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| (Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!) |
A novel at once metaphorical and iconoclastic, The Parthenon Bomber exposes the painful and maddening paradox of contemporary Greece.
“Blow up the Acropolis” – the 1944 call to action by the surrealist circle the Harbingers of Chaos. Sixty years later, a young man obliges. The Parthenon has been destroyed, the city orphaned. Is it still Athens?
All eyes are on the empty hill, now ashen and smoky. Cries of distress, indifference, and zealotry fill the air. What were his reasons? How will he be punished for this unspeakable act of violence? What does it mean for Greece, now deprived of its most significant symbol?
This provocative tale reveals the unique dilemma of a country still searching for an identity beyond its past as the birthplace of Western civilization.
my thoughts:
Wow! Talk about a thought-provoking read! I absolutely LOVED The Parthenon Bomber by Christos Chrissopoulos. A novella that questions history, identity, and icons - and its set in Athens - what more could I want in a story!?!
When something so iconic no longer exists what happens to that city, to the people, to their culture, and their history? Are they still the same? Is that icon still a part of their country's identity even though it no longer is? And what about the man who took it away from them - why would he do such a horrible thing? So many ideas and questions run through your brain as you read this short tale about destruction and its aftermath. The writing is sharp, clear, and precise in its details, history, and depth. I absolutely loved it!
I would definitely recommend this novella to fans of Chrissopoulos's writing and anyone interested in a great new read - you will most definitely appreciate this book!
Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!
2 comments:
A book set in Athens! I'm in. :)
Lark, I know! That's what I thought, too :)
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