On a beautiful Greek island, myths, magic, and a colorful cast of characters come together in When the Cypress Whispers, Yvette Manessis Corporon's lushly atmospheric story about past and present, family and fate, love and dreams that poignantly captures the deep bond between an American woman and her Greek grandmother. The daughter of Greek immigrants, Daphne aspires to the American Dream, yet feels as if she's been sleepwalking through life. Caught between her family's old-world traditions and the demands of a modern career, she cannot seem to find her place. Only her beloved grandmother on Erikousa, a magical island off the coast of Greece, knows her heart. Daphne's fondest memories are of times spent in the kitchen with Yia-yia, cooking and learning about the ancient myths. It was the thought of Yia-yia that consoled Daphne in the wake of her husband's unexpected death. After years of struggling to raise her child and pay the bills, Daphne now has a successful restaurant, a growing reputation as a chef, and a wealthy fiance-everything she's ever wanted.
But across the ocean, Yia-yia can see through the storybook perfection of Daphne's new life- and now she is calling her back to Erikousa. She has secrets about the past to share with her granddaughter- stories from the war, of loyalty and bravery in the face of death. She also has one last lesson to teach her: that security is not love, and that her life can be filled with meaning again.
This review in its entirety was originally posted at caffeinatedlife.net: http://www.caffeinatedlife.net/blog/2013/12/26/review-when-the-cypress-whispers/
I was approved an ARC copy of this novel by the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
I really loved the cultural aspects of this novel. The details about Greek food (yum), culture, the myths and stories–I felt like Evie in a way, just soaking it all in. The reader really gets a sense of how much Daphne loved her time in Erikousa and staying with her yia-yia, who seems like a more prominent figure in her life than her parents it seemed. There’s a sense of family and community that really resonates through the pages; over the course of the novel it really feels as though you’ve joined Daphne’s extended family and community.
The story itself was pretty straightforward: a woman coming back to a place she enjoyed during her childhood, reconnecting with family and her heritage, re-evaluating her relationships (especially with her fiance). I guess what kept me going with the story, aside from its wonderful setting, is just the relationships and interactions between characters, especially between Daphne and her yia-yia.
When the Cypress Whispers was overall an interesting novel; I could not put it down once I was well into the story and Daphne’s journey. Readers who love reading about stories set in Greece and enjoy reading family-oriented dramas and stories will want to check this novel out.
