Greece ~ When the Cypress Whispers

When the Cypress Whispers ~ by Yvette Manessis Corporon, 2014, fiction (Greece)

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 fiancé — 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.

Bookfool reviewed this book and recommends it:  "I liked the setting enough to give When the Cypress Whispers a 3.5/5 rating. I loved Daphne's daughter, her Yia-yia, the descriptions of island life, the fisherman, some of the other crazy characters.  But, I disliked the ending and didn't really like the protagonist.  I did sense a slight feminist agenda and, for the most part, I liked it.  But, the way it came to the forefront in the ending felt awkward and wrong.  Best to read for the sense of place and the characters."