THIRTY-EIGHT DAYS OF RAIN

Asprakis offers a novel about one woman’s quest for legal citizenship, and the struggles she faces navigating romantic, career, and health challenges.

In Cyprus, 24-year-old ghostwriter Androulla Dixon, who has a Greek mother and an English father, “has dreamed of being recognised as Cypriot—socially, legally—for years.” She’s willing to sacrifice everything to win that title, even if it means throwing a fake wedding (or “celebrant ceremony”) for her relatives, and pretending to be dependent on her mother and stepfather, so she can be adopted and quicken the legal process. The entire narrative is framed around this yearning for legal representation of her Cypriot heritage, but interspersed with these challenges are her struggles with other issues, including her health, her sexuality, her career as a writer, and her romantic relationships. For instance, the story begins with her doctor’s appointment in which a physician finds a swollen lymph node on her neck, attributed to polycystic ovary syndrome. She’s also told she’ll likely never have children, setting off a chain of events in which she ponders whether she even wants to be a mother. Androulla’s relationship with writer/bartender Giannis also receives much attention; they wonder how they’ll survive financial struggles, a possible open relationship, and the sudden possibility of a child. Overall, Asprakis executes this character study with nuance and complexity. However, too many traumatic events occur one after another, resulting in a narrative that feels disjointed and unrealistic; that said, the inclusion of chapter headings with days and months is smart, and helps readers to more easily track the chronology. Also, Giannis’ character feels underdeveloped; his appearances at the beginning, middle, and end highlight his importance, but readers will be left wondering precisely what happened between him and Androulla and how he influenced her decisions.

A novel with subtle characterization that’s hampered by excessive conflict.