Children of the Catastrophe

Smyrna is the busiest city on the Mediterranean Sea in 1908, due to it's easily accessible port and connection to the inland. Part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, Smyrna has been home to generations of Greek and Armenian people. <br /><br />Emmanuel and Theodora Demirigis have four daughters, three are married and they are looking for a suitable husband for their youngest daughter Liana. She marries Vasili the only son of Dimitri and Vala Melopoulos, Dimitri is a tobacconist, and her father Emmanuel is a talented silversmith. <br /><br />The couple move to the countryside at Bournabat, Liana can still see her family, and they start one of their own. Theodora enjoys entertaining and she’s the perfect hostess, Dora holds celebrations for her children and grandchildren. Emmanuel likes to keep up to date with what happening, he warns Vasili about the tension between the Greeks and the Turks. Each country chooses a different side during WW I, when it ends Vasili assumes the hostilities are over, and unfortunately he’s wrong. <br /><br />Vasili and Liana have no idea that everything is about to change, the Turkish Army lead by Mustafa Kemal has the Greek army on the run, and it will lead to wide scale disorder and catastrophe!<br /> <br />I received a copy of Children of the Catastrophe from Edelweiss and HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. It’s a historical saga about the joining of two families, the arranged marriage turns into a love match, the ups and downs of their lives together, and the extended family. Their heritage, celebrations, births, disappointments, disagreements, and challenges they faced. I really enjoyed reading about the traditions and bond between the Demirigis family, how Theodora took Liana to the bath's for the first time, Emmanuel's skills as a silversmith, the food and culture, how she fell in love with Vasili, and her relationship with her mother-in-law.<br /><br />Sarah Shoemaker’s well written narrative brought to my attention the details of the Greco-Turkish War, something I knew very little about, how the Turks wanted to reclaim the city of Smyrna, and it's now known as Izmir. Five stars from me, I highly recommend this book, and it's released on the 6th of September 2022.

Thanks to HarperCollins Publishing for my ARC of Author Sarah Shoemaker’s September 2022 release titled “Children of the Catastrophe” for an honest review. ? ❤️ <br />Historical fiction at it’s BEST!!! No dry, boring, predictable read here!!! Author Sarah Shoemaker delivers a rich story teamed with characters you immediately fall for. This multi-generational tale begins with the marrying off of Liana to Vasili and how their family is drawn from quiet countryside living into the Catastrophe of the Great War’s resulting cultural and political warfare, and how their family will survive as life and dreams unravel. This is truly a beautiful book you won’t be able to put it down. ?

Review to come ?

When I originally saw the blurb for this book I felt intimidated because it was set during the Ottoman Empire in the early 1900s, a time period I knew little about. While filled with historic information, the first half reminded me of a family saga, and I was completely absorbed by the rich characters, family dynamics, and learning about the Greek culture and traditions. The second half focused more on the family’s experience during the Armenian and Greek massacre, which was sad and awful, but so important to read/ learn about. I listened to the audiobook and found it easy to follow along with, despite the novelty of the subject, and thought the narrator did a great job portraying the various characters. <br /><br />I recommend this one if you:<br />-Are a fan of historical fiction<br />-Are interested in learning about the Greco-Turkish war <br />-Like multi-generational stories that highlight family traditions

I was grateful to receive an ARC for “Children of the Catastrophe.” Besides being a huge fan of historical fiction, my own (Greek) family was originally from Turkey and their stories of pain and suffering have always been part of my identity. <br /><br />This book is about the Greeks (and Armenians) of Smyrna in the early 1900s. Their way of life was described in authentic detail. The story begins around 1908, focusing on the families of a young couple, Liana and Vasili. I loved the descriptions of how Greek mothers found their children’s spouses. (Not that I approve, but it was funny.) I loved Liana’s family with all their interactions, traditions, and warmth. It seemed that Sarah Shoemaker has a deep understanding and respect for the Greeks of Smyrna, so much so, that I wondered if she was Greek. <br /><br />Vasili, the young husband, was a beautiful human being. His love for Liana, his children, and Liana’s family moved me. Liana’s father too was a loving family man, but Vasili had suffered from having a cold and controlling mother, and yet it didn’t turn him bitter. I really disliked his mother, Vaia, but she was not unusual for those times. My own grandmother was a lot like her. She hoped to control the young couple after they married, but underestimated the strength of Liana. Her strength of character was admirable, but sometimes our best qualities can also be our worst. <br /><br />There are a lot of sad events in the book, and although the author writes with compassion, it is not melodramatic or sensational. I LOVED this book, and I feel that it will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend it. <br /><br />I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.<br /><br />#ChildrenoftheCatastrophe #NetGalley

<br />Rating: 3.5/5⭐️<br />Pub Day: 9-6-2022<br /><br />We begin in 1908 Smyrna and follow 17-year-old Liana as she is paraded through a Greek bath house in the hopes of finding a husband. Liana and her family are the focus of this story, with the progression of WWI and the Greco-Turkish War in the background for most of the story.<br /><br />I enjoyed how this story started and appreciated learning so much about the family traditions, but it didn’t really feel like a historical fiction until the last part of the book. The focus was on family dynamics for 15 years and then a lot of unsettling things happened in the span of a few days. I felt blindsided.<br /><br />It’s a book that is very heavy on character development until the last three chapters, which are jam packed with the effects of war. I enjoyed the characters, but the end felt too rushed and I wished there had been more explanation and follow up. <br /><br />Thank you Harper Perennial for the arc. All opinions are my own.

This was an amazing story. I was so into it, couldn’t put it down. Loved it

Shoemaker is a good writer. She describes people well and tells a good story. <br />I struggled with this book though.<br />It felt like a whole lot of buildup - for not much. Halfway through, I almost gave up, but hoped it would redeem itself. For me, it got worse.<br />There were side plots and details that made no sense (honey, the beach - just to name two of many). <br />The descriptions with cringe worthy. If I have to read about a woman being cut from neck to torso and laying in the street or that “warm moist place” that the main character loved about his wife one more time… I may never read again ? (these descriptions were used, over and over). <br />It’s historical fiction, but I wouldn’t classify it as such. It felt more like a fiction novel with some stuff about the war/genocide thrown in at the very end. <br />Lastly, somewhat like my review, it jumps all over. A decade flys by in the turn of a page. Suddenly the main character is married, pregnant, has 3 children. It was super hard to keep track of and felt jolting. And it made the random pages of detail drone on and on.<br /><br />I usually don’t read books all the way through if they’re this low on my rating scale, but I kept hoping with this one because of the authors writing style. I loved her descriptions and loved some aspects of the story. But there are too many negatives for me to recommend this book.<br /><br />Thankful to Sutton’s Bay library for a free copy of this book from a local author (I’ll be donating it to someone who will hopefully enjoy it more!)

A story about a Greek family during the years leading up to the 1922 "Smyrna Catastrophe" of the Greek and Armenian genocides in Turkey. The story begins in 1908 with the arranged marriage of Liana, the youngest daughter of her family, to Vassili, the only son of a once rich family but one that has been done in by debts from his drunk father. Liana's father, Emmanuel, a successful silversmith, offers the business to Vassili as the dowry. This allows Emmanuel to work behind the scenes on his craft rather than have to continue the distasteful tasks of managing the business and sales shop. Emmanuel and Vassili's friend Ara, who is Armenian, warn Vassili of the political instability in Smyrna which is a melting pot of Turks, Armenians and Greeks that is about to boil over. But Liana will not leave her parents and older sisters and their families. Indeed, the family is very close, which Vassili respects so he agrees to stay even when Emmanuel asks him to reconsider leaving as WWI breaks out. By then Liana had given birth to 2 healthy children, a boy and a girl, and they had relocated to Vassili's home out of town by the Smyrna Bay. Liana has to deal with the death of her father-in-law from drink, the abandonment of her sister's husband to America and the frailty of her mother-in-law who became an invalid after a fall. But she loves her house and the gardens, which afford her the ability to host all her growing family's gatherings. Vassili is dealing with accepting the reality told to him by Ara who was forced to flee Smyrna and who describes the rampage of his new village by the Turks who killed everyone and burned the village down. Ara was forced once again to flee to Aleppo where he worked long enough to buy a boat ticket to America. His letters beg Vassili to leave Smyrna before the Turks turn out the Greeks in the same manner. WWI comes and goes and Liana's family is touched by the flu, killing her nephew but sparing her son, and life returns to normal for a time. They have 3 more children and celebrate the marriage of the eldest granddaughter. But then the Greeks, who had reclaimed Smyrna after WWI, got greedy and pushed further into Turkey. The Turks fought back and the Greek army started to retreat. Emmanuel saw the handwriting on the wall and begged Vassili to take his family and leave but Liana refuses. Emmanuel dies of a heart attack before the Turks raided Smyrna, which was likely a blessing. Vassili sells what he can to try to raise fare for the boat but by then it is too late. Vassili is killed trying to protect his shop and Liana finally realizes that she has to go but her mother and sister refuse. She leaves with her 5 children in hopes of reaching America and Ara in California. But they never get further than the wooden boat fleeing Smyrna when they die after the boat is doused with gasoline and set on fire. The only one to escape is the eldest son, Dimitri, who at 11 is a strong swimmer. He reaches an American ship and is brought to America. That is pretty much where the story ends. There is a brief epilogue set in 1982 where we learn that Dimitri never made it to California but settled in Detroit where he had a decent life. For a book with the title "Children of the Catastrophe" I though that we'd get more on the life of the children who survived but I guess not. I also would have liked a bit more info on the politics and the reasons behind the rising tensions that led to the tragic events since I don't really have a good understanding even after reading this book. But the story about Liana and Vassili's love and life and that of their family was enjoyable.

Stunning historical novel with excellent character development by author Shoemaker. This is one of the best historical novels that I have read in a long time. The story is long on buildup to the horrors of the genocide of the Greeks following WW1 which makes the tragedy all the more real and heartbreaking. By focusing upon the trivia of daily life the author brings home the reality and terror humans face when they are caught unaware.<br /><br />The majority of this story is spent following the matchmaking efforts of the two families and the life filled with an endearing (unplanned) love match made by two old established working families. It's all business for the "old folk" who want only the best for their beloved offspring. While the parents are interested in the economics of their matchmaking the off spring are busy living a love filled life.<br /><br />So much attention at first to the matchmaking and living of life seems a bit over much but when the slaughter of the Greeks in Turkish territory following WW1 happens, the killings feel immediate and close. The focus upon living life and "ignoring politics" is a reminder of how so often in war, the masses are caught unaware because we humans are caught up simply living our lives nor having the means to relocate. <br /><br />The novel is not for the faint of heart.