Where the Wandering Ends: A Novel of Corfu by Yvette Manessis Corporon
They wondered if they would ever find their way back back to the village, back to a life of meaning, back to each other.Corfu, 1946 In a poor Greek community, ten-year-old Marco is perhaps the poorest of them all. But it wasn't always that way. His grandmother once worked for the royal family where Marco's mother played alongside young Prince Phillip himself. Now Greece is on the brink of civil war, and Marco's mother still clings to the desperate hope that somehow the royal family will save her own.As the war turns deadlier, Greece's Queen Frederica takes a defiant stand against the communists, announcing that she will save her country's most innocent by opening children's villages. When the communist partisans erect camps of their own, children are ripped from their mothers' arms; entire villages are emptied.Young Katerina has been best friends with Marco for as long as she can remember, cementing their bond by stealing scraps from her family's table to sneak to him. But when the communists reach their village, loyalties are tested as devastating secrets threaten to emerge. Katerina and Marco are separated just before her family flees on foot. At their final goodbye, Katerina and Marco promise to find their way back to the village, and to each other. This haunting childhood vow launches events that will take decades to unravel.
- Author - Yvette Manessis Corporon
- Publisher - Harper Muse
- Publication date - 09-06-2022
- Page count - 400
- Hardcover
- Adult
- Fiction
- Product dimensions - 6.1 W x 9.4 H x 1.3 D
- ISBN-13 - 9781400236077
Web ID: 14966521
Greek Historical Fiction Best Read via Audiobook
Everything I knew about Corfu, the Greek island in the Ionian Sea, I learned from watching the heartwarming PBS show The Durrells. That bit of knowledge and a stunning cover led me to believe that Where the Wandering Ends by Yvette Manessis Corporon would be a warm and sunny visit to an exotic locale. That's not what I found, but it's not what this novel intends to be. This is a sweeping saga in time (from 1947 through the end of the 20th century) and place (from Corfu to New York City) that uses a large cast of characters to trace Greek history from World War II to the recent past. The story includes Greek mythology and the Greek royal family, which was interesting, but the overall tone is so pervasively sad. I struggled to track the many characters, especially when large segments of time were skipped. The pacing was quite uneven, plodding along in some sections, especially at the beginning, and then racing in others. Most interesting were the mentions of Prince Phillip, the late Duke of Edinburgh and reference to Queen Elizabeth's coronation, as the crowning of King Charles took place while I was reading this novel. I highly recommend the audiobook beautifully narrated by Myrto Stylou whose authentic pronunciations firmly set me in this place and culture. Thank you to Harper Muse for providing a review copy of this novel.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
I loved this book
Beautiful story of love, loss and hope set against the backdrop of the Greek civil war. Very powerful and gorgeously written.
What a gorgeous and powerful book
A beautifully written heartbreaking yet hopeful book of two young friends separated during the Greek Civil War. The story is mostly set on the gorgeous Greek island of Corfu and filled with incredible history, lyrical mythology and fascinating legends. I cried several times and was ultimately uplifted by the lasting message of hope and of enduring friendship. I also really loved the Greek Royal family storyline and had no idea about the fascinating history of the Greek Royal family, including Prince Phillip. Highly recommended for lovers of historical fiction and those who want to escape to a lush Greek island.
Bold story with lots packed in the pages!
From the gorgeous cover to the last page, Where the Wandering Ends by Yvette Corporon grabbed my attention and held it. Both a tribute to the family we have, and a recognition of the importance of the family we choose, Corporon underscores these concepts with likable characters and a magnificent backdrop of Corfu, Greece. With a mix of magical realism and historical fiction, the author boldly weaves together a story that spans a lifetime and tackles a lot within its pages. I was glad to learn about Greece's history - something I knew very little about, and I truly enjoyed getting some insight into the Greek Orthodox religion along with some mentions of Greek mythology. I will admit Ms. Corporon was a bit ambitious and packed a lot into this story. (Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth even made an appearance)! I did find myself wanting to delve deeper into each character's experience (especially in the second half) but the pace suddenlly quickened. It also took me a while to find my bearings with the introduction of so many characters and situations in the beginning, but once it evened out, it was enjoyable and informative. Many thanks to TLC Book Tours and Harper Muse books for this lovely book.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Fascinating Story of Post-WWII Corfu
Corfu Island, 1947. The time period is beautifully breathed into this story from the first pages, when we meet a young girl named Katerina and her father, Laki. She is considered a lucky one; as a provincial girl she receives an education thanks to a new teacher, who has no tolerance for ignorance of such views as provincial girls not receiving education. The former teacher was passionate about expressing his views against the monarchist citizens of Corfu, who were brainwashed in their support of the royal family and deaf to the plight of the poor Greeks. His political views were seen as extreme and he was seen as not fit to be a teacher of their children. Laki is a staunched supporter of the monarchy, but the teacher’s words continue to play in his mind. The Communists were the ones who led the resistance and fought so valiantly against the Germans. That was initially, but now, those who refuse to support the Communist party are being slaughtered. He witnesses his own people turning against each other. When boats are blown out, at the shore, you collect dead bodies as well as dead fish, meaning less food for the villagers. The results are double dire. He has lived off the land and sea his entire life, just like his parents. He is a poor, uneducated man with strong faith. That’s why what God provides is important to him, not guns or masqueraded ideology. Thus, he keeps his views to himself. Queen Frederica is on a mission to save children from the Communists by opening children’s villages. She provides a thriving place for children where they can receive education, and prevents many of them ending up on the streets as beggars. Marco, Katerina’s friend, is to be sent to one of those children camps due to family circumstances. Before he goes, he asks her to promise that she will remain his best friend and even more be his family. At the same time, the Communists counter the Queen with children’s camps of their own, where they are mistreated and sent to the front lines. The communist partisans create pogroms on villages, and now Katerina’s family has to flee their village. Will promise be kept? This story presents unforgettable richness in historical fiction and masterful storytelling. The evocative writing touches one’s soul and reminds us how simple things and gestures stand for what life is about. A mother who can offer an hour of extra sleep to her children is the only luxury she can afford; or a son gifting a mother a simple wreath woven from her favorite flowers of gardenias. With vivid portrayal, we taste a juice of a fresh fig; we smell the flowers paving the path to the sea; and we bask in the sun and enjoy the fresh sea breeze. This story is character-driven with well-fleshed out characters, filled with backstories, and woven with lyrical prose. It is highly engrossing, making the pace fast. It brings many interesting facts that don’t overwhelm the story. It is fascinating to learn what a difference Queen Frederica made by creating a safe place for children and giving each an education. Thus, making a tremendous impact on humanity.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Post World War II Corfu to present day
Where the Wandering Ends weaves a timeline from post-World War II Greece, to the Greek Communist conflicts to present day, while it spans Corfu, Greece, and New York City. The story centers on Corfu and how the war and the partisan conflicts affects the lives of families. The author masterfully weaves the lives of characters over the years as well as the personal conflicts each faces. The central thread of Where the Wandering Ends is Katerina - from childhood to young adult to grandmother. But in between, the realistic trials and tribulations will make this novel so intriguing that you won't want to put it down. While I did receive a complementary copy to review, all opinions are my own.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Great Book
Where the Wandering Ends by Yvette Manessis Corporon is an excellent, sweeping historical fiction that gives us a glimpse of the tumultuous era involving the Greek Civil War post-WWII. This book takes place in Greece, and more specifically the island of Corfu around the time of the end of WWII (1946-1947). It was fascinating to learn so much about a subject I knew almost nothing about: the Greek Civil War and what the Greek citizens that became immigrants thereafter. The author did an amazing job creating a lush landscape full of color, vibrance, and history as a backdrop to the stark contrast of war, strife, change, and turmoil. I love when I can read HF and yet learn so much about history at the same time (and without even realizing it!). I highly recommend this sweeping, dramatic, and immersive novel to any historical fiction fan. 5/5 stars
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A historical Greek saga and a five star read!
Where the Wandering Ends is a historical saga set in Greece just after the end of the Second World War, and the country is on the verge of a Civil War erupting. In a poor village in Northern Corfu, two ten year olds Marco and Katerina are best friends, and have no idea of their fate. Marco’s grandmother once worked for the Greek royal family at Mon Repos, and his mother’s playmate was Prince Philip. Since Marco's grandmother lost her job, the family have struggled, and Princess Alice promised to help them when she returned home to Greece. Katerina’s mother Maria is from Tinos, Katerina dreams of visiting her mother’s birthplace, and seeing the famous shrine to Panagia. The communist and partisans are fighting in Greece, villages are being ransacked, burnt and children are vanishing. Taken to fight in Albania, where they are treated badly, many are killed, and others never get over the traumatic experience. Both Katerina’s and Marco’s families experience tragedies, when the communists finally reach their village, Katerina’s family flee and Marco is sent to Mon Repos. The friends go their separate ways, they promise they will see each other again in Pelekito, and things don’t go as planned. I received a copy of Where the Wandering Ends by Yvette Manessis Corporon from HarperCollins Focus in exchange for an honest review, it’s a well written story about Greece, Corfu, and the Greek Royal family, a promise Princess Alice couldn’t keep, and it wasn’t her fault. With vivid descriptions about Greek history, religious and mythological beliefs, the beautiful countryside, food, customs. You’re taken on a literary journey spanning decades from the island of Corfu, to New York and back again. I highly recommend this long Greek historical saga, and five stars from me.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com