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ombraluce's review
5.0
Now a grown woman, an accomplished actress in her own words, Rarau recounts her life as a child in a small village in rural Greece, when she was still Roubini and there was German occupation. In a fresh, almost impertinent tone, perfectly replicating the way an illiterate woman speaks, the author describes the horrors of the German occupation, the suffering inflicted on the population, in the drama of the women who, in order not to starve their children, are forced into prostitution. This is what happens to Roubini's mother, who is later humiliated as a collaborator at the time of liberation. A terrible shock for mother and daughter, which will destroy their minds forever. A truly beautiful book.
chrymichael's review
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
marc129's review
2.0
Long monologue by a 60-year old Greek actrice (subtop, though). She tells the story of the survival of her familiy during the German-italian occupation in the second world war and the civil war that followed. Her mother was forced to engage in relationships with Italian soldiers, in order to save her children, and was severely punished for that after the war.
It's the storytelling and rather chaotic character of the monologue that give this book its charming quality. Through little remarks we learn a lot about the storytelling woman, about the support and hypocrisy of her neighbours and about Greek society in general. But slowly very disturbing elements emerge in the monologue and the credibility of our storytelling person becomes doubtful.
Very intruiging book, fascinating read, although after 100 pages the monologue style becomes rather tedious. Interesting look into (recent) Greek history and society. But in the end, as a reader you're a bit disorientated. (rating 2.5 stars)
It's the storytelling and rather chaotic character of the monologue that give this book its charming quality. Through little remarks we learn a lot about the storytelling woman, about the support and hypocrisy of her neighbours and about Greek society in general. But slowly very disturbing elements emerge in the monologue and the credibility of our storytelling person becomes doubtful.
Very intruiging book, fascinating read, although after 100 pages the monologue style becomes rather tedious. Interesting look into (recent) Greek history and society. But in the end, as a reader you're a bit disorientated. (rating 2.5 stars)
klokar's review against another edition
challenging
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
kirstenfindlay's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
masu_reads's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
thebobsphere's review against another edition
3.0
In theory I should have loved this novel ; the most turbulent era of Greek history told through the eyes of a child but unfortunately I just couldn’t absorb myself into the book as much as I wished I could.
In a way you could say that The Daughter is the anti Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. It takes place in the same time frame (the Italian/German occupation of Greece) but Matesis leaves out all the whimsy and piles on the grotesque reality. Here we see how deceitful people can be during war-time.
Even peacetime as well. When Greece is ‘liberated’ the main protagonist’s mother is brought in the town square and ridiculed because she slept with an Italian soldier in order to have food for her two children(as the husband is missing in action). Eventually they are driven out of the village and have to beg in order to earn a living.
But none of that bothered me.
What I didn’t like was the narrative tone of the main protagonist. It was too slangy and there was over use of certain words in the same sentence. Eventually the book switches form first person to the third and this is much better.
By the end of the book the woman who is narrating the story becomes an actor and life becomes easier.
Was this an unsatisfactory review? well I felt the same way about the book.
In a way you could say that The Daughter is the anti Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. It takes place in the same time frame (the Italian/German occupation of Greece) but Matesis leaves out all the whimsy and piles on the grotesque reality. Here we see how deceitful people can be during war-time.
Even peacetime as well. When Greece is ‘liberated’ the main protagonist’s mother is brought in the town square and ridiculed because she slept with an Italian soldier in order to have food for her two children(as the husband is missing in action). Eventually they are driven out of the village and have to beg in order to earn a living.
But none of that bothered me.
What I didn’t like was the narrative tone of the main protagonist. It was too slangy and there was over use of certain words in the same sentence. Eventually the book switches form first person to the third and this is much better.
By the end of the book the woman who is narrating the story becomes an actor and life becomes easier.
Was this an unsatisfactory review? well I felt the same way about the book.