My Greek Books
Welcome back to My Greek Books! Come along to Greece and New York, as we embark on this month’s reading adventures. All aboard!
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Memory Rehearsal by Eleni Sikelianos
City Lights Books (May 19, 2026)
About the author
Eleni is a poet and author of 13 books, including, The California Poem (City Lights Publishers, 2004), a Barnes & Noble Best of the Year; Your Kingdom (Coffee House Press, 2023), What I Knew (Nightboat books, 2019), Make Yourself Happy (Coffee House Press, 2017), and Exchanges on Light (La Presse, 2016). She’s also the author of the hybrid memoirs The Book of Jon (City Lights Publishers, 2004) and You Animal Machine (The Golden Greek (Coffee House Press, 2014).
She teaches in and directs the Creative Writing Program at the University of Denver. A California native and world traveler, she now lives in Boulder, CO with her husband, the novelist Laird Hunt, and their daughter, Eva Grace.
And you’re probably wondering…yes, she is the great-granddaughter of Eva Palmer and Angelos Sikelianos.
About the book
Eleni Sikelianos, a celebrated poet in her own right, knew little of her family history, including her famous great-grandparents. On a trip to Greece at age 20, she first encountered the extent of their legacy. In subsequent trips and research, she unearths the story of her great-grandmother, Eva Palmer, wealthy American socialite and lover of Ancient Greece. How Eva met Angelos, about their life. In it, she grapples “with knots of personal and broader histories”, performing “a powerful act of recovery, re-situating herself by claiming her lineage.”
It’s the third book in a trilogy of hybrid memoirs in which she reckons with her family legacy and its far-reaching impact on her life.
The story is revealed in a mix prose, poetry, imaginary performance texts, fiction, and nonfiction, with archival and family photographs.
My Greek Books review
Earlier this year I read Eva Palmer Sikelianos: A Life in Ruins (Princeton University Press, 2019) by Artemis Leontis, the biography of Eva and the renowned Greek poet, Angelos. Plus, as a fan of Kazantzakis, I’ve long been intrigued by the friendship he shared with Angelos. And of course, I’ve been curious about his work. So when I learned about this book, I had to read it. Regretfully, I hadn’t read any of Eleni Sikelianos’ work.
Memory Rehearsal took me on a ride. Through history, lore, to the exploration of lineage, and how the past affects the future. Through Eva’s story, letters between her and her former lover; archival information, and testimonials from people who knew them, Eleni re-weaves the tapestry of her legacy, unraveled through time. From there, she embroiders it with her own feelings and reflections on this shrouded past, creating a memorable and thought-provoking work.
I stayed up way too late reading it, devouring each page, evaluating each morsel. It got under my skin, infiltrated my dreams. There, on the backdrop of flipping pages, a female voice narrated a poem. When I awoke, I captured what I remembered. It’s begins, “Even if Angelos and Eva write your heritage…”
I’ve read that a memory rehearsal “deeply encodes information, making it easier to store and retrieve from long-term memory”. Maybe that information is actually encoded in our DNA, and we need to mine it, to create a lasting memory. Do not miss this book.
I’m an Amazon affiliate. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn money from qualifying purchases. By clicking through the links, when you make a purchase, I’ll receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. It helps to support my writerly endeavors. Thank you
A Stanger in Corfu by Alex Preston
Pegasus Crime (August 4, 2026)
About the author
Alex Preston worked as an investment banker in the early 2000s, but when the banking market collapsed, he turned to teaching and writing. He is an award-winning author. His novels include This Bleeding City (Faber & Faber, 2011), The Revelations (Faber & Faber, 2012), and In Love and War (Faber & Faber, 2014). Additionally, he penned the non-fiction book, As Kingfishers Catch Fire (Corsair, 2014).
Alex is also a journalist, and has written for several publications including Economist, Guardian, Harper’s Bazaar, and Financial Times. He is co-founder of the Corfu Literary Festival and Patron of Oxford Literary Festival.
About the book
On a tiny Greek island near Corfu, its only inhabitants are former members of MI6. Exiled. Sent to be forgotten. Because they’re too damaged or too compromised to live freely.
Over the years, they make the best of it. Long-lost friends and enemies swim together, share meals, even reminisce. But so many secrets abound. When one of the group washes up dead, alliances splinter. They grow suspicious of one another. Who or what from the past has returned to eliminate them? You’ll have to read it to find out. The story is said to be a “vivid reimagining” of true, hidden pieces of British Intelligence Service’s history.
My Greek Books review*
This is my first encounter with an Alex Preston story. When the review copy arrived, I dived in. There, I unearthed a winding and complex story. A Stranger in Corfu meanders through mountains and into the depths of the sea. Several unexpected twists and turns kept me in suspense. I had to know “whodunit”! Check it out.
*I read an advance review copy
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What We Left Behind: Book 1 in the ‘Life and Second Chances’ series by Valerie Nifora
Author Academy Elite (September 22, 2026)
About the author
Award-winning author and poet Valerie Nifora is the daughter of Greek immigrants and a native New Yorker. She’s the author of two poetry collections, The Quiet After You (independently published, 2025) and I Asked the Wind (Author Academy Elite, 2022), which has garnered multiple awards. She’s authored several novels, all published by Author Academy Elite. They include The Shopkeeper’s Daughter (2026), and ‘The Fairmount Saga’ [Mary Whitcombe (2023) and The Fairmounts (2022)]. Valerie is also the author of the self-improvement book, Unleash the Power of You: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating and Sustaining Your Own Personal Brand (Ethos Collective, 2023).
Valerie has been recognized with ChristLit Book of the Year honors, shortlisted for the Hawthorne Prize, and honored by the Independent Press Awards.
About the book
Seth and Margaret dated for years, but he couldn’t commit. Things unraveled and he treated her poorly. After they parted, she had to rebuild her life. When she met Travis, she found what she’d longed for: a loving husband, a family, a home. Travis’ sudden death left her reeling once again. Her children encouraged her to channel her grief into a book. It gave her purpose.
When Seth walked into a bookstore, not knowing it was Margaret’s book signing event, he realized that it’s his chance. To not just reconnect, but to ask for forgiveness. To make up for the hurt he caused. Now famous and wealthy, Seth can’t buy what he truly needs. His time is running out. But there are some things he must do in the time he has left. And they involve Margaret. Still working through losing her husband, she’s now forced to confront the love she never truly left behind.
Feelings, hurt, and regrets expressed re-open old wounds Seth and Margaret must decide whether forgiveness can come too late—or if love, even after all this time, still has the power to heal. Can time and a second chance right the wrongs of the past? You’ll have to read it to find out!
My Greek Books review*
I had learned about this book on social media, and I did a happy dance when the advance review copy arrived in my inbox. I have read some of Valerie Nifora’s other books, but this is her best yet. I couldn’t put it down and read it in two days. What We Left Behind is a tale of love, loss, and healing. Add it to your list!
*I read an advance review copy
My Greek Books—November 2026
Well, that’s it for this month. Now you have three more books to check out. See you next time. Til then, Happy Reading!
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