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kaymarieplz's review
2.0
I totally get how people felt when they said it was like reading two different books. I liked the part that started about half way through the book but I would have never made it there unless it hadn't been a book club book. the first half of the book i felt like I was reading pages upon pages but nothing happened that I could remember. it was so weird, like I was day dreaming while reading but I wasn't.
karenleagermain's review
4.0
A decade spanning, multigenerational family comedy from an emerging author? Count me in! Thank You to Scribner for providing me with a copy of Annie Lionatas' debut novel, Let Me Explain You, in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT- Stavros Stavros Mavrakis has seen a vision and he is convinced that he will die in ten days. In his final days, he writes a cruel and scathing letter to his three adult daughters and to his ex-wife. The letter explains how each of them has been a disappointment and it gives them his perspective on how they should change to better their lives. Of course, while stubborn Stavros, never thinks that he might be part of the problem, his daughters struggle to relate to their pig headed father. The story bounces between the past and present, showing how the choices that Stavros made as he immigrated from Greece, married several women and became a successful business owner, all impacted the way he raised his daughters and his relationship with them.
LIKE- Liontas has created a world filled with strong, rounded characters, especially female characters. Although this story has some magical and dreamlike elements, the family dynamics always remain realistic. I doubt that anyone could read this story and fail to relate to at least some aspects of it. The three sisters, Stavroula, Litza and Ruby, each have very distinctive personalities and create a variety of dynamics with one another and the other characters in the story. It's these dynamics and oppositions that keep the story interesting and fresh.
My favorite part was the backstory of Stavros in Greece and meeting his first wife, Dina, the mother of his eldest daughters, Stavroula and Litza. They immigrate to America and start a family, but Dina is a drug addict, who ends up leaving Stavros with his two young daughters. Unable to cope with his children while he is struggling to start a business, he sends the girls back to relatives in Greece, until he can get settled. This portion of the story is well planted in the last half, after it is established that Stavros is a difficult man and that his daughters are suffering. We learn that he has suffered and sacrificed, which balances the scales in the story and is well timed. If the story has a central theme, it must be the idea of perspective and trying to see the perspective of others.
I liked the character of Marina, who slowly became an additional member of the Mavrakis family. She's the glue that brings a lot of the characters together and is tough, no-nonsense, even in sentimental situations. She is the one character who seems to see the entire picture and is wise in understanding the family dynamics.
DISLIKE- The pacing occasionally ran slow and I was unevenly interested in the story. There are sections with Stavros and a goat that seemed to go on forever. The first half is much slower than the second and the story took time to build steam.
RECOMMEND- Yes. Liontas has a keen wit and a solid grasp on writing family dynamics. Let Me Explain You is an entertaining and affecting first novel, but even more, it leaves me excited to experience her future efforts.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
PLOT- Stavros Stavros Mavrakis has seen a vision and he is convinced that he will die in ten days. In his final days, he writes a cruel and scathing letter to his three adult daughters and to his ex-wife. The letter explains how each of them has been a disappointment and it gives them his perspective on how they should change to better their lives. Of course, while stubborn Stavros, never thinks that he might be part of the problem, his daughters struggle to relate to their pig headed father. The story bounces between the past and present, showing how the choices that Stavros made as he immigrated from Greece, married several women and became a successful business owner, all impacted the way he raised his daughters and his relationship with them.
LIKE- Liontas has created a world filled with strong, rounded characters, especially female characters. Although this story has some magical and dreamlike elements, the family dynamics always remain realistic. I doubt that anyone could read this story and fail to relate to at least some aspects of it. The three sisters, Stavroula, Litza and Ruby, each have very distinctive personalities and create a variety of dynamics with one another and the other characters in the story. It's these dynamics and oppositions that keep the story interesting and fresh.
My favorite part was the backstory of Stavros in Greece and meeting his first wife, Dina, the mother of his eldest daughters, Stavroula and Litza. They immigrate to America and start a family, but Dina is a drug addict, who ends up leaving Stavros with his two young daughters. Unable to cope with his children while he is struggling to start a business, he sends the girls back to relatives in Greece, until he can get settled. This portion of the story is well planted in the last half, after it is established that Stavros is a difficult man and that his daughters are suffering. We learn that he has suffered and sacrificed, which balances the scales in the story and is well timed. If the story has a central theme, it must be the idea of perspective and trying to see the perspective of others.
I liked the character of Marina, who slowly became an additional member of the Mavrakis family. She's the glue that brings a lot of the characters together and is tough, no-nonsense, even in sentimental situations. She is the one character who seems to see the entire picture and is wise in understanding the family dynamics.
DISLIKE- The pacing occasionally ran slow and I was unevenly interested in the story. There are sections with Stavros and a goat that seemed to go on forever. The first half is much slower than the second and the story took time to build steam.
RECOMMEND- Yes. Liontas has a keen wit and a solid grasp on writing family dynamics. Let Me Explain You is an entertaining and affecting first novel, but even more, it leaves me excited to experience her future efforts.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
jlasch's review
1.0
A Greek father sends an e-mail to his three daughters informing them he had a vision which foretells he will die in 10 days. He gives each daughter specific yet cryptic (to this reader) fatherly advice, and I was hopeful as I read the first few chapters that the inner secrets of his daughters and the family would be revealed to provide clarity. I was sorely disappointed. The daughters characters were so underdeveloped it was overwhelming, and I was no closer to understanding any of them after 300 plus pages than when I started with the opening e-mail.
cdfeeney's review
I haven’t hated a character as bad as I HATED stavros in many years. Not a single redeeming quality. Abusive in every way but physical and a horrrible clueless misogynistic self absorbed toxic egotistical narcissistic martyr. I couldn’t enjoy the book bc he was so without redeeming qualities. Hated. Him. I am sorry for anyone who has ever had to be married to or raised by or even spend an hour in the company of such a terrible man.
mstufail19's review
3.0
I was told this was "a light beach read". It was beautifully written, but not light. It was full of regret and sadness and I felt it ended rather abruptly. I probably would have gave it 4 stars if I had had different expectations.
lilleiris's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jillyfay's review
3.0
This book wandered and was beyond confusing. I *think* it had a good storyline but rambled. And then just ended. Soooo...... 😕
throwmeabook's review
2.0
Check out this and other reviews at my blog https://throwmeabook.wordpress.com/2015/07/20/let-me-explain-you-by-annie-liontas/
Stavros Stavros Mavrakis is the patriarch of a dysfunctional and highly opinionated Greek immigrant family, living in New Jersey. He is the proud owner of Gala Diner, father to three daughters and the ex-husband to a handful of ex-wives. After having a premonition of his death in exactly ten days, he writes an emotionally heated email to his family outlining his thoughts and final wishes. While for Stavros these are dark times, his family and friends, however, are taking the news of his impending death lightly, immune to his frequently absurd, overbearing and dramatic outbursts. When the tenth day finally dawns, and the events of this tumultuous day are revealed, the Mavrakis clan is changed forever.
In Let Me Explain You, Annie Liontas has eloquently captured the struggles of immigrants and their families as they try to make a new and better life for themselves in their new country. As a child of immigrants, I understand that struggle and the pull between the new and old world that children often face. My favourite parts of Let Me Explain You were in fact the sections where the author describes Stavros’ and Dina’s childhood, youth and final journey to America.
Unfortunately, this was about all I really enjoyed. I found Stavros to be overbearing and ridiculous, unnecessarily difficult and at times downright unbalanced. Instead of adding to the story for its potential comedic value, his character was so over the top that it was actually quite a detractor to my enjoyment. His daughters on the other hand were better developed in terms of evoking sympathy in the reader, and the author has made them much more realistic and believable.
In the end, Let Me Explain You did not live up to the hype of being laugh out loud funny which is a shame because the potential was there (My Big Fat Greek Wedding ring any bells?). There were definitely moments that tug at my heartstrings but those were also few and far between. Would I recommend this book? Maybe, but it’s definitely not on top of my list.
Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Stavros Stavros Mavrakis is the patriarch of a dysfunctional and highly opinionated Greek immigrant family, living in New Jersey. He is the proud owner of Gala Diner, father to three daughters and the ex-husband to a handful of ex-wives. After having a premonition of his death in exactly ten days, he writes an emotionally heated email to his family outlining his thoughts and final wishes. While for Stavros these are dark times, his family and friends, however, are taking the news of his impending death lightly, immune to his frequently absurd, overbearing and dramatic outbursts. When the tenth day finally dawns, and the events of this tumultuous day are revealed, the Mavrakis clan is changed forever.
In Let Me Explain You, Annie Liontas has eloquently captured the struggles of immigrants and their families as they try to make a new and better life for themselves in their new country. As a child of immigrants, I understand that struggle and the pull between the new and old world that children often face. My favourite parts of Let Me Explain You were in fact the sections where the author describes Stavros’ and Dina’s childhood, youth and final journey to America.
Unfortunately, this was about all I really enjoyed. I found Stavros to be overbearing and ridiculous, unnecessarily difficult and at times downright unbalanced. Instead of adding to the story for its potential comedic value, his character was so over the top that it was actually quite a detractor to my enjoyment. His daughters on the other hand were better developed in terms of evoking sympathy in the reader, and the author has made them much more realistic and believable.
In the end, Let Me Explain You did not live up to the hype of being laugh out loud funny which is a shame because the potential was there (My Big Fat Greek Wedding ring any bells?). There were definitely moments that tug at my heartstrings but those were also few and far between. Would I recommend this book? Maybe, but it’s definitely not on top of my list.
Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.