Dendrites
by Kallia Papadaki
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Pub Date 3 Sep 2024 | Archive Date 3 Sep 2024
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Description
When young Minnie is orphaned, the Campanis family decides to take her in. Ex-hippie Susan and her husband Basil, a second-generation Greek American, along with their daughter Leto react to Minnie’s arrival in ways that make old family scars flare up again. Set in crisis-ridden 1980s Camden, New Jersey, among a community of immigrants trying and failing to realize the American dream, Dendrites is a poetical elegy to dignity and courage. In this sensitively told story about the quest for a meaningful life amid the ruins of lost second chances, Kallia Papadaki, one of Greek literature’s most brilliant voices, delivers an unforgettable novel about the power of hope and compassion in the face of adversity.
Advance Praise
Praise for Dendrites
“What possibilities do individuals really have when they find themselves in devastating conditions? This question, of Kafkaesque extraction, unites the lives of the characters who inhabit this extraordinary novel. Marginality is not a choice, but a circumstance and a fatality, and Kallia Papadaki explores these margins in the lives of Greek emigrants with profound insight and empathy. The result is a wise and sensitive novel, but not only that, because Kallia is a virtuoso in the art of storytelling, which is increasingly a rarity these days. The result is a cohesive novel, with highly elaborate literary language and a perfect narrative structure. And whose characters shake us to the core.” —RONALDO MENÉNDEZ
“The winner of the 2017 European Union Prize for Literature vindicates the multiplicity of female voices in European literature, who are often silenced by a lack of translation into other EU languages.” —Vogue
“A novel about disillusion and everyday failures.” —ELLE
Marketing Plan
- Winner of the 2017 European Union Literature Prize
- For readers of Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue, Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu, and Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
- Advance galleys and digital reader copies
- Digital assets including trailer & author video
- Signed book plates available
- National TV, radio, print, and online review campaign
- Consumer-facing national advertising campaign on Shelf Awareness, Lithub, NPR, Foreword Reviews, Goodreads
- Virtual or in-person author events
- Book club discussion guide
- Bookstore co-op available
- Excerpt placement
- Social-media campaign & Goodreads Giveaway
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781642861365 |
| PRICE | US$19.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 240 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Christina D, Educator
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.
J. K, Reviewer
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.
Jamie B, Reviewer
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.
Andrea D, Reviewer
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
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