Rating: 
Summary: Terrifying and Touching
Review: Nicholas Gage (Nicola Gatzoyiannis)wrote a book that was both terrifying and touching. It was terrifying because it exposed the brutality of Communism and touching because it told of a woman's undying love for her children, especially the boy who would one day pay tribute to her. The descriptions of torture Eleni and fellow villagers endured at the hands of the ELAS/DAG were some of the most horrifying things I've ever read. The scene where Eleni tells her son, Nicola, to be brave and gives him a gift of a cross is one of the most touching scenes of family love I've ever read about. This story is a must-read for everyone. It is both instructive about the moral degradation caused by Communism and about the courage of a family. Also read Nicholas Gage's followup, "A Place for Us: Eleni's Children in America," which chronicles events leading up to Gage's life today. Excellent writer!
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely riveting
Review: One of the most engrossing factual books I've read. True, it's not totaly objective about the Greek civil war, but that doesn't diminish it - it's about personal experience. READ THIS BOOK!!!
Rating:
Summary: Strong
Review: Simply amazingly interesting and so touching!!
I could not put this book down!!
Rating: 
Summary: A good book, but a terrible book
Review: This book described horrors, brutality, suffering, moral degradation, man's inhumanity to man, etc. which is why I say it was a terrible book. And what always makes such descriptions more difficult for me is the fact that it was real, true. It was "heart wrenching" and "hard to get through" (quoting from other reviewers), and it was painful reading. Yet I agree that it was an "important" book and it made me think. It was about war and if I think I have learned anything about war, it is the fact that if you don't shoot the guy in front of you, you will get shot by the guy in back of you - if you're not with us, you are against us. This book (for me) wasn't about the Communists versus the Nationalists as much as it was about getting swept up in overpowering conflicting and confusing forces of nature, and struggling frantically with the question of how to save yourself, your belief in yourself, and those you love. For me, the question of right and wrong lost all meaning here. I asked myself what I would have done in the various situations described; I concluded that I don't know. This an important book and a well written book. But don't read it if you want to read a feel-good book.
Rating:
Summary: Good
Review: This book gives a good account on many fronts. Primarily it is a biographical tribute to the authors mother who saved her children's lives at the price of loosing her own. She was certainly a serious, emotionally strong woman, and the tribute is fitting. The book also gives a decent account of the Greek anti-Communist struggle following WWII. Each chapter starts with a couple of pages describing the history of events that pieced together form a chronology of the Greek civil war. The book also provides a very accurate picture of the life and the people of small Balkan towns in the middle part if this century. Lia is a Greek town but the characters would be little changed if they were Serbian or Bulgarian. What the author describes is a hard life and it makes for hard people. They are peasants. Hard working, very hard working. Genuine and likeable people, but also ignorant, superstitious, cunning, and sometimes cruel.Lastly the book gives a taste of true 'real world' Communists and Communism. It's not pretty, and so very far from the flawed ideal espoused by pseudo-intellectuals around the world. It takes a special mix of political fanaticism, ignorance, and cruelty to be able to torture and execute children and women. In this century only Fascists and Communists have found and used this formula. The book describes the Communists quite well.
Rating:
Summary: A mother's love and death beautifully portrayed
Review: This book is a tribute to a mother by her only son, celebrating a woman who sacrificed herself to save her children. Whether you know anything or not about the Grecian Civil War, Nicholas Gage's book will inform you, albeit not without partiality; the story is as much about his need for revenge as it is about Eleni Gatzoyiannis, a woman of incredible courage. The reader will wish for more information on some of the events surrounding this story, or for a little objectivity in the case of Eleni's accusers, her fellow villagers; but Gage contains over a decade of story in a book just over 300 pages without crowding it in. As far as the objectivity goes, Gage doesn't pretend it, so the reader shouldn't expect it. There is little sentiment (a Godsend in this sort of biography), but a great deal of emotion meshed into the narrative, and it flows without interruption. This is Gage's grave-offering to Eleni, and it is peerless.
Rating:
Summary: This book is a monument.
Review: This book is a true masterpiece ! The love of Eleni's son, and her devotion to her family , make this a book you will never forget. Nikola's love for his Mother and this tribute to her memory is told as only her son could tell it. I read this book by accident. I would have never bought a book about the Greek civil war. But this book is so much more. It somehow reminded me of, "For Whom the Bell Tolls" but you feel this book in your gut, and you know this is REAL. BRAVO Nikola !!
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT!
Review: This book was incredible...a great story told magnificently by Nicholas Gage...his compelling writing style made this story have such a greater impact...I've read the book in its entirety 3 times and it just gets better...some of the details of the war we could've done without, but other than that, this book comes highly recommended by me
Rating:
Summary: Most touching
Review: This book was the most powerful book I have read in a long time! I guarantee that any reader will relate to Eleni's emotions and sacrafices when it comes to her children.
Rating:
Summary: Best book I ever read
Review: This has got to be one of the best written books I have ever read. It grabs you from the first sentence and doesn't let you go even though it is a fairly long book. I read this book several years ago and it is still one of my top recommended books to read to whoever likes to read. Gage's story is compelling and very believable.
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