I loved this book and was enthralled with the writing. I loved the character study. Would read more from the author!

This is an excellent read, capturing the essence of the Greek-American immigrant experience with strong characters struggling to achieve their American Dream. This award-winning book, now available in a great English translation by Karen Emmerich, highlights aspects of the immigrant experience in the 20th century that bring the period covered in the book vividly to life with a lyrical quality to the language that is quite moving and draws the reader into the story and through the journey of the characters from the very first page to the very end. Highly recommended for fans of literary fiction and for everyone who enjoys a powerful, well-written story.

This book seemed pretty ambitious from the start — a Greek author writing about the (lack of) American dream experience of a (mixed) Greek-American family, with little snippets of most characters‘ lives through several decades. I found most of them to be truly interesting, but when it came to binding them all together to the present, the result felt unfortunately rather sloppy, ending abruptly, almost mid-sentence and leaving many many questions open.

The writing style was very interesting from the start, like a constant stream of thought but well-knitted in its essence. I will happily pick up other works of this author, but I wished the ending would have been more elegantly resolved.

Dendrites by Kallia Papadaki is the story of the immigrant experience in Camden, NJ in the 1980's and it tells the story of one Greek immigrant but there are numerous connections in this short novel. The author deftly helps the reader understand that while there are gifts with immigration it is not without losses for the person and their extended family.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of Dendrites in exchange for an honest opinion. This novel is available now.

3.5 stars

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my free digital ARC!

For such a slim novel, Dendrites forced me to take my time with it. It’s dense and the sentences lengthy, running on to create the rich inner lives of the characters. It follows a couple of generations of Greek migrants to America, from before world war two to the 1980s. I’ve not read much about Greek immigration to the US, and I’m always a sucker for novels that explore the American Dream - and how its seekers become disillusioned given the racism and classism they encounter. In this case, the tension between different ethnic groups was examined, with groups each marginalised in their own ways looking down on other marginalised groups - divide and conquer at play.

I really liked Leto and Minnie, and wish we had heard more from them. It’s quite a masculine narrative, with a lot of focus on the pressures of immigrant men to provide for their families and realise the dreams of those depending on them - both in America and back in Greece. Papadaki captures that desperation very well.

The translator Karen Emmerich did a great job with those run-on sentences, but the style was sometimes quite dry.

This is the story of a Greek American family in Camden.
Papadaki masterfully tells an intricate story in such a short novel.
My experience was mostly favourable but mixed because there were chapters, and moments, where I was fully immersed in the story, caring about the Kampanis and Minnie, and the others in Camden. I was enjoying Papadaki’s prose with multiple character back stories and emotions unfolding in such a small space and smart pacing. At other times (pages and plot points), I felt that there was more to this story and wanted to get to know these characters more, hence the writing felt rushed.
I might give it another go, as with some stories, you are mesmerised with their world the first time, and the second time is not as fascinating, and with others like this, it is the opposite and you grasp more details and layers.
3 stars, and I highly recommend it due to its authentic telling of immigrant experience and the American dream. Plus, the family wounds and dynamics are relatable in general.

A deeply meaningful exploration into the multigenerational legacy of a family of Greek immigrants as they seek to find meaning and a foothold in a new land.

So well written so involving a book centered in Camden New Jersey told through the eyes of immigrants and second generation.There are many stories many lives interwoven a book to read and absorb.#netgalley #dendrites

READ THIS BOOK
What an insane work of literature! Papadaki provides a historical look of Camden New Jersey going back to early Greek and Italian immigrants. She peppers the story with nostalgic music and memories and provides background for generations of family members. I have no idea how she was able to pack in so much and so seamlessly weave together this haunting story. #worldeditions #dendrites #kalliapapadaki

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Dendrites: A Tapestry of Lives Intertwined by Fate

Kallia Papadaki’s “Dendrites” is a poignant exploration of the human condition, set against the backdrop of the American Dream’s elusive promise.

The story unfolds in Camden, New Jersey, through the eyes of Antonis Kambanis, an immigrant from the island of Nisyros. Papadaki masterfully portrays Antonis’s struggle with displacement and the search for belonging in a foreign land. His journey is marked by a series of chance encounters.

“Dendrites” is a reflection on the collective experience of immigrants who navigate the complexities of identity and assimilation.

Papadaki’s narrative is rich with historical context, yet it resonates with contemporary relevance. The novel’s title, “Dendrites,” symbolizes the branching connections between people and events, much like the neural pathways that transmit thoughts and memories. It is an ode to the everyday failures and a testimony to the human ability for resilience.

In essence, “Dendrites” is a mosaic of human stories, each chiseled by disappointments and carried far from their dreams. It is a testament to the dignity that persists despite the daily grind and the relentless pursuit of a better life.

This novel is a must-read for those who appreciate literature that not only tells a story but also evokes a deeper understanding of the human spirit’s resilience. “Dendrites” is an elegy to the forgotten, a celebration of the unnoticed, and ultimately, a narrative that honors the unpredictability of life itself.

This is an excellent short novel about a Greek immigrant and his family, and some of the other lives that connect in some way with the people in his family. All the people in this story are 'flawed' and most of them make some awful choices that harm the people they are connected to, but the not-so-awful choices they make help to set the foundation for the next generation of equally flawed people. While not especially inspiring or hopeful, this novel also does not present a view of humanity that is depressing and hopeless. Tragedy happens, and whoever survives moves on.

This book has a lot of characters and storylines woven throughout. It’s a deep novel that explores a myriad of topics from the P.O.V of immigrants to 2nd generation. Parts felt almost like a middle grade novel and others not at all.