Lead Review (The Song of Youth)
- Book: The Song of Youth
- Location: The Cyclades
- Author: Effrosyni Moschoudi
The novel opens in Varkiza, Athens, where Emilia is pondering her mid-life birthday, overwhelmed by sadness, when she is approached by Esmera, a gypsy. Emilia spontaneously shares with her the story of her loss, and the situation that has brought her to her despondent state – just turned 45, dispirited about her advancing years and no-one in the world who really cares for her. She yearns for Milos, the island she calls home. She is desperate to regain her youthful years, she would love to be twenty-five again….. and maybe she just can revisit that age but that would come with its own unique problems – as she comes to discovers
Esmera encourages Emilia to unhook herself from her negative state of mind and positively reframe the abundant opportunities that Emilia simply cannot see. And then Esmera disappears leaving behind a CD, a singularly old-fashioned piece of equipment.
The very next day Emilia is informed of her aunt’s death on Milos, and she sets off for the funeral and for the reading of her aunt’s will. She is back on her beloved Milos but the contents of the will stir up old family dynamics that Emilia has to face.
Yet magical things are starting to happen and Emilia, we know, is in good hands as she negotiates her way through the coming days and weeks. A cute puppy crosses her path, as does a certain Andreas, and the gods and their angel messengers somewhere are smiling down on her, the winds of Fate proving auspicious…. Life might just be taking a turn for the better but of course it is not all plain sailing.
A nicely told and heartwarming romcom, with just a touch of the supernatural. Off for a tyropitaki or two and some ouzo! Happy reading.
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