North of Ithaka: A Granddaughter Returns to Greece and Discovers Her Roots by Eleni N. Gage, Eleni N. Gage

fascinating memoirby harstan

Reader Rating:
See Detailed Ratings

April 02, 2006: In 2002, Manhattan magazine editor Eleni N. Gage decided to rebuild her paternal family?s villa in the Greek village of Lia on the Albanian border. Her four aunts, residents of Massachuestess, were upset and angry as they feared their neice would be murdered by Albanians. In their minds that was the good outcome the bad outcome would be the return of the curse of their late mom, Eleni?s paternal grandmother, who, in 1948, was tortured and executed for enabling her children to escape the Greek civil war (see ELENI by Nicholas Gage). Still the obsessed Eleni believes she must do this to pay homage to her grandmother and to provide solace to those still impacted over five decades since her murder. With the help of the townsfolk and the hindrance of the bureaucracy, Eleni?s odyssey begins. --- This is a fascinating memoir that is at its best with the reactions by the author?s Greek-American relatives and the Greek villagers to the energetic American?s objective. Readers will feel the impact of her grandmother?s death on those still living in the village and in Massachusetts though over fifty years have passed. Though warm and well written, NORTH OF ITHAKA never leaves the audience with a sense of importance or wonder even when making the case of good omens vs. evil memories. Still this is a fine entry that is best read after obtaining her father?s memoir ELENI that hauntingly describes what happened in 1948. --- Harriet Klausner