CLOSURE
Stealing Dad by Sofka Zinovieff, a review
Stealing Dad by Sofka Zinovieff, published in hardback by Little, Brown in 2025. Out in paperback in April and available on Kindle for £3.99 right now
It’s almost seven years ago now, but I’m actually still reeling from the discovery that my father’s ashes ended up scattered on Kefalonia without my prior knowledge, so this book really spoke to me. If you read it, you’ll understand. Still, even without that kind of connection, this book is immediately immersive. Lively, descriptive prose is gorgeously on display here in this highly original take on the grief novel. Despite the obvious sadness underpinning the narrative, it is at times impishly playful and artfully paints a vivid picture of a once vibrant, now suddenly absent man and the impact of his life, and now his death, on his seven scattered and grown-up children. Don’t let the grief angle put you off, it’s actually very funny and I highly recommend it.
The Vibe: Iris and her sister Dora immediately leave Athens for London when they learn of their Greek father’s sudden death. Alekos, a successful and notorious sculptor had lived life to the full, married six times and fathered seven children. His offspring assemble to bid Alekos farewell but are mortified to discover that his will requests no funeral and for his wife Heather to attend his cremation alone and store his ashes in their garden. The disparate group of siblings hatch a plan to give Alekos the send off he deserves and they cathartically need.
Who will enjoy this? This will appeal to readers of Elizabeth Strout and Charlotte Mendelson’s The Exhibitionist. The style reminded me of Deborah Levy’s Hot Milk and early Rachel Cusk novels such as In the Fold and The Country Life. It was reminiscent of Lulu Wang’s 2019 film The Farewell with a bit of the madcap humour of What We Did On Our Holiday.
The author cleverly brings a large cast to life with a light touch and allows the story of Alekos’s life to unfold through the eyes and reflections of his various wives and children. The sharp and witty observational style whisks the reader along and although it is a book filled with grief and frustration, it is rich in warmth, understanding and forgiveness, but never cloying or sentimental. The ending is reassuringly satisfying and I adored it, just like I adored my Dad. RIP in Kefalonia, Kim. x