Book Review: Matia by Emily Tsokos Purtill
Emily Tsokos Purtill, a Greek-Australian author from Perth, explores the dynamics of family, womanhood and culture in her 2024 debut novel, Matia, released by UWA Publishing.
Spanning across 140 years, Matia tells the story of four generations of Greek women, switching between perspectives and timelines as their journeys unfold. Before the eldest woman, Sia, leaves her Greek village in 1945, four prophecies are bestowed upon herself and her three descendants. With each prophecy comes a Mati bracelet, the Greek evil eye. She saves these, awaiting the generations of women that are destined to follow.
Sia’s only daughter, Koula, is bound to marry the nice, Greek boy from down the road. He is the image of perfection – a wonderful choice to inherit the family’s yoghurt business. She spends her days tending to their children and preparing traditional meals, as all good Greek women must do. It is her daughter, Athena, who yearns to explore a world beyond Perth, leaving behind the land her grandmother had journeyed so far to reach.
After distressing her family with the divorce of her first husband, Athena decides to leave her life in Perth behind, raising her children in the lustrous centre of New York City. Amidst American art and culture, so distant from the small, Greek village her family once called home, Athena’s only daughter, Clara, is content.
As each of the women forge their own paths, their prophecies loom over their heads, forever connected by the Mati bracelets that hang from their wrists. The trauma and loss that were foretold on the island all those years ago truly test these women’s relationships with one another – and themselves.
The inevitable feeling of slow, cultural disconnect is beautifully encapsulated in each of their stories. With each perspective, you see the shift gradually take place. Old traditions and beliefs slowly turn to myths and memories. Throughout it all, the relationship between the characters remains real and raw, reflecting the unspoken tensions within families. The rockiness of mother–daughter relationships is thoughtfully captured by the often-uncomfortable dialogue. Ultimately, each woman is complex, shaped by the generations before her. Where one woman wants to make her father proud, another seeks independence. By immersing yourself in each of their stories, you can better understand their different experiences. From wars to pandemics, these were vastly different times.
For me, one of the most touching parts of this book is Tsokos Purtill’s commentary on the changing roles and expectations of women. When we are introduced to Sia, in 1945, she has been married off to an abusive, older man. By the fourth generation, Clara has found her place and success in the modern world. In New York, she has thrown herself into the arts, studying and pursuing a career based on her own passions.
This storyline does an incredible job of articulating the sacrifice made by migrants, leaving their homes in the search for better lives for their families. Although Clara may not seek to uphold a traditional, motherly role, she is the embodiment of the possibility and potential that her great-grandmother was promised all those years ago. Clara’s independence is not a failure but a testament to the women who raised her. She is the sum of all the courageous women that came before her. These women may not have had the chance to put themselves first but have individually paved the way for her future.
Whilst they have led different lives and tested their strength in different ways, each character is just as brave as the last. Where traditions have been lost and stories gone untold, autonomy has been gained. Tsokos Purtill teaches us that what success and happiness looks like for the modern woman may have evolved and changed, but in no way is it less valuable.
When I first picked up this book, I was not prepared for such an emotional and relatable reading experience. The Greek island referenced in the story is based on Kastellorizo, the same place my mother’s family journeyed from on a boat 150 years ago. In each character, I see a reflection of my own life and the lives of those I love. The complex relationships and discussion of culture made for an incredibly raw and personal read.
However, no matter your background, stories that explore the complexities of family will always have a unique impact on the reader. Whether a book follows your own ancestry, or introduces you to new customs, there is something so special about being immersed in the experiences of a time gone by.
For me, to read a locally published book that so vividly reflects my own feelings was nothing short of beautiful. There’s something captivating about seeing the women of so many generations celebrated on each page, watching as stories and culture trickle down and weave their way into individual lives. Matia is truly a love letter to Greek women everywhere, commemorating their sacrifices and honouring their journeys.
By Pia Connell
Marketing and Digitial Department