leaves the small house on the riverside at the foot of Mount Olympus, Theodora makes sure they know they are always welcome to return.
A devoted and resilient mother, Theodora has lived through World War II, through the Nazi occupation of Greece, and through her husband’s death, and now she endures the twenty-year-long silence of her daughters’ absence. Her children have their own lives – they’ve married, traveled the world, and courted romance, fame, and even tragedy. But as they become modern, independent women in pursuit of their dreams, Theodora knows they need her – and each other – more than ever. Have they grown so far apart that they’ve forgotten their childhood house in its tiny village, or will their broken hearts finally lead them home?
At a Stopping Point in this Tale..Unfortunatey! BIG CAVEAT: I am not trying to dissuade anyone from reading this book. However, there are many depictions of sexual relations (not overly graphic, nor terribly detailed and which contain no crude language. which are somewhat persistent for long periods at a time from about one-quarter into the story).If this content poses no problem for you, then please see the brilliant review by Gingerbread, who gave a fantastic treatment of The House By The River. * * * *…
Best Kindle First Book ever! This is heads and shoulders above any Kindle First Book I’ve ever gotten. I mostly get the Kindle First for my husband because he likes thrillers and ain’t picky; I haven’t found these books good enough for me. But I read the first few pages in the Look Inside and was convinced because I laughed so hard! This book is actually translated from a acclaimed foreign author, which is why it is so much better than your average Kindle First free book. It has tremendous insight into human nature, and…
This book was painful, and beautiful, and it will haunt me for days!!! I need to say up front here that this is the third major revision I’ve made to this review, all of which came about because of my concern that the sexual content of this book wasn’t being represented correctly. There is a big difference between erotica and non-descriptive intimacy, and since no one’s cutoff is the same, I think it’s important to be clear about which a book contains. However, my review hasn’t been the only one to be edited now, and I agree completely with what has been stated in…