Book Review of When The Cypress Whispers, a novel by Yvette Manessis Corporon

UWhen The Cypress Whispers by Yvette Manessis Corporon is the story of a young woman named Daphne and the special bond she shares with her Greek Grandmother, also known in Greek as her Yia-yia. The book is based on the authors relationship with her Yia-yia. Growing up her Yia-yia told her real life stories of how her grandmother befriended a Jewish girl named Rosa whose family was hiding form the Nazis. Can you imagine a life like that-having to hide yourself and family in another country. Each and every day they had to keep that a secret.

The families of the island kept the secret from the Nazis, and told no one that the family was hiding on the Greek island of Erikousa. The island families took a risk in not telling the Nazis that the Jewish family was amongst them because the Nazis made it clear that anyone hiding Jews would be killed along with their family. 

Each night the author's Grandmother would open her doors to her home and welcome Rosa inside for comfort and friendship. Yvette Manessis Corporon grandmother told her stories of Rosa as she was growing up, and now she shares them in When The Cypress Whispers.

Yvette Manessis Corporon spent her childhood Summers in Greece with her extended family. She spent days swimming in the Ionian Sea, riding a donkey, dancing, and listening to family stories around the fire. Living in New York City, she is a Senior Producer with the television show, EXTRA (which I love to watch when my husband is working late)  and has interviewed many celebrities and news makers-asking them what it feels like to achieve their dream. After years of asking other people what it was like-she realized her dream. The Cypress Whispers is her dream. In her book she shares her memories, legends, and relationships that are the most important, special, and sacred. 

In this video Yvette Manessis Corporon  personally shares about the book and offers you the question:

Whose voice do you hear when the Cypress Whispers? 



Who is that one special person in your life? That one person you might not see everyday, but you think of often, that one person that watches over you in body or spirit. That one person that is with you in your heart. 

My special person is my Grandmother. She passed away years ago, but I think of her often, her wisdom, her strength as a woman,, wife, and mother, and her loving home with all the sounds and smells of her house. In happy times and sad times it's her I think of.

What is your dream? 

If you are living your dream, working on your dream, or haven't quite figured out your dream as of yet, remember to keep those special people in your life close to you, and take the time to listen to their stories it might just help your dream become bigger than you imagined!

Take time to listen to the wind blowing through the Cypress trees or the trees where you are.  Refresh your outlook, refresh your body, and refresh your soul.
Pick up a copy of the book and discover the life of these families, their struggles, their bonds, and their dreams. Perhaps you'll discover your own dream if you listen to the Cypress Whisper. 

Remember books make great gifts and Mother's day is coming up! 

The book is hard to put down to start dinner, but take time to read it. Imagine yourself on the warm island and the blue sea, big family meals with fresh food prepared by your Yia-yia, and evening story telling around the cozy fire. It's a hard life, but a full life because of family.

visit the author's web site: www.yvettecorporon.com


Yvette Manessi Corporon book signing and discussion schedule:

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014 -- NEW YORK, NY BARNES & NOBLE BOOKSELLERS -- 7:00 PM Upper West Side
2289 Broadway New York, NY 10024
(212) 362-8835
http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/store/1979
*Reading/Signing

THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014 – MADISON, CT
R.J. JULIA BOOKSELLERS -- 7:00 PM 768 Boston Post Rd Madison, CT 06443
(203) 245-3959
http://www.rjjulia.com/
*Reading/Signing

SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2014 – NEW YORK, NY
KEHILA KEDOSHA JANINA SYNAGOGUE & MUSEUM -- 2:00 PM 280 Broome ST New York, NY 10002
(212) 431-1619
http://www.kkjsm.org/
*Talk, Discussion & Signing


Disclosure: I recived a copy of When the Cypress Whispers from Harper. 
The comments and views are my own.