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- 11 July 2022
Recommendation by the Permanent Representation of Greece to the EU
Book selected: Δε λες κουβέντα by Makis Malafékas
With Δε λες κουβέντα, a modern noir novel, Makis Malafékas takes you on a journey to Athens in the heart of a heatwave.
From The Go-Between to the Great Gatsby, heatwaves have long been used as literary framing devices to build tension and create a kind of lawlessness. Malafékas’ Athens is no different. The overbearing heat and crowded pavements force the city to move in a different motion, giving the feeling that anything and everything can happen.
Meet Michalis Krokos, an author who wants to publish a book about John Coltrane. An Athenian living in Paris, he is pulled back to the city when a painting goes missing and he must search for an elusive truth.
Krokos visits the city as Documenta, one of the largest international exhibitions of contemporary art, is taking place. Exceptionally, the festival has relocated from Kassel to Athens, bringing throngs of tourists and art lovers.
This is an Athens awash with hipsters. An Athens of high-class hangouts and dingy dive bars, of elegant exhibitions and paranoid taxi drivers. An Athens of Airbnb’s and kidnappings and murders.
Malafékas deftly deconstructs the pretentious intellectuals who hum around the Athenian art scene. As the pressure in the city rises to boiling point, this Malafékas thriller moves at an electric pace, leaving the reader racing to read its conclusion.
A detective novel to devour. A cool read for the summer.
Ancient Greek literary works need no introduction. But modern Greek literature has also produced several masterpieces, not least the works of two Nobel Prize laureates – Giorgos Seferis and Odysseas Elytis.
For those looking to unearth Greek literary gems, discover more via Eureka, the online catalogue of the Council libraries
About the Readers of Europe campaign
2022 has been designated the European Year of Youth. As such, the Council Library has chosen to devote its annual Readers of Europe initiative to youth, putting the focus squarely on new and emerging European literary talent.
The Permanent Representations to the EU have once again been invited to recommend books from their countries to read over the summer, with the third edition of our ‘Readers of Europe’ campaign. The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Discover something new’, the idea being that every Permanent Representation selects a book from their country by an author who has published their first work within the last five years. We would then promote these selections over the summer on the Council Library blog.
Europe is awash with exciting young authors. Dive into this selection and discover stories that hum with fresh ideas and luminous prose. Novels that ask piercing questions about humanity. Stories that are edgy and beautiful, gripping and unsettling. Stories worthy of a place in any library.
So find a comfy place to sit back and relax as we showcase some of Europe’s promising literary talent. Join us as we once again encounter the Readers of Europe.
This post does not necessarily represent the positions, policies, or opinions of the Council of the European Union or the European Council.
The Council Library reading room is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12.00 to 15.00. The Info Desk remains open online from Monday to Friday/
