My White Clouds

My White Clouds by D. G. Bacas is the true account of a young girl in rural Greece and, after her arrival in America, of her life in this country in the early twentieth-century. D. G. Bacas is the daughter of Eleni Louvis, the central character. Ms. Bacas based this book-part memoir, part cultural history-on her mother’s journals. The clouds that soared above her family home in her mountain village near Sparta inspired Eleni’s title, My White Clouds. She imagined that these clouds traveled across the ocean to the land of her dreams-America-and that one day she would live there. The author has interwoven Eleni’s keen observations with her own research to create a lively narrative that transports the reader to rural Greece and then to America. Her stories contain vivid descriptions of the daily lives of the villagers-their customs and their close connections to school, church, the land, and the natural world. Their lives were enriched by deeply revered religious rituals and the teachings of the Greek Orthodox Church as well as the history, legends, and myths of ancient Greece. Children were taught to value and honor their heritage, and mythical and historical references (and superstitions) found their way into casual conversations. The reader learns about the social hierarchy and the dynamics of village life through the colorful gossip of the women. And there are stories of romance and courtship and marriage-and the important roles played by the village priest and the matchmaker. In the later chapters Eleni, ever resourceful and eager to learn, absorbs the customs and the language of her adopted country. The reader gains an understanding of the lives of these hard-working immigrants, who fervently believed in the American Dream, and who eventually achieved it. Each chapter begins with a Greek proverb that relates to its events and theme. Additional features are a glossary of Greek words and idioms; a list of the many colorful characters; Eleni’s favorite recipes; and family photos.