Alexis Landau Knihy

A heartbreaking World War II novel of one mother's search for her daughter against all odds.

Exploring themes of female rage and creativity, the story follows Ava, a mother and adjunct art-history professor, as she navigates family life during a summer in Bulgaria. While her husband works on a film, Ava finds herself mostly alone with their children, grappling with her own identity. A chance meeting with a former mentor leads her to a group reenacting ancient Greco-Roman initiation rites, intertwining her life with that of Astra, a mother from 5th-century Athens. The narrative delves into the evolving responsibilities of motherhood and self-discovery across time.