Still the Cicadas Sing
Still the Cicadas Sing is a heartrending tale of a boy in Nazi-occupied Greece. If you want a slice of Greek history then here it is: you smell and feel Athens as it was; you learn about food; the politics are all about you. Our boy hero Alkinoos weaves his way like all boys through the changes of life, with love for a girl who has the Gestapo on her doorstep –literally. This book is a terrific endeavour. You come away with something learnt. Greece touches the heart in this period. The standard of writing is very high indeed and the cover grabs your attention.
Only – I nearly came to old age by the time I had finished. It is simply too long so that all the pathos and horror is overwhelmed by yet more daily stories. A good editor could cut this book by a third. Some readers will not stay the course, which is a pity because it is a hard read in consequence. You tend to skip pages to get back to the action. More attention to plot, swifter ends to chapters and cutting to action would make this terrific. Not sure it is in its present form, except for readers who enjoy a steady plod and minute detail.
