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Let Me Explain You

Annie Liontas (Goodreads Author)

3.18 · Rating details · 753 ratings · 151 reviews

Let Me Explain You begins with a letter: Stavros Stavros Mavrakis- Greek immigrant, proud owner of the Gala Diner, having had a premonition of death and believing he has just ten days left to live, sends an email to his estranged ex-wife and three grown daughters in which he lays out his last wishes for each of them. He then sets about preparing for his final hours. With v ...more

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Hardcover, 352 pages

Published July 14th 2015 by Scribner

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Feb 19, 2015 Angela M rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley-reviews

3.5 stars
This is about a Greek family, a bit dysfunctional, a bit off the wall , a bit of a mess really , but it could be any family and they don't have to be Greek. I love the title and that it could mean let me explain it to you or let me explain you. I can almost hear my Italian grandfather in his broken English saying the same thing and more than likely meaning the first .

I didn't love this book at first and there were times when I didn't like these characters very much . Stavros Stavros M ...more

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Feb 19, 2015 Esil rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley

I feel like I just read two books -- one that I found disappointing and one that I quite liked. I really wanted to like Let Me Explain You. It has all the ingredients of the type of book I usually like. Stavros Stavros -- an irascible egotist -- immigrated from Greece to the U.S. with his first wife Dina who was only 16 when they married. They had two young daughters, Stavrousa and Litza, and then Dina who has serious problems left. Stavros got remarried to Carol, and they had Ruby. Stavros mana ...more

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Feb 21, 2015 Elyse Walters rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley

I was laughing hysterically from the start. REALLY -laugh-out-loud-FUNNY!

This is a contemporary story about a Greek immigrant family living in New Jersey.

The 'blurp' gives a clear outline --so I'm going to speak more about my thoughts and feelings. I really loved it!!
I come from a Jewish family, and can relate to the craziness of traditions in cultures. I can relate to simply CRAZY within families!
Annie Liontas does GREEK ---the way Jonathan Tropper does JEWISH! Master comic/tragic writing! ...more

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Feb 07, 2015 Margaret rated it it was amazing

This fine first novel by Annie Liontas begins with an email sent by its central character, Stavros Stavros “Steve” Mavrakis, to his three daughters and second ex-wife. In it he announces that he will be dying in ten days; this is proven because he has had a dream of death and the next day a goat (the goat of death) arrives at the diner he owns. This email establishes Stravros’s voice and his anguished views of all the women in his life. And it is also very funny. The voice is of a man who is tot This fine first novel by Annie Liontas begins with an email sent by its central character, Stavros Stavros “Steve” Mavrakis, to his three daughters and second ex-wife. In it he announces that he will be dying in ten days; this is proven because he has had a dream of death and the next day a goat (the goat of death) arrives at the diner he owns. This email establishes Stravros’s voice and his anguished views of all the women in his life. And it is also very funny. The voice is of a man who is totally convinced that he knows best and cannot understand why all the women in his life do not appreciate that fact. His descriptions of his daughters show his despair; his eldest is a lesbian; his second is self-destructive and extremely angry; his third (and favored) child is gold, except she’s chosen a weak man to marry; and his wife has left him for reasons the readers can already imagine but Stavros cannot begin to understand.

After this comical beginning Liontas moves away from the email format. The rest of the book is divided into ten sections, one for each of the ten days remaining to him. Each day is given a number and a “stage name” from Kubler-Ross’s five stages of grief. (Those stages are out of Kubler-Ross’s order.) Inside these day sections, Liontas also uses chapters. At the same time, the book is divided into three sections. Why have sections when there are already ten Days and 29 chapters and an epilogue? Part I stays pretty much in the present, while Part II fills in the past history of Stavros and his two wives in Greece and in their early days in the USA. Part III shifts in a different direction as it is devoted to Marina, Stavros’s chief cook in his diner. Here we get a view of Stavros from the person who perhaps knew him best and longest. Their conversations enlighten us. Greatly.

While this book starts out in a very humorous vein (much of Part I is quite funny, mainly because of Stavros’s lack of self-knowledge), it grows as it goes. We see more and more into all the characters, especially into Stavros’s, and as we do, our hearts expand. As in real life, laughter alone is an inadequate response to all that makes up a person or a situation. And as Liontas moves through this novel, she brings us to a deeper understanding of the characters, of the Greece they emigrated from and the United States they emigrated to. As much as I enjoy humor in a novel (indeed in this novel), I am so glad Liontas did not try to keep us laughing all the way through. Her mastery of prose style and ability to create a consistent voice for her main character is impressive. I remember that I became more and more engaged the more I read, more engaged as Liontas moved away from humor and looked deeper into all her characters and their situation. I wish her the strength to write more novels in the future. She can count on me as a reader if she does.
...more

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Apr 14, 2015 Megan Baxter rated it really liked it

For a first novel, this is a darned good one. And yet, we almost got off on the wrong foot. The first chapter, the email that the father sends to his three daughters and ex-wife, it almost put me off. It seemed a little too much like the introduction to Jonathan Safran Foer's Everything Is Illuminated, in which it's one long joke about how the narrator doesn't speak English very well. But where Foer's was something like 40 damned pages long and caused me to abandon the book, this was only a coup ...more

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Feb 19, 2015 Karen rated it liked it

I laughed really hard at some things in the beginning... Things Stavros said ..especially the multiple "let me explain you" could apply to my German immigrant Grandpa...he messed up a lot in speaking English... Lol
most of the rest of the story just didn't interest me... I kept putting the book down...took me a long time to read it. ...more

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Jun 01, 2015 Kristine rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: edelweiss

Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...

**I received an advanced readers copy from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**

Every now and then a book comes along that makes you go "ok". This was one of those books for me. It made me think, it made me question and it made me ponder. These are all things that I do when I really like a book.

I'm not going to re-tell the story but instead I will try to describe some of the things I felt ...more

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Oct 05, 2015 Barbara rated it really liked it

Shelves: adult-fiction

“Let Me Explain You” is funny, but it’s so much more. The author, Annie Liontas, uses humor to explore the awkwardness of immigration; the distress of family relationships; the dysfunction of family and friends; and the thorny ways of showing love.

As the book jacket cover states, Stavros Stavros Mavrakis, owner of a Greek diner and a Greek immigrant believes he has ten days to live. The novel begins with a hilarious email sent to the women in his life, detailing what he thinks of them, what they ...more

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Sep 15, 2014 Hugo Santos rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

As an immigrant, I understood parts of the characters in a deeply personal way. I could understand Stavros's drive, his relentlessness, and his inability to (often?) process the feelings and limitations of those around him. It was like that in the house where I grew up, with a patriarch of my own. His word was last. His vision the truest, most apt.

Oh, Annie, how did you get so much of it so right?

I read this book, and then I re-read scenes and chapters.

I love this book and I want you to love ...more

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Sep 02, 2015 Carrie rated it did not like it

Recommends it for: zero

Recommended to Carrie by: Cathy B.

Greek people in New Jersey. Didn't really like a single character and didn't care who died or lived. It was so singularly about being Greek that I know barely anything about these characters, other than they are Greek and have Greek sayings, ways, attitudes and ideas.

I absolutely hate reading about fictional character's dreams and I got tired of reading descriptions of people's trembling cigarettes. I wish there would have been more included about how culturally these immigrants understood Amer ...more

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Jun 05, 2015 Kim Lanza rated it it was amazing

I started reading this book on the beach and immediately knew it deserved more of my attention than I could give with my toes stuck in the sand. Once home, I couldn't wait to shut out the world and enter into the world of Stavros Stavros. Stavros did not disappoint me. I feel like I know the characters.

What I loved the most was the use of language - - original, interesting, poetic yet succinct. I have so many favorite lines. Usually I extract a few favorites but the asterisks in the margin are ...more

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Feb 16, 2014 Sara rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A deeply moving and wise narrative that tells the story of an immigrant family across generations while touching on universal human experiences of loss, grief, adaptation, and reckoning. Liontas deftly blends prose and poetry to make for a lyrical and stunning read. The most resonant question for me was: to what can we reliably tether ourselves? Our homeland? Our families? Our friends? Our successes? Where do we turn for solace? Each of the characters struggles with these questions while making ...more

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Nov 23, 2016 Kristin rated it it was ok

Shelves: reviewed-ng, 2016-a-z-title-arc-challenge

This literally hits the "ok" mark. I didn't hate it, didn't enjoy it. I was expecting funny, crotchety old man and got egomaniac old man with screwed up children. I'm not Greek, but in my opinion, I wouldn't say that this is a commentary of immigrant life like many have claimed.

I received an arc copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley! ...more

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Jul 15, 2015 Morris rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015-reviews

“Let Me Explain You” is a difficult book to review. On one hand, the writing is beautiful and tragicomic. On the other, it can be outrageously offensive. I’ve given it four stars, but please be sure to thoroughly read my review and any others you may find to see if it’s a good fit for you.

At its heart, “Let Me Explain You” is a story about the American Dream, reality, and the hot mess that makes up most families, whether we want to admit it or not. It begins with Stavros Stavros Mavrakis (actual ...more

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Feb 12, 2015 Lolly K Dandeneau rated it liked it

From the moment our Stavros is expressing his true feelings about Starbucks, the reader knows he is a fiery handful. Let Me Explain You, he says to each of his daughters because he knows he is dying- the goat he has seen speaks of his impending death. His words are not nice ones, particularly to his ex-wife. "He heard himself talking and the words sounded ugly, like bits of fat, which was how he had intended them to come out."
His dreams have deeper meaning, and he wants to fix his daughters befo ...more

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Jul 11, 2015 Sandra rated it it was ok

Shelves: books-read-in-2015, female-author, netgalley-arc

Check out this and other reviews at my blog https://throwmeabook.wordpress.com/20...

Stavros Stavros Mavrakis is the patriarch of a dysfunctional and highly opinionated Greek immigrant family, living in New Jersey. He is the proud owner of Gala Diner, father to three daughters and the ex-husband to a handful of ex-wives. After having a premonition of his death in exactly ten days, he writes an emotionally heated email to his family outlining his thoughts and final wishes. While for Stavros these Check out this and other reviews at my blog https://throwmeabook.wordpress.com/20...

Stavros Stavros Mavrakis is the patriarch of a dysfunctional and highly opinionated Greek immigrant family, living in New Jersey. He is the proud owner of Gala Diner, father to three daughters and the ex-husband to a handful of ex-wives. After having a premonition of his death in exactly ten days, he writes an emotionally heated email to his family outlining his thoughts and final wishes. While for Stavros these are dark times, his family and friends, however, are taking the news of his impending death lightly, immune to his frequently absurd, overbearing and dramatic outbursts. When the tenth day finally dawns, and the events of this tumultuous day are revealed, the Mavrakis clan is changed forever.

In Let Me Explain You, Annie Liontas has eloquently captured the struggles of immigrants and their families as they try to make a new and better life for themselves in their new country. As a child of immigrants, I understand that struggle and the pull between the new and old world that children often face. My favourite parts of Let Me Explain You were in fact the sections where the author describes Stavros’ and Dina’s childhood, youth and final journey to America.

Unfortunately, this was about all I really enjoyed. I found Stavros to be overbearing and ridiculous, unnecessarily difficult and at times downright unbalanced. Instead of adding to the story for its potential comedic value, his character was so over the top that it was actually quite a detractor to my enjoyment. His daughters on the other hand were better developed in terms of evoking sympathy in the reader, and the author has made them much more realistic and believable.

In the end, Let Me Explain You did not live up to the hype of being laugh out loud funny which is a shame because the potential was there (My Big Fat Greek Wedding ring any bells?). There were definitely moments that tug at my heartstrings but those were also few and far between. Would I recommend this book? Maybe, but it’s definitely not on top of my list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
...more

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Jul 27, 2015 Judith Sachs rated it it was amazing

If you have daughters, you should read this book. If you have suffered, you should read this book. If you love food, you should also read it. Like life, it is funny and sad at the same time, and offers both a realistic and stylized vision of the immigrant experience in America. What begins as a kind of Greek King Lear story veers back and forth between the pathos and hilarious moments that tear families apart and draw them closer. Annie Liontas writes novels as though she's been doing it for dec ...more

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Jul 07, 2015 kathy rated it it was amazing

This book was great! I loved all the crazy going on with this family. Many different characters that had depth. It had a little mystery, lots of sarcasm, crass & warm humor, and family love,nonsense, and loyalty. I love the way the author made you hate a character but then in a future chapter made you understand more about them from their past and then again where they were heading in the future. This would make a great movie. I could see the whole thing themed around "the goat." ...more

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Aug 07, 2015 Rick rated it it was ok

It was all Greek to me.

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Jun 12, 2020 Olive rated it really liked it

"Let Me Explain You" is a strange and oddly comedic story following an estranged Greek immigrant family through a very curious time in their lives regarding their father.

The book opens somewhat jarringly, with an email that Stavros Stavros "Steve" Mavrakis (one of our violently Greek main characters) has sent to his wife Carol and three adult daughters, Stavroula (the eldest), Litza (the middle child), and Ruby (the youngest). Within this email, Stavros voices his opinions on the choices they've "Let Me Explain You" is a strange and oddly comedic story following an estranged Greek immigrant family through a very curious time in their lives regarding their father.

The book opens somewhat jarringly, with an email that Stavros Stavros "Steve" Mavrakis (one of our violently Greek main characters) has sent to his wife Carol and three adult daughters, Stavroula (the eldest), Litza (the middle child), and Ruby (the youngest). Within this email, Stavros voices his opinions on the choices they've made that he doesn't approve of and what he thinks they should be doing instead (all in a wonderfully accurate interpretation of a Greek accent that makes it more funny). Additionally, in the email Stavros often uses the titular phrase "Let me explain you" when addressing his frustrations with his daughters. I interpreted this as a double entendre of sorts. With no context from the book, the title seems to suggest that some person isn't aware of themselves, in a sense. They could be hurting others, or themselves, and need it to be brought to their attention. This still seems to stand when compared to Stavros' narrative.
I digress; alarmingly, Stavros mentions more than once in the email that he only has 10 days left to live. He signs the email as follows: "Signed within Ten Days of Life Left, and a Dying Promise". His three estranged daughters and ex-wife pay little-to-no mind to this. They see it as some sort of desperate ploy Stavros made up so they'd give him some attention. (Dysfunctional doesn't even BEGIN to cover the dynamic this family has.) Stavros' other family and friends dismiss him when he tells this to them as well. They think it to be some sort of sunset-years crisis. That is, until he goes missing 10 days after he sent his email. Right when he said he would. Stavros' family and friends have to confront the possibility that he may have been right; that he could be dead. Stavros' disappearance also forces the people in his life to start realizing and regretting the times they could have spent with him but didn't, as well as dealing with the drama left in his wake.

Annie Liontas has written a realistic, yet abstract (and pretty funny) piece of fiction about family ties, being understood, and grief. Most characters are written well, but sort of hard to digest and relate to. While that may keep some readers from appreciating this book to its fullest extent, I am a firm believer in that you don't need to make a character likable; you just need to make them understandable. And as the book progresses, that's just what happens with Stavros and his three daughters as the reader is provided with exposition, and a peek into Stavros' life in Crete before he moved to America. It's really easy to read Stavros as a cynical man that wants his daughters to be a certain way, and denounces anything about them that doesn't go along with his image of them. And, honestly, that isn't a very inaccurate description. But, that's who he is. An old man set in his ways, that really just wants what he sees is best for his daughters. The sentiment is sweet, but the execution, not so much. The author does this to provide a better view into Stavros' mind for the reader's comprehension. Liontas is skilled at making this story both an engaging and entertaining read that prompts you to ask questions and think. Stavros' plot conclusion was an abstract and thought-provoking part of the book. Which is another skill that Liontas seems to posses; blending reality and ideational concepts. While that sort of read may not be for everyone, the language used in this novel is nothing short of beautiful. I found myself jotting down phrases or page numbers where I noticed language I thought was profound and poetic while reading. The only thing holding me back from giving it 5 stars is that the story feels overstuffed with plain minor characters. It took me out of the head space I was in while reading this. It also feels as though Liontas tries to force "deep" conversations or ideals on the reader at time, but seldomly. The pros definitely outweigh the cons in regards to this novel.

"Let Me Explain You" is a great read for those who love profound ideals, analyzing characters, or just want to have a good, thought-provoking book to escape into. I highly suggest giving it a chance. ...more

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Aug 29, 2016 Katie rated it did not like it

I don't know if I've ever hated a book as much as I did this one. I felt like the synopsis let me down: A Greek man dreams about a goat, thinking it's foreshadowing his death, and when the days count down to his memorial, his daughters think he's just pulling another crazy stunt—until he suddenly disappears. It sounds like the perfect comedy, right?

This book was not funny. Maybe you have to be Greek to get it? The first few chapters were rife with expletives (mostly from Stavros directed toward I don't know if I've ever hated a book as much as I did this one. I felt like the synopsis let me down: A Greek man dreams about a goat, thinking it's foreshadowing his death, and when the days count down to his memorial, his daughters think he's just pulling another crazy stunt—until he suddenly disappears. It sounds like the perfect comedy, right?

This book was not funny. Maybe you have to be Greek to get it? The first few chapters were rife with expletives (mostly from Stavros directed toward myriad women), so much so I started to develop this overwhelming disgust toward him, and toward all the other characters for allowing a man like this to exist in their world. The book carries on with this theme of how no woman is good enough for him, how they have all disappointed him (this gets sorted out a little but in the end, but perhaps not to the degree it should compared to the abuse he flings at his first wife and daughters throughout their lives). When this is not the focus, it's instead upon two of his daughters who seemingly hate each other. They can't get past their damaged childhood and are now trying to grapple with the disappearance of their father.

About 150 pages into the ~300 page book, we go back in time and finally learn the Mavrakis family history. (view spoiler) It's honestly too much too late. It's disturbing, especially so for someone who thought they were in for a lighthearted comedy.

In the end, as one might expect (view spoiler), so there's this feeling that you've just wasted your time reading this thing you didn't even sign up for. Some hateful relationships are resolved, but not in a satisfactory way. (view spoiler) Overall I feel disappointed I stuck with this. I started it in April, and 8 months later I can say it wasn't worth it. ...more

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Jun 26, 2015 Margaret rated it liked it

Dark and tragic, Stavros Stavros (not a typo!) Mavrakis, has lived most of his adult life in New Jersey, after emigrating from Crete. The book opens with a letter he has written his daughters and one of his ex-wives after a dream that he will die within 10 days. What follows is a daily countdown from day 10 to day 1, which takes the reader back in time to detail why this dysfunctional Greek family is in its current state. While there are a few hilarious moments, I found this book to be very sad ...more

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Jun 26, 2016 Alexa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

I absolutely love this book.

I'm not going to bother with a plot synopsis because describing the plot doesn't do the book justice and inevitably makes it sound like an altogether different book than the one it actually is.

This isn't really about plot, anyway. It's about story. And people. And language. It's funny as hell but it's also relevant and real and even tragic in some ways. It's about immigration and family and men and women, too.

I'm really not sure how it's possible that it's a debut ...more

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Aug 10, 2015 Kelly DuMar rated it it was amazing

Beautifully structured, this novel grabbed me with the opening set up of a Greek father sending a manipulative e-mail to his three daughters and ex wife. The voice and pace of the novel are wonderful! Told with originality, poetry, myth, and deep psychological insight - and humor. It's an exceptional debut. and I'm in awe of her talent. ...more

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Aug 15, 2015 Liz Dowiak rated it it was ok

I finished the book, despite the fact that I really did not enjoy reading it, because I will be attending an authors panel with this author presenting. I found the obscene vocabulary offensive and the metaphors ridiculous. My family is also Greek and I have never heard the older generation speak with so much vile English profanity.

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Jan 26, 2016 Susan rated it really liked it

Simply wonderful. A lovely, lyrical voice, what a beautiful story. Wonderfully fleshed out characters, and an ending that in retrospect, I should have seen coming.

This is the story of a family of women, with a stubborn, funny, and underneath it all, very loving father with flaws. The entire family's flaws are laid bare for the reader. The language of this novel is a pleasure to read. ...more

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Feb 29, 2016 Kate rated it really liked it

It starts off funny/dark humor and then as you get to know the daughters (only a little) it starts to get a little windy and off track. In the end, you understand more, but not everyone will push through. It's all about a father's love and the loss of translation between generations-so in the end you really see its brilliance. ...more

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Jun 09, 2015 Steven rated it really liked it

A hilarious and moving story about a Greek immigrant and his daughters. Annie captures the voice of Stavros Stavros and brings him and his family to life so masterfully. I could not put this book down. Annie's characters are driven by pure, stubborn will. An incredible, engaging read. ...more

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Jun 23, 2016 Lorelei Jaramillo rated it it was amazing

Loved this book! Love the perspective of an immigrant from Greece coming to America and making his way. Love his quirks. The book made me laugh and cry in equal measures.

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Jan 12, 2018 Maja rated it it was ok

Shelves: type-new-books, extra-queer, extra-anti-rec, grade-adult, genre-slice-of-life, extra-downers, rating-two-stars

Oh, I really, really wanted to like this book. Greek stories often get to my Slavic family experiences in at least a few ways (My Big Fat Greek Wedding is SO relatable), and I at least expected to relate to the immigrant aspect, the belonging without belonging, the sense of being between worlds. But instead of the relatable humor I was expecting, I got a disorganized mishmash full of weird metaphors and disconnected storylines, with almost no likable characters and a main character who was AGONI Oh, I really, really wanted to like this book. Greek stories often get to my Slavic family experiences in at least a few ways (My Big Fat Greek Wedding is SO relatable), and I at least expected to relate to the immigrant aspect, the belonging without belonging, the sense of being between worlds. But instead of the relatable humor I was expecting, I got a disorganized mishmash full of weird metaphors and disconnected storylines, with almost no likable characters and a main character who was AGONIZINGLY misogynistic and awful, and there weren't many parts of it that I actually enjoyed.

I felt like very few of the voices in the story were actually well-developed; obviously given that Carol and Ruby didn't get narration, they felt more like caricatures, but Marina became important very late in the game, so I never felt like we got to know her too well, and Dina and Litza were both just... all over the place. I never fully got what Litza's deal was, especially. Stavroula was the only character I felt any attachment to (shockingly!), and I liked most of her story arc; let's be real, this book is getting two stars almost solely on the basis of having a lesbian character. Stavros, on the other hand, was straight up awful. Arrogant and unpleasant and chauvinistic and racist and the misogyny, WHOO, the misogyny. Starting the book out with his tirade on Carol nearly made me set the book aside, and his whole thing with Dina not bleeding nearly made me DNF-- I get that it's not an unrealistic attitude for him to have, but YIKES is it ever gross and difficult and unpleasant to read. SO over the top and disgusting and antagonistic, and it made it really hard to have any degree of sympathy or investment in him and his story.

The story itself was extremely "so what?" by the time I finished; I just didn't understand the point. Any book that uses more metaphor than actual plot or character development has to make me feel as if it's said something worthwhile when I reach the end, and this did no such thing. I had no idea why this had been written or what I was meant to get out of it. The plot meandered, with the flashbacks being confusing more than anything else (and, uh, can we talk about Dina and Angelos NEVER BEING CALLED OUT AS HORRIFYINGLY CREEPY??), and I was never quite aware how seriously I was supposed to be taking anything going on with the goat. And, again, I just... did not like almost any of the characters, so I had next to no investment in the narrative. It was, for the most part, just an unpleasant slog, and I sort of regret not giving up on it when I had the urge to. ...more

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About Annie Liontas

Annie Liontas

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Annie Liontas' debut novel, LET ME EXPLAIN YOU (Scribner) was selected by the ABA as an Indies Introduce 2015. She is the recent recipient of a grant from the Barbara Deming Memorial Fund, and her story “Two Planes in Love” was selected as runner-up in BOMB Magazine’s 2013 Fiction Prize Contest. Other stories and poems have appeared in Ninth Letter, Night Train, and Lit. Since 2003, Annie has been ...more