Scorpionfish by Natalie Bakopoulos
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Tin House Books for providing me with an ARC of Scorpionfish in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Gist
I read this book a couple of months ago when the restlessness and reality of the lockdown really kicked in.
I live very close to the Greek neighbourhood in my hometown and with everything having been shut down the prospect of not being able to travel or even take a stroll down my beloved neighbourhood made me sad.
When I was scrolling through NetGalley I was hoping to find something that slightly reflect that sense of limbo I was feeling. At the same time, I needed a mental escape. I needed something that would take me far away from my couch.
I also needed a story that had a protagonist I could relate to.
I don’t know how or why I ended up requesting Scorpionfish, but I read halfway through the synopsis and decided I must read this story.
The Details
I liked the protagonist. On paper she looks like she’s got everything working out for her. A successful university professor and from the looks of it enough financial means to keep a place of residence in America, while taking an extended leave of absence in Greece to deal with some family business.
She is a bit of a mess, though. She is struggling with some past trauma and this gives her some depth.
I also liked the concept of two people getting to know each other by talking without seeing each other. Those nightly conversations each on their respective balconies gave them the freedom to open up without the distraction of having to look at each other.
There was something beautiful about it.
I liked the writing. The author showed great skill and talent bringing all those characters to life. The descriptions of the places and setting were vivid and enchanting.
Yet, at times everything felt just a little too abstract. I wanted more. More of the captivating language the narrator used to draw the reader into the world of this story.
The ending left me puzzled and unsatisfied.
The Verdict
Overall, I may have at first picked this book solely based on the title and the cover, but I was mesmerized by its content.
Call me greedy, but I wanted more. A little less of the abstract storytelling and more of the escapism I found within the pages of this story.
I still highly recommend it as a relaxing and calming read.
