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The House in Smyrna

By Tatiana Salem Levy
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Check link for latest rating. ( 627 ratings, 87 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The House in Smyrna by Tatiana Salem Levy is a captivating exploration of heritage, identity, and belonging. The novel follows the narrator on a poignant journey from Brazil to Turkey, unravelling family secrets and searching for a sense of self. It's a beautifully woven tale of personal discovery, intertwined with themes of memory and cultural history.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are intrigued by tales of self-discovery and family history, woven intricately across continents and generations. The narrative beautifully explores themes of identity, migration, and belonging, making it a captivating read for those who appreciate deeply personal and evocative fiction.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

From one of Granta's Best Young Brazilian Novelists comes a startling and powerful story about returning to one's origins in order to move forward. In Rio de Janeiro, a woman suffering from a mysterious illness, which is eroding her body and mind, decides to accept a challenge from her grandfather β€” to take the key to the house where he grew up, in the Turkish city of Smyrna, and try to open the door. As she embarks on this pilgrimage, she begins to write of her progress.

This writing soon becomes an exploration of her family's legacy of displacement in Europe, told in several narrative strands. Sifting through family stories β€” her grandfather's migration from Turkey to Brazil, her parents' exile in Portugal under the Brazilian military dictatorship, her mother's death, and her own love affair with a violent man β€” she traces her family's history in a journey to make sense of the past and to understand her place in it.

With an epic sweep of time and place β€” traversing Brazil, Turkey, and Portugal β€” this is a profoundly moving portrait of a young woman finding her way back into life. Spare, heartfelt, and evocative, The House in Smyrna is an unforgettable story from one of the most accomplished and original new voices in Brazil.

Praise for Tatiana Salem Levy:

'Wonderful ...deceptively simple prose carrying a great power of sorrow and, interestingly, hope.' β€” Ian McEwan

'Levy's writing is a joy.' β€” A. L. Kennedy

'With Tatiana Salem Levy, everything comes directly from the heart β€” pain, love, desire, death. A breathtaking novel.' β€” La Liberte

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Tatiana Salem Levy's novel is highly praised for its powerful emotional depth and elegant prose. Reviewers commend the way Levy seamlessly intertwines themes of pain, love, and hope, delivering a story that resonates with heartfelt authenticity. The writing is celebrated for its simplicity yet profound impact, making it an evocative read.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781925106411

Publisher: Scribe Publications

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 January 2015

Country: Australia

Imprint: Scribe Publications

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 13.0mm

Width: 142.0mm

Height: 201.0mm

Weight: 216g

Pages: 164

Collections

Fiction Fiction in Translation General Fiction Literary Fiction Penguin Books Tatiana Salem Levy

About the Author

Authors Bio, not available

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