Walking on Fire by Kathryn Crawley
Fiction, 256 pages
Published June 13, 2023 by She Writes Press
Greece. Politics. Love. Danger. Reeling from a failed marriage and spurred on by a burgeoning sense of feminism, twenty-five-year-old Kate accepts a position as a speech therapist in a center for children with cerebral palsy in Thessaloniki, Greece. It is 1974, and the recent end of Greece’s seven-year dictatorship has ignited a fiery anti-American sentiment within the country. Despite this, as her Greek improves, Kate teaches communication to severely handicapped children, creates profound friendships, and finds a home in the ancient and historied city. From a dramatic Christmas pig slaughter to a mesmerizing fire walking ceremony, her world expands rapidly—even more so when she falls in love with Thanasis, a handsome Communist.
Through Thanasis, Kate meets people determined to turn a spotlight on their former dictators’ massacre of university students, as well as their record of widespread censorship and torture of dissidents. The more she learns, the more her loyalty to her country and almost everything she was taught in her conservative home state of Texas is challenged. Kate is transformed by her odyssey, but when her very safety is threatened by the politics of her lover, she must choose: risk everything to stay with Thanasis and the Greece that has captured her heart, or remove herself from harm’s way by returning to her homeland?
My thoughts about Walking on Fire ~~
(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)
First lines—"Words buzzed past like angry bees. On the edge of her chair and listening intently, Kate tried to grab a familiar Greek word amid the scramble of sounds."
From the opening lines of this book, when Kate is trying to make her way in a new country, I was mesmerized by this story. Not only is she trying to get where she needs to be in a country where she isn't very fluent in the language, she finds out that the country of Greece is in turmoil and most of the country is against America and Americans.
Kate is able to carve out her niche of friends and friends who become family. She loves her new job and the children she works with. As her social circle expands, she encounters drama and danger when she gets mixed up with a savory group. When love enters her world, she has some tough decisions to make.
I enjoyed Walking on Fire as it gave me a glimpse into the world of Greece as well as opening my eyes to how other counties viewed the United States and our politics. It was interesting to learn about some of the food and customs of the country as well as seeing how we, as foreigners in other countries, have to let go of the idea of our superiority and be more open to how others view us.
Walking on Fire is a well written and very enjoyable story. It gives the reader a look at an interesting but troubled country during the 1970's, while also making it relatable through the story of a young women trying to find herself. Highly recommend!
I received a copy of Walking on Fire from SparkPoint Studio and this is my honest opinion.
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Advance praise for Walking on Fire
“This page-turner will initiate you to the tumultuous days in mid-seventies Greece when a young American comes to heal from a divorce and meets love, controversial politics, and danger. It is a must-read, well-researched and heartwarming.”—Sophia Kouidou-Giles, author of Sophia’s Return: Uncovering My Mother’s Past
“Walking on Fire will transport you to Greece in the 1970s, to the whitewashed churches, the lively outdoor markets, and the smoky coffee bars as a young American woman discovers the sun-drenched beauty of a new culture, as well as her own country’s dark secrets. Passionate and political, Crawley’s debut novel burns deeply and brightly, pulling the reader into this powerful story about shedding naiveté, trusting fate, and ultimately, finding transformation.”—Sandra A. Miller, author of Wednesdays at One
“Fans of self-discovery will relish Kate’s foreign adventure and find her attempts to settle into a local rhythm entertaining, as she tries to find the balance between defending her home and being open to the political injustice the trip brings to light. . . . Readers will cheer her metamorphosis, and may even feel changed along with her, thanks to Crawley’s skillful rendering of Kate’s inner revelations and hard-earned maturity . . .”—BookLife Reviews
About the author
Kathryn Crawley was born of pioneer stock and raised in the small west Texas cotton town of Lamesa. She received undergraduate and graduate degrees in speech pathology from Baylor University. Unforeseen events and an adventurous spirit led her to Casper, Wyoming, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Thessaloniki, Greece, where she worked in a center for Greek children with cerebral palsy from 1974 to 1976. She went on to establish roots in Boston, where she worked in educational and medical settings, early intervention, and private practice.
Today, she enjoys life with her partner, Tom, daughter, Emilia, and two dogs in the Boston suburb of Belmont.
Connect with Kathryn
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