Arrested Song: Reader Reviews
A wonderful and complex novel. It would do this novel an injustice to say I enjoyed it – it covers much darker times in the relatively recent history of Greece for that. And yet, I did enjoy it, portraying as it does, the indomitable nature of the human spirit. But that is just one strand of the book. I found this to be both a tour de force, supported by serious research, and a story I couldn’t put down. In short, a blazing good read, and if you love Greece and the Greek people, essential reading.
Martin De Luchi
Brilliant! A worthy read for anyone who loves Greece or is interested in Greek history. I found myself smiling in some parts of the story, being horrified in others and happily sobbing at the end. I had hoped that we would know more about whether Calliope would eventually truly meet her hearts desire; but cleverly the final outcome was left to us the reader to decide.
Amazon customer
This was a truly evocative book. I order many books on my Kindle but only a few Greek favourites in hardback and this is one that will grace my ‘Greek’ bookshelf as a favourite.
Thank you Irena for giving such a great story which also filled in some of my knowledge gaps relating to facts about events during the war years.
This book truly transported me to Greece again: the sights, the smells, the characters and most of all the fears and joys that permeated the story.
A wonderful novel. Arrested Song tells an important story really well of the experiences of a Greek island community through WW2, the ensuing civil war, and the military dictatorship that followed. The characters are well portrayed and the reader soon comes to feel that s/he almost knows the heroine as she grapples with the multiple difficulties and trials of both the imposed troubles and the growing pains of a remote and neglected community. A tour de force.
Jane
The history of the island of Lesvos during the wars was brought to life in this amazing story of survival. Excellently written.
Sue Chadwick
Great read! The story of a modern Sappho!
James N. Georgeady
Another wonderful book by Irena Karafilly. I’m a fan of this book. I enjoy reading books with the war as a background and this did not disappoint.
Amazon customer
Fabulous story! Loved this book from the very start. I was drawn into the characters and the background of the story of the invasion of Lesvos by the germans,I am learning so much about what happened at this time,Lesvos is one of my favourite Greek Islands and I know so many of the places in the book,Loved this book.
A. Vergerson
Perfect for lovers of Lesvos and history. An absolute must read.
Joanne Eccleston
I absolutely love this book! The storyline is so well-written, the language eloquent. It’s difficult to put down, I wanted to read it in one go!
Amazon customer
The story stirs the emotions a lot, I cried for what the main character had to go through. It was as if I were there with her.
For me, the book was extra special because in a distant past I have been to the places on the island of Lesvos many times. The description of the sentiments of the Lesvos Greeks is so accurate tot me. I feel it in my bones.
Thank you for bringing my memories of this beautiful island and its wonderful and headstrong people back.
Loved it! Initially purchased as moving to Greek Island and was curious. Totally immersed myself didn’t want to put it down. Really enjoyed this and felt like it helped me understand the Greeks better.
Kindle customer
Captivating book you won’t want to put down! Wonderful tale of love and loss during historic turbulent times on the Greek island of Lesvos. Beautifully written with lots of interesting information about this period and the struggles of everyday people through the story of an amazingly courageous women Callliope the village school mistress determined to improve the lives of women on her island home. Hard to put down I read it whilst on holiday on the island.
Amazon customer
Great story. Having visited the area several times the book gave a great insight into the goings on during the war , great read.
Steve K.
A wonderfully interesting and exciting book.
Renate
An excellent gripping and powerful book. Hard to put down.
Rebecca
A stunning read. Highly recommended by me. Calliope is a wonderful character. This is her story really, about how a young girl from a small fishing village overcame so much in order to make changes in the world. A force to be reckoned with, Calliope risked everything, many times, in order to ensure that future generations of women in Greece would have more choice, more opportunities and a brighter future.
Anne
Gripping read and gives a lot of insight into Greek history.
Niki
What a great story! I really enjoyed reading this historical novel based mostly on Lesvos from the 2nd WW through to the 70’s.
Barbara J. Charlton
Every bit as absorbing as the recommendations! Hard to put down, and very moving. The reader is caught up in the action from the German invasion in WWII to the fall of the Greek colonels.
Grandma Kate
I loved this book and didn’t want it to end! It has made such an impression on me. I hope to go to Lesvos next year, where it is mostly set.
Mary Gamble
A fantastic book.
Elizabeth Athanassiadis
Absolutely wonderful book. Being a Hellenophile I have read many, many books set in Greece. This one was by far the best.
Lucy Webster
A brilliant book, highly recommended.
Miranda
Fantastic read…kept me captivated from beginning to end.
Sandy Lewis
Beautiful story…I couldn’t put it down.
Bosanka
An outstanding novel. It engaged me from the start.
William
Loved this book. Could easily be made into a film.
Ronnie Altrincham
A cracking read. The heroine is likeable, the setting is gorgeous and the author’s heart is obviously in it.
A reader
A page turner with elegance and heart. Arrested Song pulled me into a new world I was glad to visit–not only the daily life of a Greek village through seasons and decades, but Greece’s tumultuous history. I appreciated the vivid sense of place, the many beautifully realized scenes that make me care about even minor characters, and a protagonist who embodies her country’s story while remaining courageously herself throughout.
Rona Maynard
Excellent read, the accurate historical facts throughout make it feel alive. Hard to put down.
Harold J. Keown
Unexpected brilliant read. A beautifully written satisfying read. You can hear Calliopes’ voice all the way through.
Rachel Hughes
Unlike some other books this does not have a disappointing end but I did find myself crying along with Calliope.
This book taught me so much about my beloved 2nd home. The story was beautifully written with great compassion.
Sally Wilkinson
One of the best books I’ve recently read! Not only does it give a realistic view of the historical events, but it also lets us “zoom in” into real people’s lives. Deeply humanistic, shows real people, with the ugly traits and deeds side by side with the good ones. (Gabi S.)One of the best books I’ve recently read! Not only does it give a realistic view of the historical events, but it also lets us “zoom in” into real people’s lives. Deeply humanistic, shows real people, with the ugly traits and deeds side by side with the good ones.
Gabi S.
I loved this book. The story is captivating. The characters are rich and real. The writing is superb…A great achievement.
Barbara Lewis
An excellent read. An excellent read.
V.L. Hall
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book when on holiday in Molyvos.
Grecian
It is so easy to forget the fairly recent turbulent history of Greece, which this book covers so well over a period of decades. Recommended for any travellers to Greece, who would be interested to understand history through a personal lens of the main characters.
Geraldine
I LOVE Greece so much, and I thought the Author captured the details of Greek village life very well. Her vivid descriptions of Molyvos took me there. THANK YOU! The deprivation suffered by Greeks during the German occupation was depicted very well in this book –really gives the reader a view into that dark time! I really enjoyed the development of the characters in the story.
Greece lover
This is the book you need to read this year! Brilliant!!
Judith Tomlinson
Excellent read. I did not realise what the residents of Molyvos and Lesvos went through during the war and after.
Peter Beddoes
So beautifully written and such detailed research…one of those books that makes you feel a little bereft when it ends!
Emma Buckland
Loved this. Compelling listening (I listened to the audio version), extremely well written and the narrator brought it all to life… I was amazed how I could continue to be drawn in and held for the full nearly 15 hours. Thoroughly recommended.
Jean McCluskey
Fantastic book, it will stay with me forever.
Denise Bowen
A truly great read.
Amazon customer
This is a fantastic book. So beautifully written: a must.
Jan B Huxley
Brilliant. Evoking every emotion while educating about Greek modern history.
Maggie Jamieson
Loved it! It’s a beautiful story of courage and love. Enjoy!
Hans Knappe
Arrested Song is an absolutely enthralling novel and I loved every word of it. I can really see this becoming a book club favourite, a film or TV series, an instant bestseller, and beloved by many readers for years to come. And I don’t often say that.
Fiona B
Read this book! A stunning work of historical research and imagination combined with a relatable heroine and a plot that pulls you forward through the horrors of Greek history from the 1940s to the 1970s.
T. Stoker
Fabulous book! The setting in Molyvos and the main character Calliope are both vividly brought to life for the reader to immerse themselves in and enjoy…I enjoyed the book so much – feeling a bit bereft now.
S. Hall
Great book!
Barbara Broussard Raesis
Fantastic book!
Christina Reenholm
Great read. Loved reading ‘Arrested Song’. The book covers a very trying time period in Greece through the eyes of the main character, Calliope… It is a hard book to put down and it kept my interest throughout.
Lori G.
The book is well researched and brilliantly written and different.
David R.
The author has written a superb tale that is intriguing as it is enchanting. I did not want to rush reading this book but I was eager to discover how the story would end. It is amazing to read and oh so beautiful.
Tracy S.
Beautifully written. An inspiring read that transported me back in time and onto a Greek Island during a turbulent time. The descriptive nature of life in a Greek village was so wonderfully done I could almost smell the wisteria.
Katharine Tab
Arrested Song, by author Irena Karafilly, was a very compelling and wonderful story of war, love, and bravery during times of German occupation and Greek perseverance.
Barbara Raesis
Brilliant! A worthy read for anyone who loves Greece or is interested in Greek history. I found myself smiling in some parts of the story, being horrified in others and happily sobbing at the end.
Amazon reader
Read this book! A stunning work of historical research and imagination combined with a relatable heroine and a plot that pulls you forward through the horrors of Greek history from the 1940s to the 1970s.
T. Stoker
Your book is a delight for anyone interested in Greece… I admire Calliope’s sense of justice, her capacity to live and love beyond ideologies. Your writing style is beautiful, your prose so evocative….thank you!
Lise Hayden
Well written with a haunting storyline that will stay with me for a while and well developed characters that I couldn’t stop thinking about. I loved it.
Aria H
Arrested Song, Irena Karafilly’s haunting new novel, is the intimate story of a true 20th century heroine set against the backdrop of the Nazi occupation in Greece, the Greek civil war and an oppressive dictatorship.…
Novel Delights
My mother couldn’t wait for bedtime while she was reading it. The best book she’s read in ages. She’s 95 years old and is lost without something to read. So thank you!
Theresa Stoker
This book is beautifully written and brings modern Greek history to life… Arrested Song is Karafilly’s ode to fearless women past, present, and future.
Maria A. Karamitsos
A really good read, well researched, and it was not so long ago really I hope many will read it.
Jana B.
A novel steeped in not-so-distant history, entwined with the themes of social justice and women’s rights, this is a stunning read. Highly recommended by me.
Anne
Just this morning I have finished Irena Karafilly’s book. What an incredible read it was. It had me smiling at some points and sobbing at others. The recent history of Greece has certainly brought many triumphs and tragedies. An absolutely brilliant book.
Trudi Bishop
Arrested Song is an achingly beautiful and poignant story about German occupation in Greece, love and loss, tragedy and sorrow, hope and resilience…The gorgeous writing took me to Greece in about two seconds flat. Lose yourself completely.
Brenda
“A stunning read. Highly recommended by me. It’s beautifully written, with a lead character who is strong, yet flawed, and so relatable.
Lincs reader
One of the best books I’ve read for a very long time and I felt immersed in the story. I wanted it to go on and hope the author writes another book in the future. I’d definitely buy it.
Helen Cummings
Arrested Song was a poignant and powerful novel set in Greece over three decades.As Louis de Bernieres says, this really was an accomplished novel.
Laura Patricia Rose
Brilliantly written. Held me from start to finish. An emotional and historical journey. I learned so much about the second world war effects and so much about the continuing challenges post war.
Lesley Fowler
Couldn’t put it down. Wonderful story, beautifully written. The only disappointment was what felt like a rather abrupt ending… indeed – that it ended at all… but in retrospect, it was the perfect ending…
Athinadi
This book was a great read, I couldn’t put it down, I kept seeing Molyvos in my mind’s eye and shared the view from the castle every time it was mentioned, thank you Irene Karafilly.
Caroline Rosemary Wilkes
I was completely captivated by Irena Karafilly’s “Arrested Song”, the story of a young Greek woman navigating the turbulent cultural and political waters of her native country before, during, and after World War ll… This is as fine a read as I have had in a good long while.
Gregg Norman
Page turner of a historical novel about Greece. It is a long book, but very gripping and you will be happy to have read it. I recommend it very highly, especially if you are thinking of going to Greece.
Amazon customer
I loved Calliope and I loved following her story. From the very first page I knew this was a book that I was going to enjoy.
Charlotte
Excellent read definitely informative and recommended.
Melvin Coe
This story was amazing. It was easily one of the best books I’ve read this year. It was very well written and had a haunting story. I will definitely not forget for a long time.
Spiritedbookishbabe
A beautifully written, intricate story with a formidable, inspirational heroine.
Melina Theo
Just finished reading this book – a really good read – couldn’t put it down. Well done!
Lynda Coe
I loved Calliope and I loved following her story. From the very first page I knew this was a book that I was going to enjoy. It is beautifully written and evokes so much emotion… Truly, it’s just so very different from any other WW2 book I’ve ever read.
My Life in Books
The detail in this book is next level…You can feel, you can taste and you can vividly see everything. Calliope is just amazing and as a Greek woman in the forties she is formidable! Inspirational and heartbreaking all in one. If you like war time fiction, this is the book for you.
Northern Book Queen
A heartbreaking war story… If you are looking for a beautiful historical fiction read that covers more than just the pain and struggles during WW2, then I highly recommend this book!
Ruby Reads
Well written historical fiction, well worth the read
Polly Krize
This is a well written and informative book, I liked the characters and to read about the troubled times in Greece from the view of an islander…Thank you for a great insight.
DC
‘Arrested Song’ is everything: the mundanity of Greek village life, a WW2 story of occupation, resistance, espionage, and survival. It’s a love story many times over and it is a journey of self-discovery and purpose in the face of change and encroaching modernity. It is a saga. Readers of historical fiction will love the breadth and depth Irena Karfilly has managed to articulate in this 400 page story.
Christy H
I’d read it in double quick time. It was so very well written. Absolutely loved it.
Hazel Block
I loved the book. Highly recommend it.
Elena Rolinson
So sad that I have finished this book! I learned so much about the time periods covered in this book. The personal relationships and emotion of the characters was so vivid and true…I loved the descriptive sensory memories of Easter/springtime in Greece. I could feel it through the written words.
Michael Schwandt
I loved this novel. Thank you Irena. It’s definitely something I’ll read again.
Caroline Thorley
I have just finished reading this very moving book. As a visitor to Molyvos since the 1990’s it was a moving experience to know some of what the people of the village had experienced and suffered. Thank you.
Janet Swift
Eye opening!! I have visited the village of Molyvos since the 1990’s. This book opened my eyes to the history and dreadful times the islanders of Lesvos and others through Greece suffered. Item has captured the horror and difficult times of everyday village people and the impact of war on their everyday lives. When I return I will look at the village and island with new eyes.
Kindle customer
Karafilly has a strong understanding of both village politics and broad historical events. Unlike many foreigners who write stories set in Greece, her descriptions are exact and accurate so that one feels she is a true native Greek author.
Di Drymoussis
Brilliant Greek history. Fascinating and gripping, read it in a day…unputdownable!!! It has everything, historical facts, descriptions and background to the war and at the heart an unforgettable love story.
Bookworm
A beautiful historic and evocative tale of life in the Greek Islands.
Betty Rose
Just finished reading ARRESTED SONG. Fantastic book. Thank you.
Christine Wynne-Jones
Very good book, well written.
Anonymous
A beautiful story by an amazing author. I loved the story & the history of Molyvos. It was beautifully told.
L Thomas
One of the most poignant and powerful books about Greece which I have read. This story of modern Greece is not only beautifully written but it gets under the skin of this passionate country.
Suzi Stembridge
Wonderful book.
Carole Knowles
Absolutely love this book.
Denise Bowen
Captivating book you won’t want to put down! Wonderful tale of love and loss during historic turbulent times on the Greek island of Lesvos.
Amazon customer
What a marvelous book! Calliope was such a well drawn character — admirable but with her flaws too — that I found it hard to believe she was fictional. And I loved “reliving” Greece’s 20th century history. Great story, great read.
Sherri Moshman-Paganos
Arrested Song has so much to recommend it. The research is impressive, the writing masterful, the plot line intricate and challenging; what Karafilly has delivered is a brilliant character-driven work. I loved this book.
Monique Mulligan
Brilliant novel.
Suki Pollard
A beautifully written page turner of a book, woven throughout with historical events of Modern day Greece…I enjoyed it immensely.
Karen Hart
I was immediately drawn into this story, the reality, the harshness of the lives of these occupied people, the beauty and the strength of the main character, the land and the way of life through all these unbelievable circumstances. Enjoy the journey irena takes you on, it is well worth it.
Karol